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Poem: Climbing the psychosocial spiral

From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee

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Climbing the #psychosocial spiral #DonBeck #SpiralDynamics

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Chum For Thought:
Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters

Poem: Climbing the psychosocial spiral

The way I am is better than how I have ever been.
I really am more satisfied with now than some past when.
I’m smarter than I used to be; as smart as I know how.
I don’t think one should need to be beyond where I am now.

But if once I have moved beyond the history of my past,
My progress to my here and now just might not be my last.
As I have struggled to transcend the problems I have met,
I must admit I should expect to meet more problems yet.

Although my errors led me to the way that I should go,
I don’t suppose “the hard way” is the only way to know.
Perhaps a search outside myself will shed a better light.
Have others come before me? Could they lead me out of night?

I should have the guessed; the path I tread has been traversed before,
By some who mastered lessons I’d be foolish to ignore.
If I care to examine all the best that they can tell,
I needn’t struggle near as hard in order to do well.

David Satterlee

Poem: No Ifs About It

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No Ifs About It

Life Will Get You in the End:
Short Stories by David Satterlee

from the book: Life Will Get You in the End:
Short stories by David Satterlee

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Read or download this story as a PDF file at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4eNv8KtePyKV0ZYSzVqbmg5M3M/edit?usp=sharing

An indecent (ie: not ready for prime time) proposal. A young man practices proposing (to his sister's stuffed doll, from the sounds of it). He probably shouldn't try this one on a real girl. Birdies and puppies and fish, oh my!  

No Ifs About It

If I had a little bird

Who sang a song to me,

Then I would build a home for it

Hung high up in a tree.

   Or

If I had a puppy dog

Who’d cry in pure delight

Then I would lay a rug for it

So it could sleep at night.

   Or

If I had a bowl of fish

Who'd swim and flit around

Then I would make their water fresh

And keep them safe and sound.

   But

If I had you here with me

I’d love you for all time.

And I would share my life. I would

Be yours and you’d be mine.

                                 February 29, 1972

 

Poem: Gathering Courage

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Gathering Courage

Life Will Get You in the End:
Short Stories by David Satterlee

from the book: Life Will Get You in the End:
Short stories by David Satterlee

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Read or download this story as a PDF file at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4eNv8KtePyKN1czdU1RdVdoTDQ/edit?usp=sharing

A decent proposal. A young man ponders the anxiety he may feel when it comes time to, someday, pop the question.

Gathering Courage

Standing on the corner,

Passing time away,

I think of all the times we’ll meet

And all the things we’ll say.

I think of sitting close to you

And watching the moon rise.

We’ll let the world just pass us by

What fools could be more wise?

I’ll hold you close and speak your name

Until we rise and all can see

That what they once had thought was one

Was really you and me.

I’ll care for you and make you mine

And we will vow our need.

Will share a love that only gives

And never takes in greed.

I think of what I need to live—

How I’d give all that I claim

To have you for my own to love

And have you share my name.

                             February 28, 1972

 

Poem: The Pledge

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The Pledge

Life Will Get You in the End:
Short Stories by David Satterlee

from the book: Life Will Get You in the End:
Short stories by David Satterlee

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Read or download this story as a PDF file at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4eNv8KtePyKdUxjZmhQTFEzUHM/edit?usp=sharing

Our young man vows his eternal admiration, devotion and delight to whomever he might fall in love with. Yeah, you say that now...

The Pledge

Who can say the worth of a day,

Or put a value on life.

When happiness grows more than anyone knows,

While I’m with you, my love and my wife.

The poets would praise you in immortal verse

For others to marvel and read

How one woman and man were so perfectly matched

As to always fulfill their mate’s need.

Stargazers would honor new stars with your name

And white clouds would paint it on skies.

And I would whisper it under my breath

As I gazed deep into your blue eyes.

I love you my darling, eternal delight.

You’ve become so much more than a friend.

We’ve united in flesh, heart, and mind for all time.

A union that won’t breach or bend.

                                              February 22, 1972