tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263925449697525842024-03-12T18:23:09.603-07:00Sandwiches of DespairLe mot justeRichard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.comBlogger497125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-56635625790230568702022-11-09T07:39:00.001-08:002022-11-09T07:39:50.834-08:00Blessed Rain<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;"><i>Rainy day, dream away</i></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;"><i>Ah, let the sun take a holiday</i></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;"><i>Flowers bathe and I see the children play</i></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;"><i>Lay back and groove on a rainy day</i></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">-- From <b>Rainy Day, Dream Away</b> by Jimi Hendrix</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px; min-height: 23px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Blessed rain yesterday</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Umbrella in hand as I walk to work</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Chilly </p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Wind — but not too much </p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Just the way I like it</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">(Watch those slippery leaves)</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Under trees it is pouring</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">The dirty air getting a much needed bath</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">The grass is joyous</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Flowers are thankful</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Maybe</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Just maybe</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">We can finally put a dent</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Into our awful drought</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Maybe the hills can be green</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">For months</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Meanwhile I’m happy</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Nice to have nature back on our side</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">And I've managed to stay dry</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Thanks umbrella</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Thanks clouds</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Thanks all around</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;">Now if it would only last….</p><div><br /></div>Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-38954903383037052262022-07-31T12:04:00.001-07:002022-07-31T12:04:05.072-07:00Frustration<p><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That darn tree</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It has my ball</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The lowest branch out of reach</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So no way to climb it</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I ask a squirrel for help</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But it scurries away</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There’s a bird near my ball</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Could you pass it down? I ask</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To no avail</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I plead with the wind</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Just one good strong gust</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But the air remains still</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Eureka! I find another ball</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’ll use it to knock mine down</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">First throw too high</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Second bangs against a branch</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Third time a charm?</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Nope the second ball gets stuck too</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That darn tree</p>Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-63951544973865040612022-07-17T13:31:00.006-07:002022-07-17T13:31:55.516-07:00Five Haiku<p><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Smiling young woman</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Walked along the rushing creek</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A white duck quacked</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wind crackles through trees</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Leaves make their descent to ground</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Time to get a rake</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">River’s angry flow</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Carries debris and lifts boats</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Happy to reach shore</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Happy foggy day</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Cooler here than the suburbs</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let’s go for a walk</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The rain has fallen</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Birds chirp through the misty air</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Nature has prevailed</p>Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-9900235591747754072022-03-17T11:00:00.001-07:002022-03-17T11:00:36.483-07:00Rushed Dreams<p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I danced by the yawning precipice</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Heedless of the vertiginous heights</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A fall into the abyss was of little concern</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Better to soar with eagles</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dance on clouds</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The morning sun obstructed my view</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was turning into a far out day</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The caterwaul of angels heightened