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 18, 2021

XMAS ‘66

 

December 18, 1966  (I was 22)

 

   XMAS ‘66

Sidewalk Santas

Accordion’s din

Salvation pot

To put dollars in

 

Headless bundles

Go by on the street

A nigger-man

Old, blind, dog at his feet

 

“Christ” utters one

“What is worse than to be

An old nigger-man

Who can’t even see?”

 

Reflecting on this

I barely heard the old man

“What is worse?

To be a young one who can”

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