Friday, August 28, 2009

For ME



I wrote a song today. It took shape as a woman walked by.
She sang "Is it still gonna rain"
And repeat.
The rain came about 4 o' clock.
The smell came 'round and let us out.
I ran with wet guitar inside
The green bugs crawled all over me
from the dill plants I intend to use for pickling
It dawned on me....
You aren't coming home today.
I set down the mail
And put down my keys
Watered your housplants and sat down for this
I sit here with wrists and muscles aching for soft things
I cradled my self like cartons of fragile eggs today
I needed to be soft
I need to hold on
Today is my beginning
Today is my song.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

A call to arms


I have a proposal to all you pixel addicts.
Just think about this for a moment,
What if we could start a movement to save an essential American element?
An institution that keeps going in struggles and strife's. An almost invisible cog that works magic,
that intertwines the fabrics of our lives. How can a government organization be so personal and prolific?
I tell you if you do anything this year you ought to send a letter. Save the Post office. That's right! Buy a card, scribe a letter, make a note, send it to your aunt, your ma, your old lonely pa. Write it down, I'm literate and I'm proud.
Look at how paperless our society has become. We've nearly decimated the postal service. We can't do this. These brave folks are such a unique part of our culture. They walk our hoods, they handle our personals. They need our support.
I have family who live without the digital confines of communication, (beyond them really). How disappointing it would be to have the Saturday service cut off. That is one more day that gives someone a sense of purpose. The trek out to the mail box looking for that card, that something special that connects that person to the outside world. An old-fashioned sentiment that needn't go away. We like seeing our name in print on an invitation. We revel in that new magazine coming just for us. We need all that the post has to offer. I tell you nothing makes me feel more like an adult like going to the post office and buying stamps. The institution of forms and files and ancient boxes on the wall. I suspect you remember how to get there. I suspect you will answer this call.
Zip code, address, capitals and fire, tomorrow's mail will make me a liar.
Envelope, stamps and black ink, this day's mail will make me think.
Be the hero in your own comic today. Wear a cape and proudly type set your name with a capital. "I am a writing fool, I can make someone's day having given the right tool!"