avoiding - whatever - down - what - ghosts

==

avoiding

pain, I
hang behind the bars of an
ordinary
day

--

whatever

seems to be is not
necessarily

--

down a blind alley

it
sudden came upon
me, the date of my birthday
that appears but once
the

year,
a day that by
and by, though celebrated
by a handful
of

others,
I confess is
not---
                                  it cannot
                                  be, really---
sufficient
cause for revel
toots, blowing horns, those ill-sized
party hats worn
by

silly, silly
me

--

what there is of it

this morning's brisk walk
occupies my body, frees
my mind to wander,

                                what there
                                is of it

to contemplate ...
and
                                to meditate ...
                                perhaps
                                to fumigate

               for pests that
               live therein

to dream ... and of course to look
about to see what's

here
right
now
                           for to escape
                           from then ... as well

                from future's
                worrisome when

--

ghosts live here

the
basement smells faint
of mildew; my steps on stairs
ring hollow; ghosts
live

here

==