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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Tuesday, July 5, 2016

The only Everest we ever climb


from this week in July 2012  (I was 67)

The only Everest we ever climb
is the most upset when we try
so hard we hardly breathe
sometimes we forget to
The finer the work the more
subtle the artistry required
dexterity beyond competence
The language for it expressive
finesse nimble versatility
and an inclination to do
out of thin air resourcefulness
of the source called forth
to strengthen our grip on the vertical path

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