Juxtapisition

July 28

JUXTAPOSITION

Right next to this world is the globe that I came from.  The landmarks are similar but these spheres have little in common.  The angle of refraction illuminates the place of my origin.  The source of this light is legend.  On my home planet, the existence of sobriety is cast off as myth.  I held on to this tale with my heart.  I slipped the gravitational bonds of crazy one night by the glow of the ready button on the coffeepot.  Here and there intersect at only one point, a room with some chairs and a circle with a triangle.  The meeting was on Step One and it was a good place to jump in.

Put a leaf on your tongue just for fun.

*

Clap

I know how to put my hands together,

but I am unable to clap.

It’s not that my palms can’t locate each other;

it’s that I cannot find the beat.

I sing; lilting rhythms rolling from my tongue.

I keep time and drum the tattoo of jingle dress dance songs,

but when my hand comes against its mate something is off.

Faltering nuance plays havoc with my exuberant desire.

I want to join the crowd in syncopated applause,

yet my brain drops out.

Because the gap is too far to leap

I must walk around to the other side

and by then I’ve lost the moment,

the world has moved on without me.

I used to think I needed to run my routine a little faster,

but now I realize I need to learn to leap the gap

and trust the beat to find me.

You are reading selections from Sober on the Way to Sane and More Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/Sober-On-The-Way-Sane/dp/1440417342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576888&sr=8-1&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/More-Lines-From-My-Life/dp/1448677203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576956&sr=8-1&keywords=More+Lines+From+My+Life

Clap

July 28

Clap

I know how to put my hands together, but I am unable to clap.  It’s not that my palms can’t locate each other; it’s that I cannot find the beat.  I sing; lilting rhythms rolling from my tongue.  I keep time and drum the tattoo of jingle dress dance songs, but when my hand comes against its mate something is off.  Faltering nuance plays havoc with my exuberant desire.  I want to join the crowd in syncopated applause, yet my brain drops out.  Because the gap is too far to leap I must walk around to the other side and by then I’ve lost the moment, the world has moved on without me.  I used to think I needed to run my routine a little faster, but now I realize I need to learn to leap the gap and trust the beat to find me.

Engender your actions with optimism

*

PRESTO

Just because I own pointy boots

Doesn’t mean I can corral the cows.

I have in my possession many things

Of subtle intent but they can’t transform me.

The wings from Halloween don’t make me an angel.

The Big Book on the shelf won’t sober me up.

Nothing holds the magic to change me.

I can only change with help.

Action, action and more action

Is the magician’s slide of hand.

It slides my hand from glass to grace

I don’t need to pull a rabbit from my hat.

You are reading selections from More Sober on the Way to Sane and Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/More-Sober-The-Way-Sane/dp/144141231X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374072329&sr=8-3&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/Lines-My-Life-Sherrie-Theriault/dp/1448652820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374072576&sr=1-1&keywords=Lines+from+my+life%2C+Sherrie+theriault

Know Enough to Clap

February 1

Know Enough to Clap

If I know I’m happy I can clap my hands, but if I’m happy and I don’t know it, what then?  Will my face display tell tale signs without whispering a word of it to my mind?  Will I whistle a happy tune therefore revealing my inner state?  If I can’t demonstrate my reality does it cease to exist?  Does my retarded ability to reflect my emotion condemn me to remedial society?  Is there any other society?  If I become well enough to reflexively feel and exhibit my mood will I graduate to the advanced class or be forever alone no longer having a place amid the emotional head bangers, hair twirlers and cobweb pickers?  Is it a choice of knowing happiness in isolation or confusion with a crowd?  Could I know?  Should I know?  Would I know?  Who knows?

Iron your will

*

THE DIFFERENCE

Falling and flying are the same, save the landing.
No matter what you do in the air, how well or how poorly
In the end, if you don't land, it's a fall
And if you do, a flight.

How we begin seems of ultimate importance
But is seen as a farce in the face of ruin.
The most promising of starts can be sucked ground ward,
Compass and instrumentation rendered useless, through lack of humility.

Piteous starts, starts without plan or goal
Are viewed as triumphs when safety has been captured from defeat.
Willingness is my aileron
It contributes to my lift in ways I cannot explain.

It smoothes the gusts of life which forever blow in my face
And willingness brings the ground up to meet me.
All I have to do is be willing
And stick out my feet.

Juxtaposition

July 28

JUXTAPOSITION

Right next to this world is the globe that I came from.  The landmarks are similar but these spheres have little in common.  The angle of refraction illuminates the place of my origin.  The source of this light is legend.  On my home planet, the existence of sobriety is cast off as myth.  I held on to this tale with my heart.  I slipped the gravitational bonds of crazy one night by the glow of the ready button on the coffeepot.  Here and there intersect at only one point, a room with some chairs and a circle with a triangle.  The meeting was on Step One and it was a good place to jump in.

Put a leaf on your tongue just for fun.

*

Clap

I know how to put my hands together,

but I am unable to clap.

It’s not that my palms can’t locate each other;

it’s that I cannot find the beat.

I sing; lilting rhythms rolling from my tongue.

I keep time and drum the tattoo of jingle dress dance songs,

but when my hand comes against its mate something is off.

Faltering nuance plays havoc with my exuberant desire.

I want to join the crowd in syncopated applause,

yet my brain drops out.

Because the gap is too far to leap

I must walk around to the other side

and by then I’ve lost the moment,

the world has moved on without me.

I used to think I needed to run my routine a little faster,

but now I realize I need to learn to leap the gap

and trust the beat to find me.