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LITERARY NOOK
T.O.A.S.T.: Telling Old Age Secret Tales
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Posted on Dec 30 2019
Island Where My Reasons End
“…beneath the plane; that coastline of dim beaches deep in sand stretching indistinguishably all the way to where my reasons end.”
—Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979)
Long distance telephone information is now in cyber space
from the Mariana Islands sandy and rocky beaches to Beijing
email and cell phone messages with electronic bells rapidly race
so everywhere night and day you can hear cellphones ring.
“ Who know where the time goes” sings Joni Mitchell
the coconut telegraph rings all around the island
our arguments shared with so many its hard to tell
why my primos and compadres are all laughing and smiling?
Off island for months when delayed by two typhoons
whats the real reason you have gone away
where have you been the past two full moons
will you be back for the fiesta by next Sunday.
As I fly off island I think I see you on a beach below
Is it it for real how I feel? I miss you. Do you know?
New Year’s New Fears New Tears
“…Tears of rage, tears of grief, why must I always be the thief, come to me now, you know we’re so alone and life is brief.”
—chorus for song Tears of Rage by The Band.
Tears of joy for many a young girl and boy
tears of pain for many with problems from aging
young adults enthralled with their latest cyber toy
elders depressed as limited mobility keeps raging.
New fears for our parents and many friends with cancer
diabetes and dialysis concerns and care increase
new fears of political leaders who have no answer
as international relations head away from peace.
This new year is really not much different from the old
and Asian new year or Spring Festival is yet to come
there are many new fears and failures soon to be told
be like Little Jack Horner get into it and pull out a plum.
There’s a tear in my beer and I’m missing you my dear
With more reasons for tears under a sky blue and clear.
