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!

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Blue sky and distinct shade made it clear


From this week in May, 2017 (I was 72)

Blue sky and distinct shade made it clear
the expected shadow monkeys did appear
How small they are this time of year

Look for their postures and poses
stretching between adjacent branches
They are given away by their motions

How amused we are to be so clever
recognizing their actions in silhouette
a stretch for fruit a scratch between limbs

seated for meditation
inquisitive head turns
Tail from which to dangle and bounce

No comments:

Post a Comment