While Crawling Toward the Finish
Blog Posted by
Gary Jones: 7/21/2008 5:36:00 PM
<DIV class="richp itembody" id=content>I had been in a deep dream, searching for a lost puppy<BR>When the clanging alarm startled me to reality<BR>The clear images fading like a burning photograph<BR>Then, a desperate sense of unrecoverable loss<BR><BR>Lying on a couch, the beacon clock, clicking my heartbeat<BR>With no desire in facing the awaiting mundane day<BR>My aching back, reminds me of a night of stooped typing<BR>And my dry mouth, of the many vodka inspirations<BR><BR>Opening my eyes, the room is semi aglow with dawn<BR>Turning, I meet the scrutinizing eyes of porcelain frogs<BR>Sliding roughly to a difficult sitting arrangement<BR>Reaching for a bottle of room temperature water<BR><BR>My tongue dampened, I lean back to remember the reason<BR>Why did I need to be shaken from my unconscious state?<BR>Work, yes, that essential means to maintain my existence<BR>Would I be teaching high school mathematics, English, or science?<BR><BR>Rising to my feet and in route the coffee maker<BR>Now noticing the radio playing in the milieu<BR>Earthquake, fire, shootings, political scandal, and weather<BR>The essentials for the complex human news equation<BR><BR>Leaning over a large bed, I kiss my sleeping wife's brow<BR>Patting the dog’s head, continuing to the master’s bath<BR>Later, while adjusting my suspenders, my wife reminds<BR>Lunch is in the refrigerator, don’t forget the trash<BR><BR>On the short commute, through a cold northwest drizzling rain<BR>I evaluate my current role as middle aged<BR>Spending each day killing time, while crawling toward the finish<BR>In my castle of souvenirs and faded memories<BR><BR><BR>Mowing an endless lawn and shoveling tons of compost<BR>The whisper of worry in my ears, about debt and health<BR>Watching my wife grow old and pets slowly age until death<BR>I laugh, at what seems like, the pure senselessness of it all<BR><BR>During my day, I continue to ponder while teaching<BR>Looking into the young faces of my eager students<BR>They are filled with the exciting beginning of new lives<BR>Far from comprehending the classic middle aged crisis<BR><BR>In the evening, within the walls of my cozy cave<BR>The television news professing the Armageddon<BR>My loving wife sleeping off dinner in her recliner<BR>I freshen my drink and am silently thankful for her<BR><BR>© Copyrights G. Jones 2008<BR></DIV>