Monday, January 4 – “just average changes”
Mary Ann Buckley, a soul friend of 40 years, wrote me on December 31 to introduce me to this lean and understated poem written by “a young Afro-American man in prison.” A good way to begin 2016’s work year. Here’s Mary Ann’s cover note.
“Hi, John. It was good to hear from you and thanks for the poems. Here’s one by a young Afro-American man in prison — from a web-site connected with an organization that teaches literacy to prisoners. I met the director of the organization in November when she was among those honored by the Library of Congress for their work to promote literacy. I was there because our school in the Dominican Republic was also honored, and it turned out that her mother was taught by our sisters [i.e., Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus]. She’s started sending me her blog which includes some poetry by the prisoners she helps.”
If you read the poem out you may notice that each line works best with a pause. Short lines, short pauses create a cadence, which is the poet’s intent I think.
Happy New Year, work day 1.
john sj
Today’s Post — “Changing Ways”
No New Year’s resolution for me
No crying decree
No promises, just average changes
Less time stressing
More time working out
Less time talking
More time learning
Not so many haters
A few more friends
Not so much sadness
A little more happiness
Less weakness
More strength
Less Sleeping
More thinking
Change after all…is good
Change after all
Is all I know
By VB , September 1, 2015
In http://freemindsbookclub.org/changing-ways
Dawn after an early snowfall Nov 22, 2015
