tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21492433133583697322024-02-19T21:15:48.645-05:00Jeff Epton's Outdoor Poetry SeasonA blog largely focused on my own poetry, with an occasional sampling of poems by other poets and commentary about poetry.Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-83807721428577376142023-11-09T13:42:00.004-05:002023-11-09T13:42:48.342-05:00 Sweet and young and always<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">You know the song</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">“you’re still the one,”</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">the song that couples</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: left;">time and love,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and begins a weaving<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of memory and the particular<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">rhythm that framed the way<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">we walked and wandered?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It puts me in mind<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of how much older I am<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">than we are,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">how I can still see<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">those bright visions of you<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">whom I have loved so<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and loved so all along.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You’re the one<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">are the lyrics, the sound,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the melody, I hear<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and I shake my head in wonder<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that you can see that I am, too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Thank you for who you have been<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and for who you are<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and for who we’ve been<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and how this forever<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">has become so sweet<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and young and always.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-71609618783950025252023-08-20T13:48:00.003-04:002023-08-20T13:48:34.414-04:00 It is us seasoning this land<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A poem about the blood<br />that soaks our land</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">is not about who spilled the most—<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">though it should be clear<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">who spilled the least,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">who took so much<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and gave so little—<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">but it is about our mingled DNA,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">delivered on rivers of blood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and rivers of tears<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and the sweat of hard labor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and the joy of ecstatic dancing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and the wet and rapid breathing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">that happens day<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and happens night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I leave behind a piece of me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">wherever I might go<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and on the way<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I pick a piece<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">of you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I never ask<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">whose blood is this,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">whose tears seed the rain,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">whose bare feet tamp the path,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">because I know this,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">all of it is us<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and ours.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And if a postscript<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">must supplement<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">what we spread and share,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">then we should act<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">together, like it all<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">belongs to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-10477576479740684692023-05-25T14:24:00.004-04:002023-05-25T14:25:25.822-04:00Ever the feeling<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">ever the feeling<br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">ever feeling no need</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of any sort<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">no need for more<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">no need for some<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">no need at all<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">for any one thing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">is this </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">a blessed state?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">or a sort of purgatory?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">who decides?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">who should be barred<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">from deciding?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">this is no reason to go on<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">this is the reason to go on <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">this, he wrote,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">struggling to remember<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the addendum intended<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">when he first<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">walked out into the sun –<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the feeling<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the lift that comes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">from walking straight into the sun<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">when it floods the eye<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">flies almost all the way<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to wherever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and, writing on,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">sorting through<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">memories that brought me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to my knees,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and then submerged <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">in moments<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of great exultation,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and find myself<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">exulting once more<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and in the moment</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">when I first saw you<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and knew suddenly<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">you would be the difference<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">in my life<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the moment in which we all<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">would see again<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and would gather together<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the feeling of enough<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">more than ever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">enough enough<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and still the locomotive<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">roaring by<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and the dog<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">consumed by terror<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">running and running<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and surviving the raging wind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">that carried the deepest chill<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">came at last<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">into my arms<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">squatting there in the very dark<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">attaching and attaching<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to us, to you, to me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">ever the feeling<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">home and homeless<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">tame and wild<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">broken and unbroken<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">new and striving<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">ancient<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">seeking rest<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and rebirth<o:p></o:p></span></p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">ever and ever</span>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-7355269771685004572023-05-23T16:36:00.002-04:002023-05-25T14:19:42.372-04:00 The current that carries us (revised)<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The sheer impact<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of what we have done<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">cannot be undone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We cannot take it apart.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We can bend it,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but not break it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We can fix a piece,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">try to fix a part<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that we can reach.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But separately,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and together,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">we will travel with it<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">wherever it flows.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We cannot get out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Nor off.