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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Friday, September 20, 2019

Exertion –a song


September 20, 1976  (I was 31)

         Exertion –a song
Ply the oar
with might and main
hammer the tongs
with heart and soul.
Do double duty,
strain every nerve
take pains

Work toil strive and strain
take pains

Make the pilgrimage
smoke the pipe
Prepare the ground
and watch for rain
Summon with drums
cry the hue
maintain

Gasp pant puff and blow
take pains

At daggers drawn
risk a neck
face the opinion
and stare daggers down
Bite against the grain
alone and unarmed
take pains

Astute artful crafty and shrewd
take pains
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