Life Lesson Poem

Find Joy In The Middle Amongst A Life Of Extremes

I love and admire the passion of standing firm and true to one's own convictions! However, I sense a lot of conflict both internally and externally when feeling the "need" to choose from extremes in every case. For me, it's actually quite rare. As best I can, I try to choose a life of curiosity, balance and peace, which is often found in the middle.

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The Middle

Published by Family Friend Poems March 23, 2024 with permission of the Author.

When choices present throughout the whole day
Enticing you to go this or that way
With convincing arguments that both sides portray;
I find answers are oft in the middle.

Screams to pick teams, we must choose from extremes
In a world which we live in with vitriolic themes
And haters both teeter and totter it seems;
Whereas balance is oft in the middle.

How unpopular it is to not pick a side
And a reach 'cross the aisle now seems to divide
Each end of the spectrum prompts feelings to hide;
When peace is oft in the middle.

Whether raised to critique with a skeptical eye
Or to simply believe without questioning why
Both can dangerously judge with a stubborn reply;
While curiosity is oft in the middle.

When a harm has been done and there's reason to hate
And it feels like they've won 'cause no one can relate
So you force out a smile hoping time will abate;
Yet forgiveness is oft in the middle.

When criticizing you is the best they can do
And you want to respond so that they feel it too
Let the pendulum swing for a moment or two;
Because love is oft in the middle.

ABOUT THE POET:

Doug William Benson has been a practicing physical therapist since 2007. His areas of interest and expertise are in geriatric and neurological rehabilitation including stroke, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. His newfound love for poetry and expressive writing comes from the recent rediscovery of various poems he wrote in junior...

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