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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

THE GREAT MYSTERIES OF LIFE


Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

As we stand on the cusp of the new year, I'm in a reflective mood...so here's an encore presentation that I know many of you have not seen before that addresses what I'm feeling...and am always feeling to some extent. HAVE A HAPPY!




I'm cruising down to the convenience store to pick up some beers
with the words of my spiritual master ringing in my ears:
You must give up your worldly attachments if you want to advance.

Pulling into the lot I spot a raven-haired goddess
riding in with some biker who looks like
one of the lout-infested Vikings in that credit card commercial.


While he is distracted inside,
I whisper in her ear: "What's HE got that I ain't got?"
And she says..."He's got...a big...HARLEY!"

So I hop back into my car,
resigned to worshipping her from afar--
but my master is adamant on this point:
You musn't worship something that could give you an STD.
And I'm supposed to give up sex--
or at least not enjoy it, if I want to be enlightened.
And I must atone for a life of living fast and loose,
in order to extract my neck from this karmic noose.

And I must be engaged with the great mysteries of life,
as I ponder why the weather girls on the Spanish channel
are always hotter than all the others...
and I am picking up a Christian radio station
on my television: POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING, K-LOVE!
It drowns out the regular programming on my PBS channel.
And I'm certain that it's some kind of sign from the cosmos--
but why pick on a nice Buddhist boy like me?

Heading home, I see Kerouac on the corner,
trying to wangle a ride--
he's been standing there since 1955.
But hard times have fallen on vagabond scribes,
as "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"
gave way to One Night In Paris.
But he's picking up some extra jack
writing the direction labels on shampoo bottles
in his stream-of-consciousness style...

Once upon a time in a Ford Galaxy
far, far away--I whispered empty words
of love to Suzie, and Lucy, and Betty Jean--
until...VOILA! Fourteen years of coming
home every night and saying: WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
Thinking this is it--the happiness that had eluded me--
as the prime of my life slowly...slipped...away.

As did she.

And I can see my mother and me
standing on the platform
as the train roars down upon us--
she is running away...again.
And it is said that boys grow up
and seek out their mothers--
and so it was
that I chose one
who would RUN.

And I tell my master it's easier
to give up your worldly attachments
when there's little left to lose.
And there's something about being done
with the greater part of it that turns you young.
And you find yourself saying WHATEVER
and you come to understand that it means
accepting things the way they are--
and you think maybe these kids are on to something
as they shrug and turn back to their internet porn.

And yet, here I stand, crying
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT, ALFIE?
But Alfie's too busy scoring
to offer any kind of reply,
though he seems to be saying heaven can wait.

So I just want to know...
can there be any compromise
for one who is other worldly, yet worldly wise?


41 comments:

  1. I am very familiar with that credit card commercial, i used to work for that company a few months ago.

    A very philosophical poem, there are people all around the world seeking to find answers to life's intriguing questions, and those questions/answers were beautifully written in your poem.

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  2. Beautifully written, everything you say resonate...I've ditched my teacher. Life sucks and apparently heaven can wait ;)

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  3. Ahhh, Timoteo, this is beat-brilliant!!!!!

    Heading home, I see Kerouac on the corner,
    trying to wangle a ride--
    he's been standing there since 1955.
    But hard times have fallen on vagabond scribes,
    as "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"
    gave way to One Night In Paris.
    But he's picking up some extra jack
    writing the direction labels on shampoo bottles
    in his stream-of-consciousness style...

    The back-beats and throw-back rhymes in this section are brilliant. Subtle but unmistakable.
    Cheeky, tricky & wordy. And once again, you manage to cover the whole journey/scene as well as saying exactly what needed to be said.

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  4. Warrior,
    Glad you're familiar with that commercial. I didn't know if everyone would be, but you obviously "see" the image I was describing...thanks for your comment.

    Lorraine,
    I ALWAYS love to hear what you have to say!

    Maxine,
    Whew...My head is swelling and I can hardly get my baseball cap on...should be okay by morning-- but thanks for that glowing review!

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  5. Ok, now you have me humming "Memphis Blues Again"...this reminded me so much of that song, and yes, it's the beat, daddy-o

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  6. Cry me a river...

    What a hoot...
    I am all over the continent in 6 different decades on the back of a Harley with Yoda for some reason speaking in my ear


    Thanks for sharing with One Shot

    MDW - giggle

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  7. I love the way you look at things. I think your so called master needs to be studying under you--well not actually under...er--nice one.

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  8. if i got to stop enjoying sex, i am surely not welcome...lol. nice write...need to get me a bike though...

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  9. Er, try some other master?

    What if the answer is "No?" Then what? Sounds like a kōan right there...

