Some calming words

11 Nov, 2025

I’ve become fascinated by poems that you can play. I wanted to write another one focussing on something encouraging or comforting people could do because these days things feel so dark. I was inspired by David Lynch’s Weather Reports¹ and also by the concept of The Glade from the RPG Eco Mofos². The first draft of this arrived when Lynch passed as a tribute to his spirit and energy.

An Encounter with a Prophet

Sit down somewhere.
Comfortable but alert,
Straight spine.
Potential energy without anticipation.
Close you eyes.

Call to mind somewhere calm.
Somewhere resonant but not somewhere specific.
A desert, but not that desert,
A forest, but not those trees,
A beach, but not the dunes you played in as a child.
Make sure you can see the sky.

In front of you sits a man,
He wears black from head to toe.
He sits as you do,
Cross legged or on a chair,
His movements mirror yours.

There is no time here.
Not enough time
Or a frozen moment.
No leaves move,
no waves crash,
no grasses roar.

The man’s face is obscured.
His eyes dark by shaded glasses
His beard full and wild.
There are no clouds here,
Each cloud is a thought you bring yourself.
A distraction.
Let your mind blow them on.

Bring to mind your goal.
A place, real or imagined.
A place you belong.
A place where you’re loved.
Your garden.
Your sun in your cloudless sky.

Take something from your sun.
Place it in your scene,
Locked in time.
The man moves his head.
For a moment he isn’t in lockstep with your movements,
Not a reflection,
But quickly synced again.
Sit still and quiet.
One minute?
Five?
Twenty?

Focus on the unmoving sky.
On your breath.
On this moment.

The man reaches behind his back.
Are you concerned?
His hands come back into view.
Not a gun but a red megaphone.
He raises it to his lips,
It nearly touches your face.
“YOU HAVE A GOOD HEART!”
He booms in a nasal monotone.
“WHEREVER YOU’RE GOING, IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO BE BLUE SKIES AND BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN SUNSHINE ALL ALONG THE WAY!”