James Moore Poet Narrative

The Arc of a Long Dive

I hope it’s not a premonition 
Of my immanent demise, but thinking today 
About how far the arc of my life has come, 
Makes me glad to be alive.

Nothing special or unique in that
Just odd to feel, like a cat 
I’ve had more than a few lives
Packed into this one, so far,
And the range of change
Surprises me when I look at it.

Forty five years ago in college I briefly
Subscribed to the Socialist Worker’s Party paper.
Not sure why, but I think it had something to do
With expressing solidarity with a cute blond.

Now here I am on the cusp of applying for membership
In the John Birch Society, about as far
From the reality of that college hippie
As I can now imagine.

In between a mostly smooth arc stretched
Across decades of very slow maturing. 
Maybe I’m just proud and stubborn
And so resistant to change 
But I think it’s more a reflection of just how
Indoctrinated I was in my formative years.

It takes a lot to undo real indoctrination you know,
And I think in my case
It involved a couple of millennia instead of decades.

But anyway, I don’t think I’m quite done diving
But I can see the ocean shimmering
A great warm smile 
As it comes up to meet me.

(10/16/25)

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