my father always said, "early to bed and
early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy
and wise."
early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy
and wise."
it was lights out at 8 p.m. in our house
and we were up at dawn to the smell of
coffee, frying bacon and scrambled
eggs.
and we were up at dawn to the smell of
coffee, frying bacon and scrambled
eggs.
my father followed this general routine
for a lifetime and died young, broke,
and, I think, not too
wise.
for a lifetime and died young, broke,
and, I think, not too
wise.
taking note, I rejected his advice and it
became, for me, late to bed and late
to rise.
became, for me, late to bed and late
to rise.
now, I'm not saying that I've conquered
the world but I've avoided
numberless early traffic jams, bypassed some
common pitfalls
the world but I've avoided
numberless early traffic jams, bypassed some
common pitfalls
and have met some strange, wonderful
people
people
one of whom
was
myself—someone my father
never
knew.
was
myself—someone my father
never
knew.
There are so many lives we can live! This thought provokes me daily and often is the rise and demise of my central inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThe casual flow of the way he writes is so natural...
The third stanza gives an interesting twist. It reads like a positive memory, a wise proverb and good breakfast. But the narrator flourishes in her/his rebellion from the father's ways.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator didn't conquer the world, but he/she knows herself.
WOW! Word-flow! "a positive memory, a wise proverb and a good breakfast"..."the narrator didn't conquer the world, but he/she knows herself"...both leading ideas for expansion! Isn't it funny how some words fit together and others knock you back off your socks?
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