Denial

Poem I wrote for a contest-literally seemed to flow out of me

And so….

When they told me I would have no job next fall

In order to stay on the ball

For the rest of the year

And because I cannot stand beer



I jump into the lake of denial

So that my blood will not rile

And think  vile thoughts

That all they care about is what can be bought



Of knowing that all the time and money

I put into earning my degree

To live in the world of milk and honey

Because nothing is free



Then I look around

Try to shake myself awake

Dig a hole in the ground

And instead of burying myself in it

I plant flowers



Pretty pink flowers

And I think,

I have been through much worse

Whatever they throw, I can take

And I pull myself out of that lake.