Beginnings
I am just now in the early
autumn of my life, the green
just now beginning to gray.
Exactly seven days ago I sat
with one of my oldest friends.
We both agreed our give-a-shit
is broke. It’s not that we don’t
care, for we do, deeply. It’s that
our to-care list has been culled.
We’ve seen life is blisteringly brief.
Once upon a time we cared about
Evangelicals, but not any longer.
We both care about poetry—he
refusing to cease his love affair
with the lady of Blackwater Pond
while I dance high-wire blind
without a net to the strains of the
one-eyed Mozart of the Prairie.
And we both give-a-shit about
living—this being particularly
poignant for my oldest friend
dying of pancreatic cancer,
his leaves already brittling,
slowly beginning their fall.
Yes and yes. Just acknowledging all this.
Thank you so much for this poem, John!
I am so sorry for you and your friend. That road is a difficult one.
Please know that your words touch my heart.
John, well said. There with ya….God spede…jw
So Good John. Please keep writing for yourself and us.
High school English teachers always talked to us about symbols and meaning and such, but I usually never got it. If it doesn’t break any rules of poetic propriety, can you elaborate on this?
“ … while I dance high-wire blind
without a net to the strains of the
one-eyed Mozart of the Prairie.”
Hi, Vince. Sure, its a reference to Michigan poet Jim Harrison.
Holding you with wide open heart. And, thank you, for giving voice to that deep joy and grief, and love.
Totally love it…trite and banal response, but I just plain LOVED IT!!!
John it is Judy how is your Dad? He does so much for so many as does your Mom – Hope she is better toThanks for allowing me the information.
The Fall of life is full of gifts and the best is that closer to God and our loved ones.
Thanks