reality</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the dance of the jet stream lit dreams</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh to be scaling the heights </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finding heaven perched on a mossy bank</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By the rushing dream</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Where everyone was young and naked</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And fear was something only in fiction</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tears of joy mingled with the warm rain</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While the cold sun hid behind the dark moon</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Such a strange and wonderful lunch</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Feasting on these words</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0d1013; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lucky I was hungry</span></p>Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-5037585185727687222021-09-03T11:44:00.000-07:002021-09-03T11:44:13.263-07:00The Fountain of Old Age<p><span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px;"><i>Time in dreams is frozen. You can never get away from where you've been. — Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin.</i></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;">Somewhere my youth goes on</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Another dimension</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Or inside me now</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As I go on</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And I do</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Those days when I was indestructible</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When my dreams and future were indistinguishable </p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That was but maybe is</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And I am still</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The fountain of old age</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But the search is never ending</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But somewhere my youth persists</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Still so sure of itself</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Still fumbling, stumbling, shambling</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But still my own</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Me</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mine </p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And I’ll reclaim it again</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There there behind that dream</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Next to that idea</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Just to the right of that emotion</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Somewhere my youth goes on</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I love it</p>Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-74020330386255522032021-03-31T17:11:00.007-07:002021-03-31T17:11:45.818-07:00Pain<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The sky shattered around me falling to the ground like shards of glass</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I wept that morning</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Dreams of vanquished scoundrels now forgotten</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The lump in my throat genuine</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Musings, hallucinations, dribbles of the mind and the endless pain of mortality</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Never to recover from my own birth</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How horrible to be here facing eternity</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As the eggs boil and bask and break and bother </p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The gumshoe squealed to the cops despite his silence Having been handsomely paid for</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And what do you do when there’s nothing but poetry and your own falling heart diving into the ocean</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Never to recover</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Always to be a lover</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Seems simple</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But the pain says no</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pain</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pain is always the theme</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So much of it (pain) coursing through me and exiting with every exhalation and returning with every inhalation </p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To not breath might be the cure</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pure</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Purity</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Surety</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is none</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Nor fun</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Just a life in the shadows of pain</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All I can do in response is to create</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Never too late</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And so I cannot cry</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The simplicity of it all</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All of it together here and forever and now and then and again and soon</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How I strive</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Stay alive</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Crying in the darkness</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Never more sure than when uncertain</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Curtain</p><p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Not to be continued</p><div><br /></div>Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-88137430396258328692020-11-29T13:10:00.004-08:002020-11-29T13:10:28.013-08:00It's 1966<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Willie