Circus, Circus

(originally written and posted on May 21st, 2006)

I’ve always thought I should’ve jumped that circus train
Taking me places
Where you get paid for flying by the seat of your pants
Like those trapeze artists do.
Or by simply being different
It becomes a line on a resume
And someone finds some value in your flaws.
How about courageously facing fear in its face, whether it be a lion, tiger or bear
And it becomes entertainment.
One ring,
Two rings,
Three rings,
Organization amidst the confusion.
Laughter, applause, amazement.
And somehow it all makes sense as you get to do it again and again!
Day after day, night after night, weeks become months, months become years…
A circus performer I might become yet.

Faith

decided

not worry

about this

but instead

said a prayer

and knew

that it was answered.

Making Sense out of Nonsense

And who else, but Dr. Seuss, could explain it all?

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
– Dr. Seuss

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”  — Dr. Seuss

“I’m sorry to say so but, sadly it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you.”
– Dr. Seuss

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
– Dr. Seuss

And finally… probably the most important thing you will read today.  And you know who are…

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”  — Dr. Seuss

and if you are wondering about me, here’s my take on things, written by Dr. Seuss:

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

I Can’t Take Credit For This

But I sure can relate to it.  You probably can too!

Here’s a poem I found while I did a search on Narcissus.  You know, that Greek mythology character that we read about in 9th grade English class.  He was a hero who was renowned for his beauty.  According to the Wikipedia, he is exceptionally cruel, in that he disdains those who love him. As divine punishment he falls in love with a reflection in a pool, not realizing it was his own, and perishes there, not being able to leave the beauty of his own reflection.

Hello Narcissus

Your preoccupation with yourself

Your singular obsession

With your self importance

Wearies after a while.

When you were two or a teen,

It was quite charming,

But now your narcissism

Bores the pants off me.

It’s all me, me, me,

I did this, I do that.

This feedback might be

Hard to hear,

Thinking, as you do,

That all it takes for you

To change a light-bulb

Is to hold it, while the world

Revolves around you.

Click here to see the poem on www.about.com

August 24, 2009

I found the missing piece.

Please click here.

8/20/09

The Contented Path of Mediocrity

Contented come what may…
Right now is simply is good as it gets.
Forget the dreams, the goals, the plans
Instead simply grab on, hold fast.

But what about the other road?
The higher one, less traveled on?
Maybe there is something there
That simply needs my grasp.

Change of plans, lost my way…
Detours, sidetracks, fast tracks, dead ends.
It doesn’t matter what they are called,
it simply may lead to nowhere fast.

Labor Day 1978

In the late summer
It gets real hot
The hose pipe keeps us cool
And the popsicles… we eat a lot
Beneath the big tree in grandmom’s backyard.

Walking to the railroad tracks
Was easy and fun
Using the sidewalks
No harm done
Running, playing, climbing those big trees
Being six years old
Was an absolute breeze.

Til I decided it was time
To jump from the swing set to the limb
Of that big tree
Like the bigger kids did
And
BAM!

Lying on my back
I missed the limb
Broke my arm
Summer was done
Beneath the big tree in grandmom’s backyard.

Circus, Circus

I’ve always thought I should’ve jumped that circus train
Taking me places
Where you get paid for flying by the seat of your pants
Like those trapeze artists do.
Or by simply being different
It becomes a line on a resume
And someone finds some value in your flaws.
How about courageously facing fear in its face, whether it be a lion, tiger or bear
And it becomes entertainment.
One ring,
Two rings,
Three rings,
Organization amidst the confusion.
Laughter, applause, amazement.
And somehow it all makes sense as you get to do it again and again!
Day after day, night after night, weeks become months, months become years…
A circus performer I might become yet.