Nominate Yourself Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

"Envelop, please.
And,
The winner is..."

Nominate yourself to be mentioned,
For having the patience of Job.
You know.
Job?
The one depicted biblically.
Of having to acquire,
The stamina and patience with faith it takes...
To tolerate if not eliminate,
Obstacles faced on a daily basis.
Endured without exits or chased escapes.
Way back then when blemishes appeared,
To be windblown tumbleweeds.
With nearly a trace of conflicts on landscapes.
Imagine how life had been back then.
When Job had to face,
Such mental and physical...
Dehumanizing debasement.

Nominate yourself,
If your wounds thought to bleed...
Flow through urban streets,
Threatening a flood.
Or if your shoulders bend over,
From a loaded weight of stress to bear.
With beliefs this is the reason,
You are losing your hair and no one cares.
But before you vocalize your sorrows and pains,
Do not become startled by others who appear...
With more on their backs carried.
And seem to remain stress free.
Without hint of sweat.
On their backs or necks.
Even JOB with his story told many years ago.
Would today be impressed.
With all that he sees,
Would make his life lived then...
Look like an easy game of checkers.
When today many are living,
With much more to express...
That is carried in their minds.
Broken hearts, backs and chests.
Yes.
Nominate yourself.
With others standing around.
Making what you carry,
Appear much less than a nest for hummingbirds.
With thoughts they too should win contests.
And without complaints heard to confess.
Yet awaiting like you,
To be able to sit down.
And be the next to get rest.

"You?
Yes you.
Make your move.
Then when you are through get up and go.
God bless those,
Who continue to lie to themselves.
And others too.
For many,
Reality is a painful discovery of truths.
Isn't it?
Okay.
Whose NEXT? "