Ode to my stubbornness, by Britta Benson

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Here’s my response to this week’s W3 writing prompt, selected by Poet of the Week Deepthy. (https://skepticskaddish.com/2022/09/28/w3-prompt-22-weave-written-weekly/). She asks for an ode to a thought or idea that largely influenced your life or character.

So… what does influence my life and character? The first thing that came to my mind was my stubbornness and I simply ran with that.

Ode to my stubbornness

You’re perhaps not
my most redeeming feature,
but you got me here.
Yes, you!
I’m covered in glue,
paint in my hair,
don’t look at my fingers,
you made me stick 
those feathers onto that page,
write silly poems deep 
into sleepless nights,
to whom it may concern.
Because of you,
all of this matters,
and, worse,
you make me care.

I bake lopsided cakes,
because you ripped up 
tried and trusted recipes.
Just the other day
you were having a laugh,
made me plant bulbs 
into the squelchy clay
that camouflages as back garden.
I know those tulips will rot.
One or two might thrive,
you said, 
and I believe you,
always.

You got me into this mess,
so please, 
no tut tutting in my direction!

I like you.
Grit. Furrowed brow,
ready or not, 
you make me get on with the job
of being me,
when my soft southern soul 
scouts for easy excuses,
tries to sneak out, 
hide, bend or twist.
She’s a natural born contortionist.

No such thing under your careful watch. 
You’re rigid. 
My backbone of non negotiableness.
Quite frankly, you don’t give a damn
and I love you for that.

You, my stubbornness,
you got me here. 
Right here. 
Thanks a bunch!

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