tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125059442024-02-07T08:55:56.105-05:00ebbortze b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.comBlogger1611125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-25697292010275937242022-07-21T07:57:00.000-04:002022-07-21T07:57:44.378-04:00a poet who sees double needs to wear an eye patch...no it's not jonny depp<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">true as a crooked retina</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">--- e b bortz </span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-90692774043203294092022-07-13T08:04:00.000-04:002022-07-13T08:04:44.041-04:00the digits on your hand become the letters of your poem<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">become
the words</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
a sometimes long lost cause</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you've
never shied away</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">from
most of that</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">like
your father</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">taking
the medicine</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">because
it's pointed deep at his underbelly</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">where
the traffic is mostly chaos</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">&
the courtrooms start out</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">being
rigged</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there
are many ways</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">to
break through the fog</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
claim enlightenment</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">mostly
though</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">it's
self-pity</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">egocentric
self-delusion</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">(am
i being redundant?)</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">taking
the lead</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">convincing
yourself</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that
there will be no one else</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">in
the trenches</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">when
the shells hit</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-45234757966969537342022-07-07T08:54:00.000-04:002022-07-07T08:54:41.263-04:00earth note 862<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>albuquerque</i></span></p>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there's
a shepherd barking</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">every
night</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">past
the abyss</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">to
the promised land</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
orange sunsets</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">if
you doubt that</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
a moment</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">let
the highway</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">take
you through the back roads</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">til
you reach the river</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">renewal
just a stone's throw</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
markings of the ancients</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> your
brother's keeper</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-67440939306464212242022-07-03T11:03:00.000-04:002022-07-03T11:03:34.581-04:00earth note 861<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">from
the back porch</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
clear day will focus</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">on
the greentree water tower</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">two
o'clock in my view</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">escaping
to the south ridge</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">along
the ohio river</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">many
footpaths connected</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> interlaced</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
world can be surprisingly</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> bright</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">from
time to time</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-34874662891674721522022-06-23T08:33:00.000-04:002022-06-23T08:33:43.761-04:00uni-polar bi-polar multi-polar<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">these
are just words</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
real world is where it's at</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">orbiting
and then splitting apart</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
converted factory bomb shelter</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">bitcoin
shitcoin petrodollar</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">fill
your lawn mower again before</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">&
after the ground hog scramble</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that
hole in the ground might just save you</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">follow
the river 'til you get to the fork</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">then
take it</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">then
there will be a forest path and another fork</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">take
that one too</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you
don't need a gps to find your way home</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">remember
all the forks that got you here</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">uni-polar
bi-polar multi-polar</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> my
ass</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-57542486838393578072022-06-19T08:25:00.000-04:002022-06-19T08:25:37.192-04:00east fork san juan river morning<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
river crackles gurgles</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">breath
looks like steam</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">even
in june</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">we
will water up</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">in
pagosa springs</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">watch
the kids slip through the boulders</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">on
inner tubes</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there
will be plenty of heat</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">by
afternoon</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
road to chimney rock</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">is
not a straight line</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
a sacred squash blossom</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that
may have touched you</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-13154727263095031262022-06-14T10:58:00.000-04:002022-06-14T10:58:03.036-04:00earth note 860<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you
need to wait</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
the perfect light</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">when
it hits spider lake</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">it
will be blue</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
wall of white birch</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">standing
reflecting</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">with
scaly bark tamarack</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">homeland
wetland</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">always
calling</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-45674122805914677042022-06-13T10:06:00.004-04:002022-06-13T14:01:23.259-04:00pre-inversion bicycling notes<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfxNc-ER-TTWcq_Nqkv9JZC1gRa-Z7R3aAQIoSBn3B2sA9nnQ6TduktSu2hitKu7N87vX_SQlvjEzoexy0J7po5JoXAavp00ezNYYk-JSNggyArUC4uWKxCCU6ebAibGuB6rbE_y3TLtwszz4a4MklhsFBEcgSYgDdoR5tPthMjf8yEbucQ/s2016/image2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfxNc-ER-TTWcq_Nqkv9JZC1gRa-Z7R3aAQIoSBn3B2sA9nnQ6TduktSu2hitKu7N87vX_SQlvjEzoexy0J7po5JoXAavp00ezNYYk-JSNggyArUC4uWKxCCU6ebAibGuB6rbE_y3TLtwszz4a4MklhsFBEcgSYgDdoR5tPthMjf8yEbucQ/w300-h400/image2.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><i style="font-family: helvetica;">(photo by Eric </i><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Bortz)</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">head
of the ohio river trail</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there's
a clearing going north</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">some
would call west</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">or
even a twist south</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">as
the crow flies</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
if you stick to the river</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you
won't get lost</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">unless
the daydreams</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">overwhelm
what came before them</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">over
the next month the droplets</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">will
gather by the river edges</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">silt
and sumac will become</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
dominant shoulders</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">your
eyebrows may drip a ring</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">around
your neck</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
the trail will go on</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">aboriginal
mounds </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> rising</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">--- e b bortz</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-65304753112248226822022-06-12T12:56:00.000-04:002022-06-12T12:56:53.836-04:00earth note 859<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">chimney
swifts make it to the end</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
the overcast</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">just
before the rains hit</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">fast
and clever</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
a sunday morning</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">blue
jays have taken the flight home</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">robins
still combing the grass for worms</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">humans
have a big cleanup</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">dahn
at the river</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> concert's
over</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><br /><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-6506100264056347222022-06-10T10:05:00.001-04:002022-06-10T10:36:22.575-04:00i always felt like we were about to go into hiding<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">even
with a million peace marchers</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">in
washington</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> moratorium
day 1969</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">just
after</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">ten
