deepundergroundpoetry.com
The Flea Trainer
The Flea Trainer
I can see fleas on tiny seesaws,
sitting tiny swings that sway,
contented and bored to just pass the time.
How came they conditioned this way?
First, put the fleas within a jar
then place the lid on top.
The fleas will jump and jump and jump
hitting glass and lid with knocks
and after a while the muscles condition
the jump to avoid the pain
of colliding with lid and glass so hard
over and over again.
You can remove the lid. Let out the fleas,
even put them on swings that sway.
They’ll jump but within the limits imposed
on muscles conditioned this way.
We start out fresh to climb the mountain,
to leave our marks on Life,
to jump the stumbling stones of living
and clear the hurdles of strife
but we bang our heads. We skin our knees.
We fracture our hopes and means.
So when we jump, it’s not so high.
Conditioning has stolen our Dreams!
From the corner of my eye, I spied the jar.
Without lid, there’s a chance to get out.
Yet the fleas within just could not do it
with freedom as close as a shout
but my eyes perceived a single flea,
jumping high and above the rest,
looking for the opening at the top of the jar
where freedom is the dream and the quest.
Each time he jumped, it seemed much higher
defying his conditioning to win.
I found myself cheering on this flea
now showing me the Hero within.
With eyes faced up for one giant leap
to clear the barrier, the bar,
it lunged past fleas and the opening at the top.
This flea-trainer jumped “Out” of the jar.
I roared. The fleas in the jar were shocked!
I clapped. Disbelief ran fast
but there was no denying this Will of one flea
now looking from the other side of the glass.
I learned from the insignificant,
where significant wisdom is free,
that it’s not the size of the flea in the fight.
It’s the size of the fight in the flea.
Being beaten will no longer defeat me,
though I’m hammered on Life’s anvil and scarred.
No longer will circumstances crush my Dreams.
I’m a Flea trained to jump, from the jar.
Namyh
I can see fleas on tiny seesaws,
sitting tiny swings that sway,
contented and bored to just pass the time.
How came they conditioned this way?
First, put the fleas within a jar
then place the lid on top.
The fleas will jump and jump and jump
hitting glass and lid with knocks
and after a while the muscles condition
the jump to avoid the pain
of colliding with lid and glass so hard
over and over again.
You can remove the lid. Let out the fleas,
even put them on swings that sway.
They’ll jump but within the limits imposed
on muscles conditioned this way.
We start out fresh to climb the mountain,
to leave our marks on Life,
to jump the stumbling stones of living
and clear the hurdles of strife
but we bang our heads. We skin our knees.
We fracture our hopes and means.
So when we jump, it’s not so high.
Conditioning has stolen our Dreams!
From the corner of my eye, I spied the jar.
Without lid, there’s a chance to get out.
Yet the fleas within just could not do it
with freedom as close as a shout
but my eyes perceived a single flea,
jumping high and above the rest,
looking for the opening at the top of the jar
where freedom is the dream and the quest.
Each time he jumped, it seemed much higher
defying his conditioning to win.
I found myself cheering on this flea
now showing me the Hero within.
With eyes faced up for one giant leap
to clear the barrier, the bar,
it lunged past fleas and the opening at the top.
This flea-trainer jumped “Out” of the jar.
I roared. The fleas in the jar were shocked!
I clapped. Disbelief ran fast
but there was no denying this Will of one flea
now looking from the other side of the glass.
I learned from the insignificant,
where significant wisdom is free,
that it’s not the size of the flea in the fight.
It’s the size of the fight in the flea.
Being beaten will no longer defeat me,
though I’m hammered on Life’s anvil and scarred.
No longer will circumstances crush my Dreams.
I’m a Flea trained to jump, from the jar.
Namyh
Published 20th Feb 2024
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20th Feb 2024 2:09pm
For me this was a very creative refreshing poem due to the topic and story line. Really amazing how you have written this flea theatre piece. I much enjoyed the read. Many deeper reflections can be seen in your stanzas!!!
1st Mar 2024 2:08am
Anne - I wrote this for those of us who give up on their dreams, unlike the flea who didn't give up on his. Sometimes you just gotta start jumping to escape the jar that confines you. Stop back anytime for those deeper reflections. Mighty happy to “refresh.” Namyh
20th Feb 2024 4:03pm
this is a very interesting write you know who we are fighting with it's our creator of course...I wonder did that flea really escape of find himself in another jar, state, realm is there really any escaping I do escape by altering my perceptions...
1st Mar 2024 2:09am
Crimsin - The flea who escaped was heard to say that evening before to his closest buddies “If you smile, I’ll smile. If you hurt, I’ll hurt. If you cry, I’ll cry. But if you’re still here after I jump …………I’m gonna miss your E-mails”. That flea was unconcerned what jar, state or realm he would land on. He just wanted OUT and that sounds like me and some people I know with altered perceptions. Hallelujah! LOL Thanks Crimsin for spendin’ a spell. Namyh
19th Mar 2024 8:29pm
Wonderful and inspiring. A true lesson to overcome life’s obstacles and challenges.
Beautifully penned
Beautifully penned
