I was down in the dumps when someone praised
A recent poem of mine.
I know we should be immune to Praise
And Criticism
But it’s hard not to be lifted
Like a hot air balloon
Above the petty doubts and grievances
That beset us all
And to bask in the warm sun of appreciation
Knowing that, yeh, we’re okay,
We’re going to get there
We are not alone.
Hope is the helium that keeps us aloft.
can you think of an occasion when praise made a difference in your life?
what is the helium that keeps you aloft?
John Malone 
Well; hope, helium, and hydrogen all start with “h”…
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very perceptive, Chelsea: and I do like my alliteration 🙂
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Yeah, it’s good to get a boost. Most people need it and deserve it.
See ya!
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You got that one right as the yanks like to say 🙂
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Breathing helium raises the voice, and it’s hard to stay grounded.
Meadow of Doom
Give me my praise
I shall not be wanted
Humble is praise in the valley
where the lambs are abundant; I do
not need to want for chops, and
I’d have no need for stewing.
Give me my paprika, the
shepherdess is at the barbecue
My staff, they comfort me not, for
an office gives me my unjust humor;
though cross, I’d let them
humor me well and lead me
to cross the river Styx into Egypt
and find my sticks, no carrots
Loquaciousness
do not fail me now, for
I must be at a gate of Heaven
to explain my case splayed out
in the verbosity of the century, yea
I come to praise Caesar and myself in kind
Tell me Caesar is there
and I am ubiquitous in
the quadrillion words of praise.
— Douglas Gilbert
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that’s quite a poem, Doug; thanks for sharing
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May you always have enough helium to help you to rise up, and float your way to hope and happiness, John!
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I like that comment, Carolyn — it has come at a good time; so good to hear from you 🙂
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I’ve never heard anyone say that we should be immune to praise. I mean, I get that we shouldn’t get too cocky and pompous, but appreciating praise is needed. It helps us feel better, and it helps us stay on track. It gives us motivation. It validates us. It means that we’re not just stumbling in the dark.
Great piece. So airy.
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Maybe it’s my hard Christian upbringing but I partly believed that and probably still do. Thanks for the comment about the poem being ‘airy’. I like that 🙂
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nice one.
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Reblogged this on josiahrobb and commented:
This piece resonates well with me. A nice pleasantly (but cleverly) simple piece. ☮️
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thank you.hope you get some traffic 🙂
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