Creatures of Habit

Creatures of habit,
Day after day
Go about life,
The same old way.

Nothing disturbs
Their orderly routine
All must be neat,
And all must be clean.

They’re making their lists
And checking them twice,
Trying to make sure
Their work will suffice.

Impatient by nature
They don’t suffer fools
Gladly or otherwise
Because of the rules.

A place for everything
For all there’s a place
Don’t touch the guest towels
But please wash your face.

They insist on living
Orderly lives,
And of course only marry
Orderly wives.

Their homes antiseptic
Their cars always clean,
Their food always healthy
Their meat always lean.

Like ants in an ant hill,
Repeating their tasks
Rest in repetition
Ignore the mask.

Chaos is forbidden
Experiment absurd
Don’t ask for creative
Don’t mention the word.
Creatures of habit,
By whose design?
Is this just human,
Or is it divine?

What if we found
That ordering our sphere,
Is just a misnomer
For controlling our fear?

Fear of the truth,
Fear of falling
Fear of the unknown,
Fear of our calling

Fearing to let go,
Fearing to try,
Fearing to live,
And fearing to die.

An unknown poet said it
Muse in the machine
It suggests new direction
By which we come clean.

“It’s the heart afraid of breaking.
That never learns to dance,
It’s the dream afraid of waking
That never takes a chance.

“It’s the one who won’t be taken
Who cannot seem to give,
And the soul afraid of dying,
That never learns to live.”

Perhaps if we surrender
Control of our lives,
And offer ourselves
To all seeing eyes

We’ll find a new freedom
Though not out of bounds
For when he controls us
The order’s profound.


Let go of the death grip,
You have on your life
Inhibit your habits
Without artifice.

Accept serendipity,
Free by design
Eat the new manna
Drink the new wine.

Come to the manger
Kneel at the throne
Realize your ruler
Won’t leave you alone.

Celebrate Christmas
Deliverance declare
You’re freed to inhabit
A creature’s full share.

Dec. 1 2005