how about not less effort this time
something i will not be embarrassed by
with at least a bit of truth in there, somewhere
can i bring laughter or tears
or create a true Ponderer
i don’t suppose i’ll ever know
i’m the worst judge of myself
and others tend to be kind
in their rush to push through
the obstacles of the day

it’s not that i have nothing to say
i do
it’s not that there aren’t others who wish to listen
there are
it’s more about the effort—
planting these words, here–
waiting for the rain
to see if they may grow