I met a man who suffered fear
because he mistook his work for his worth
I shared with him some wisdom I'd found
admitting that I, too, was prone to similar delusions
but he laughed at me
and shaking his head
claimed a physical intolerance of guided self-improvement
I could tell he was trying to conceal his contempt
out of consideration for my feelings
because clearly
I was the sort to succumb to self-help
and honestly, my feelings were hurt
momentarily
but I put my ego back in its place and moved on
I didn't explain, or belabor the point, that his handicap was mental,
unwillingness
and a steel trap protecting his pride
fearing change, shirking responsibility
content to be occasionally content
and postponing freedom
until his prison cell caved in on him entirely
and desperation awakened his demand for freedom
I'm familiar with the tendency
after all
having made a friend of misery for years myself
