Life On A B-I7

Poetry Challenge Day 271 (Sat Jul 2)

The secret to life
is to learn how to enjoy
life like you are retired…
Before you retire.

Poetry Challenge Day 270 (Fri Jul 1)

punctuation is
highly overrated

I was of
the opinion
that periods
were necessary
in writing

In truth
even the use
of periods
is open
to debate

at least
in my mind

I suppose
you probably
disagree with
me

that is okay

notice I am
avoiding apostrophes
as well
as periods

all other
forms of
punctuation
for that matter

I am starting
to feel
better already

Poetry Challenge Day 269 (Thu Jun 30)

I love turning the pages in my journal
even though I do it only occasionally,
largely because I’m afraid to see
what the pages might have to say.

I can’t bear the idea of discovering
the message lying there
that I only become aware of
after the fact.

What we have here
is a poem about journal entries
that began life as a journal entry.

Poetry Challenge Day 268 (Wed Jun 29)

There are a lot of things more entertaining
than cleaning a window,
but when you are actually looking out
of one freshly cleaned,
it’s hard to argue otherwise.

It can be hard to convince myself
it’s worth the effort,
but once completed it is
satisfying,
so just quit thinking and get the rags out.

Poetry Challenge Day 267 (Tue Jun 28)

Trying to figure out your PPO pharmacy deductible
is like a cat jumping into a TV screen to catch a bird.
It looks tempting, and almost doable,
but is ultimately very unsatisfying
and possibly even dangerous.

Poetry Challenge Day 266 (Mon Jun 27)

Retirement is wonderful.
It gives me time to write shit like this,
and the occasional lucid thought.

YMMV when it comes to “lucid” thoughts…

Poetry Challenge Day 265 (Sun Jun 26)

Only 100 days to go.
What have I gained?

Confidence
Enjoyment
Fulfillment
Perspective

All good things.
I’m better for having done this.
That is enough.

Poetry Challenge Day 264 (Sat Jun 25)

Question:
How many poems can you write in a single day?
Answer: Three.

Question:
How many good poems can you write in a single day?
Answer: Open to debate.

In case you are missing the sardonic gene, I’m referring here to my own extraordinary poetry writing.

Poetry Challenge Day 263 (Fri Jun 24)

I sit alone on the deck
drinking a bottled water
(which I rarely do)
reading a book of poetry
(a very good one)
wishing I too could write poetry.
The cat lies on the chair next to me
a loyal follower.
At least I have one.
Not that I am seeking followers
(I’m not)
but the idea is a fascinating one.
When I think about that
I realize it would not be such a good thing
(to have followers)
too much responsibility,
not enough time to sit with the cat
and read good poetry.

Poetry Challenge Day 262 (Thu Jun 23)

It’s a beautiful day
I love the way the sun
is shining through the kitchen window.
I would like to capture
the feeling and sell it.
I would use the proceeds
to start a campaign to convince
the American people
that fake doctors and people with money
don’t make good candidates
for public office.

Poetry Challenge Day 261 (Wed Jun 22)

Write a minimum
of three lines
every day.

Poetry Challenge Day 260 (Tue Jun 21)

Everyone who wants to be educated
should read “Plutarch’s Lives.”

All of our Founding Fathers did. (It’s on my list… but I’m not quite there yet.) I wonder how many of our Congress People in Washington D.C. have? I would like to make that a poll question.

Poetry Challenge Day 259 (Mon Jun 20)

The demonization of Democrats
started with Ronald Reagan
and has reached its zenith
with Donald Trump.

Time will tell us if it has truly reached its zenity.

Poetry Challenge Day 258 (Sun Jun 19)

What happens
when men of virtue
are supplanted
by men of greed.

I supposed you would call this a thought problem. Of course this also applies to women.

Poetry Challenge Day 257 (Sat Jun 18)

Live life
like you are riding your bicycle
across the country.

