It's The Little Things

quietly I sit

breathing in

breathing out

as I listen

listen

as the rain

taps the window

rhythmically

persistently

quietly I sit

breathing in

breathing out

as I hear

unknown melodies

unsung songs

as the rain

taps the window

the barks of dogs

in the distance

signal the start

of the day

another day

of living

so often

on the edge

of complete shutdown

but it’s the little things

that drag me from the edge

of that particular abyss

the spider that comes into sharp focus

that tries for what feels like the 100th time

to scale the window, while the rain taps against the window

he’s on the inside, so he’s safe from stray drops, for now

we’re on the inside, so we’re safe from all the world throws our way

but it’s the little things

the insignificant, in the face of all I, we see

that steal me from the pull of the unforgiving nothingness

like the sound of Christine*

and her vocals pristine

“yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone”

and I pause, on the brink

pause to think, pause to wonder

what lies a-yonder

breathing in

breathing out

it’s the little things

the simple things

like the comfort

of my dearest

“tomorrow’s another day”

as I sit quietly

my spider, my companion

will carry on

tomorrow

as I sink back

And “think about times to come”

“…not about the things” I’ve done

#

Thanks for reading!

Author’s Notes: This is my first poem written for Scrittura, another publication on Medium. You can find the original following the link below. It’s introspective, but also I hope inspiring for anyone having one of those days when everything feels too much.

*Christine refers to the late, great Christine McVie and the quoted lyrics from “Don’t Stop” a song she penned for her band Fleetwood Mac.