A Cheery Poem on Aging and Opportunity Squandered

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The Tragedy of the Leaves

by Charles Bukowski

I awakened to dryness and the ferns were dead, 

the potted plants yellow as corn; 

my woman was gone 

and the empty bottles like bled corpses 

surrounded me with their uselessness;  

the sun was still good, though,  

and my landlady's note cracked in fine and 

undemanding yellowness; what was needed now 

was a good comedian, ancient style, a jester 

with jokes upon absurd pain; pain is absurd 

because it exists, nothing more; 

I shaved carefully with an old razor 

the man who had once been young and 

said to have genius; but 

that's the tragedy of the leaves, 

the dead ferns, the dead plants; 

and I walked into a dark hall 

where the landlady stood 

execrating and final, 

sending me to hell, 

waving her fat, sweaty arms 

and screaming 

screaming for rent 

because the world had failed us 

both.

Pink Floyd Nagila

From a few years back. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect. Then I was surprised. 

Joel Carillet

Canadian Trucker Limerick

 

goldennews

In Ottawa streets walk brutes,

Quite proud of their nice jackboots,

But while they high-five,

Their wives do connive,

With truckers in carnal pursuits.

Running Book Crosses Finish Line

 

dreamstime.com

At 1:38 PM Pacific Time this fine day I completed the first draft of my marathon book. It falls into the novella category, running 108 pages and almost 40k words. That will change as I slim it down, augment with an appendix explaining various running terms and techniques, and craft front and back matter.

But for all that, the research was assembled and the text written in around three months. That could just be a new record for me. 

So I'll let the book simmer while my subconscious sorts out matters of narrative and style. 

More soon.

Pfizer Rocks!

 Ryan Long sings the praises of a key big phrarma player. 

Ryan Long

Running Book Speeding to Release

And not just any book: mine. Hoping to have an ebook version up by March 25. It's a short, snappy read about my 13-year journey to once more run a marathon. 

Be careful what you wish for.

dreamstime.com

Time for Soylent Green

Watch your diet.

filmonpaper

So Long, PJ O'Rourke

 

Huffington Post

A funny guy, keen wit; I recall him from the old National Lampoon Magazine and Rolling Stone. Rest in humorous pieces.

A Pressing Question re. Trans Men

 Comic Ryan Long explores the fairness of trans men entering female contests.

Ryan Long

A Thought for February 8

 

I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man wearing Crocs.

— Ling Carter

A Thought for February 5

 

Live Science

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

 - Albert Einstein