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There are no stops<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But this ebb and flow,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">this sometimes power,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and sometimes no,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">these rich and transient joys,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">these assaults and frequent terrors,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">travel with us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We own it all.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-565998283948144742023-05-15T14:32:00.002-04:002023-05-15T14:32:57.602-04:00 A Single Star Will Show Itself<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Rumored or written somewhere,</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">the way, the path,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">to touching uncoerced,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">to flowing swiftly,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">through channels forking<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">and twisting and babbling on<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">and suddenly still,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">involves the growling, guttural talk<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">of tigers,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">or a passionate taste<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">of dark and chocolate,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">or the silver leap of fish<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">or yes,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">to lifting us</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">on swaying limbs of flowering trees,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">full pink and showering<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">the bay below,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">you wrapped in my arms,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">me snuggled up in yours.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">Rumored or written somewhere,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">or handmade<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">to suit myself,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">and sung to you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">the word to wait<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">for the new moon’s rising sliver,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">when a single star<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">will show itself<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">and light our dreaming way.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-24870233605992787312023-05-10T11:14:00.002-04:002023-05-10T11:18:07.848-04:00The magic passes by<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The poems always come</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">unbidden.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I could hunt<br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;">for them,<br /></span>but don’t know<br />where to look.<br /> <br />But this one,<br />not merely unbidden,<br />but buried<br />in sequence<br />with unlike things.<br /> <br />After a hard talk<br />with a man<br />I love,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">and a while spent<br />with the compost pile,<br />and a gathering of tools<br />and a piling of lumber,<br />and a power outage,<br />to divert me<br />from one work to another,<br />timed by whoever<br />times such things,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />and a brownie<br />with special powers,<br />and a trip<br />to the store,<br />for a bottle of cream<br />to make the week-old oatmeal<br />coming out<br />of the darkened fridge<br />a meal<br />moderately more palatable<br />than it might otherwise be,<br /> <br />and more brownie,<br />a bit more brownie,<br />and a passing tease<br />with a virile neighbor<br />about his virility,<br />and a beer on a warm slow day,<br /> <br />the power<br />came on,<br />and the poem<br />came, too,<br />loaded with prizes<br />(except no gift<br />of invented words<br />to share),<br /> <br />came with memories<br />of Noble Causes<br />and Bruising Battles<br />(as Marrianne’s book<br />has it),<br /> <br />came with memories<br />of love and adventure,<br />came with hints<br />of life left to live,<br /> <br />and, suddenly,<br />the unbidden poem,<br />having arrived,<br />having said<br />whatever it had to say,<br />departed,<br />leaving me to return<br />to tools and timber.</span></div>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-25392582343088311322023-05-09T14:43:00.000-04:002023-05-09T14:43:28.253-04:00A Hammering of Earth<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">Deep in the grave,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">blind in the gloom,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a spasm of wishes,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">an eruption of dreams,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a pounding and hammering<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">and gathering of earth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">Clawing the dirt<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">in tumult and temper,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a hint of desire,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a longing for more,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a pounding and hammering<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">and gathering of earth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">Through the green fragrant places<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">he floated<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">as though he might fade<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">in a moment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">Resting, then waxing,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">drifting, then winging,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">seeking the meaning<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">of symbols and dreams.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">Shadows gliding in,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">like leopards at night,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">she briefly stops by,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a succor of seasons,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a peak and a whisper.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">Just so is he rescued,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">and then, sped away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">A new cycle begun,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a grandeur of wishing,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a flexing of feelings,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">a pounding and hammering</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; margin: 0in;">and gathering of earth. </p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-27045841759114330662023-02-06T14:15:00.001-05:002023-02-06T14:15:44.899-05:00 The current that carries us<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The sheer impact<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of what we have done<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">cannot be undone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We cannot take it apart.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We can bend it, maybe,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but not break it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We can fix a piece,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">or try to fix a part<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that we can reach.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But separately,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and together,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">we will travel with it<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">wherever it flows.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We cannot get out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Nor off. There are no stops<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But this ebb and flow,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">this sometimes power,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and sometimes no,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">these rich and transient joys,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">these assaults and frequent terrors,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">travel with us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We own it all.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-60598628632690601022023-02-03T14:56:00.003-05:002023-02-04T10:23:14.056-05:00Waiting for Isabel<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Waiting for Izzy to wake,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">my baby grand,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">my Izzy Bizzy Bell.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I should head to Chicago,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">move on to next things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There’s stuff to do,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and I, my reputation<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">as dithering guy who never,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">never gets to the end,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">notwithstanding,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">am still the only guy to get it done.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But I’m waiting for Isabel to wake—<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">me, Isabel’s Jeff,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">here,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">waiting for Isabel,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">who, just before she slept,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">spent a long, full, bunch<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of uncountable minutes<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in loud, overwrought,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and well-acted screaming;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in epic distress,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">mommy-mommying her way<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">between long, sobbing, hiccups,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">until she decided that mommy-mommying<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">wasn’t working,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and switched to daddy-daddying,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">which also did not work,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">falling finally asleep, exhausted,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">when Mommy did show herself.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">That’s the person,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Isabell Lozen,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">my grand baby,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">for whose next waking moment<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I wait.