Downward Flows a River

when soil of life muddies and stagnates

with grief, or sorrow, 

pain, or anger ~

any number of unpleasant events

soul and spirit shrink away

so only motions of living remain

brightened with tiny sparkles of joy and laughter

joys that babies and children bring,

celebrations and ceremonies

then hesitating, halting and pausing in downward transition.

Confidence and curiosity

become apathy and disinterest

Positive attitudes reshaped into negative attitudes.

while life marches onward

At the bottom ~ and for each it is different

all it takes is one step up

and then one more

one hand to hold and then one more

until downward flow 

plateaus and transitions

to find a new course and

climb out of the muck of unpleasantness

into growing confidence and curiosity

positive attitudes and inner strength.

“Your mind simply can’t focus forward and

downward all at the same time.”

~ Daryn Kagan