Two Poems by Liz Wheeler

If I Hadn’t

There was a time I wore a coat of so many colors sometimes I got lost. Forgotten amidst my protection, which shell I was wearing, which disguise I had donned that particular day. Was I the good witch or the bad? On the yellow brick road or the path to destruction. Was I the queen or the pauper, the turtle or the hare? I could always run away but could I ever run toward? That’s an interesting idea because running toward is not something I do lightly. Not something that is easily done from under neath these many layers of colors I have so cleverly created. Can the world see them or are they only visible to me? If I hadn’t created them who would I be? Would I be normal, different, loved more? If I hadn’t been me, then who would I be, who would you see. You would still simply see me, If I hadn’t been me.

Ode to Johny

You can’t convince me there is only one way to do this. That your way is the best way, the only way. You have what I want so do it the way I do it. You tell me if I try it my way-How’s that workin’ for you? Had enough yet? This friendly face came across the room toward me on a computer screen not too long ago. He didn’t preach to me. He didn’t tell me how to behave, how to react, how to feel. He didn’t list off the only way do this thing that we were all reaching for. He asked me some questions, he listened for my answers then he asked me what I felt. I will never forget that face coming toward me on that screen that day. He didn’t try to convince me of anything. He still doesn’t. He is real today. He came out of the screen and into my life. He didn’t need to convince me. I am convinced. There is more than one way.