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Because love,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I guess.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And knowing that</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">what I might otherwise<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">do is no longer the point. </p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-13416043195135604162022-12-05T11:53:00.005-05:002022-12-06T11:47:50.085-05:00 The Edge of Silence<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The edge of silence</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">haunts me,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">listening here,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">where there is still<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">song and rhythm<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and echoes and noise,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">sounding and resounding.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It would do<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">no good<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to put my ear<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to the edge of silence.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There would be no news,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">no hints, no vibes, no clues,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">coming here from there,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">from beyond the edge,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">from no place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I cannot speak<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">across the edge,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but neither have I crossed to there,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and I still have this voice.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And so much left to say<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">about who I loved<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and how I loved<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and what I did decent<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and did well and what I did<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that did not help<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and what I should have left undone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But all songs have accent points,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">pianissimo, harmony, crescendo,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and debatable notes,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and so shall mine.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The best that I have done<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">was arguably the work of others<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">with whom I played, and loved,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and labored, and chased after<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">gossamer-winged fancies.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Can you hear<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the smile in my voice,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">when I say, here,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">at the edge of silence,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that we were sometimes great<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">together,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and sometimes awed<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">at what we discovered<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in and out of each other.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">To have simply lived as we have,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and as we do,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and as we went and go,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">was and is, perhaps,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">too careless or, maybe,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">too careful, but was and is<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">courage all the while.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And so,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I am moved here<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">at the edge of silence<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to say that I am certain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that you will step forward<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and forward again,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and be just as brave<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">as you can be,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and full of song,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and full of look and listen,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and full of touch and love,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and building dreams<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that will last and last<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">as long as you are willing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">All of you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">My dear ones, my babies,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">my comrades, my heroes.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-77643469651355434922022-03-31T09:50:00.000-04:002022-03-31T09:50:05.568-04:00 Hidden away from the whole<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The voice,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">her voice, repeating,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I have to hang up.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We’re about to take off.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">They want me to hang up.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We’ll talk tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Okay?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I imagined she was speaking<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to her mother that way,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">or to the parts of her mother<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">dementia has left untouched for now,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">not the parts<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that have been buried away<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">from the whole of the world.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But another voice,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">speaking more forcefully,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">cited the pilot, saying,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">you must stop now<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and end your call,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and said it again,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">end your call.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The oil and water chorus<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">continued, and the voice<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">said goodbye before,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">one voice to another,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">explaining,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that was my brother.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">He’s in prison.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And my next thought was<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that must be worse than dementia.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-57599771103524775722022-03-11T13:24:00.006-05:002022-03-11T13:24:55.810-05:00March 1: From Caracol to La Ronda Parakata<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In an epoch of nightmares,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the walk to the lake,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">transformed by mood and by moment,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">planned as a journey with Jetta,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to proceed from Caracol<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to La Ronda Parakata,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">from Black Lives Matter,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the name and the point<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of resistance and vision,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">this time around,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to the fresh flow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of Ukrainian blood,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and the tears for democracies,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">forever imperfect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The redwing blackbirds are back<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and begun to build their numbers,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">though not yet reached<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the this-is-ours claim<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">that will soon fully invest<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">blackbird central<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">in advance warning<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of dive-bombing birds<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">headed this way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">On the way, the gray planter totems—<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">massive, ornamental contraptions,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">bizarrely conceived as artful décor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">for the concrete expanses<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of breakwaters and piers—<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">have somehow been heaved,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">grinding and fractured,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">by the great lake in winter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The pulverized fragments lay on the path,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">like bits of Kyiv littering the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The caracol, Spanish for snail,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">an escalera de caracol,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">a spiral staircase pressed flat,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">its broad painted surface,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">splashed with color of cultures<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and feelings gathered on borders<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of habits badly in need of fresh vigor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The phoenix of hope<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">for a future at risk,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">depends largely on those<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">who can juggle their fear<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and plan radical ways<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">for healing all wounds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A barge makes its way<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">through ice jamming boat slips.