Be Not Dismayed: poem by Marc Janssen

image by Stefano Ferrario, on Pixabay, modified

Be Not Dismayed  

Some nights are long. 

            In our normal course 

The blue of the morning 

            Stays away, it hides. 

Be not dismayed. 

In everyday severity 

            Comments 

            And looks. 

Anger is easy— 

Like breathing is easy— 

Like curse words that 

            Fly to lips with little effort. 

This is not about surrender, 

It is about perseverance. 

About naming yourself 

            In the midst of silent strife

And that long lonely nights in bedrooms 

Are not spent alone 

            Even if no one else is there— 

Or it feels that way. 

Or if the sunsets 

Get too depressing 

            Or too automatic 

As they play over and over. 

It is not an empty wish 

            Not a platitude. 

That, lower in your consciousness, 

            In the part of your mind  

            Still your own: 

Know that you are not alone. 

Scripture reference: Deuteronomy 31: 8-9 

____________________________

What is left to say about Marc Janssen, other than

he should eat more vegetables? Maybe his verse

can be found scattered around the world in places like Pinyon, Orbis, Pure Slush, Cirque Journal,

Two Thirds North and Poetry Salzburg. Also, in his

book November Reconsidered and his recent book collaboration A Resurrection of Trees. Janssen coordinates the Salem Poetry Project (a weekly reading), the occasionally occurring Salem Poetry Festival, and keeps getting nominated for Oregon

Poet Laureate. For more information visit: 

marcjanssenpoet.com. 

(April 2026 issue)