Sometimes Shame

sometimes shame seems

like a thin scum on a still pool.

other times, like an avalanche

aimed at what's left of your

self worth. shame can make

you want to walk away from 

yourself--until you come to the

end of the chain and recall

you can't do that. some days

you find you feel like a boss.

you fire shame, tell it to haul

its slithery useless self off

your job site. because you

have work to do. because

you know again that shame 

is not the same as you. 

hans ostrom 2021