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The watermen whisper to water<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">with words not meant for my ears,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">but I do hear their murmurs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and do have the tools<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to shape meanings that drive me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to where I and all this<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">are harnessed to go.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In the tufted tall grass<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of the cold weather prairie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jetta digs from the ice<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the shredded remains<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">left behind by a hawk,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and swallows rotted morsels<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">before just a mile further on,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">vomiting a bit back<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to the field to share<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">with whomever will next eat<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">off this ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Over the rise<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">in the trail ahead<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">comes the form of La Ronda <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">where the butterflies pray<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to slow our ill-fated rush.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The view this day is still water,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and the weather<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">waits to be called<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to deliver trouble in surges<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">resembling the way<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the dark ages looked<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">to those who could see<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the future unfolding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And justice continues denied.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And the blood keeps on spilling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And pooling and drying and staining the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-75951258222493640532022-02-13T12:28:00.007-05:002022-03-11T13:18:38.134-05:00 Isabel Increscent<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Isabel,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">hey, Isabel,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I am Jeff.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Been that way<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">for the longest time,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but now,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of a sudden,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I am Isabel’s Jeff.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Not brand new, at all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but remade, somehow,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">by your becoming,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in a similar,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but less suddenly sudden<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">appearance in the doorway<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of a future that I<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">will never see,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but into which I will be carried,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in my bits and in my pieces,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in the swirling current<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that is you flowing forward.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Think now of all the other<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">everybodys and everythings<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">lifted and carried<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in the flood of you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in the cresting wave of you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in the torrent of you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">cutting a new channel.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I am Isabel’s Jeff<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and you, Isabel,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">will carry on without me,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">neatly deposited in your wake,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">my good-bye smile at you flowing forward,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the last and best of me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You are Isabel<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and I am Isabel’s Jeff,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">a man of your invention,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">who knew you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and loved you.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-35854898137938243402022-02-06T19:58:00.016-05:002022-02-11T13:21:02.755-05:00Memory ... and longing<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The reality</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of what once was<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">competes<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">with what now is<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">at least<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in terms of how memory<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">can be experienced<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">by those<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">who long for that<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">with great intensity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Longing is not</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">a backwards thing</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but is sometimes</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">a way back.</p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-5250873423224610392021-05-06T17:24:00.003-04:002021-11-12T12:19:13.768-05:00 Newer words, newer dreams<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1;"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A covid poem</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Waking the days</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of the months<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">lining our lives,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">counting rhythms<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of lungs and of heart,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">suddenly glimpsing<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the count gone awry,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the code gone astray,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the message amuck.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In the beginning of all this<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Perry had died,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and his dying<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">meant changes<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to the meaning of living<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and the practice of mourning<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in part of this world.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I attributed hot feelings<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to you, I had said,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">before one of us<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">suddenly flamed and unloosed<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">from the margins<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that were formerly home<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and always before <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to where we returned.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But it was me, alone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">walking face first<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">into challenging sleet wind,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">overhearing the words<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of lovers making light<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">for folks whom they love.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Some stranger above<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">throwing stones in our way,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">he observed in comic lament,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">adding a theatrical shrug,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and she laughed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">a sweet sound<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">fading to echoes<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">overtaken by oracular<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">proclamations<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of the stinging wild wind,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">sardonically offering<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to set us all free<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in a world of neglect<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that mocks<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the speakers of dreams,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and puts us to work<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">pounding on rocks.