Mays in centerfield</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Allen Ginsberg writing poems</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My father driving his truck</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’m tossing the ball in the backyard</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Or</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Watching a silly sitcom</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">American soldiers dying in Vietnam</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Or</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Losing body parts</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Lyndon Johnson on the phone in the Oval Office</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Or</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Lying about the war</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Richard Nixon plotting his next run</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The 49ers play at Kezar Stadium</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Steve McQueen the coolest</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everyone loves the space program</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Marijuana sales increasing everywhere</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Beatles put out a new album</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jack Kerouac still alive and writing </p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Or</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drinking</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">J Edgar Hoover plotting against the New Left</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Or</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Civil Rights Movement</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Dr. King organizing</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My Mom a schizophrenic shouting</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Or</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Making diner</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Viet Cong winning</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">England swinging like a pendulum do</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Iron Curtain tall and mighty </p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And </p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Oppressive</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Skirts short on girls </p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And </p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Young women</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bewitched remains a popular TV show</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Motown and soul music a happy marriage</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Unions strong</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The CIA schemes against legit governments abroad</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I hate school but love books</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Girls getting increasingly interesting to me</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">American cars too big</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But </p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Gas is cheap</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Cigarette commercials on TV</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">More Americans protesting the war</p>
<p style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The best and worst yet to come</p><p> </p>Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-80136316628884401282020-11-14T17:47:00.005-08:002020-11-14T17:47:43.086-08:00Fading Light<p>The fading light of a November dusk</p><p>Wet leaves from yesterday’s rain</p><p>Cover the garden and sidewalk</p><p>The plodding steps of a passerby</p><p>The crows are quiet now</p><p>It feels soft and warm in the house</p><p>Maybe time for hot tea and a cookie</p><p>I’m ignoring my book now</p><p>Just as I’ve ignored writing</p><p>The depth of this moment tugs at me</p><p>It is another day waning</p><p>They are passing too quickly now</p><p>Their haste brings an emptiness</p><p>And I try to fill it with fading light</p><p>Never</p><p>Works</p><div><br /></div>Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-29847479744773850212020-08-04T19:38:00.002-07:002020-08-04T19:38:26.632-07:00Recycling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I pulled the recycling bins to the curb<br />
The trash bin too<br />
A truck will come by tomorrow<br />
and empty them<br />
Then I’ll pull the bins back<br />
to where they sit all week<br />
Gradually they will fill up<br />
As we take out our trash<br />
and recycling<br />
The process is the same every week<br />
I like it<br />
I like that we have so little trash<br />
and so much more recycling<br />
There’s also a compost bin<br />
It wasn’t even half full this week<br />
So I didn’t put it out on the curb<br />
Once a month I clean the compost bin<br />
with a water using the new hose we bought<br />
The compost been gets pretty gross<br />
So much of life is in cycles<br />
That’s the way it goes</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-25004851185329260102020-05-13T14:00:00.002-07:002020-05-13T14:00:35.018-07:00End of Night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
That rugged<br />
That tweed jacket<br />
The cigarette smoke<br />
The wallet full of ones<br />
A scarf dangling<br />
A shirt untucked<br />
Toussled hair<br />
Cynical<br />
Yet laughing<br />
The smell of bourbon<br />
No gloves<br />
Loafers and thin socks<br />
Reciting poetry<br />
Arrogant friendship<br />
It is two men<br />
There was a tall slinky blonde<br />
She blew<br />
The sun is rising<br />
From the stoop<br />
Shiver<br />
Long day overlapping<br />
Friendship<br />
A manicured hand on the shoulder<br />
Rise unsteadily<br />
Time for coffee</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-89600223456286798422020-03-02T15:14:00.001-08:002020-03-02T15:14:40.283-08:00I Saw<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I saw a dust mote<br />
Hello, I said<br />
No response<br />
I saw a fig tree<br />
Hello, I said<br />
No response<br />
I saw a blue bird<br />
Hello, I said<br />
No response<br />
I saw the Roman Coliseum<br />
Hello, I said<br />
