It's A Mind 'Thing' Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Not another dance am I going to have with failure.
Now that I've come to realize,
I've been the one selecting...
The tone, the tune and movement of it.

It took me some time,
To understand my own whining...
Came from a rhythm,
I initiated within me.
And I sought failure as a partner.

I did.
And...
I had to qualify it.
That's how attracted to it I was.

I remember recently being asked to dance with sorrow.
It was a slow bluesy, tearjerker thing.
Oh, I was quite tempted until I saw it smiling.
And I thought, 'Why do I want to dance,
With that much empathy?
Ready to have me pacing back and forth,
All night on the floor.
Am I that much in need of pity?
I don't think so.'

So...
I sat down and cried until my eyes dried.
How could sorrow approach me like that?
As if I was that easy.

Not another dance am I going to have with failure.
Now that I've come to realize,
I've been the one selecting...
The tone, the tune and movement of it.

And I've discovered...
If I keep telling myself I am happy?
Blessed with joy and abundant good health?
Guess what?
There is no one on the planet,
That can tell me I am not.
'Cause I refuse to have it any other way.
It's a mind 'thing'.