It's Better Than It First Appears, a Poem

John is passionate about human and animal rights, social justice, equality, and the environment, and likes to convey that in his writing.

Life is Good

Life is good! - It really is. Just push aside any stresses you may have, forget the aches and pains, and maladies you may be suffering, and just for a moment let your mind turn to all the blessings you have that make life wonderful.

Think of your children, your grandchildren, the joy of completing a favourite hobby or project. What about graduating with your degree, the start of that vacation you have been so looking forward to, or just a baby's laughter?

There are so many things to be grateful for, and life is too short to wallow in pity about the few things we have to suffer or overcome. Think of most of them as just challenges or learning experiences, anyway. When you are going through a rough patch, instead be confident in the thought that there are better times just around the corner, and look forward to those.

It's Better Than It First Appears

This illness overtakes me,

It's progression swift and sure.

It gifts to me a racking cough,

My throat and head are sore.

Aching joints and muscles

Are really all I feel,

Lethargy overtakes me,

It's all in the package deal.

I'd planned to do some outdoor work,

Like weed and mow the lawn

But feeling sick put paid to that,

It hurts me just to yawn.

To concentrate on work is hard

But it's what I need to do.

I brought the clothes in off the line

For a storm is threatening too.

Rain is needed badly here,

We're in the midst of drought.

So, even though I am not well

It will ease my ills, no doubt.

A storm may resurrect me

From the depths of flu,

So I can write something profound

That may relate to you.

What if, instead, the rain clouds pass

And open up elsewhere,

Will, I just wallow in my woes

And be left with nought to share?

In fact, the sky grows darker

As I put my pen to page,

And I can feel the raindrops fall

Upon my human cage.

So, on I write with some relief

That my hopes have been fulfilled.

What started as a sulky poem

Is now praising God's will.

Like farmers who are losing crops,

Or stock dying from thirst

Now have some welcome drought relief.

Let's pray the grey skies burst.

For, even when life gets you down

And you feel sick and sore,

look for those other blessings

You didn't see before.

It's better than it first appears,

There're silver linings in the clouds.

So, if you gripe about your lot

Don't say it very loud.

© 2018 John Hansen