No response<br />
I saw a rain drop<br />
Hello, I said<br />
No response<br />
I saw a beautiful woman<br />
Hello, I said<br />
No response<br />
Finally I saw a puppy dog<br />
Hello, I said<br />
It barked at me<br />
Sigh I sighly sighed sighing<br />
And that's the end of the poem</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-20421364481040934542020-01-26T18:51:00.000-08:002020-01-26T18:51:57.978-08:00It All Belongs to Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>"Everything belongs to me because I’m poor." </i>- from <b>Visions of Cody</b> by Jack Kerouac<br />
<br />
I walked this morning and the day belonged to me<br />
because I am not rich<br />
It had rained overnight and the wet ground belonged to me<br />
because I am not rich<br />
The large white clouds hanging in the sky belonged to me<br />
because I am not rich<br />
A dog approached and let me pet him and that moment belonged to me<br />
because I am not rich<br />
There was a cold wind that gently slapped my cheeks and it belonged to me<br />
because I not rich<br />
I was able to relax and not be rushed as I strolled the neighborhood as time belonged to me<br />
because I am not rich<br />
All the pretty houses and their lawns belonged to me too<br />
so did the fences and the gardens and the signs and the sun and the mist and the flowers and the slick sidewalks and streets<br />
It all belongs to me because I am not rich<br />
<b>Do you hear me?</b><br />
<b>I am not rich!</b><br />
The rich only have money and property and cars and possessions and stocks and investments and portfolios<br />
They own nothing of value because they are rich<br />
We who are not rich own everything important and it is not for sale<br />
But we will share it because we know how to share<br />
The rich do not<br />
The day and the sky and the grass and the smells and the cool fresh air are ours and they cannot be bought<br />
I am happy today and feel good and healthy and wise and strong<br />
because I am not rich<br />
(Thank you Jack Kerouac for telling me the truth)</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-90064789816582906442020-01-24T18:50:00.000-08:002020-01-24T18:50:31.858-08:00At Jefferson Elementary School <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At Jefferson Elementary School we used to play dodgeball</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We also played a game in which we alternately hit a ball against a wall (I forget the name of this competition)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We also played kickball which was just like baseball only instead of batting you kicked</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I remember you could request how you wanted the ball delivered when you were up</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I preferred fast and bouncy</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Slow and bouncy was another option</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The others were slow and rolly and fast and rolly</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I was good at all these games</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Basketball too</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And flag football</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I was a very competitive child</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At Jefferson Elementary School I had teachers named Mrs. Allison,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. Hughes, Ms. Canino, Ms. Phillips and Mrs. MacDonald</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">One of them I had twice but I’m not sure who</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I remember that Mrs. Phillips was — or seemed — quite old</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I remember that Ms. Canino and Mrs. MacDonald were young</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I remember that our principal’s name was Mr. Wilde</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At Jefferson Elementary School I was eligible to be in the traffic patrol because of my good grades and fine behavior</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But I didn’t want to wear a stupid uniform and march and hold a big sign</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So I declined the opportunity -- real rebel without a cause stuff</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">When the traffic patrol had drills I stayed behind in the classroom with all the boys who were ineligible because of bad grades and poor behavior</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">They were all my friends so I was happy</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I don’t know where there girls were at this time</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Probably doing some home ec stuff</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At Jefferson Elementary School I had many friends and a few sworn enemies</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">One of my enemies was a kid we called The Choker because he would choke innocent kids with his big beefy hands</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">One day I’d had enough so I mustered up my courage and hit The Choker in the shoulder with a karate chop</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He never bothered me again</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My friends included Mark, Brent, Georges, Phillip, Lindsey, Thornton, Douglas, Stanley, Joel and Royal</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">There were others too</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I know, none of them were girls, girls came later</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We also played army which kids did a lot back then</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At Jefferson Elementary School I learned to read and to write and add and subtract and multiply and divide</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I learned some things about history and science</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I did some art and some drama and some music</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I liked learning but preferred to do it on my own</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I liked reading books but I preferred to pick my own books to read thank you very