SOLD!

My house sold! It was only on the market for about two weeks. If everything goes okay with all the inspections and buyer financing crud, we should close on June 28th. I'm very relieved.

So June will consist of:

• moving to the new house and eliminating as much extra material stuff from my life as possible
• squeezing in as much time with my brother, sister-in-law, and nephews, who will be here for 2-3 weeks
• squeezing in time to visit with Leslie, who is visiting from Ohio
• continuing with wedding plans—and there are a lot of loose ends here
• completing next issue of 52nd City and planning Trivia/release party event
• photoshoot with Jess for Mad Art exhibit—I am subject matter
• a major data migration project at work

Whenever I get freaked out and overwhelmed, I just remind myself that all of these things are good things. Very good things. Well, except the big project at work, which really is stressful as all get out.

One minor bad thing. The neighbors who moved into the house next to our new house have a black lab. I haven’t met them yet, but Lindsey did. She even told Lindsey that they’ve tried to teach the dog not to bark but haven’t had much luck. Oh, and the dog’s name is Blackie. I’m leaving neighbors with a golden lab named Goldie for neighbors with a black lab named Blackie. Parallel universe or parallel hell...to be determined. I just hope I can read on my deck or work in my yard in quiet.

Patchen & Pizza

Today was good.

I was at Treasure Aisles and picked up a lonely little red cloth book—mostly because I liked the color and size. I looked at the spine. “POEMS – PATCHEN”. I couldn’t believe it. I opened it, and sure enough, it was The Selected Poems of Kenneth Patchen from 1946. It is a gorgeous thing, typeset just beautifully. I literally got goose bumps. And just $6. I still can’t get over it.

This lovely discovery was followed by one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. The crust was pure perfection and the pepperoni was of the dime-sized variety, tiny and plentiful. Lindsey and I walked to Pizza-A-Go-Go and ate inside, instead of bringing it home. Who knew that would make such a difference? Plain old pepperoni pizza and an evening walk.

Ah…today was good.

Two Patchen Poems

"And When Freedom Is Achieved..."
You have used a word
Which means nothing.
You have given a word
The power to send men to death.
Men are not free who are sent to die.
Only those who send them are 'free.'
You should have freedom stuffed down your fat throats.

'O My Darling Troubles Heaven with her Loveliness'

O my darling troubles heaven
With her loveliness

She is made of such cloth
That the angels cry to see her

Little gods dwell where she moves
And their hands open golden boxes
For me to lie in

She is built of lilies and candy doves
And the youngest star wakens in her hair

She calls me with the music of silver bells
And at night we step into other worlds
Like birds flying through the red and yellow air
Of childhood

O she touches me with the tips of wonder
And the angels cuddle like sleepy kittens
At our side