A tiny little plastic sailor man
Took refuge in a corner by the door.
He did the things a little sailor can,
When someone's coming, vacuuming the floor.
I thought he was an almond, or a stone.
But I had wondered where he'd gotten to
Since going AWOL from his box, alone,
Without his sloop-and-frigate retinue.
He hailed me then, from underneath the chair.
I just made out his funny shape and size,
And managed to avoid him by a hair:
A catastrophic, sucking toy demise
Averted. I'll return him to his game.
But now, his life will never be the same.
Nor mine. I'm feeling very much alive.
For this is poem three hundred, sixty-five.
Happy New Year, everyone.
- DB
picture by DB
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Comments
You've brought it home! So well done, my friend.
Your commitment and devotion outstanding!
I have enjoyed following you immensely ... to learn what a great father you are, a wonderful teacher and a good and kind human being.
Thank you, THANK YOU for everything!
No matter what ails us ... isn't it wonderful to be alive!
Let me be the second to CONGRATUATE YOU!
I wanted to say that it was NO small thing you've done here and it sounds like it worked for you. you got through the year and kept you from "thinking things you shouldn't" - now you are happier and look at all the new friends you have......Looking forward to bigger and better things in 2011.
Thank you for your friendship, Bard.
Rated.
Lezlie
♥
The deepest respect and admiration from your friends here ... and tril and I are the cheerleaders!
I am just so thrilled for you. So very, very happy for you.
rated with all the love you have put into your wonderful poetry
Such terrific work...I too have enjoyed reading these so much! And your discipline and dedication are exemplary! Best of everything to you Bard...Happy New Year! ;} HUG
I was writing a big long speech, but it all boiled down to Thank You. I've used this analogy before: you are like the audience clapping for Tinker Bell, to give her back her strength. You have helped make this a very, very special year. So it merits repeating: Thank You.
Kate: you have no idea, how honored I was by your PM. Thank you.
trilogy: yes, I think she must have been sitting at her computer hitting the "refresh" button every 60 seconds? And yes, it kept me from thinking of things I shouldn't - I was on OS writing and following, instead of fighting and wallowing.
Scylla: wow! out of the shadows! Welcome, and best wishes to you for the new year. Thank you so much for coming by.
scupper: and to you. Thank you for your kind PM, your very generous post, and your very first comment on March 7.
Lezlie: oh my, that would pay a bill or two... (you don't happen to know someone who knows someone, hm?)
Fusun: thank you. And thank you for your posts. If I ever seem late to them, it's because I know they're going to be complex, and require my thought. I try to set specific time aside for them.
Kate: than- hey, waiddaminute... did you slip back in line?
Kathy: well, hello! I'm glad you liked it. And welcome!
Kim: it was the funniest thing. My son and his friend had brought him into the kitchen at snack time yesterday. When we took the friend home, the little sailor disappeared. And when I found him this afternoon, this giddiness passed over me. I knew he would be the subject of tonight's poem.
rita: thank you so much. You've been one who has pointed out a change in tone. I was too deep into it to notice. But looking over some of the poems from earlier this year, I have to say, hoo BOY are YOU ever right!
heidibeth: it's like emptying my head. And posting this poem tonight was an unexpected, very emotional experience. And soon I'm going to SLEEP!
Veronica: thank you. The same to you - I hope your 2011 gives you great joy.
Oryoki: thank you!
Muse: you know, I'm liking that hug part more and more. Hm.
pastvoices: you graduated from college at 46? That IS impressive. And late to the party? Who cares? It's a party!
i don't precisely know when in the year i wandered over to your blog, but i am so glad i did
i hope there is nothing but blessings for this year
(and i know, i know, this last poem of this cycle must have been like a last breath when a run has been finished, elated and bittersweet at the same time)
thank you, THANK YOU, for including us in your life
the swallower! Heroic, godlike, triumphant.
Just like your yearlong series of inner-sightful reflections on your life and family. Best of reading, best of luck.
Lovely for once to be late here and read such words of thanks and praise. Lovely to be part of your audience, clapping, always clapping in support of spirit's strength. Do you know what strength you have given all spirits here. You have, you know.
small things make me giddy, too.
syllables, sailors, life and the like.
that's a beautiful photo up top.
Congrats on the numbers and everything else.
hugs: Thank you. It's not over. It's a vacation! I miss you already.
lschmoopie: Yours is a blog I don't think I've seen, and I'm feeling guilty.
Fred: oh man, there were nights, lemme tell you, there were nights.
Flower Child: it was sheer pigheadedness. Half the cause of my divorce(s), I think.
Trish Rainbow: you are another new name to me. I'll stop by. And thanks.
sweetfeet: a rock star?! You know, some of them actually DO use perfect rhyme.
Dave: first, vacation. I'll finish reading Vanessa Seijo's book this month (it's in Spanish, so it goes a little slowly), and I want to do a little study. One day at a time. And thank you, as always, for your work on OS.
Midwest: I have 366 scheduled for February 1. I'll interrupt network TV that evening, so you don't miss it.
Ken: thank you, thanks for your PM, and thank you for the superlative. As much as I want to say "oh pshaw," I do like getting a superlative now and then.
vanessa: it has been my great pleasure to include everyone here in my life, and equally, to be included in theirs. Thank you.
sophieh: let's see, how to put this best: from your mouth to God's ear?
Leon: that's quite a vision. I am no Bill Gates, or even Steve Jobs. But the sentiment is lovely.
Just Cathy: life's surprises. I'll take just a couple this year, please!
anna1: what an extraordinarily faithful reader. Sometimes I think you spend as much time on your comments as I do on my poems. Thank you so much for every word.
Femme Forte: I'll be spending some time on your blog this month. I loved the post about your husband.
catch: I am holding the tiny sailor man in front of a lamb from Ikea. I took the photo with the company's Blackberry. Y gracias para haber estado paciente con mi espanol, lo que esta horrible.
Thank you everyone. I am now going to write the coolest program ever, and only 6 people in the world will ever know about it. It's just not the same.
Goodnight!