In My Head

after James Baldwin’s “Some Days (for Paula)”

by Deborah LeFalle

It is some-
thing about the bad days
of my existence that triggers worry

granted worry that may be overbaked some-
times. Nonetheless I dread those days
and am always glad

when I can feel some
semblance of comfort that good days

bring. What more
can I ask than
for a safe space to make
me happy? You

might ask yourself the same. Or we could both be mad

and dismiss doing some-
thing about it. And those in-between days

neither good nor bad some-
where in neutral land days
that are more
or less in the middle rather than

claiming either extreme. Imagine days that SHINE!

ones that manifest when
you
put your mind to it and can see
their radiance balloon. Does what’s
coming

next preoccupy my mind too much? Keep me on
edge? Up days down
days smile days frown days – the
art of navigating life’s concocted line.