I fell asleep with my glasses on and snapped them in my sleep. For about thirty minutes, I was irritated and squinting at the world. Then I realized there was still one arm left – and that was enough.
So I made it work.
Headphones became scaffolding. Music held my vision in place long enough to avoid a headache.
Sometimes clarity doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be functional.
— Rowan Evans
Not perfect. Just enough to see.
Scaffolding (Good Enough to See) Poetry by Rowan Evans
I woke up this morning
to find my eyes broken—
arm missing, broken in sleep,
had me squinting at screens.
I felt blind,
I couldn’t see.
Words merged
and blurred together—
accidentally silenced me.
It was like—
I could speak,
but I couldn’t speak.
Couldn’t find
the words I seek.
They were lost to me.
I tried to make it work for me,
MacGyver’d my vision
just so I could see.
Headphones propped
like scaffolding—
music holding
sight for me.
It wasn’t clear—
just clear enough.
And sometimes
that’s the difference
between pain
and peace.
Sometimes the world feels loud in ways we can’t explain. This was written as a soft place to land— for kids, for anxious hearts, for anyone who needs a reminder that calm is something you can learn, not something you have to earn.
Paul T. Geist guiding RoRo through the Land of Calm and Cheer, where big feelings learn how to breathe.
Paul T. Geist & RoRo’s Adventures in the Land of Calm and Cheer Poetry by Roo the Poet Written September 13th, 2024
In a cozy little town where moonbeams play, Lived a ghost named Paul T. Geist who loved to sway. With a gentle laugh and a shimmer so light, He brought comfort and joy on a soft, starry night.
RoRo was a girl full of bright, happy beams, But sometimes her feelings were wild, it seems. One day she felt frazzled, her emotions a storm, And her mood became chilly, her smile not so warm.
Paul T. Geist floated by with a friendly glow, “Dear RoRo,” he said, “there’s something you should know. Let’s visit a land where calmness takes flight, And find peace for your heart on this magical night.”
They drifted through fog that was soft and serene, To the Land of Calm and Cheer, where joy was seen. “Welcome,” said Paul, “to a place so profound, Where finding your calm is the treasure you’ve found.”
They met a wise owl with feathers of blue, Who spoke of deep breaths and feelings anew. “Sometimes,” said the owl, “our minds race so fast, But finding still moments can make calmness last.”
RoRo watched as the owl closed her eyes tight, And took gentle breaths to feel peaceful delight. She saw how stillness could quiet the storm, And how feelings could settle, transforming the norm.
Paul T. Geist then showed her a pond so clear, Where ripples of peace danced near and dear. “When you’re feeling stormy, take a deep breath, Like ripples that spread, it helps calm the depths.”
They visited a meadow where colors would sway, In hues that brought calm to each passing day. RoRo learned to breathe deeply and slow, Finding calm in the feelings that ebb and flow.
As they floated back home, RoRo felt light, Her heart now at peace, her emotions just right. She learned to embrace her feelings with care, And find calm in the storm, floating light as air.
Paul T. Geist waved with a glow soft and bright, “Remember, dear RoRo, your feelings are light. In the Land of Calm and Cheer, you’ve learned so much, To find peace and calm with a gentle touch.”
So children, remember, as you grow and play, Find calm in your heart at the end of the day. For in the Land of Calm and Cheer so near, Peace can be found, and your heart will be clear.
Poetry by Rowan Evans 