much</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At Jefferson Elementary School I was the class clown</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I liked to make people laugh</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I was good at it</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The attention was nice</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Teachers liked me but sometimes had to tell me that enough was enough with the funny stuff</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I never thought there was such thing as enough but I didn’t want to get into trouble</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At Jefferson Elementary School I discovered The Beatles when I was in the fifth grade</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The day after they were on the Ed Sullivan show Ms. Phillips opined that they were just a passing fad</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">She was wrong</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My life changed because of The Beatles</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Suddenly music was really important</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Long hair became desirable</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I learned about being cool</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My favorite Beatle was Paul</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">At Jefferson Elementary School I did a lot of growing up</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I started as a kindergartner and left as a 6th grader</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I remember it fondly</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The school still stands today and when I walk by it memories come back</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I visualize my old classmates and teachers and recall incidents</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Maybe I’ll walk by there again soon</span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I like my memories of Jefferson Elementary School</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-15792990265446727272020-01-20T15:38:00.004-08:002020-01-20T15:38:57.492-08:00The Creeper<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Death crept closer today<br />
Again<br />
It never steps back<br />
It never stands still<br />
It creeps toward me<br />
Until one day we shall meet<br />
And I will lose<br />
It might bound toward me<br />
One day<br />
And take me down suddenly<br />
In a single attack<br />
Or it might continue slowly<br />
Methodically<br />
I run<br />
But it follows<br />
It does not lose ground<br />
Maybe someday it will be so close<br />
That I will sense it<br />
Or smell it<br />
Or even see it<br />
Or feel it<br />
Sad but inevitable<br />
So today I must dance<br />
Today I must know joy<br />
I must hug a person<br />
I must love people<br />
I must find meaning<br />
There’s simply no other choice<br />
Because death closes in</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-82504849554566977282020-01-18T17:51:00.001-08:002020-01-18T17:51:13.502-08:00Please Let Me See<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I want to see something supernatural<br />
I want to see a ghost<br />
An apparition<br />
A poltergeist<br />
At least an extra terrestrial<br />
Bigfoot would do<br />
Anything that no one will believe<br />
(Seeing is believing)<br />
I want to be shocked and awed<br />
By the inexplicable<br />
The unexplained<br />
The mysterious<br />
-- I’ve seen so much of real life<br />
All that reality<br />
All those things that are empirically verifiable --<br />
Anything that baffles or astounds would do<br />
How about a talking dog?<br />
A hiccuping stone?<br />
A flying saucer or a flying cup<br />
Please let me see the truly bizarre<br />
The weird<br />
Let me be in a state of disbelief at what I’m seeing<br />
Just once<br />
Please</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-46081042425589773422020-01-14T17:14:00.001-08:002020-01-18T17:53:46.734-08:00From Lollipops to Wills<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
Had my annual physical today<br />
I have it every year<br />
Was queried and probed and poked<br />
I’m fine and dandy<br />
I like being dandy<br />
But not a dandy<br />
Got a shot too<br />
But no lollipop<br />
Have outgrown them<br />
I suppose<br />
Instead I was encouraged to write a will<br />
Well, that’s a switch!<br />
Time has flown by and someday I’ll be dead<br />
But not today<br />
Today I got to walk home from my appointment<br />
Meandered through Berkeley streets<br />
So much green after the rain<br />
So much blue sky<br />
So many white puffs of clouds<br />
Colors everywhere<br />
And houses and cars and some people too<br />
No cars struck me as I crossed busy streets<br />
Or as I crossed quiet streets<br />
Before my appointment I browsed in a bookstore<br />
In my favorite bookstore<br />
I wasn’t looking for anything in particular<br />
I bought two books in particular though<br />
I love bookstores<br />
So full of books!<br />
My room is full of books too<br />
If I can stay healthy I’ll be able to read the ones<br />
I haven’t read yet<br />
Maybe not all<br />
Because I keep buying knew ones<br />
Never enough time<br />
But always time for walks<br />
And for smiles<br />
And for hugs<br />
And for writing words like these<br />
Still wish I’d gotten a lollipop<br />
Oh well<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-46293713286070760852020-01-13T20:28:00.002-08:002020-01-13T20:28:39.341-08:00Angels in Poems<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I like writing poems because it allows for angels<br />
to exist<br />
Wonders can abound in poems<br />
like angels and talking mannequins<br />
Characters from Hamlet can cavort<br />
with the Marx Brothers<br />
Dancing pink roses can listen to carolers<br />
Sing about the Queen of Cleveland<br />
And mermaids can talk to sailors<br />
While washing porcelain dishes<br />
But most of all angels can exist<br />
They can make us smile and glow<br />
And be prettier than we are<br />
But only in poems<br />
Like this one</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-7137093410939090302019-03-13T15:11:00.001-07:002019-03-13T15:11:38.211-07:00Pursuit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Whirling whirling whirling wonder<br />