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  10. Wonderfully vivid and intriguing poem... :)

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  11. Alfie is indeed too busy scoring to offer anything. Some real questions asked here, the deep n meaningful... with humour... the best way

    cheers

    Luke @ WordSalad

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  12. "And I tell my master it's easier
    to give up your worldly attachments
    when there's little left to lose.
    And there's something about being done
    with the greater part of it that turns you young.
    And you find yourself saying WHATEVER
    and you come to understand that it means
    accepting things the way they are--
    and you think maybe these kids are on to something
    as they shrug and turn back to their internet porn."

    accepting things the way they are...there is your answer of course...both...other worldly and worldly...the wholeness of being human.

    This is so brilliantly written Timoteo...the flow, yes the stream of consciousness that we are all floating along...hitchhikers and angels in all moments.

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  13. Fucking stellar, Timoteo! I love all the questioning.

    (Exactly why is all the FUN stuff 'bad' and do we really need to renounce it ALL? That doesn't sound like MY idea of an ideal existence!)

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  14. Wow another great piece, to have found on my reading rounds

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  15. i love your energy and your spirit; you dance and your speech is so you...xxxj

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  16. Hedgewitch,
    Yeah, not UNDER...totally against his philosophy! LOL

    Laura X,
    I love your "hitchhikers and angels." I may borrow that (read: steal) for the title of a poem!

    Eric,
    Why IS all the fun stuff bad? Could it be that it wouldn't be fun anymore if people thought it was good?

    Brian, Petteri, MDW, Dulce, Luke, Kodjo, Jen...I love you my dahlinks...let me give you a big wet kiss!

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  17. Snap, Snap, Snap, Snap.. Dobie getting hip.. Snap, Snap, Snap..

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  18. Wow, you have blown me away Timeoteo. Questions, pain, unasked for realities and more questions. I really liked this. Loved the rhythm and "beat". Tres cool!

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  19. This is my favorite prose/poem of yours that I have read of yet. A great write and inspiring words. :)

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  20. I like the construction of this prose poem. I like the questions and all...

    Here is my one shot:
    musical whirlwind

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  21. Whoooaaa!! This was heavy!! But made a lot of sense nonetheless!
    "And I tell my master it's easier
    to give up your worldly attachments
    when there's little left to lose" -- these lines really got me thinking!! And not I am beginning to realize that the most material things are the easiest to let go of (and yet, the toughest too!)
    Whheewww...

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  22. this brought a wise quote to my mind...everything is allowed to be enjoyed - but nothing should take you a prisoner..i try to live this way - and enjoy sex...smiles... and yes - when i was a teenager, a motorcycle for sure was a HUGE plus point for choosing a boyfriend...

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  23. Very resonant poem for the modern world, the modern culture. The mysteries of life indeed... Hard-hitting piece - a lot of questions, but a deep and entertaining rumination, quite a vivid write. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece!

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  24. Fun, rambly work, with some worthwhile meaning(s). :)

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  25. Hey just checking on you after todays events in your area..Hope all is well!!

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  26. another award winning poem.
    keep it up..

    YEAH!, you win The Celebrate Poet of 2010 Award

    Happy Sunday!
    Come to our potluck tonight,

    Theme: Journey and the road ahead.

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  27. How are you?

    Want to make more poetic friends? Join Poets Rally Now! Poetry Awards are assigned upon completion…Hope to see you in…

    Leave your entry here if you are ready, Thanks!

    Your poetry rocks!
    xxx

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  28. This is a fantastic write, and I so relate! Somehow I missed it, my blogroll didnt show you had written anything new till today. Glad I didnt miss this, it says it all. Yoiks! What a journey it all is, hey? But I wouldnt have missed it for the world.

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  29. Thank for the visit...I enjoy your work as well!

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  30. Condoms, conversation, and a whole lot of Luck (for those days when Karma is feeling a bit lazy).

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    Replies
    1. Not necessarily in that order--lol Thanks, Magaly!

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  31. I think I prefer to be wise than to be enlightened... wisdom comes from practice (and wisdom includes looking at biker girls from afar)

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    Replies
    1. Yes...I keep practicing because I have yet to get it right :)

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  32. Brilliant. Love all your references.

    (Renunciation is not my thing. I like a lot about Buddhism, but I'll be staying Pagan.)

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    1. It's not my thing either, Rosemary. At least I can get lost in my memories of indulgence :)

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  33. Tim, you always tell it true, whimsical, poignant and oh so real. Bless you for that gift.

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    1. Sherry...I so appreciate you...hope 2018 smiles upon you with a big ole Cheshire cat grin!

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  34. That was a fun romp. What's it all about, Alfie is my theme song

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    Replies
    1. Colleen...listen to the Cilla Black version of "Alfie" sometime...it will give you goosebumps!

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  35. No worries, friend ... as long as we have a credit card ... we will b okay ... smiles ... Love, cat.

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