thousand in the streets of chicago</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">hot
august 1968</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">scrambling
our bodies in front of the police</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
national guard</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">their
columns clubs bayonets</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">forcing
our retreat</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> jimmy
was wise beyond his years</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">into
the darkness of grant park</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">tear
gas sweat clinging</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> dripping
down through jesus sandals</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> hearts
and minds</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz </span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-40438255704364313242022-06-06T16:10:00.002-04:002022-06-06T17:06:11.469-04:00earth note 858<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">i'm not sure where </span>bigfork northern minnesota</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">begins
or ends </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">maybe best to leave it as a mystery</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">after
all it's just a typical dot on the map</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">penned by some land grabber</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">stolen from
the original</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">as
in the indigenous</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">people
of bigfork</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">never
consulted</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but in
fact </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">should be revered</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">with
full deed of ownership or stewardship</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">beginning with</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">water naming and rice rights</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">somewhere
near the junction</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
a scenic highway</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">&
a thousand lakes</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and don't forget that dot</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
course you know</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
whole country</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">flows
out of bigfork</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-55936716082089102432022-06-03T08:07:00.000-04:002022-06-03T08:07:47.978-04:00i hide in the river fog<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">waiting</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
a sign</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
trees stand motionless</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">against
end of the week traffic</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">rushing
on</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there's
a taste of spring rolls</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that
linger</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">i'll
keep a watch</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">in
a new day</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">clearing</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-23300569602606536462022-06-01T12:45:00.003-04:002022-06-01T12:51:24.594-04:00earth note 857<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">mourning doves speak in alto</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">before
exchanging space on the wires</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">sunlight
breaks through the clouds</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">making
big moves before the rain</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">everyone
checks the sidewalk for cracks</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">&
new editions</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">if
there are shadows</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
words may have slipped past an empty stanza</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">fine
print is often</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">left
behind</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">books
are seldom read to the end</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">poems
are never finished</span></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><br /><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-8823094757311907872022-05-25T10:23:00.000-04:002022-05-25T10:23:04.879-04:00earth note 856<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
hawk comes again</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">this
time in the northwest sky</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
valley has no reason</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
to stay asleep</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">wearing
down the mountains</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">folding
in the distance</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">carrying
the thermals</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">to
a new sanctuary</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-60815107329035211142022-05-23T08:08:00.005-04:002022-05-24T08:40:05.413-04:00earth note 855<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">a
diner on the southern belly of nebraska</span></i>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
it looks like</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
sea of sunflowers as far as you can see</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">when
the server asks us</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">where
we headed with those kayaks</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
we just had to say</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">as
far as the sunflowers will take us</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">or
maybe we said glacier national park</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">up
against the canada border</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">hoping
the rain won't be too cold</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
of course it turned out</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">cold
enough</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">though
the lakes were calm</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">enough</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz </span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-67589533594233968242022-05-14T08:02:00.000-04:002022-05-14T08:02:56.995-04:00i'll take a handful of wandering utopians any day<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">on
any dusty high plains western new mexico road</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> spontaneity
makes the road</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">long
before birkenstock lands end coffee klatch</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">came
to twitter</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">forever
diluting the obvious or oblivious</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">with
a bunch of slogans & logos</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">here's
the cruelty of raise the red lantern or manifest destiny</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> this
is no movie</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
lakes and rivers are drying up</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you'll
see their ribs by high noon</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">we
coulda listened to the ancients and sages</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
that doesn't make you any money</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">money
money</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">this
american dream should have started</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
ended with water and buffalo chips</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz </span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-7783834739701736332022-05-11T09:59:00.000-04:002022-05-11T09:59:24.108-04:00i lived & worked in a company town<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">in
fact more than one</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
never lost sight of the</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">green
hills and cold blue rivers</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that
could sweep through</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">coal
hollows & iron rock piles</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">when
least expected</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">sometimes
the land</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">never
came back to life</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
slow death</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">minus
the purgatory</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
i may not be one for praying</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">though
exceptions have their place</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz </span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-74658053841368214672022-05-10T08:34:00.000-04:002022-05-10T08:34:12.602-04:00red-blue-red, part 6<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
red sun can wake up a storm</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">follow
the blue jays into hiding</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
inside of a hawk's mouth</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">is
red with prey</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">after
all in a dog-eat-dog world</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">it's
best to keep an eye out</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
your neighbor</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
canine barks like paul revere</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
it doesn't mean you'll be woken</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">i've
walked the streets of key west</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">long
before the new crop of poets</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">decided
to move on</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
leave the dusty stacks</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
bent ears and coffee stains</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">idling
in red sweat along frances street</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
cemetery is always shifting blue</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
the sky forgot</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">where
the blue coral streaks have gone</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
beach is only a temporary landing</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">carry
a navigational map</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">next
to your heart</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">still
beating smooth</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">like
a manta ray shadow</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><br /><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-9952772151964068592022-05-06T09:26:00.001-04:002022-05-06T09:28:35.813-04:00earth note 854<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
