Smarts

September 18

SMARTS

Intelligence should be used as a tool not a weapon.  Intelligence is as common as silica and can be used to do anything, so, why not as a helping hand, lifeline, foothold?  Intelligence doesn’t preclude ignorance, arrogance or stupidity.  Nor does it eliminate selfishness, greed or anarchy.  Intelligence is not a substitute for wisdom and cannot hold a candle to kindness.  Intelligence makes things possible, help and hurt; intention makes the decision.  Intelligence is like a hand full of sand.

Pair your books for companionship.

*

Buffoon

Never juggle knives and butter at the same time

or you will just spread your problems around.

Passing on the knives is the first best idea,

leaving the butter in the dish is the second.

I have gotten many funny schemes into my brain;

gotten them in with ease,

it is the getting them out of my brain I struggle with.

Crowbars and coercion have been my favored tools;

ineffective though they may be, I am persistent,

while wishing to be dexterous.

It took me years to realize the problem with juggling is

that it begins with me throwing things

and ends with disaster if I can’t catch it all.

What slips through my fingers

through daily living is hard enough

what I throw into the fray for showmanship is, too much.

I needn’t be the fool flinging my pins

when my goal is to stay on them.

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

Smarts

September 18

SMARTS

Intelligence should be used as a tool not a weapon.  Intelligence is as common as silica and can be used to do anything, so, why not as a helping hand, lifeline, foothold?  Intelligence doesn’t preclude ignorance, arrogance or stupidity.  Nor does it eliminate selfishness, greed or anarchy.  Intelligence is not a substitute for wisdom and cannot hold a candle to kindness.  Intelligence makes things possible, help and hurt; intention makes the decision.  Intelligence is like a hand full of sand.

Pair your books for companionship.

*

Buffoon

Never juggle knives and butter at the same time

or you will just spread your problems around.

Passing on the knives is the first best idea,

leaving the butter in the dish is the second.

I have gotten many funny schemes into my brain;

gotten them in with ease,

it is the getting them out of my brain I struggle with.

Crowbars and coercion have been my favored tools;

ineffective though they may be, I am persistent,

while wishing to be dexterous.

It took me years to realize the problem with juggling is

that it begins with me throwing things

and ends with disaster if I can’t catch it all.

What slips through my fingers

through daily living is hard enough

what I throw into the fray for showmanship is, too much.

I needn’t be the fool flinging my pins

when my goal is to stay on them.

Buffoon

September 18

Buffoon

Never juggle knives and butter at the same time or you will just spread your problems around. Passing on the knives is the first best idea, leaving the butter in the dish is the second. I have gotten many funny schemes into my brain; gotten them in with ease, it is the getting them out of my brain I struggle with. Crowbars and coercion have been my favored tools; ineffective though they may be, I am persistent, while wishing to be dexterous. It took me years to realize the problem with juggling is that it begins with me throwing things and ends with disaster if I can’t catch it all. What slips through my fingers through daily living is hard enough what I throw into the fray for showmanship is, too much. I needn’t be the fool flinging my pins when my goal is to stay on them.

Learn a song in case of karaoke kidnapping

*

OLD BOOKKEEPING, NEW PAINTING

What will become of the fine lines

I use to divide good news form bad?

How will I handle life with no screen to keep

the silt from shifting across my personal landscape.

A delicate crosshatch had kept little checks in little boxes

Now the checks are bouncing randomly,

No pattern or restraint.

My old bookkeeping has come to an abrupt end

Leaving many questions and much uncertainty.

I lift the green visor from my brow,

Looking for answers from the periphery.

Taking the long view

I put down my pencil and pick up my paints.

Sling the easel over my shoulder

And walk away from meticulous survival.

The fine lines I have now are in my brush strokes

And even bad news is somehow good.