Where Did I Put My Spirit?

by Lynne Curry


Where did I put my spirit?
It was here the other day.
Must be somewhere close.
Unless
It wilted when I caved,
Ran
When I cratered.
Spirit, I need you—
Why should I come back?
Well, without you—
You took me for granted.
No. I never.
Yeah, right.
Well, maybe.
Here’s the deal.
I’m not coming.
Unless
You put up a fight.
But without you—
No, we’ve played it that way—
Too long.
This time, you go first.


* * * * *

"Where Did I Put My Spirit" was first published in the author's blog Writing from the Cabin. Credit for the first line goes to Aileen Holthaus.

Alaska/Washington author Lynne Curry has published six short stories, the most recent in 2024 (coming in The Sunlight Press); 2023 (The Big Windows Review); 2022 (After Dinner Conversations) and 2021 (101 Words) and six books, including Navigating Conflict and Managing for Accountability (BEP), Beating the Workplace Bully (AMACOM) and Solutions. She founded “Real-life Writing,” https://bit.ly/45lNbVo and publishes a weekly “dear Abby of the workplace” newspaper column, a monthly Writing from the Cabin blog, https://bit.ly/3tazJpW and on www.workplacecoachblog (2525 subscribers).