Flying: A Book of Provocative Poetry

By Patricia Mortenson

For us time only rolls one way;
There is no going back.
Nothing that you or I can do
Will stop it rolling on its track.

Patricia Mortenson is a reserved person who rarely shares her thoughts.

In her debut collection, Mortenson offers short poems that lyrically and sometimes humorously share unsolicited advice; uncomfortable observations; reflections on health, sweetness, and light; unpopular opinions; and random thoughts that touch on not just her life, but also her family and the outside world. While leading others on a journey inward, Mortenson encourages all of us to take a few moments to examine our own paths through life filled with joys, sorrows, and unique experiences that help us decide who we are and what we project into the world on a daily basis.

Flying is a volume of introspective poetry that examines the intricacies of life through the eyes of a senior who has experienced much in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Apr 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665701297

Patricia Mortenson

Patricia Mortenson holds a BS in microbiology and a MS in counseling from Purdue University. Her current interests are photography, gardening, finance, travel, reading, cooking, and random acts of kindness. This is her debut book of poems.

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Copyright © 2021 Patricia Mortenson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the author except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author

and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of

the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of

people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Archway Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-0130-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-0131-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-0129-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021900135

Archway Publishing rev. date: 4/9/2021

Contents

Part 1   Unsolicited Advice

Part 2   Uncomfortable Observations

Part 3   Health

Part 4   Unpopular Opinions

Part 5   Sweetness and Light

Part 6   Random Thoughts

Part 1

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UNSOLICITED ADVICE

At the Fair

Hold my hand tight, honey child.

I don’t want to lose you at the fair.

You’d be mighty hard to find,

And there’s strangers, so beware.

You’ll get face paint; that’s for sure.

And cotton candy in a bag.

But stay real close to me, you hear?

Keep up with me. Now don’t you drag.

Be Careful

You can look, but don’t you touch.

I know you want to very much,

But what will you do if you break it?

You’d have no choice then but to take it.

Busy Hands

It seems in times of tragedy

People can’t just let it be.

In times when fear is in the air

When anxiety is everywhere––

Though there’s nothing they can do

Other than sit there and stew––

When there’s nothing else to do,

The hands should be kept busy too.

Carlie

Do not trust a stranger.

And if one touches you,

Listen to your teachers,

Who tell you what to do.

He may say he’ll hurt you,

And it may well be true.

But he will hurt you more

If he can capture you.

You have only moments

To get any help at all.

So scream and twist and fight

And hope for rescue with your call.

Carlie, you were so afraid,

But you were easy prey.

You were killed too easily,

And for your soul we pray.

We pray your easy capture

Will be a lesson to our own:

Don’t go off with strangers

Though you think you’re grown.

Housework

Getting kids to clean

Is a chore

Because, as all kids know,

It’s a bore.

The joy of being organized

Appears with age.

Try to force it early,

And you just get rage.

Choosing

Tension in the shoulders,

Body tight and coiled.

If you choose wrong,

Everything is spoiled.

You know you should relax,

But if your choice is wrong,

Your soul and your existence

Aren’t worth a song.

It’s just not that important.

You have to be convinced

For if you can’t do that,

Your soul has no defense.

Eating Out

When you go out to eat

And the food is cold,

Should you let it go,

Or should you scold?

Surely someone in the kitchen

Should be told.

So I think that it’s your duty

To be bold.

Conditional Advice

Remember the advice I give

Is based on the life I lived,

So it may not apply to you.

My life is not black or white,

And neither is yours, quite.

Still I’m interested in you.

Dignity

You stand up for your rights

At a cost.

But you must,

Or dignity is lost.

Your partner’s slights and insults

If ignored

Will quickly breed themselves

Into a horde.

Better to have silence

For an hour or two

Than force yourself to change

And not be you.

Feeding Kids

Most kids can’t stand broccoli.

Few eat brussels sprouts.

When it comes to spinach,

Most kids have their doubts.

But they’ll eat corn

And maybe peas.

To turn them on?

Give them cheese!

Think

Concentration.

Meditation.

Plan your work

Before creation.

Words

Please beware.

Choose your words with extreme care

For words once spoken hang in the air

And are always there.

Futility

Life is full of ups and downs,

And therein lies the sting.

For when you’re down and out of luck,

You can’t do anything.

All you can do is wait it out

For change is always near.

Something good will come your way

If you can stick it out, my dear.

Rehab

You’ve spent too long just lying there;

Don’t let it