Success

I can think of 3 people
Who seem contained,
With ambitions that do not exceed
Their capacity to deliver.

It would be a mistake to find them unwilling to fail,
For their internal well runs deep,
Making them capable of accepting failure
With just a modicum of rationalization.

As to the rest of us?
One way or another
We are stuck in our childhood dreams,
Reaching for illusory parental approval.

It is not in failure
That the contained person
Shows his greatest advantage.
Rather, it’s in understanding success.

Knowing how the cards can lie
And how small the difference
Between success and failure may be,
And believing both are absurd.

Nice and Easy

As the pier traffic
Of departing afternoon fishermen
Releases its hold on the days mood
Bobby and I settle to our evenings work.

No rods or hooks,
No weights for the bottom feeders
Ours is a more subtle game,
Our prey can choose to let go of the bait.

A line of heavy string,
Run through the empty dead eye-sockets,
Secures the fish head
As I play out 14 feet of cord.

North Ocean Street pier
Had been getting plenty of action
These last 2 weeks of August.
Time to test our skills.

Our crabbing is an art.
No cage, no trap.
If the crab on the line sent the message
I had to ease the crab to the surface.

Gently, slowly, with the string taut,
Outsmarting the crab,
So that it assumed
Bay currents were moving the fish-head.

Bobby, who handles the net, will blame any loss
On my line handling.
I will point at him...
And the splashing of the net.

Not unlike the fishermen,
We usually leave a little grumpy,
Having allowed the humungous
Blue claw to escape.

It’s Not Part of the Plan

Religion has always been part of Abe’s life.
Practicing Christian for years,
Including a stint as Dr of Theology,
Leading a new age Christian congregation.

Spiritually he has moved to a more ethereal place,
Where wheels turn and this life
Is just a way-station.
But when cut he still bleeds.

Eight years into retirement, with limited savings
He has been notified that
His pension plan is bankrupt.
Abe is concerned..

He does not suffer massive ego needs.
And parceling blame does not excite him.
He is not ready to pull the cover over his head
And await assignment.

Today he plans to scale back.
Live within his means,
Sell his trailer and hitch,
And enjoy his mountain hamlet home.

Throwing Stones

A large rock will disturb the water,
Send ripples in all directions.
Some arrive at destinations unprepared
For the assault.

A small pebble,
Thrown with greater force
Might accomplish as much.
If so, it will suffice.

How often have I tossed
A clever verbal condemnation,
Thinking it a small thing,
Discovering later it was large and wrong.

It’s possible that the stone size
Or its speed, are not as important
As recognizing that there may be
An alternative to stones.

I recall smashing windows:
In a church by accident,
And through a school window
By design.

Perhaps it is the intent that matters.
Though the damage might be as extensive,
And the cost as great,
My initial responses were quite different.

I had avenged myself for the sins
Of the school, and was satisfied.
It was not my church and it had not offended.
I needed to be more careful.

Where From Here?

Odds are I’ll not live
To see the coming of the next species.
This time, conscious breeding
Will produce our descendants.

I suspect speed, agility and strength
Will matter.
Opposable thumbs might be critical,
If tool making is a survival skill.

Our progeny won’t thank us,
But history, or for that matter
Reading, will not be of much concern.
Building tree nests will be the rage.

Social security will not be distributed.
Of course, with a life expectancy of 25 years,
Retirement needs will not be paramount,
And elective surgery will not be available.

Approved

It was a near thing
Costco could have rejected me.
How could I survive
With my credit gone?

Where would I go
That no one would know?
It’s just a terrible mistake,
See how full is my basket.

But I was approved!
I can keep all the toilet paper
And my new 8 foot WIDE HD TV
Will allow for “The Tribute to the Common Man”.

I’m still not sure about the Wines and Guacamole dip.
If the barcalounger doesn’t fit my 3 by 6 balcony
I can always send it back,
And get the imitation leather love-seat.

With the earned credit of $850.00.,
(1.5% of the purchase price,)
I can get that crystal chandelier
Or a trip to Midland Texas.

Son of a Bitch

Motives are never quite pure.
We need to protect
Images that make us whole.
It is better than understanding.

Of course I was interfering!
That’s what parents do.
We can’t bear the crap that surrounds us,
And believe we can help.

Certain we’re not the problem
We stumble into dense undergrowth
Pointing the way out,
Without seeing traps.

It’s his fault,
And her hands aren’t clean.
How can they see us in such a light?
Do I deserve this?

What example did I set?
Was I wrong to worry
And point out pitfalls?
Why is this happening to me?

We lent them money.
We are not wealthy.
I am angry and hurt,
And don’t know what to do.