PINING: MY LATEST POEM

Recently, my writers’ group published the latest issue of its biennial literary anthology, and I had the honor of having six of my poems included in it.  As with previous issues, I mailed copies to acquaintances, friends, and family members.  One of the acquaintances to whom I mailed a copy hasn’t even acknowledged it, let alone thanked me.  But I didn’t expect her to.  Still, after mailing it to her, I was inspired to write the following poem, which is included in the December edition of my writers’ group’s monthly newsletter:

Pining

Scott ____

He mails his latest published poetry

To a woman with no interest in poetry

A woman who’s never rejected his attentions

Yet never accepted them.

Jesus cautions him, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs

Neither cast ye your pearls before swine…”

To which he argues, “But maybe these words will win her, Jesus

Unlike those before.  Maybe this time she’ll share coffee and cake with me

If nothing else.”

He knows the inescapable wisdom of Jesus’ words

Yet foolishly mails his own words

To her, anyway.

Perhaps everyone needs someone for whom to pine.

(The woman for whom the poet pines resembles Gillian Anderson, though Gillian Anderson probably has much interest in poetry.)

STILL HERE–THE POEM

I just Googled the poem mentioned in my previous post, and feel it too valuable not to be posted in its entirety.

Still Here

Langston Hughes

I been scarred and battered.

My hopes the wind done scattered.

     Snow has friz me,

     Sun has baked me,

Looks like between ’em they done

     Tried to make me

Stop laughin’, stop lovin’, stop livin’–

     But I don’t care!

     I’m still here!

STILL HERE

I remember a poem from primary (or secondary) school, called Still Here.  The poem was accompanied by a photograph of a rugged, old man.  And it read, in part, “I been scarred and battered.  My hopes the wind done scattered…But I don’t care, I’m still here.”  This is somewhat how I feel right now.

I’ve been doing the online dating thing, for the first time.  I joined the site, not so much to find a girlfriend (though that would be nice), but to motivate me to get out and exercise.  My health has never been poorer.  I eat the wrong foods, have developed high cholesterol in addition to my high blood pressure, drink too much coffee, and don’t get any exercise at all.  Shortly after joining the online dating site, I joined a health club down the street.  I really wish I would have joined the health club first.  Because, instead of motivating me to get out and exercise (decreasing my risk of stroke or heart attack, under the self-pretense of becoming more attractive to women), the online dating has kept me indoors more, worrying with the online courtship of the same women.  It’s strange how personal plans work so well, in theory, but not in practice!

I’ve also been having one hell of a time with my psychiatric medication–one in particular.  This medication has always been the most helpful for my OCD, but it’s very difficult to get the dosage right.  Too little, and it doesn’t lessen OCD symptoms enough–too much, and it causes OCD symptoms to increase.

I write all this not to vent (though I appreciate your kind attention), but to let you know I haven’t forgotten you, my readers and fellow bloggers!

And to uphold my reputation as a connoisseur of hot women, let me post the following photo.  This actress, Sandra Gould, is best remembered for her role as Mrs. Kravitz on Bewitched, but she was well-known long before that.