Gorilla

What you’ve got here, is a gorilla
Can’t be more helpful than that
Learn to train it, you can’t contain it
Gorillas can stomp you flat

It’s in your life now, this gorilla
What to do next’s up to you
You can’t contain it; learn to train it
There’s not much else you can do.

I know you don’t want the gorilla
But it has decided to stay
Learn to train it, you can’t contain it
Or wrestle the thing out the way

It’s a three-hundred pound gorilla,
People are going to stare
You can’t contain it; learn to train it
You can’t just pretend that it’s not there

So go on and train your gorilla
You’ll find it well worth the strife
Learn to train it, you can’t contain it
But you can still get on with your life. 

– Kell Willsen

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Inspired by “The Gorilla in Your House“, a disability analogy which grew out of a discussion on the old BBC Ouch! message boards.

Compare and contrast “The Spoon Theory” by Christine Miserandino.

Optimism

I haven’t met with much success
In fact I’m barely getting by,
Though failure dogs my heals, I guess
I’ll always have just one more try.
Though I may never “do or die”
Or shake the world, I’m not without
My own, unfailing battle cry:
“I’m often down, but never out.”

It’s tempting simply to regress
To sweet inaction, days slip by
In peaceful slumber, but unless
I stand again, I’ll never fly.
Despair may sing its lullaby
“Give up, give in, drop off, drop out.”
My stubborn soul will still reply;
“I’m often down, but never out.”

So onward, to a clearer sky
Soon all dark days must turn about
Let this persistence signify
I’m often down, but never out

– Kell Willsen

Frozen

Apathy, unfeeling emptiness,
    is both more and less than nothing.
True nothing offers space for new growth,
    but apathy stifles all hope.

Emptiness too vast for happiness
    paralysing and unending.
No sadness, no anger, just nothing,
    Forever and for evermore.

Happiness, a distant memory,
    taunts me with its elusiveness.
I don't mind; I feel nothing at all,
    not even regret for what's lost.

When feeling returns to frozen limbs
    the first sensation is acute pain.
When feeling returns to a frozen heart
    the pain can be unbearable.

So don't be upset by my coolness
    when you try to make me happy.
My heart is just beginning to thaw;
    releasing pent-up tears at last.

– Kell Willsen