16, 381. ODDS ON

 ODDS ON

I've always thought - to a man (person) -

on cavalcade Earth - that our steps were

prescribed for us. Nowhere to run, nowhere

to hide. 

-

Headstrong in all others matter of taste and

declaration, we paint our kitchens to colors

that we like, and take our ideas from wherever 

else we choose.  It's just like that, and simple.

-

 I don't take guesses on things I don't know

about; nor do I place bets on horses I've

never seen.

16,380. GESTATION PERIOD

 GESTATION PERIOD

Take the robin from the tree, and

you've still got a robin and a tree.

Those are singular objects that yet

remain.

-

It's not like that with dreams and

hope  -  you remove them, and 

they're gone.

16,379. NEGATIVES

NEGATIVES

It's difficult for me to stay negative 

when everyone is saying the 'right'

attitude will win my day. It may well

be just as they say, yet I harbor my own

digging doubts. Everything sideways falls

off the cart. I am my own worst enemy.

-

I awoke today in a hole so deep and

black I thought there'd be no coming 

back; but by 4pm it was pretty much

gone. Last night, again, was little sleep.

At 9pm the town's fire whistle blew is

nightly signal, and I though that we 

were done. 9:30, the dirigible assholes 

got started with fireworks. The next 

house down the hill is about 1000 feet 

off. He got his 40 minutes of nitwit

folly, and then the next house got their.

And then the next. Each of 3, sounding

like a conspiracy.

-

With a 'rest-home' here filled with 

doddering fools, I was surprised at 

the lack of consideration . No sleep 

for me!

16378. HEADINGS

HEADINGS 

It's been a really long time, in years now,

since I've heard a truly aggressive voice

directed towards me; and noticed only

by its absence. That's a true distinction,

and one worth the mention. 

-

I think the mark of a man is how we

note the passing  -  some men get buried

strangely, with those nods to their distant

past : the Marine Color Guard, the fresh

and preserved uniform displayed in plastic, 

on a hanger at the front. Yes, I always feel

the Government is out of line with that

re-possessive move. What is all this? A

Communist Soviet, taking back all its

souls for its military life anew? Does

not this 'malarkey' ever end, and do

men not have 'lives' in between?