You coach me
you tell me what to do.
Am I a good student?
Do I listen?
Or
tell you
what you should do?
You coach me
I hope I listen.
I hope
I know what I should do.
Then
grow
become someone
who can help another.
But
I won’t need to tell you!
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
I know you
you know me
we have been together
through all
that it seems
would destroy us
tear us apart
but
yet
together
together we have been.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
Feeling
something
something to say
Feeling it
down to my toes
And then
Moving away
to
the back of my mind
Who says
No, you have
nothing
nothing to say.
I’m sure
my heart
says
Yes
My hands tremble
to write
the words
But
My mind
my mind scarfs
at the idea
that
Me
Little old me
has something to say.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
Can’t know
what’s right, what’s wrong
all’s
in a mess
must get it
right not wrong.
Which direction do I go?
Which one do I select?
I don’t know.
My world’s
in a mess
I must get it together
must get it
right not wrong.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
Curled up
and
fast asleep
I think not
you will weep
when you wake
and
see the sky
filled with wonder
it’ll make you try
to be
your best
to be the one
that gently wakes
others
to
this wondrous morning sky
embracing all
no one
left behind
no one will feel alone
or
will they cry.
This I think
as
I watch you
curled up
and
fast asleep.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
I didn’t see
the beauty
I didn’t see the kindness
extended to others
or me.
I didn’t feel the warmth
of a generous soul
or
the knowledge
of knowing when
to be quiet
when to talk of things.
None of that
did I feel, hear or see
none of that
did you offer to anyone
especially me.
So I decided
to be that
kind, warm, generous person
to myself and others
maybe you
too.
We’ll see.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
You tell me
something
you say it”s so
but
in reality
how do I know?
Your lips
they move
words come out
your finger
points at writing
someone else
has
composed.
I don’t know
from
where they came
I don’t know
if they’re right
or
written
just to complain.
Then I hear
someone call
their voice
wails
do they know?
I’m not sure
not at all.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
I never realized
the sacrifices he made.
He worked hard
there was always food
on our plate
of course there were too
times tempers flared
but
all in all
we lived in harmony
I knew he cared.
It took me a long time
it took years
for me
to understand this
and
to send love
homage
to
the great man
I still miss.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
Slowly
curling up
slowly
in a ball that’s me.
Trying to escape
all the awful stuff
those things
that
haunt me in my dreams.
Crying doesn’t help
neither
do those words
my heart cries out.
Nothing helps
it seems.
I may look like
I’m standing upright
smiling
all those things.
But really
I’m curled up
in
a ball.
Hopefully
a ball
that can protect me.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
You told me
much
you told me
a
little.
I sat in between
not knowing
which way to move
even if
it was
just a little.
Then you smiled
your hand reached out
and
I knew the way
you had told me
all I needed.
Not
too much
Not
too little.
~ Patrice
@ Patrice Clarkson – 2026
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