Ways of Remembering

A bright, sun-spackled day reminds me that this past summer

                                     make worthy memories

has passed only recently. Leaves are turning & falling everywhere.

                                    don’t settle

It’s very dry here, but even more parched & fiery on the east side

                                    apologize when needed

of the mountains. To a man who has dropped a lit cigarette in dry

                                    don’t look away

grass I yell, “Hey — your cigarette is still lit,” & make a show

                                    pick & fight battles

of stomping it out. Looking back at me through hooded eyes,

                                    live so you want to remember

he says “Thank you.” From the top of the bluff visibility is clear;

                                    make lists

Canadian mountains in the distance seem much closer under

                                    tie string to a finger

crystalline sky. It’s quiet for a change, & I finally remember

                                    work at it

that today is a holiday, though one not celebrated by all.

                                    work at it, as if life depends on it

The over-water walkway arcs out over lazily undulating

                                    remembering allows accounting

ocean swells. Three sea otters fish and play at the same time,

                                    write

slipping liquidly from surface & back, over and over again.

                                    write notes

Today I’m thinking about Mark Twain looking out over this

                                    write short stories

very bay over a hundred years ago. At one point earlier

                                     pay attention

in his life he said, “I’m writing the book I want to write.”

                                     don’t go through the motions

At the end of his labors he had Huckleberry Finn. Write your

                                    write love poems

masterpiece, the book of your life. Write it for you, and allow

                                    say “I love you”

other, chosen characters in — carefully. Light the world on fire

                                    say “I love you” to those you love

with your words, your stories, your poems. There’s still time.

Andrew Shattuck McBride
October 8, 2012
PaPoWriMo ~ 2012 *Day Twelve Poem*

**

I humbly dedicate this to all of my poet/writer friends.

[This is a poem from earlier this month. I’ve retooled and revised it for the blog today, October 15, 2012. Ah, and today, October 16th!]