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Yes, confronting the winds<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that do not forgive<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">requires moving ahead,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">because going can get<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to the peace we will build<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">with new song<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and new dance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Accepting the threats<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that plague all the paths<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">revealed ahead,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I take the longish stride<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and stride again,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and stride again,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">toward the route<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">on which peace<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">is path and peace<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">is way<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and not the goal I cannot reach.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">***<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">If we were still<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">talk to ear to lips to talk,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">then you would share,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">maps and mantras—<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the ones that moved you so far—<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but you, arrived so long ago,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">are gone away again,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">leaving only remnants<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and clues to joint discoveries<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">about the pain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that spots all paths,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and all the peace<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that grows from pain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and grows from prayer<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and grows from<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">never giving in.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So, yes, a reverent thanks<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">before a sweet whisper rises<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">above the bellowing wind<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">asking, in the brief and quiet,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">on which iteration<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of all our plans<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">are we working now?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And what in between<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">might we find there?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Inventing the many answers <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">we will need<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">falls to each of us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The outcome<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">may be better,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but maybe not,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">said still another voice,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">escaping the wind into which<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">we have been walking<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">all this while.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The voice came not<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to tell a joke,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">not to leave a laugh<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">or two behind, it said,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">confidentially adding,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">up to you, entirely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to rise again<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">or fall at last<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">when and as you will.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And in that brief<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and in that quiet<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I did briefly, barely cry<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">for all the everyones<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">counting all the losses,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and all the everyones<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">not bothering to count,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and all the losses<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">left to lose.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And in that grief<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and in that quiet,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">it was resolved<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to spread the news<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of songs and glories<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">anyway,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and when the store of all<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">is lost and empty,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and entropy threatens<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">a joyless reign,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">it remains forever resolved<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to reach beyond<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the end of now.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">***<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Courage is not<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the word to use to say<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that you did what you had<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">no choice about the doing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And though I do not say<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">or write what that word<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">might be, it spells itself<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">obstinance-rebellion-<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">distraction-trembling-<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">grace-accidental-<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">if-at-all.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But whatever that loaded word<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">or words may be,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">it takes great gangs<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of fevered poets<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">grinding at the front<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and grinding at the rear,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">reloading words<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to fire anew,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to set our hearts<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">our lungs our upraised fists<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to rhythm<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">roaring fast and fresh.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So, summon all poets</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">with shouting and welcome.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Call them to council.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Write urgent letters<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to gather the pack,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">speaking the sharps<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and speaking the blunts,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">singing the streets,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">soaring the skies,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">scratching for pennies,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">escaping the jails,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">emphatically signifying<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">here on the way,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">sketching and spelling<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">time after time,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">always forever,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">upright and hopeful,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">here at the ready.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The hall of poets full,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the graveyard fuller still,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">we linger to read the stone<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">marking William A. Thigpen Jr.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">born 1948<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">died Detroit streets 1971,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">upright and ready<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and full of unspent hope.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Further along,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">a restorative visit<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to write-it-well John,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">urging the poets<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to wing on the breath,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to roll off the tongue<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to land here,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in the ear.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So, yeah, the breaktime<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">namechecking done,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">there is sometimes<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">giving of ground<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that belongs to the earth,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">sometimes ground<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">firming up<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">under feet<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">launching for stars,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">claiming, reclaiming, declaiming<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the dreams of forever<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and all the beloved.<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Send me only replies<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">conceding no ground,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">but affirming the prayer<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">that floats in the air<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and remains to be written.