I don’t write in a journal everyday, but I have accumulated many entries over the past 50+ years beginning in 1966. Some items evolved into longer works. Among the leftovers little pieces survived. I thought a collection of these with a piece culled from the same date in a past year would make an interesting yearbook. The consistencies and inconsistencies of mind, skipping back and forth across time, provide varied perspectives. It is difficult to remember the context of the past we’ve lived; we also make suppositions about times that predate ourselves.

The few alterations from original drafts were to improve clarity. The worst of my work is not included. There remains enough mediocrity and immaturity to make me feel humble and you feel smart. There are also moments of accidental insight and incidental humor.

Author Stephen Crane referred to his little pieces as pills…apparently they were small and somewhat hard to swallow, but good for you.


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Wednesday, July 20, 2016

…from the continuing Ballad of Johnny Mesabi


…from the continuing
Ballad of Johnny Mesabi*

Johnny Mesabi was raised on The Range
Left twice to avoid being strange
When you leave people warn ya
“You’ll never stay in California”

But leave often enough and you will
Johnny did and he’s livin’ there still
You gotta settle where you feel strong
Then you can stay where you belong

Johnny Mesabi headed for the freeway
The Golden State gives ya the leeway
Disney Yosemite summer of love
Where the hawk flies the same sky’s the dove

Johnny engaged in the politics of hair
Taught in suburbs but couldn’t buy there
Started a family with less skill than luck
Planted rhymes so he wouldn’t get stuck

*a series from journals 2001-2005
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