Emotional Temperature

If we think of a character's emotional life as a filled cauldron deep and wide, its surface ever stirred with conflicting waves, then perhaps we can describe the character's actions as motivated by the temperature of this contained liquid as we light the fires of plot beneath.

For example: today I feel good, positive, close to God, motivated. I am friendly to all and appear in good spirits. I cannot, however, shake a nagging sense of disquiet (whose source I have identified). Consciously, I know what the problem is, and have formulated a plan to obviate the offending causative scenario. Nevertheless, my outward cheeriness is likely an overcompensation for the mild apprehension I feel. What in my makeup has created this particular defense mechanism ?

Similar investigations of Kyle and Amasa's internal makeup should make their results apparent in the tone and tenor of their speech, their physical actions.

We Often Run

We often run,
Impulse says
(She who has birthed
many a fleet-footed runner)
Like bright kites held aloft against
Grey-edged skies
Leads taut
Borne high on intermittent winds
that blow from Home.

We often run
Like colors in the palette
squirming against each other
Intermingling black
To taint the edge of dipped brush and
sketch a determined figure
Never noticing the wielding hand
Is still
No matter how
Often we run
Mother's. Father's.