These Are My JOTtings...

Step by Step Goes On and On

It's when the days of life are but a trudging, empty trail,
and those you thought were deepest friends, now point and call you, "Fail!"
That backbone must yet stiffen to bring stalwart hope to bear,
while someone greater than yourself must shoulder daily care.

You wonder, "Why keep trying upward when the way is down?"
Or "Why should we yet write another poem with a frown?"
With heartaches weighing on our shoulders more with ev'ry step,
how do we stop the hamster wheel, avoiding undo reps?

Let's stop a moment, take a breath and think of what is real.
Is there another way to change the pressure, start to heal?
Quite often we can't change the circumstances of our day,
but we can change perspective of the things we do and say.

My job is taking one large chunk of life in waking hours.
I love it, but the dailiness can make the task quite sour.
Like ice cream sundaes when they are a treat at end of week,
if daily they become a bitter pill that fairly reeks.

So step by step my daily life goes on and on and on.
I love to write. I love to cook, to ride my bike upon.
I love to run, when I'm in shape, the latest 5K race,
but training works it's constant task with little resting grace.

When in my twenties marathon took six months steady train.
I ran in joy. I ran when tired. I ran in downpour rain.
The day of race in freezing temps, the drizzle made me numb.
I ran my steps at steady pace and finished overcome.

A burly man of shoulders ripped inquired of healthy state.
I said, "No, Sir. I don't feel fine. Was long, since I felt great."
He grabbed my shoulders, marched inside a medic tent, anon.
Entrusted me to others, who a cot me laid upon.

"I'm cold. Please, give me quilt to quickly warm my freezing self."
"I can't. You're body must now shake or you would stay an elf.
"You see, your body temp's a meager 92 degrees.
"The weather now has made you very nearly, almost freeze."

For twenty minutes underneath a piece of body foil,
I shook and chattered teeth and was in worst of all turmoil.
The wisdom of the process I could in my mind contain,
but pleasant it was not, while greater wisdom I have gained.

Recovery of walking after running marathon
was difficult as step by step goes truly on and on.
My daily race can weary body, mind and even soul,
but spirit guides in greatest grace as all can be made whole.

by Jay O'Toole
on April 3rd, 2018