A thought
is of no consequence.
It’s intention that counts.
But we martyrise ourselves
thinking ‘we are what we think’,
like ‘we are what we eat’.
Except we choose our food.

A thought is not a feeling
but it can unclench one.
It can convince us we are something
other than ourselves.
Like at a fancy dress party,
we are ourselves, only distorted.
But still we take ourselves seriously.

A thought can drive us
to drink and drugs and OCD
to manic depression and addictions.
To over- and under-eating and
thinking that we’re bad.
At least this I can control, we say
as we take it out on the credit card.

Is it because thoughts cannot be seen
that we are superstitious as to their power?
Like spiritual realms and witchcraft,
God and the forces driving the weather?
So that when in doubt
we turn against ourselves.
Thinking, as we do:

“It comes from inside me
so it IS me, at least in part
and therefore I must be bad”.