The Fighter

The Fighter

We all know that life is busy for so many people.  Some days we take it in our stride. On other days it annoys, frustrates or frightens us. This poem explores some of that condition.  It places the primal fight-flight mechanism right into the breach of the dialogue.

 

The Fighter

 I am the boxer

Flailing on the rope

Trying to knock away my opponent

And I fear I cannot cope.

 

The demands come

Like constant jabs

Shooting pains

At times from various directions

Google calendar alerts

Email inboxes

Pushy ‘push notifications’

Piles of ‘snail mail’

Tetchy texts

And more besides

Come in.

“Can we make a time?”

“This opportunity not to be missed!”

“Have you read those documents?”

I want to shred those documents!

 

I am the wrestler

Grappling with the foe

Trying hard to throw them off

Then down the road I’ll go.

 

Then there are the regulars

The constant appointments

Didn’t I just write a report?

“Umm, that was last month’s one,

now we need another one.”

“We haven’t seen you at our group for a while.”

 

I am the runner

Running from the malaise

Darting here and darting there

Fleeing all my days

 

Ahh, a free night!

Put the phone on silent!

Get out of town.

Go to a quiet place

And keep company with your soul.

Be quick!

Or your opportunity will get eaten up!

 

I am the writer

Fighting with pen again

Trying to make some sense

And to verbalise the pain

 

To anaesthetise the pain

 

Or pour it down the drain

 

And purge away the drain

 

Before I go insane.

 

 

Simon C.J. Falk  17 May 2014