The other day at work, a colleague described me as a pessimist (I remember thinking, “No good can come from this!)
Turns out, there’s some people who see the glass as half full, some who see it as half empty, and then evidently there’s my case where not only is the glass completely empty…the faucet isn’t working either.
But my immediate response was to deny it. I tried to argue that I’m among the first to look for the humor in particular situations. It was then I learned that gallows humor, “…finding irony or comedy in serious matters such as death,” is kind of an acquired taste.
But – but – I stuttered, what about my constant search for and appreciation of creation’s beauty as documented in these blog entries? Doesn’t that reflect some small measure of optimism?
Even as I said it, I completely expected that it wouldn’t save me from a futile life as a cynical pathetic wallflower. So I thought I’d take another stab at inspirational, perhaps even optimistic ‘free verse’ to exercise my atrophied optimism gland.
Detail - View from Mt. Tabor looking West - 12-06-08
god’s finger
traces a golden lining
round advancing arctic clouds
that, come to think of it,
look like a giant scar across a vulnerable sky
a scar just like the ones I scraped
across my bursting heart
ten crimson scars gouged deeply with my long dirty fingernails
tearing ventricles asunder
instead of giving it to her
so she could do it
View from Mt. Tabor looking West - 12-06-08
Residential light display - E. Portland - 12-21-08
wow!
trudging through snow drifts
suddenly transported to the happiest place on earth
winter Disney wonder world!
days of creative labor
a prefect gird of light bespeaks painstaking attention to detail
a free gift to the neighborhood…
or maybe not so free.
wheels in the electric meter spin insanely
old people down the block in an ice cold house
slowly freeze because of the blackout
salmon perish in the shadow of multiple hydro-electric dams
Neighborhood tavern - E. Portland - 12-21-08
the Neighborhood tavern – a warm oasis in the storm
where alcohol fosters a rich sense of community
and everybody knows your name
where you can drink until you can’t remember your problems
and boy does that feel good
i think I’ll have another
but outside, every minute passing,
the drifting snow is piling higher
no! It didn’t stop snowing
no! The landlord didn’t stop asking for his rent
no! You’re not getting any younger
that’s right.
you’re not getting any younger
Mt. Tabor Park - 12-22-08
we walked through a wardrobe
and found this beautiful mystical place behind a rack of coats.
we’ll meet at this lamp-post later
we’ve heard tell of a magnificent Christ-like lion
he’s supposed to be friendly I guess
maybe that’s Him roaring somewhere behind us
and the sound of lips smacking
wet enthusiastic licking
sudden quiet
hey, where’s Lucy?
Mt. Tabor Park - 12-22-08
maybe my future lies around this peaceful corner
some serial killer dressed like a white nose clown
Detail -View West from the top of Mt. Tabor - 12-22-08
there must be
over a hundred thousand people down there
starting lives
laughing and loving
caring
beginning careers
really Living
reaching goals
making memories
entering History
View West from the top of Mt. Tabor - 12-22-08
my beloved Portland
digs out of its snowy blanket
the snow covered ground reflects the city lights
back into the air and illuminates the clouds
unusually bright night
i suppose in effect
much like distinctive mushroom clouds
from detonating hydrogen bombs
Top of Mt. Tabor - 12-25-07
Turns out, there’s some people who see the glass as half full, some who see it as half empty, and then evidently there’s my case where not only is the glass completely empty…the faucet isn’t working either.
But my immediate response was to deny it. I tried to argue that I’m among the first to look for the humor in particular situations. It was then I learned that gallows humor, “…finding irony or comedy in serious matters such as death,” is kind of an acquired taste.
But – but – I stuttered, what about my constant search for and appreciation of creation’s beauty as documented in these blog entries? Doesn’t that reflect some small measure of optimism?
Even as I said it, I completely expected that it wouldn’t save me from a futile life as a cynical pathetic wallflower. So I thought I’d take another stab at inspirational, perhaps even optimistic ‘free verse’ to exercise my atrophied optimism gland.
