In the Water | Natalie Bentley
Is it something
in the water that tricks
us to be unkind,
to pretend we are summed
up in numbers
on a ledger,
is it something in the water
or in our very nature?
human nature poems
Over the Top | Cattail Jester
I found
the tallest hat
to draw attention
to myself, taller
than any person
could leap.
But there’s always
a taller hat,
a higher jump,
a contender
out to prove
themselves or whatever
they can.
Ape | Cattail Jester
The wise ape
is smiling because he
knows he’s an ape
The rest of the apes
don’t seem to see,
they give themselves
pretty stones from rivers
and chatter about
epistemology
They pretend they are
something other than
animal, violent, selfish,
reading their little books
or no reading at all
Even though the wise
ape smiles, his jaw is sore
when he wakes from
the stress of facing it.
Keep America Mediocre | Stan Morrison
pretty good is truly as good as it gets
take my word on it, don’t make any bets
decades of experience reinforce the plot
don’t push it, be happy with what you’ve got
improvements turn out to be a mirage
so enjoy your man-cave in the garage
this is the best advice I’ve ever had
pretty good usually beats pretty bad