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Hear every voice,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">every sobbing and wild,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">every cringing and proud,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">every full in the mouth,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">rich on the tongue,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">roaring and grieving,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">weaving and soaring,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">pleading and cursing,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">voice after voice<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">landing here in the ear.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Count all the lives<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">we ought to have loved;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">make infinitely more<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of the lives<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">we have wasted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Open doorways<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">for leaders <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">grown tired of waiting;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">expect and applaud<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">new words,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and new dreams,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">ahead of the launch<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">of the last of our poems<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">shouting blessings and praises<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">to you, to sky,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">and beyond.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-16696736885391541932020-08-17T15:23:00.003-04:002020-08-17T15:24:41.576-04:00A Universe Is Gone<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I originally posted this poem, in July 2009 on my blog, In and Out with Jeff. At the time, I hadn’t yet set up Outdoor Poetry Season, my poetry blog. But a recent traffic report on In and Out shared the news that “A Universe Is Gone” had been visited by a viewer. I couldn’t remember what the poem was about, so I became its second viewer over some long, lonely, unseen, unread, unheard isolation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It became immediately obvious after visiting the poem that I had not invested any energy in explaining why I had chosen “A Universe Is Gone” as the title. But the “why” of that choice is part of the message of the poem.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">A Palestinian boy is caught in a crossfire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian guerillas. He dies, the poem says. If it had pursued that fact further, the poem might have added, more crudely, his life is snuffed out. He is collateral damage.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And his father, Abu? He has lost everything. He holds his son’s limp body, but everything the boy was is gone. Every version of the older boy, the young man, the father, the old grey head that he might have become is also gone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Two thousand years ago, during the heyday of rabbinical Judaism, some rabbi from yeshiva nestled in the hills around Jerusalem, interpreted a biblical passage to mean, in plain English (or plain Aramaic, anyhow) that whoever saved the life of an individual saved an entire universe. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">How’s that for an ethical principle? It means that to the Jews of the Rabbinical period the range of what any given person might achieve during a lifetime was pretty near infinite.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And so, when a Palestinian child is gunned down…<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black", sans-serif;">A Universe Is Gone<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Remember the Palestinian child<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">caught in a crossfire, in a lethality of rage?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Crouching behind his father?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Crying with desperate faith<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">in his abu, his shield?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Moments later, the caption said,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">the boy was dead,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">his father forlorn<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">with wounds that will never heal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Each day dawn comes with new grief.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Neither the garrison state<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">nor the tender virgins console Abu.<o:p></o:p></p>Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-59645742699950154722020-05-20T10:02:00.001-04:002020-05-20T10:07:25.451-04:00Selfie Portrait Recently<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINVt6AYjb-tHMxNLKhBRcJg7gL6wxzk2YECg6xDQ0kBCW7aWcuQsXALvagiTGpx8t5svENkW7t8ycIxGo4s15_A-iinyEgPowIk1AxS42pblXYu9KoRnQjqLYrivYdkdOUgR4qKnsUxED/s1600/IMG_7798.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINVt6AYjb-tHMxNLKhBRcJg7gL6wxzk2YECg6xDQ0kBCW7aWcuQsXALvagiTGpx8t5svENkW7t8ycIxGo4s15_A-iinyEgPowIk1AxS42pblXYu9KoRnQjqLYrivYdkdOUgR4qKnsUxED/s200/IMG_7798.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2149243313358369732" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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This is the Jeff<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Not the Jeff I was<o:p></o:p></div>
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at thirteen,<o:p></o:p></div>
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nor the Jeff I was<o:p></o:p></div>
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at thirty.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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They are the Jeff<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am in the memory<o:p></o:p></div>
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of the Jeff I am now,<o:p></o:p></div>
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but they are not<o:p></o:p></div>
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the Jeff in the picture.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Jeff in the picture<o:p></o:p></div>
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is the Jeff I am now,<o:p></o:p></div>
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or is, at least,<o:p></o:p></div>
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the way I look<o:p></o:p></div>
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in a selfie sometimes.<o:p></o:p></div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-9836164888276619602019-09-09T10:41:00.000-04:002019-09-09T10:41:08.502-04:00Brute Strength<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Naomi Shihab Nye chose </span>to highlight <span style="font-family: inherit;">this poem, Brute Strength, by Emily Skaja, in her weekly column in the New York Times Sunday Maga</span>z<span style="font-family: inherit;">ine on </span>August 25<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Nye also noted that U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo selected <i>Brute</i>, Skaja's first poetry collection, to win the Walt Whitman Award for the first-time poets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Brute Strength, "Skaja conjures the searing history of a jagged relationship, then mixes a tonic for it: images, elegies and invocations that let the speaker reinvent her human power," Nye wrote. And that, "reinvent[ing] her human power is exactly what Skaja does here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Silenced, reduced by her experience, denied (or robbed) of agency, Skaja blasts her way out, lifting off from the memories of who she once was, a "witch girl, unafraid of anything, flea-spangled little yard rat...girl who wouldn't let a boy hit her"--that girl resurrected in her adulthood, promising to bust out or die trying. But, really, already busted out, no longer mute, writing her own story.</span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brute Strength</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Soldier for a lost cause, brute, mute woman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">written out of my own story, I’ve been trying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">to cast a searchlight over swamp-woods & parasitic ash<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">back to my beginning, that girlhood—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">kite-wisp clouded by gun salutes & blackbirds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">tearing out from under the hickories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">all those fine August mornings so temporary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">so gold-ringed by heat-haze & where is that witch girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">unafraid of anything, flea-spangled little yard rat, runt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">of no litter, queen, girl who wouldn’t let a boy hit her,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">girl refusing to be <i>It </i>in tag, pulling that fox hide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">heavy around her like a flag? Let me look at her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tell her on my honor, I will set the wedding dress on fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">when I’m good & ready or she can bury me in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">--Emily Skaja</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, a further thought. What's with all the ampersands? Skaja has done away with every "and" that might have occurred here, and why not? Ands don't do much and ampersands look so much more muscular. Do they change the meaning &/or impact of the things they conjoin?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's see: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There's "</span>swamp-woods & parasitic ash," there's "gun salutes & blackbirds," there's "heat-haze & where is that witch girl," & there is also "good & ready." It's not hard to imagine Emily Skaja, finally good & ready, thinking, "I don't need no stinking' and.<br />
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And while we're at scattered postscripts, I have to say that I have a poem of my own that includes respect for witch -girls, notably "Julie Anna, you were a witch baby, wise with foreknowledge."<br />
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Here is that poem:<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love to Babies</span><br />