1. When you get up in the morning make your bed and stow your gear.
2. Eat breakfast, stretch, then get on your bike.
3. Keep pedaling and keep your eyes open.
4. Fix yourself a nice dinner.
5. Relax for awhile, read a good book, then get plenty of sleep.

Poetry Challenge Day 256 (Fri Jun 17)

I believe life is a mystery.
We never know for sure what will happen next,
even if we plan.
That is the joy.

Poetry Challenge Day 255 (Thu Jun 16)

Smart people write every day.
I’m not smart because
I have to force myself to write every day
which results in stuff like this…

Irony: A humorous or sardonic literary style.
Sardonic: Disdainful or skeptical.
Skeptical: Probably what you should be…

Poetry Challenge Day 254 (Wed Jun 15)

Trump Pence 2020…
Trump Take Our Country Back…

Coexist…
Team Love…

I actually saw all four of these stickers on the same bumper…

Written after I tested positive for COVID. A perfect example of how fucked we are (the stickers, and the test result).

Poetry Challenge Day 253 (Tue Jun 14)

Writing poetry is hard.
(I’ve already discussed that below.)
I just want to add
this year of poetry does not feel
like my greatest accomplishment.

That raises the question:
How does one determine their greatest accomplishment?
The best I can do is recall the little things (and some big)
that have brought me to the place
where I find myself today.

Poetry Challenge Day 252 (Mon Jun 13)

Happiness comes from cats
not relationships.

If you’re lucky, happiness comes from both. I consider myself to be a very lucky man.

Poetry Challenge Day 251 (Sun Jun 12)

You did it.
You made the grade.
Now it’s time to start
the next journey.
I hope it is wonderful.

There are a lot of things
in this world I could give you
but I’m afraid the most important
thing you will need to find on your own…
happiness.

May you find it and carry it with you
all the days of your life.

Poetry Challenge Day 250 (Sat Jun 11)

I have probably
used the word “fuck”
more times since the outbreak
of the Pandemic
then in my entire life prior to that.

I’m not young either.
Although a very nice person
I was chatting with on the phone today
said that I sounded young.
My reply was simply:

“Your fucking kidding me.”

Poetry Challenge Day 249 (Fri Jun 10)

How do you write poetry?
Well, first of all, you need to have eyes.
Hearing doesn’t hurt either.
Perhaps a sense of smell as well.

That is just table stakes.
You need feelings,
and the desire to sit with them
and let them tell you what to say.

That’s not easy,
it’s also a bit scary.
If you do it,
you just might write a poem.

For the record, I’m not sure I can sit with my feelings long enough to pull it off, just saying…

Poetry Challenge Day 248 (Thu Jun 9)

Please.
Take guns away,
now and forever.

It will never happen in America.
America…
The country where the almighty dollar rules.

I want to escape.
I want to start a new country,
where only smart non-violent people live.

Journal Entry (Wed Jun 8, 2022)

I must see:

The Grand Canyon, Arizona (check)
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
The Delicate Arch, Utah
The Golden Gate Bridge, California (check)
Old Faithful, Wyoming (check)
Hoover Dam, Nevada (check)
Half Dome, California (check)
Chimney Rock, Nebraska (check)
Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana
Statue of Liberty, New York (check)
Devils Tower, Wyoming
Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. (check)
Fort Sumter, South Carolina
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Monticello, Virginia
Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho (check)
The Breakers, Rhode Island
Crater Lake, Oregon (check)
Space Needle, Washington (check)
Portland Head Light, Maine (check)
Denali, Alaska
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
The Alamo, Texas (check)
Southernmost Point Buoy, Florida (check)
Jenny Lake, Wyoming

Score: 14/25

This is admittedly a somewhat random list of 25. (I did not come up with this list.) I hope my journeys take me to more places than these… National Parks… Classic ski resorts… Famous overland routes… Iconic bicycle routes… the list really is endless…