Poet Anxiety


I told myself to write a poem
and calm myself down.

So here I am at the cafe sidewalk table,
a power tea

iced
pen in hand
notebook open

No revelation,
no hallucinatory vision,
no waiting either

just put the pen to paper
and write what’s happening
or not happening...

The calmest I’ve felt all day

Stress and anxiety at bay
after an afternoon assault

No battle of angels and demons
just the system of living today.

It’s always been about survival,

We think about it
and write it down
and calm down...for a few strokes
                                                of the pen.








Jerry Oliver, Nashville, 8/10/2012