<span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nathan Night Rain,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">you were an infant with<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">apple cheeks and patience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Julie Anna,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">you were a witch baby,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">wise with foreknowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And Brendan Isaac,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">you were king baby<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">with windmill arms and bicycle legs,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">wailing your loud strong music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As Isaac brought joy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">to Abraham and Sarah,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">with a handful of weight,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">with the heat of new beginning,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">with the scent of everything to come,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">so have you brought<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">gift after gift after gift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">of Nate asleep on my heart,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">warm weight waxing,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">innocent of his fierce protector;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">of Julie at midnight recalled,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">fresh weight needing nothing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">but that which was freely given;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">of yourself,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">urgent and new;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">all of you, gift after gift after gift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">to a father stirred and grateful</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">that the elements combined as you.</span></div>
</div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-54033048406671198672019-08-02T13:49:00.001-04:002019-08-02T13:51:12.877-04:00Neverending Story<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">You know the story,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the one that ends with the hero<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">face down in the mud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Or, maybe, the story that ends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">at the by-no-means guaranteed discovery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">of the protagonist dead on the bed,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">her eyes shut tight against<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">light and dark,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">out of range of the magic that forever<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">lurks and lingers in the rare and intangible air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">They are, I tell you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the self-same story but for the details,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">which I do not mean to demean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">After all, if the stories are the same<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">wherever they end,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and at all of their ends,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">then the details<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">—the way the life came<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and the way the life went—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">twisting and turning,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">falling down and getting up,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">are all that really matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">And,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">we so stipulate,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the details, the twisting and the turning,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the magic before<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and the magic that lingers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the falling up and the getting down,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">are the major symptoms,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the proof we can infer,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">of the grinding wheel,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the great grinding wheel,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the irresistible force<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">constantly confronting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">the human (objects) on their way,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and always in the way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">of the grinding, travelling wheel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">that somehow contrives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">to always be rolling down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">our very path, our whatever path,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">to wherever we meant to be,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">to where we would be,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">in whole or in part,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">but for the wheel that rolls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">always against us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">always failing to know</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">that we are exactly there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">where we are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">All of which means<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">that at the very least,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">it makes no sense to blame the wheel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">that has no ethics, no passion, no fun and no life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Entirely unlike our uncelebrated selves,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">with our vast potential<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">for ethics and passion and fun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and life before death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">So tell the stories, all,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">of Jack, say, and Jill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and the great fun they had<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">on the twisting way uphill,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and the tumble down,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and the get back up to go back up,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">where there remained more fun to be had,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">or still a world to spy from the top,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">until one broke a body part<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">or broke the spirit that gets back up <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and left the other to solo the rest of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">All we know is that they set out one day,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">one ordinary, even familiar, day,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">to work at their endless tote<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and on the way they ran afoul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">of warlords, maybe, or amphibians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">—the rare bloodthirsty kind—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">or calendars stuffed full of deadlines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">They labored, dripped sweat, danced and dodged<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and laughed aloud and fled in terror.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">It wasn’t much,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">but it was life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and it would do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Sometimes they shared their load<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and sometimes traded it for a different load,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">or passed it on and sat to rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">One day very like the day before<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and the day to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">It isn’t much,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">but it is life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">and it will do.</span></div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-54150353522588611402019-05-18T13:15:00.000-04:002019-05-18T13:15:16.415-04:00The Courage All Around<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Late-night honest<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
with myself<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My boy shames me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The courage he shows<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
drumming at the Metro<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spare change pours in<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Folded bills drifting like<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
snow covering his lap<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ten years old, first<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
sharing a buck<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
with a woman who asks,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
then shooing her away<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
when she won’t stop<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
asking for more<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He goes about his business,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a lionheart tending his<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
pride of intentions,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
while I flinch at the work<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
before me, at stepping up<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
before you, at speaking my piece<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But where he’s heading,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
where heart and skill<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and the company of others,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the company of you,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
colleagues with an instinct<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to be movement and reach<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
we can believe in,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
that place, that thought, swells<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
my heart The world you will build<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
