One hundred steps beyond the top of my book
A man, dressed adequately for all seasons
walks slowly, unsteadily yet gracefully across the grass
separating my bench from the river.
He stops, kneels, then lies down on that grass.
He sleeps.
I read.
After some time he rises
walks a bit more
stopping mostly behind a tree.
He urinates
and then moves on.
At a bench to my left
he spots a newspaper
sits down, reads.
Life provides. All is good.
I read.
The man who walked, slept, pissed and read
laughs softly, repeatedly
a high pitched ha ha ha.
He gestures enthusiastically
to those I’ll never see
converses intimately, silently with them
words I’ll never hear.
A woman, ears covered
against the noise she creates
drives a Toro mower
in no clear pattern
across the field in front of us.
The smell of fresh cut grass
envelops us both!
Thanks. That was as cool refreshing and spicy as any ginger beer.
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Dear Dick,
I understand that you weren’t able to see or hear the people your neighbor was talking to. That’s why you were safe. If, on the other hand they can see you, then you are in grave danger. Fresh cut grass is the only preventative. Fortunately, the lawn guys did the grass, completely covering our lawn chairs. I’ll sweep them off carefully and send you a bag of fresh cut grass. If you should see anyone the street you don’t recognize, sprinkle a pinch of grass on them and
see if they vanish. Better safe than sorry.
Good luck
Bill
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I love what you can see from behind the lens of a camera; I love even more what you can see without the camera…
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From neighbor Stan:
Couldn’t figure out how to do a ‘comments.’
But here’s what I’d have said had I known how to.
I never read poetry and am unmoved by it.
Except, for once in my life, I liked, read, and appreciated your Zen piece.
I would have stopped at “word’s I’ll never hear” though.
Don’t think the addition of the woman driving a Toro mower was a plus.
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It’s as good as I said. But I have to recant, because later that day I had a Crabby’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer and it was better.
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Your expressions of thoughts and observations is always enjoyed by this reader.
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