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!

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

theirs

 

October 27, 2007  (I was 62)

 

                  theirs

Other peoples’ children praise the Lord

with no sense of his humility

pass judgment knowing they are judged favorably

 

Other people’s children have body piercings

They wear hindrances through every sensory organ

and cut-away clothes to expose their tats

 

Other people’s children withhold their opinions

Their restrained considerations

Produce an impeccable silence

 

Other people’s children know the value of art

is determined in the auction house

The true critic is counted currency

 

Other people’s children realize introspection

creates the illusionary devil of self-doubt

and can lead to self-denial

 

No child of mine was ever like this

because other people are the parents

of other people’s children

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