Grace

Because it’s July, and because July’s half-way through the year, leaving us at least some time to do more writing, Poets and Storytellers United (Thanks, Rommy!) wants us to take advantage and post something forward-looking for this week’s Writers’ Pantry (#27).

But I’m older now—certainly more than half-way through my visit and I thought maybe expressing my gratitude for the trip so far might be in order.

So: Here’s an Oldie, originally published — with two companion pieces — by the (now defunct) Clapboard House back in July 2014.

———[|||]———

Thank you, father, for all that hash when I was
just a high schoolboy; and for all those girls,
their cute little pink feet and silver toe rings
up on the dashboard, Stones on the radio,
calico dresses in the wind, tanned legs, hot
nights, warm flesh, and all those summer
sunstruck mornings waking up with no idea
whose house I was in, whose bed,
and not a second’s thought about how it’s
only Tuesday, smoky and unknowable.

Thanks for the moon reflected in windshield
raindrops, and for midnight mushrooms,
Day-Glo under blacklight, mescaline boogie,
acid rock, and acid.
……………………………..But mostly thank you
for ’68; Danny Riley and his floral necktie
finishing up his student teaching,
smiling and handing me books, saying
Oh man, you should read some Ginsberg, or
Brautigan, maybe. No; here, I got it.
For you, Ferlinghetti.

—————[|||]—————
More Great Pantry-Mates Here:
Half-Way There
———[||]———