picnic table and other poems

Sadness after Matthew Dickson

when sadness comes to you as Zues,

you must pretend to be happy.

act like nothing's wrong, when both him and you know there is.

i do this often, and Zeus knows me well.

he tells me to write everything that's been wrong with me,

and to cross out everything that's not important.

everytime he comes,

i play greek music.

he misses olympus, but doesn't show his own sadness.

instead, he goes through the list with me,

and helps me decide what's important or not.

we come across one,

"letting the love of my life slip away."

i stare at it, and he is quiet.

he comforts me, as a father comforts his son.

he says, " the road filled with sadness is hard."