Detail - View from Mt. Tabor looking West - 12-06-08god’s finger
traces a golden lining
round advancing arctic clouds
that, come to think of it,
look like a giant scar across a vulnerable sky
a scar just like the ones I scraped
across my bursting heart
ten crimson scars gouged deeply with my long dirty fingernails
tearing ventricles asunder
instead of giving it to her
so she could do it
View from Mt. Tabor looking West - 12-06-08
How about that one? Did you read the part about the golden lining? That’s got to be way better than a silver lining.
Lumber yard - S.E. Portland - 12-20-08
searching, searching
stinging ice pellets
driven by hostile winds
redden my cheeks – the only parts exposed
from the shelter of my new high tech jacket
a loving gift from my sister
who worries about my safety during hikes…
cold frozen paw sticking out of the drift
i hope that’s not her cat I lost yesterday
stinging ice pellets
driven by hostile winds
redden my cheeks – the only parts exposed
from the shelter of my new high tech jacket
a loving gift from my sister
who worries about my safety during hikes…
cold frozen paw sticking out of the drift
i hope that’s not her cat I lost yesterday
Residential light display - E. Portland - 12-21-08wow!
trudging through snow drifts
suddenly transported to the happiest place on earth
winter Disney wonder world!
days of creative labor
a prefect gird of light bespeaks painstaking attention to detail
a free gift to the neighborhood…
or maybe not so free.
wheels in the electric meter spin insanely
old people down the block in an ice cold house
slowly freeze because of the blackout
salmon perish in the shadow of multiple hydro-electric dams
Merry Christmas
Neighborhood tavern - E. Portland - 12-21-08the Neighborhood tavern – a warm oasis in the storm
where alcohol fosters a rich sense of community
and everybody knows your name
where you can drink until you can’t remember your problems
and boy does that feel good
i think I’ll have another
but outside, every minute passing,
the drifting snow is piling higher
no! It didn’t stop snowing
no! The landlord didn’t stop asking for his rent
no! You’re not getting any younger
that’s right.
you’re not getting any younger
Mt. Tabor Park - 12-22-08we walked through a wardrobe
and found this beautiful mystical place behind a rack of coats.
we’ll meet at this lamp-post later
we’ve heard tell of a magnificent Christ-like lion
he’s supposed to be friendly I guess
maybe that’s Him roaring somewhere behind us
and the sound of lips smacking
wet enthusiastic licking
sudden quiet
hey, where’s Lucy?
Mt. Tabor Park - 12-22-08maybe my future lies around this peaceful corner
some serial killer dressed like a white nose clown
Detail -View West from the top of Mt. Tabor - 12-22-08there must be
over a hundred thousand people down there
starting lives
laughing and loving
caring
beginning careers
really Living
reaching goals
making memories
entering History
…but not me.
View West from the top of Mt. Tabor - 12-22-08 my beloved Portland
digs out of its snowy blanket
the snow covered ground reflects the city lights
back into the air and illuminates the clouds
unusually bright night
i suppose in effect
much like distinctive mushroom clouds
from detonating hydrogen bombs
it just takes one suitcase nuke
Top of Mt. Tabor - 12-25-07
After the post above there is no doubt about it... you're an optimist (with a side of pessimist). Now you can join our club, our motto is: “the sun will come out tomorrow… unless it rains.”
ReplyDeleteIt's your turn to bring refreshments.
; )
Beautiful images (and imagery!) as usual Scott.
Sara,
ReplyDeleteO.K. I'll bring refreshments. But who will bring the stomach pump?
scott,
ReplyDeletewas this the bench scene you said i would like? i need to visit mt. tabor! that bench has my number...every picture you take of it i want framed. does this one look lonely to you? Because i think i should have it on my wall. Fantastic job on the post this week
-Lis
Wow! 3 Comets! That's a lot! You hardly ever get 3.....Well, here's 4 Comets for ya.
ReplyDeleteHale- Bopp
Halley's
Kohoutek
McNaught
I cheated and got the last 2 from Wikipedia...........O.K. I got them all from Wikipedia, feel better now.