Employing several others as I plied
my accidental trade, I only sought
integrity and honest effort tried
with their momentum, for I never thought
I’d find a twin. I paid a wage and taught
a bit, but each selected their own how.
Reviewing, I approve of what was wrought,
and may engage another to endow.
Although her father said the world consists
of followers and leaders, what’s revealed
in time is that another sort exists:
the neither. Self-employment’s course appealed.
She set a shingle out and plied her way,
and used her brain and diligence enough
to earn for a small group sufficient pay,
and granting latitude was nothing tough.
Besides herself, providing means to eat
for half a dozen others, she arrived
in 40 years at leisure’s windowed door.
And lately she’s considering a meet
donation to aid one who’s largely thrived
already, but deserves a bigger oar.
I’ll be a little late today, to post.
That’s insignificant as it can be.
No obligation motivates – at most,
it’s just a morning task I set for me.
It’s chill today, for April, and I see
in fireplace warm flames of yellow-red.
I’m home from now till 2 or even 3,
so comfortable I may return to bed.
Accustomed now to months of winter drought,
we sadly sat with minimal surprise
through most of January’s weeks without
good rain to follow New Year’s stormy skies.
For vernal dryness none of us felt doubt,
but April soaks arrive to catalyze
our gardens and to irrigate our views.
The weather’s weird but lately welcome news.
I’ve overloaded Mondays recently.
What used to be a rest is growing jammed
with crunches, bins, and print activity.
Add shopping, and I feel a little slammed.
There’s verse to write and edit, and lately
a dose of weekday prose has been programmed.
Complaining is a futile, silly role,
especially since I am in control.
Conversing with a fundamentalist,
I wasn’t shocked to learn he got his news
from other streams than where I swim, and missed
how good are many hearts. Then too, he views
few people face-to-face, for he eschews
the buses, trains and planes I frequent here.
A valley-dwelling driver, fears abuse
him in his isolated atmosphere.
“But everything is meaningless without
a god – the universe does not make sense
if nothing lasts.” My old friend didn’t shout,
but desperate almost-anguish filled his face.
I countered that our brains may grasp about
infinity, but cannot comprehend.
The opposite of death is cancer’s spout –
chaotic growth and no intelligence.
Adore existence now. Allow the doubt.
Arthritis in her shoulder on the left
is causing chronic pain the doctors treat
with shots of cortisone for now, but cleft
is the prognosis – time may soon defeat
the steroid – surgery is probable.
For now, she’s lifting less and often seeks
accommodation. Getting back a full
extent of motion needs OR techniques.
Her tunnel vision is a larger pain.
Last week she wouldn’t tread a neighbor’s stairs.
The rail was on her left – she can’t obtain
support there – she wants bannister repairs.
But two alternatives won’t cause her harm –
some balance work, or holding someone’s arm.
To judge the artists for their politics,
and cancel all with whom you don’t agree,
resembles acts of stupid lunatics,
a sure excursion in vacuity.
The consequence of fast biography
is shallow gossip, tasteless overhauls.
Resist such cultural conformity,
or suffer empty shelves and barren walls.
My friends predicted what did not occur.
“You never know,” they promised, but I did.
No urge to drive or shop arose to stir
my energy, and as for being rid
of one who should have sheltered and endorsed,
and comforted and guided me with care,
I no more miss her presence than divorced-
after-abuse folks loathe the empty air.
Oh, I’ll admit that now and then a twinge
of absence will beset my solitude.
But no regret or elegies impinge,
and nothing in my memory is rued.
I learn how strong was criticism’s keep.
The drop in negativity is deep.
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