Road to Psychological Recovery

by matthew scott harris
(schwenksville, pennsylvania)

...dont quote me on that

(whence empty nest syndrome gnawed emotionally raw, the tender sore gum chafing absence of lovely lasses – on the straight and true – heading toward a horizon of their own chew zing.

That contractual obligation tubby selfless no longer applicable.

Stillness brings roaring back the routine activities, that seemed to distort time by plodding along, until one day aye awake to soundless of young girls mirth.

Because this papa doth love each offspring, the irony of parenthood warrants forsaking being a vigilante.

They must needs go outward and upward, and such difficult parting pained particularly poignant part and parcel of the role of dutiful NON GMO gluten free fatherhood.
------------------------------------------------------------------
this then december twenty forth,
i felt an inner compunction
how tara became re: born
whereby this pop -

bleary eye lids ready to droop
with his tired bones snapping
and popping like jimmy crack corn
an immediate need to succumb to sleep

found me transfixed
how blessings did a dorn
mine attention riveted at the then
early twenty something vanished self of mine

(where oh where did young Matthew Scott Harris go)?
stricken n fore lorn
though the hour well nigh
closing in on six in the morn
whereby the sage within mine psyche

waving a finger - tsk tsk - with mild scorn
for forgoing to bed, yet...
a powerful tsunami like force arose up
when viewing the account of how tara - blank -

became rent asunder and torn
from an terrible accident of fate -
though a miraculous recovery now worn.

an exercise regimen of running plus lifting weights -
perhaps so many reps of a curl
finds me applauding and praising efforts...
so you go girl
and hurl
with all inner strength pell mell into fitness -

testing your limits to the max
whether across busy urban streets or...
where landscape offers open space with pearl
jam skies - in outlying less populated tracts -
giving freedom 2 dance n twirl.

ye r so lucky tubby alive
cuz immediate family, friends, relatives
and now...this stranger gives u high five
without asking anything in return -
since inspiration courses thru me

inducing thyself 2 strive
and/ or if when fate decrees,
thee will make an awesome counterpart
who this older papa bloke would envy
as ye possess inxs of strength to re:vive.
----------------------------------
blessing for sound health ™

upon waking every morning I offer silent benediction
for the ability to revel with full faculty of this aging body
still going strong where ability sans enjoying the simple pleasures
available thru bodily senses plus cavorting via memories with daughters
in my nonsensical mien worth more than money can buy
yet of course if I did happen to be a lucky lottery winner
that could definitely relief some anxiety and allow
me to breathe easy yet could never do justice
pitted against robust body, mind and spirit triage.