weight of the rain</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">like
the weight of the world</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">is
enough to pull the maples</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">all
the way down</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">touching
the ground</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
couple of mourning doves coo & tilt their heads</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">right
before taking a stiff drink</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">flying
off to find shelter</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">if
you break ground</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">on
the ridge</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you'll
eventually find</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">handmade
brick</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">from
an ancient kiln</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
markers have been left</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
the history</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">to
be found</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">bare
footprints are a perfect census</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
community gathers and then</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">grows
a village</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">long
before the long rifles</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
twisted tongues</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there
were songs sung out</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">in
love</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
reverence</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-53414521747665756922022-05-03T09:29:00.001-04:002022-05-03T09:29:29.068-04:00i don't need two u-hauls<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">rolling
down the avenue</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">heading
for the ohio river</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">or
a backup horn on a backhoe</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">feeling
its way below</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
asphalt</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
a runaway section</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
clandestine pipe</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
lone crow struts across a flat roof porch</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
you wonder where the murder is</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">no
one travels alone anymore</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
maples are doing their best</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">to
cover up the scars</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
dog has his nose in the air</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
hasn't made a sound yet</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">lots
of school buses for waiting students</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">and
refugees</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
no drivers</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">are
you ready for another election season</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></div>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-65353110159247801512022-04-29T08:38:00.001-04:002022-04-29T08:41:29.759-04:00crisscrossing colorado wildfires<p></p><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">still
looking for a cool dark crevasse</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">grit
brown high desert</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">respite
from the smoke</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">rolling
over purple mountain breasts</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">sagebrush
breaking loose</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">taking
on cumulative new forms</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> a
banksy near granby</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">enough
to think about</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">driving
east</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> again</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">hot
springs tainted sulfur footprints</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
friendly rowdy crowd to share the springs with</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there's
a landscape hidden</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">inside
silver & turquoise</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">changing
hands</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">trading
stories</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-44906508034337825432022-04-28T11:08:00.000-04:002022-04-28T11:08:30.376-04:00earth note 853<p></p><p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>spring</i></span></p>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">forest
finally lights up</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">off
the far reaches of the sun</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
only true awakening</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">filling
the hills like a heart strung</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> mandolin</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">harmony
and dissonance escape</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
not the rhythm</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
the river</span></div>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span></p><p></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-55638780955910061392022-04-26T09:26:00.004-04:002022-04-26T09:44:22.603-04:00earth note 852<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">i
can't fathom</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">what
a scorched earth</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">might
look like</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">maybe
not much different</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">from
what exists</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">right
now</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
forests cough</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">like
a constant covid</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
riverbed becomes</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a
fire corridor</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that's
not water on the road</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
only a mirage</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there's
a pile of twisted steel</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
every broken body</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">on
the field of battle</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
trenches of mariupol</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">leave
thousands</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">wandering
before dying</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">some
say there's a price to pay</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">before
you leave this world</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">i'm
not so sure you ever leave</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">maybe
what becomes</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">your
memory</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">is
your penance</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
ocean steams</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">like
it's on its last horizon</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">we
offer up our hands</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">before
the great wave</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">what
passes through</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">is
what passes through</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz</span> </p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-26850389266191184702022-04-21T09:33:00.002-04:002022-04-22T08:38:53.266-04:00is there such a thing as alienation<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">or
is it still</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">just
an extension</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
that loss</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
surplus value some would say</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">i'm
not sure about any of this</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">camus
walks out of the desert</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">with
his books</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">just
before the bombs go off</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">first
and foremost</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">he's
still a teacher</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there
are lessons too brutal</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">to
learn</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">but
once</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">every
mother will pack a lunch</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">with
leftovers</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">our
sustenance depends on it</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
mothers of the world</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
one and only lifelines</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">still
visible</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">in
a dust storm</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">of
the epoch</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">throwing
out all proportions</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
road divides up ahead</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">choose</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">before
it chooses</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for
you</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz </span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12505944.post-50026702991682681752022-04-19T09:35:00.001-04:002022-04-19T11:28:51.378-04:00the road to phuket<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">came
out of a rainforest</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
sky heavy in monsoon</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
rubber trees bending</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">like
old bodies often do</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">there's
a cart full of precious stones</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">where
value is an illusion</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that
will find themselves</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">at
the marketplace</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">in
time for morning barter</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">every
<i>farang</i>
thinks the beach is calm</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
tides know better</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the
equator does not negotiate</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">it
will burn deep</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">below
your breastbone</span></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">---
e b bortz </span></p>e b bortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699593136231380850noreply@blogger.com0