25 April 2016

nothing like a birthday

to reflect on a life. today I turn 73.  holy shit.  when did that happen?

this birthday is like none other.  my first without Mom. her death 21 days ago was seismic. each one of those days I've wantd to call her. at 94 she remaind intellectually curious. almost every call wd include her commenting on the news. right till the end her morning paper was more important to her than coffee. but perhaps in a tie with bacon.

couple that major event with my selling my dream house where I've spent my last 22 years.  in 2 weeks I move to Palm Springs. what's left of my "stuff" (I've been downsizing for a year) will go into storage till I find a condo. & then I start over.

I can't predict -- nor wd I want to know -- what the future holds. this is simply a rumination on where I am now. my last book -- Ohio Triangle -- was publishd one year ago today. it is one of my most important collections but has gone without a review. however I've been putting out little books for 45 years & I can put all my reviews in one hand. I simply keep on making poems because that's what a poet does. & in the past Palm Springs has been a stimulant for work.

one of my friends wishes romance for me. I tried relationships twice. both faild. I'm so comfortable living alone I doubt I cd handle compromise again.

so here I am. an orphan at 73 facing my final chapter. I've faught alcoholism & depression. but I've written a couple of poems that bounce off the sun. & I've made love with angels before they had wings. as long as a verb or a naked man excites me I'll go on with gusto.

tonite I'm having dinner with a poet visiting from the east. I don't know if there will be cake or candles. but I will fill with grins remembering all the cakes. & I will be illuminated by the parade of candles that have lit this long life.


4 comments:

Tom Beckett said...

Happy Birthday Alex.

Elisa said...

you are a rockSTAR of a man, poet, Being, and I am honored and so pleased we had some time in this beautiful town to share togheter.

Vera Charles said...

"The Journey"

Half the world is sleeping,
half the world's awake
half can hear their hearts beat
half just hear them break

I am but a traveler, in most every way
Ask me what you want...to know

What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been.

I have been to sorrow
I have been to bliss
Where I'll be tomorrow,
I can only guess

Through the darkest desert
Through the deepest snow,
Forward always forward, I go..

What a journey it has been
and the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been...

Forward, always forward...
Onward, always up...
Catching every drop of hope
In my empty cup

What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been...

What a journey it has been...


I turn 60 May 7th. I get you. I get you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Alex.
XOXOXO

richard lopez said...

shine on you crazy diamond! happy birthday, alex. here's to living at the first intensity.