Akimbo
Dad's surgery went very well - the best case scenario seems to have played out, and my family and I are extremely grateful. He still has a great deal of recovery ahead of him. But he came through the hardest part, is in good spirits, and will likely get to go home from the hospital Friday. Thanks for keeping him and our family in your thoughts and prayers. I've shared many of your messages and comments with my folks - and they appreciate your friendship and support as much as I do.
Let me add this as well, so tonight's blog won't be so short:
I've posted samples of my old poetry in perhaps a dozen previous blogs, most recently in Gays of Our Lives: Poetic Portraits from the 1504 Club. But only once have I posted a poem written more recently than 2000 here, and many of you have wondered why.
Early this morning, as I was preparing to leave the hotel in Charleston to visit Dad one more time before heading home to Ohio, this little piece popped into my head and insisted I write it down. Ginsberg's Howl it isn't. And it seems to have nothing to do with dad. But, flaws and all, since it asks to be shared and I'm too tired to tweak it, here is "Akimbo":
Market fresh Middle Eastern misfire
Showing so many bloody limbs akimbo
And you turn the channel, saying "Too much info."
I don't hear you through the din, though
Simply close my eyes
'Cause I can only take so much CSI.
And you wonder why.
Let me add this as well, so tonight's blog won't be so short:
I've posted samples of my old poetry in perhaps a dozen previous blogs, most recently in Gays of Our Lives: Poetic Portraits from the 1504 Club. But only once have I posted a poem written more recently than 2000 here, and many of you have wondered why.
Early this morning, as I was preparing to leave the hotel in Charleston to visit Dad one more time before heading home to Ohio, this little piece popped into my head and insisted I write it down. Ginsberg's Howl it isn't. And it seems to have nothing to do with dad. But, flaws and all, since it asks to be shared and I'm too tired to tweak it, here is "Akimbo":
Market fresh Middle Eastern misfire
Showing so many bloody limbs akimbo
And you turn the channel, saying "Too much info."
I don't hear you through the din, though
Simply close my eyes
'Cause I can only take so much CSI.
And you wonder why.
i am very happy to hear about your dad. i could just feel it yesterday that things went well, even though i was holding my breath.
the new poem? yeah, there's a lot of that going around these days. only here it's GSN and idol...
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Uh-oh... did I forget Idol? And I had to think for a minute before I realized what GSN stands for. I remember in 10th grade I was a Jokers Wild addict. "Joker!... Joker!... Joker!"
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i made you think? "world without end"
i forgot to mention that i really lke the poem and am glad you had a free fall.
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....very glad to hear good news i regards to your dad...i know that you've had many, many people praying for you....bloody limbd akimbo is too much info. ....for CSI, anyway....
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lol... thanks, barbie!
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Good news about your father. The blog about him was very moving. Its hard when your parents grow old and you start to realize they wont be around forever. You appreciate them for the good they have done and the rest doesnt matter so much. As for the poem, I hear what youre saying about too much info. It tends to drive me a bit wacky sometimes. Gotta turn that thing off and do something positive. I find that PBS Kids and Animal Planet are perfect things to watch when ive been fed too much information....you think im joking? lol.
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lol... thanks, Marilyn! Now you've got two songs going through my mind: "Too Much Information" by the Police and "Spanish Pipedream" by John Prine:
"Blow up your TV, throw away your paper
Go to the country, build you a home
Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches
Try and find Jesus on your own."
Just have to find a way to blow it up and still be able to watch Animal Planet and PBS Kids...
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On March 6th I was in Santa Fe where Bruce Weigl and Brian Turner two prize winning poets gave readings. Bruce is considered the poet of the Vietnam War and Brian is a soldier poet of the Iraq War. So I am going to put some of their poetry on my space. Your mind seems to be on overload with TV and news,like all of us. What are the issues? Economics, war, medical insurance, etc. Wait until your Dad gets the bill for his surgery.
Even with Medicare it will be over $100,000 and not all of it is paid by them. As to your poem above...I have a home and plant my garden, but you can't get away from the realities of life even eating peaches. lol I just hope I find Jesus Crisis soon since he is going to give a talk to Spectrum next week and I have to set up the equipment for this.
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I'm waiting for Jeff to call me back sometime today - I'll call you when he does.
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Just spent 2 hours with Catherine Warden who gave a glowing report on the latest new developments at our ever growing alma mater, LCCC. She had power point and a DVD. Dr. Church and Bruce Weigl were both in the DVD. It is very complicated to use this equipment to project to an audience of about 45 people. Since you are on next I hope you get to talk to Jeff about this so I know what you are expecting to talk about and what visuals you are planning to use. Her talk was extremely well done and everyone loved it. Sorry you missed it.
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Would have loved to have been there! It looks like all I'll need is a DVD player and something (TV or whatever you have available) to show the DVD on. I'd also like to take along a video camera and film my presentation, if that's not a problem. Will call you later to iron out details...
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now i'm got "moving to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches" going through my head...
i also feel compelled to go the cafepress.com and find a new "kill your tv bumper sticker".
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lol
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I'm so glad to hear that your Dad is doing well. I'm sure he will recover nicely, since he has so much family support. I loved the poem. You said a lot with a few words. I know I feel overwhelmed by all that is happening too. This piece just proves that great writing is sometimes very spontaneous and does not require overthinking.
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Thank you very much, Tara! Your opinion and friendship mean a lot to me.
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That's good news about yr dad.
I can relate to the poem. Unfortunately I'm suffering info fatigue as well.
Insane times.
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Thanks, Kathy!
I like your phrase "info fatigue."
Infotigue for short...
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limbs akimbo ... nice - were they wearing kimonos, and were there any bimbos? or are there iraqi bimbos - life has to be safe and shallow for bimbos to breed.
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Indeed - perhaps to breed, but not to bleed.
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I just today learned that my poem "Akimbo" will be appearing in the upcoming issue of The November 3rd Club!
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Why are you hiding this comment way back here where no one can see it???
Stand tall and post a blog... even a short one.
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I will soon.
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