beckons and beguiles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and because the heart is<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a complicated thing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel no shame here<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel the courage all around <o:p></o:p><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-91880847972078527482019-04-11T11:18:00.000-04:002019-05-18T13:06:13.807-04:00The Torrent<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I read all your poems,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I hear all your voices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I hear the songs, the love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">the yearning, the striving,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">the growing, the greening,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">the moaning and the reaching<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">and the burning down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I hear the idiom of the peoples,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">of the gathered and the scattered,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I hear big and I hear small,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I hear the murmur and the shout,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">the wounded and the brave,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">the quick feet and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">the electric slide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I hear the tapping and the drumming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">and the chanting and the ringing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">syncopation of the high notes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">and the sudden, but long expected,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">booming of the bass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">beating far away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">and closing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">I feel the thunder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">that follows on the flash<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">and the torrent of the words that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">are thumping on the roof of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-26670344708990408372019-01-22T17:35:00.000-05:002019-01-22T17:35:56.573-05:00Tripping<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">The fear of being</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">consumed by something big,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">something fierce,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">is dispensed with<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">in the certain knowledge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">that I have flown,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">that I have twisted and soared,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">that I have dared and died<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">and emerged from all,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">or almost all,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">as myself,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">or as some other self,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">and laughed and loved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">and found and shared<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">a bit of comfort,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">and found</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">that I believe that there will always be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">another someone,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">more and more somebodies,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">perhaps an infinity of those,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">to do the same<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">for each other<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">again and again,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">for as long as words </span><span style="font-family: Baskerville, serif;">are magic.</span></div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-65506710775912290432018-02-15T15:04:00.003-05:002018-02-16T09:33:01.441-05:00Flowing to the Sea (third try)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though the exact where of it</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
has burrowed away,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the diminishing light, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
like a tiny bulb nestled</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in a frosted glass bowl,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
like a glowing egg cradled</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by a monstrous hand,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
filtered upward through holes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in a black, steel disc,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
resembling a hat flattened</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by unbearable weight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pattern on the lowering clouds overhead,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in focus, then out, circled slowly,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a wheeling constellation hovering</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
over the wayfarer briefly paused</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
at the portal opening on a teardrop sky;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
an artifact installed ages ago</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
for the pleasure of people long gone--</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
size, race and gender unknown.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The traveler passes anonymously by,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
crossing mysterious ground,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but caressed in the moment that follows</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by warm nocturnals bearing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the scent of untended roses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Draped in robes swirled by the wind,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but soon to be shed,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the wayfarer comes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to the end of the sands;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
stands naked at the edge,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
toes drinking the lap</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of the primordial sea,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
awaiting whatever will come.</div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-69886067502026258612018-02-15T15:00:00.000-05:002018-02-15T15:00:18.279-05:00Flowing to the Sea (second try)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though the where of it</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
has slipped away,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the welcoming light</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(a tiny bulb nestled</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in a frosted glass bowl,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a glowing egg cradled</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in a ghostly hand)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
filtered upward through a black, steel disc,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
an unwearable hat, smashed flat</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and poked about with tiny holes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pattern on the screen overhead,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in focus, then out, circled slowly,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a wheeling constellation hovering</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
over the wayfarer briefly paused</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
at the portal opening on a teardrop sky,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
an artifact installed long ago</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
for the pleasure of people long gone,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
size, race and gender unknown.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The traveler passes anonymously by,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
crossing mysteries unmapped,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
caressed in this moment</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by warm nocturnals</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
scented by untended roses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Draped in flowing robes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
soon to be shed,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the wayfarer comes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to the end of the sands,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
stands naked at the edge,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
toes drinking the lap</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of the primordial sea,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
awaiting whatever will come.</div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149243313358369732.post-79957786536354244522018-02-07T11:54:00.002-05:002018-02-07T11:54:42.828-05:00Contentment<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of my dear ones</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
off in pursuit</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of their various missions,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
separately or together,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
doing good</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
or doing well</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
or doing both.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wrote 500 words</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
today. In pencil.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Skated on hard ice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
while winter froze my toes,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but left the rest of me untouched.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rode el trains back and forth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gazed at the glowing sky.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Considered the teeming city.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ate well. Pulled the shades,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
shutting out the dark.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cozy in here now.</div>
Jeff Eptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15032123875722494329noreply@blogger.com0