It was a million o'clock in the morning.
I closed the bathroom door, reflecting
More on New York, borough of Queens,
Where Flushing began and must remain
As my motorcycling neighbor kickstarts
His brain. What this means is we're not
Quite deaf where mind and morning
Mingle, but see fine from our ships
That slip among stars, see this single
Moment of ours expand over worlds,
Walls. A flag of space and time unfurled
Above, past thrall, manumission, bondage
By little ships, curious and full of love.
I'm thinking of have those floor lighting things airliners have to guide people from my bed to the bathroom. Not often do you get to read the words 'thrall' and 'manumission', nice bit 'o writin' there Geo. Hope you and Norma are well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike, I'd never written the word "manumission" before but remembered it from civics class in school. Various states resisted Lincoln's freedom work by denying certain civil rights to freed slaves (like running for public office, etc). It was a long struggle.
DeleteI suppose it would be good for you if the motorcycling neighbor would move to Flushing, in Queens, and remain there.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Duta, I wish the invention of Flushing extended to vortices that swirl annoying neighbors away.
DeleteThere is a clarity in the early morning that quickly dissolves within the chaos of the day. Not necessarily a visual clarity mind you, but mental for sure. I have my best ideas in the shower.
ReplyDeleteJuli, I believe you've nailed it. There is something about the sound and warmth of a shower, the nakedness and privacy, that gently holds distraction at bay and encourages ideation.
DeleteClarity has never dared to intrude on my early mornings - - which are muddled, incoherent, and filled with the absolute dread of facing another day. My most lucid and constructive moments always occur after midnight, which is perhaps too late.....
ReplyDeleteMotorcycles and barking dogs seldom enhance a neighborhood.
Hoping you and Norma are surviving the bumpy roads that inevitably impair life's journey. Take care and my best to you both.
Dear Jon, midnight is made magical by darkness and calm, when half the world falls asleep at its madness. I've lived in places where dogs are quiet, motorcycles rare, but teenagers stand in their yards and bark all day. Always something.
DeleteAs to Norma, she's the strong one now. She runs; I follow with a cane. Our best to you too!
Hello Geo! Good to see a post from you again. I had to look up manumission and have now added it to my vocabulary - thank you. "Curious and full of love" - the best way to be. My good wishes to you and Norma; I hope you are doing okay.
ReplyDeleteO-Jenny, yours in curiosity & love, I return from medical and mechanical hiatus. to your best wishes. I offer you mine.
DeleteFlushing is a small fishing village near where I grew up, a long way from all the Yorks; it was always lively but that is of no concern when you can get in a boat and paddle away. Wishing you peaceful paddles xx We are busy hedge laying and hopefully soon I will make a post about our land progress - hope you can stop by and listen to bird song with us xx
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa, I'm not quite fit for traveling right now but sure appreciate your invitation to birdsong. Looking forward to your land-progress post. There are so many birds on our land this rainy year, all the feeders are occupied. Sometimes they chirp "cheep-cheep" so loudly when I step outdoors, I answer: "HEY! Who you callin' cheap?"
DeleteIt's wonderful to see you post again, Geo! I'm glad you're getting about, even if it is with a cane. We've been spending time with a friend from Ottawa during the past week in Hawaii. She is now using a cane. It's been so windy here that she has been wedging her cane between her rattling window and bed frame, so she can sleep plagued only by the wind howling around her hotel and not a rattling window. She has to remember not to trip over her wedged cane when she gets up in the middle of the night. The indignities of growing older! I love your ships that slip among stars. We may be less able to do the things we want to, but our love and curiosity remains unfettered. Take care, my friend!
ReplyDeleteDear Blue, thank You. It started at the pharmacy, where I collected my prescriptions, then visited the far back wall where the spirits are shelved. As I returned to the storefront, the jumps kicked in and I labored up to the counter where my friend Ben was stationed. He disappeared and returned with a chair. He double-bagged my purchases and reminded me:"I pray for you Mr. Geo." After that, my cane came with me.
Delete