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.


Comments Welcome!

Saturday, December 2, 2017

legacy


December 2, 2007  (I was 63)

          legacy
World War II excessively bent perception
as if war were an institution of right
where evil incarnate is defeated
and universal seeds of freedom are sown
It was hugely expensive
an awesome imposition on consciousness
Millions and millions in positive passion
became parents and their children came to know
the war ended the depression
It was the war to justify all wars
Hitlers lived in Asia Central America the Middle East
Chamberlains in long coats lurked in Congress
Fear itself is plenty to fear
Fear of dissent begot fear to dissent
Peace is seen as complacency
Proponents of divine prophecy expect Armageddon
will be disappointed if they don’t live to see it
Among the chosen they can point a final finger
at the fallen in their ultimate I told you so
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