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!

Monday, September 20, 2021

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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