Here it is again my mind asunder<br />
Through these days I do blunder<br />
Yet I roar and roar loud as thunder<br />
Aging aging it increases<br />
So many hopes and dreams all in pieces<br />
But shaking my fist my struggle never ceases<br />
Living my days between the creases<br />
Surging surging surging ever going<br />
Not my body but my mind still growing<br />
Racing still faster never slowing<br />
I seek something bright and all glowing<br />
Loving caring wanting caressing<br />
It is often love my thoughts are addressing<br />
Anxiety and panic sometimes stressing<br />
But I go on with my own blessing<br />
Whirling whirling whirling man<br />
All I do is the best I can<br />
Still I’m thwarted in my ambitious plan<br />
Yet I will not quit why I just began</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-29111910767694802722018-12-23T11:12:00.001-08:002018-12-23T11:12:48.284-08:00Waiting for Shopping Wife While in Coffee Shop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Weird little Jewish man with nonsensical cap<br />
Hipsters walking casually smirking<br />
Ugly woman with make up caked on<br />
Young people having desperately important phone calls at separate tables<br />
Teen with disinterested grandma blithely chatting away<br />
Young boys in shorts and tee shirts mixed up with boredom and joy<br />
Bearded young father wearing dress looking ridiculous<br />
Cute woman ignoring stares<br />
My beautiful wife arrives<br />
Time to leave</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-29175087438124098852018-08-30T10:59:00.001-07:002018-08-30T10:59:09.518-07:00I Walk in Dreams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I walked into a dream yesterday<br />
Pelicans watched me<br />
I saw a sandstorm and magpies<br />
It all happened on the bus<br />
As the driver swerved<br />
Barely missing the marigold patch<br />
Sadness begat gladness<br />
From there things took a strange turn<br />
In a pleasant off-handed way<br />
I left the dream<br />
Only to plunge into reality<br />
A burning bush of adjectives<br />
The swirling dust of hopes<br />
Wistful nights on the veranda<br />
Forever in the wind<br />
I walk in dreams</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-54257069534021462802018-05-08T19:10:00.001-07:002018-05-08T19:10:31.617-07:00My Second Cousin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have a second cousin<br />
Her name is Rihanna Kowalski<br />
She still wears braces<br />
Though she is 17 years old<br />
My second cousin<br />
Whose name is Rihanna Kowalski<br />
Likes to dance at parties<br />
She has a dog named Harvey<br />
My second cousin<br />
Whose name is Rihanna Kowalski<br />
Excels in all school subjects<br />
But she really likes science<br />
She wants to study astronomy in college<br />
My second cousin<br />
Whose name is Rihanna Kowalski<br />
Is an avid bike rider<br />
She obeys all traffic laws<br />
This is one of the reasons I admire her<br />
Also, like me, she enjoys movies from the thirties<br />
My second cousin<br />
Whose name you by now remember<br />
Is pretty darn cool<br />
Everyone likes her<br />
Also, she has an unusual name</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-80528274807889503792018-05-05T13:03:00.001-07:002018-05-05T13:03:17.975-07:00Late Morning on a Saturday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy lesbians doing chores outside their house<br />
A man wearing flip flops despite the foggy cold<br />
A couple canoodling on a bench<br />
People waiting for table outside a busy restaurant<br />
Browsers and buyers in a bookstore<br />
A middle aged woman with a pretty Shih Tzu on a leash<br />
A bicyclist patiently waiting for a light to change<br />
Me walking home purchases in hand — content<br />
A car stops for me as I cross the street<br />
No one home as I enter the house<br />
I dissolve into a million rays of today<br />
The fog outside is thick</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-84185983014407471552018-04-29T12:36:00.001-07:002018-04-29T12:36:07.985-07:00Love Hurts So Good<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The exquisite pain of falling in love<br />
The heart variously soars and aches<br />
The melancholy pause<br />
I read the weighty words of wise men<br />
And women<br />
I reach for the next moment<br />
It’s never there<br />
Now always usurps the future<br />
While making sport of the past<br />
And so when I met her it all changed<br />
Conventional thinking unraveled<br />
The horrible ecstasy of her absence and presence<br />
I had to spend eternity with her<br />
My unworthiness like a ball and chain<br />
Stumbling, shambling, rambling<br />
But eventually<br />
We mated and forever were<br />
Humbleness finally pervades<br />
The love is still so painful<br />
Because it is never enough</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-23710794445374267212018-01-22T13:57:00.002-08:002018-01-22T13:57:44.714-08:00Buddha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I contemplated eternity on the angry road<br />
Until the clouds cascaded from the mountains<br />
Where angels danced with the rain<br />
Nirvana escaped me but I persisted<br />
The rolling road widened in suffusion<br />
So I strolled though the Dharma<br />
Peeking under footballs and dancers<br />
Until I found the plywood confusion<br />
The road was wet with memories now<br />
My amble heightened by wisdom<br />
Meditating on the beatitude<br />
And there the journey ended<br />
Awake again from good Karma<br />
So now to dance</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526392544969752584.post-90741964258164621352017-11-26T14:45:00.002-08:002017-11-26T14:45:38.926-08:00Rainy Afternoon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dustbin lakeside gabardine jacket<br />
It's lovely raining<br />
Drip drip drop drop<br />
Water water wet wet<br />
Nacho plebiscite aluminum siding<br />
It's chilly in the house<br />
Without the heater on<br />
Sweatshirt is on cool air<br />
Care<br />
Flower pot Mennonite wooden bench<br />
Clouds are thick and heavy<br />
With precipitation<br />
As the duck quacks<br />
Quack quack quack<br />
Candle wick broken kite purple mittens<br />
Rain keep a coming<br />
Soothing me relaxing me<br />
Me me me meing me<br />
Raincoat rawhide watchman's cap<br />
This is the poem I wrote before my suicide<br />
(Not really)</div>
Richard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.com0