what doubt wants

you can look at the sapling and know the tree.

you can look at the cub and know the wolf.

can you see the thought and know its trajectory? where it might land? what animates it?

I went following some familiar thoughts in this one… let me know how it lands/what thoughts it stirs in you... or don’t and just roll it around in your mind like the residue of glue that comes off easy when it’s dry enough.

what doubt wants

I am no longer entirely impatient
with the things I do not know
they don’t harry me or weigh me down
like they used to—they are my friends
I see what doubt wants—
a hand to hold
he is not satisfied
with the wobble of the universe
and he has yet to notice
that he is ambling, if weakly,
across the living room of his life—
these are not his first steps
I see what fear wants—
the reassurance of being lifted to the table,
despite the tears, and spoon-fed
with all the patience of a mother,
only he doesn’t see that she cheers him on
with every trembling bite he lifts
to his droopy mouth—poor boy
I will never not crave
to be set upon the lap of goodness, of all-love,
and to be subsumed in those arms of kindness
who stills my fits of dread
with an embrace, holding the very self of my self
together—a brittle clay sculpture
warmed, rewet, and remade
I will never not crave
for the story of my life to be told
with every turn, tragedy, and detail
pierced by the steady hands and needle
of mercy, strung with the thread of unyielding love,
and worn across the majesty of your breast
—ZW

upgrade to paid

I used to think doubt was a defect to get rid of, and that fear told me what to do.

as with so many things, they can have their say in a ring of advisors, but in the seat of a king they become tyrants.

I’ll say more another time.

one more song to mix.

and I’ll be on tour some this fall with The Gray Havens—those are the “+” shows—as well as at some conferences. and I’m looking to fill the gaps in November. come.

Sept 16 — Rochester, MN +
Sept 17 — Green Bay, WI +
Sept 18 — Madison, WI +
Sept 19 — Milwaukee, WI +
Sept 20 — Aurora, IL +
Sept 30 — Portland, OR +
Oct 1 — Tacoma, WA +
Oct 2 — Bellingham, WA +
Oct 3 — Wenatchee(!), WA +
Oct 4 — Spokane, WA +
Oct 9 — Music & Poetry in Middletown, CT
Oct 10 — Creātiō Arts Conference, CT
Nov 5 — Pittsburgh, PA +
Nov 6 — Cedarville, OH +
Nov 7 — Zionsville, IN +
Nov 8 — Louisville, KY +
Nov 10 — ??? 👀 looking to book a solo show 👀
Nov 11 — ??? 👀 looking to book a solo show 👀
Nov 12 — ??? 👀 looking to book a solo show 👀
Nov 13-14 — Raleigh, NC (The Guild Conference)

peace to you.

thanks for being here. I [usually] write weekly sharing poetry, songs, musings, thoughts on creative life, and hopefully some encouragement…

my store is here. my collection of poetry, Snowmelt to Roots, is back in stock (yay)! my music & other merch are in my shop. and to listen to my music, go here.

you can still preorder my new album & poetry book here.

if you’re interested in having me out for a concert, a talk, a workshop, etc., please write to contact@zachwinters.com. new concert announcements will appear here (soon to come).

with gratitude,

Z