Gogyohka From Maine and beyond, 8.7-8.16

Hi everyone,

I've been on vacation but now I'm back. Here are some goodies:

If being
reasonable
leads to
finding reasons
then why not why not?

The loon's wetsuit head
dives sleek into the lake
and leaves gentle ripples
(barely a trace)
and me, wondering, is this home?

"What kind of place doesn't have ketchup?"
"Potatoes? On bagels?"
The beard and yarmulke dart, makes change
"It's for a friend" "Oh, forget it" "Have a good day"
"Here you go--Yes, can I help you?"

The kayak bobs and splashes
in the chop and stride
I sweat and lunge and rest
Now still--
The swirling water catches back in

I want a T-shirt
with the state of Maine
outlined on it
and "Home"
written below

We skim over the lilypads
and they tickle the canoe
with soft patter
like rain from the ground up
remembering

The hawk appears
The blue jays squall
with accidental warnings
I thought of Sarah squeezing the air
with her smoke alarm hands

Telling others
what they should do
often results
from not doing
what you want to do

To forget
time
is to be
excited
about life