Michael: Drummer

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Drummer 

With all this

Noise... 

Sounds like  

The drummer  

Boy 

Screaming at 

The top  

Of his lungs 

“How  

They worship 

Him...” 

Pu..rumpa.. 

Pum...pum. 

The newborn 

Old man 

King 

Won't live 

That long 

And neither 

Will we. 

Pu...rumpa.. 

Pum...pum. 

Michael; An Opportunity

The summer mustard,

Barren of its yellow zest, 

Is a brittle grass. 

Saturday, July 11, 2020 

As I was burning out on teaching I thought I was being thrown a life preserver by the state and our governor. They were proposing to implement a new comprehensive P.E. program and my principal had allowed me to train for a position as a supervisor in that program. That would’ve allowed me to get out of the classroom and oversee a group of schools to assist and guide them in following the new curriculum.  

But I was not saved. The program collapsed due to budget constraints and I continued in the classroom for a few more years ambivalent years.  

Wise or not, without a full pension or health coverage. So continued employment was going to be necessary if I was going to live comfortably in the states.  

I was fortunate enough to find full time work as what’s called an SPG (Senior Program Guide) at a very high-end wellness program.  

Now with several changes in the program I’ve been asked to develop a fitness class to do once a week. Karma? I’m not a big believer. But it is an opportunity to teach in an area that I would’ve been happy to pursue when I was still an elementary teacher.  

Michael: Hierarchy

Thursday, July

9, 2020

Hierarchy 

Childless 

But with a dog. 

Equivalency? 

Of course not. 

But why the need 

For hierarchy? 

It’s just  

That sort of trash 

That makes us human. 

Michael: Precarious

 The glistening threads 

Woven between the branches 

Catch the morning mist. 

 Sunday, July 20, 2020 

Today I go back to work at a high-end wellness center (is there any other kind?).  

In March, when I last worked, we were the worry. The guests were isolated on our property and the workers were coming in from the outside every day. Now, like much of the rest of the country, it’s a bit more chaotic. They’ll be coming in from all over the place and so will we.  

It’ll be a miracle if none of us gets sick or test positive even with all the precautions we’re taking. And if we stay open through the summer I’ll be shocked.  

But I hope we do. I enjoy my job and I could use the money. I’ve gotten used to being home though with Kimme and Luna and that’s not so bad either. 

 I never thought at this stage of the game, less than 5 years from a decent retirement, I’d be confronting so much chaos and literally living so close to day by day as opposed to just using that expression to make casual conversation. But that’s the way it is right now. And that’s the thing about these stressful times, no one has any idea how long that attitude’s going to linger with us.