I never saw a wild thing
sorry for itself. 
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself

I return to ‘Self-Pity’, a poem from D.H. Lawrence time and again. I love the combination of low-brow and high-brow – because I actually discovered the poem through G.I. Jane, a film I’m not embarrassed to admit I’ve seen roughly half a dozen times.

It’s not a poem I ever use for others. We all have a right to our emotions and however we’re feeling – particuarly right now while COVID-19 has completely changed most people’s lives – but it is a poem I use just for me. It’s my iPhone background and a reminder to myself to act rather than indulge.

Others might find something helpful in its message too.