My Troubles

~MY TROUBLES

My troubles followed me home today
as they did not want to be alone.
“Wait for us!” they cried and came in
before I could close the door.

As my troubles sat with me
in my favorite chair
they began to tell me
of their worries and their cares.

“You could have done better,”
was their solemn advice.
“You could have tried harder
to be nice.”

Their words were not welcomed
no comfort did they bring.
Still my troubles kept on
with their sad refrain.

“Are you listening?” screamed my troubles
drowning out my favorite show
as they would not be hindered
in their mission to haunt me.

My troubles pressed on with vigor.
An unpaid bill.
A little white lie.
An unfinished repair.

“Look at you.  Is this all you can do?”
I wanted to rest but they said no.
For a moment I almost forgot 
that they were there.

Waiting for a commercial
my troubles returned in force
to remind me
of the thing left undone.

These evil warriors battled on
with curses and pathetic tales
of lost opportunities
 gone forever because of my lack of care.

As bedtime ended the day long battle
my troubles groaned and shrieked,
 “Wait don’t leave us!” 
“Oh, you are so weak.”

They were silent until I closed my eyes
then they were quick to say
“Good night, sweet prince.  Sleep tight.”
“We’ll be waiting.”

In the peace that passes understanding
I slumbered well past dawn
when my troubles woke me to tell me
that it was nearly noon.

The battle of the mind renewed again
with fierce intensity
growing to a deafening roar
in every corner of my head.

What am I to do.
with these my awful friends?
To their hate and spite
give in?

No!
I’ll do something better.
I’ll rise up and 
start my life renewed.
To fight with all my might
until a victory over my troubles I win.

I’ll read a book.
I’ll write a poem.
I’ll help someone
feel better again.

I will live each second
with joy and with praise
so that tonight
when I go to bed I can say.

“Good Night. My troubles. "
"Good Night.”
 “Forever.“