What now, a poets bane
we’ve heard so often before.
We don’t wish to hear it again
I’m truly sad for you, my dear
but we need it clearly said,
we’re all in pain these callous days.
Do I need to say ‘buck up today’.
Once we were stoic
taught our children to be tougher
than they wanted to be.

Now because our parents were hard
we’ve become protective of our brood
until they have no idea of the toughness
they’ll probably need as climate change
is more intense makes great death eminent
So please don’t hold to your pain
but seek fearlessly all else again
find laughter instead of the self
find sex and love and all the confusions
of a greater life than the confines
in a self forever reliving its pain.

Kent Bowker
2/11/2016