A relentless need
to control his world
coils around him
like a constrictor snake,
silently wrapping itself
around his thoughts,
emotions, and dreary deeds.
Sometimes its skin
is colored the green of envy,
sometimes the red of angry
judgement and blame.
Over the days and years,
little by little, bit by bit,
this snake has squeezed the joy
out of his breath, strangled
the spontaneity from his arms
and legs, reduced his life
to a lonely yardstick, worn
and cracked from constant
measuring against impossible
standards, deadly demands.

Yet a tiny, inextinguishable fire
continues to burn in his belly,
and more and more now he winces
at its sparks. Can it be
that life is more forgiving
than he has known?
Can it be that surrender
to a mystery so much greater
than the gods our
fears and pride create
can truly unlock the door
to a peace he thought…