MK with Xerus squirrel, sketch and digital art, ©2020 Michelle Kogan
Happy Poetry Friday!
Our small world has gotten much smaller and much scarier over the last few months. Coping and taking care of ourselves and those close to us are very important. Along with this are ways to relieve stress. My acrostic poem and art this week are attempts to do that.
RELIEVING ANXIETY for ages 0–100+
Restlessness finds us all these days, reaching
Everyone all around our small world…
Leaving us with levels of anxious unknowns, that creep
Instantly inside and sometimes erupt–But, let’s
Exchange these overpowering emotions with
Virtuous humane values–cause we are human, and maybe they’ll
Include love, truth, compassion, empathy, and justice–maybe a few lighter ones too…
Now you add a few of your own, or maybe think about how you might
Generate one of these values in a drawing, or a poem, or
A song you like, that’s just right–or think about a
Nice thought that brings you delight, or a new thought like a
Xerus… A cirrus? No, not a cloud, a very social ground squirrel from S Africa, that’s
Imagining you imagining it, imagining you, as you
Exhale all your anxiousness out and inhale light, airy, fluffy,
Thoughts, that take you to a special place filled with
Yakity-yak, yippy-yappy, slightly silly, caring feelings…
© 2020 Michelle Kogan
As my Xerus squirrel friend is from S Africa, I thought I’d take you on a little Safari with some music from Hatari–Enjoy!
Matt Forrest Esenwine at his blog Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup this week, Thanks Matt! He’s participating in this months Madness Poetry competition, and perhaps he’ll share a bit more about it– So…be sure to stop by his blog for lots of poetry goodness!
Stay well, keep washing your hands, and do some things that make you happy!
P.S. I’m up next week with the roundup to welcome Spring…
And maybe some women poets too…
Visit Renée LaTulippe’s site No Water River to find out more about what Poetry Friday is.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Michelle, I do love Xerus and cirrus in the same poem. : ) Thank you! xo
The Hatari music was perfect and your poem so clever. “Exhale all your anxiousness out” just might help. Thank you!
I was thinking the same as Janice: “Exhale all your anxiousness out” needs to be our mantra!
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Oh my gosh, I haven’t heard that song for years. Thanks for the smile. I agree: “Exhale all your anxiousness out and inhale light, airy, fluffy/ Thoughts” is the mantra of the moment.
“Relieving Anxiety” is just what we all need today. Thanks for the poem, art, and Hatari music (had forgotten all about it). 🙂 Cute squirrely friend too.
I like the reminder that we have some power to “exchange” our emotions as we navigate these troubled times. That’s an important reminder!
I had forgotten about Hatari, don’t remember much except that Mancini music! Nice, Michelle, and with your own arty squirrel, anxiety relief. I feed the squirrels peanuts about 7am each morning & all I need to do is open the door & they come running. Sometimes the crows arrive, but often a bit too late. But then I do “inhale light, airy, fluffy” minutes. Thanks for reminding us to look for them!
Thanks Linda, we need to fill parts of our day with things that make us happy! 😊 Stay well.
I’m adopting your mantra! And I am so encouraged by the “Virtuous humane values” I’m seeing emerge!
Oh, that music makes me smile …. a smile from so long ago. Gosh, I forgot about that smile. It’s great to find it again.
Baby Elephant Walk! Speaking of light, airy, fluffy thoughts, maybe you and your squirrel friend can lead a congo line to that song and all of us PF friends will follow along. That would be a great way to release some anxiety, no? 😀
❤️ your 💡 idea Michelle, and it’s inspiration for another poem! 😌 stay well, thanks, xo.
So fun! Thank you! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com