"Sixteen years ago, one of my
literary heroes took his life in . . .
Hunter S. Thompson -- leg broken,
ill, and depressed -- left a note.
'This won't hurt,' he wrote."
Michael Lindenberger, see excerpt below
“Dying is easy, young man;
living is harder”
(Hamilton quote # 1 below )
Living is harder
I can attest to that
Getting old is hard
Getting out of bed in the morning
That takes first getting your balance
After you sit up on the edge of the bed
Got to watch the first step
It may not go straight ahead
Or you could bump into the wall
The wall won't move so you gotta
Steer around that corner with care
You body may still want to go straight
First hold onto the door jam a bit
And when you've aimed your body
That's when you head for the pot
Or commode or Loo or WC or John
What you call it,
what-cha-ma-call-it
Young ones always
come up with best
Making your own breakfast
Will take your cake, use sense
(you might be the lucky one
and have this done for you)
Now where did I put
my favorite skillet last night
Still on the stove
Why did I not wash it
when I was finished . . .
That was just the beginning
of my day, it drags on
and on
Living when one is old
can be so bad
Lonely, slightly ill or/and crippled
eyes and ears not working well
lonely, lonesome right now
seemingly working all the time at home
just to stay alive
(at least until my money source runs to dry to
pay the bills)
[click photo for larger viewing,
click again for "+" viewing]
photo of partial Houston Chronicle,
February 20, 2021, page A13
Author Note:
I didn't know that "Gonzo had died, 16 years ago. I have read some of his work, his book, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," was my favorite. Perhaps I'll read it again soon in memory.
The article stated that his note included Thompson "that he was 17 years past age 50, which is all he'd expected." I myself tell folk that I am ready to die as I've done everything I need to do and most of the things that I've wanted to do.
I'd like for you, especially if you like me, identify with him in age and feelings, to be able to read the whole article. I'll try to work that out for you. Mrs. Jim says we shared driving methods and habits.
Some of my readers, you who put up with me and humor me to an extent and who live in the Houston area can read the article at your local library.
_ _ _ _
- Poem and Photo Copyright, Jimmiehov 2021, All Rights Reserved - Rommy asked us to create new poetry or prose inspired by one (or all) of the following Hamilton quotes:1. “I’m looking for a mind at work.” 2. “History has its eyes on you.”
3. “Talk less. Smile more.”
4. “Dying is easy, young man. Living is harder.”
5. “Love doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints.”
Labels: Humor(?), Poem, Prose, prose poem, Weekly Scribbling 21
