Mental Fire Extinguisher Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Tackling the mountain of today with my
usual bag of fears and anxiety, fighting
the dragon of encroaching meaningless-
ness in my head, fighting mirror images
everywhere, comforting myself with the
bitter truth, it doesn't matter

Life's dragging its feet without adventures,
listening to the inner voice exhorting me to
seek things intrinsically beautiful without a
need to justify existence, use of such con-
cepts will be crowned with success and
answers to my requests

In the best universe ever conceived, my
only problem is a continuing fight against
routine, the lack of challenge and a never-
ending search for a legal spark to ignite
feelings with which to colour these grey
freezing days lacking interest

My life is a lesson in the art of enduring
boredom with patience, of living without
the emotions which have been outlawed,
of remaining calm and unconcerned as
Rome burns, a mental fire extinguisher
has not been invented yet