Pianos and Poetry

Self Criticism: The Optimism / Pessimism Paradox

by Kelvin Thomas Johnson, Sr.

Tonight as I was going

To play the piano,

I was feeling

Rather . . . elated,

And said

As I bounded up to the fence

"hop, skip and jump over

There's really no sense

Taking time to ungate it."

So, off went my heart

in a graceful arc

But my feet

Less animated

Caught on the top strand 

Of the fence wire barbed,

And it shrieked

"I should be ungated."

Midst shriek, thud

Split chin, and blood

Shadows of numbness

Pride-pain and "skrud!"

Clear came the words,

"You're too hard on yourself:

You might have . . . 

Broken your glasses."