By Daniel Paiz

Society dictates that in order to do this living thing, one has to make some paper and have a place to rest and keep your stuff. It doesn’t have to be a lot, just the right amount that pays all the internal guts and whatnot that keeps a home running. You don’t even have to have much to watch or do, just enough to exist.

The sad part is, folks don’t even have that bare minimum level when it comes to what keeps them going. I’m not talking about a standard for a car or wardrobe or whatever. I’m talking about what one eats. What one imbibes when it comes to liquids, energy, and content. I know I’d much prefer feeling okay inside than being ill but well off.

This poem is a tale of what creeps up on you when not considering the above.

Wealth is Internal

Here’s a little story that often gets told,

about a soul so impactful but coasts when getting old,

and so they don’t address what’s ailing until it’s too bad,

lemme tell you a tale most sad.

Going about one’s life very day-to-day,

watching mass, then the news, and music from one’s heyday,

got some pain, it’s just age, starting to become regret,

harder to walk and move with this infringement.

///////////////////////////////

Fast forward to later days as the sun shines in,

blinds pulled back, mass is on, smiling faces meet every whim,

well almost all requests, save for just a few,

getting out of a bed makes the smiles flip a sadder hue.

I can’t begin to feel the frustration,

as what’s meant to relax now worries,

some nights turn from restlessness to pure fury.

There are battles, there is loudness,

and they try to listen and gently implore,

“Feet on the ground for you likely happens no more.”

The blankets peeled off, the effort constant,

there’s no listening, as light in their eyes is subdued,

this has shifted from swinging to permanent moods.

To quiet the anxiety, and fear, and days being counted too,

drops of ease, where they move less, eat no more, sans drink too,

health not wealth delays the glassy look of things being through.

Bonus info

Below is where you can hear the words that you just read above.