The hot nights we loved, twisted in sweat and cotton sheets,
all the time longing for what we have now, cool breezes,
sleeping temperatures below 85 degrees, then just like
that, fall will jacknife into winter, and instead of agonizing
in temperatures that seem to stretch one's ability to cope,
we will rail bitterly at icy howling winds, and how frostbite
nearly set in after getting boots wet while hiking across
that stream;
I wonder how long it will take before we collectively get it,
really see the damage done by our species to our host planet,
such that memories of childhood seasons wash into memory,
water over those flat rocks in clear, cool mountain streams,
and we bury them deep beneath the current crisis, immediacy
of issues too huge to contemplate for long, as so many continue,
hoping, praying for some, that science is dead wrong,
but in our bones, we know it's not, and wherever we are,
we note striking contrasts to what once was;
Too many people for one, all clamoring to live in places
some consider paradise, then another pristine part of the globe
is ruined, trashed quite literally, full to the brim of human
detritus, cast aside along with the worries about one's own
children nevermind grandchildren who will face, one assumes,
much worse, and nothing can cure these nightmarish thoughts,
not alcohol or drugs, not denial anymore, and choices
must change at the most basic level;
City folk thinking that life in the country will be sublime,
then they discover snakes, frozen pipes, distances traveled
just to buy groceries, and disappointment mounts as, in their
frustration, they pack up their hundred thousand dollar rvs
and flood the highways, sixteen miles to the gallon, crossing
and recrossing this US mainland, looking for the next big thrill,
nevermind mounting debt nor a sustainable future, as long
as they can make payments, and this is what the standard
is in this country;
If I long for anything, it is lucidity and sanity in the midst
of what clearly are the strifes and troubles of our world today,
and when I miss Hawai'i, it is mostly her more manageable
landmasses, the beauty and sanctity of Aloha, of a heart
centered people who taught me priorities that made sense:
family, community, music that lilts in context to the place,
food for everyone, always calling me back to the 'aina,
to the breath that synchronizes with ocean tides, to a sane
pace of living that almost matches what one can handle
without fragmenting into a thousand pieces.
Fall day in southern Colorado ~ photo Chris Johnson
Bela, that is your heart speaking. Speaking so clearly what others feel. Especially what I feel but cannot express so clearly as you do. In peace! Paul.
Aww, thanks so much, Paul! Be well! 🙏
Ahhh, Bela. There is nothing like hot asphalt to brighten up a fall day. The lack of any green growth as far as the eye can see with just white and yellow toxic paint to direct and brighten the smoldering path to the huge lot of it to park your car and shop.
And how can you beat driving a 3000 lb vehicle to carry a 180 lb person while pumping out tons of toxic smoke.
Can it get better than that?
Cheers.
You cannot, Tube. Ugh. Trust all is well with you! ♥️
Leave alcohol and drugs out of this! 😀
Just sayin’ …! 😉
It’s truly hard to witness… <3
Yup. 💜
I’m a city person and I’ve never owned a vehicle of any kind in my life. I value being able to walk or take public transportation wherever I need to go, and I do not romanticize the country or any other place. Each has its positive and negatives. I do know a few people with country houses, but they mostly go and stay put for the summer, then come back to the city when winter arrives, either because the homes are not winterized, or their jobs or children’s schooling requires it. Some, as you point out, do waste resources, but anyone who needs to drive everywhere because of where they live does. Those people looking for paradise are often suburbanites, in my experience. I don’t know anyone here in the city who plans to “retire” anywhere but where they are.
That said, the weather is definitely different, not better, and denying it will not change that fact. We all need to consume less, stay home more, and support local businesses. And vote for people who will try to do something to keep things from getting worse. All New Yorkers are going to be required to compost starting next year (our building already does it voluntarily)–that only came about because of political pressure. It’s a small thing, but they add up. We are not helpless. (K)
We are NOT helpless, no. And your situation in New York City is enviable, not having to ever get in a car and drive. I have friends in Boston, and they drive a lot, it’s a little more spread out than Manhattan. And forget about Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas Fort Worth, etc. Life in these cities really does require a lot of commuting/driving.
I guess I knew what you said about New York City, but I have so few friends there. Quite doable, for city life. Expensive tho.
Thanks for weighing in, Kerfe. It’s always good to have informed dialogue. Blessings! 🤗♥️
My daughter went to school and then worked in Boston and I took the train up to visit her many times. We walked or took public transport everywhere. You don’t need a car. If your friends have to have one it’s not need, it’s want. I don’t know those other cities you mention. Dallas I picture as one giant suburb, but I don’t know if that’s true. Suburban living requires a car–one of its many drawbacks in my opinion.
My other daughter lived in Philadelphia for a few years, and I also took the train to visit her many times–we didn’t need a car to get about the city, and she never expressed a need for one either. And the first daughter also lived for short periods of time in DC and Chicago without a car and no complaints. My great aunt lived and worked in Baltimore her entire life, never owning a car, although I don’t think of that city as a particularly pedestrian friendly place-I lived in the suburbs there for awhile growing up. It depends on the kind of life you live and your expectations of convenience.
New York is expensive in many ways, but again, depending on your expectations and where you live it can be doable. You can’t live here by yourself on a minimum wage income now, like you could when I moved here in the 70s for sure. On the other hand, you don’t have the expense of a car (actually multiple cars, what family has only one car like we did growing up these days?), or hiring lawn people and all those other “necessities” my friends in the suburbs seem to spend money on.
It’s all a matter of preference and priorities–we all make compromises, no matter where we live. That’s really the point I was trying to make. The city people I know aren’t searching the United States in their RVs (I don’t even know anyone with an RV) for paradise and spoiling the landscape. But sometimes the people who live in those places are the ones spoiling the landscape–as happens here as well. Maybe the cities you mention are full of the people you described. But I suspect they come from all over the place.
I’m really not disputing your point about the environment being used up by the presence of too many people doing too many unnecessary things–I’m just tired of cities and city people being the scapegoat for all the bad things in the world. There’s plenty of blame to spread around, and plenty of places to spread it. Like I said, we’re all guilty, and we should all stop stereotyping each other.
Which is all probably more than you wanted to hear! I do enjoy your words, and your beautiful poems and photos and observations. And, yes, dialogue is always a good thing.
Never more than I want to hear. We all need to express our side of things – it’s a shame many don’t even listen these days. So to continue the dialogue:
I have long been an observer. And I have long lived in the middle of nowhere, from Maine to Hawaii to Northern New Mexico. Each of these places has a particular beauty that draws (many) tourists. Bar Harbor ME was not that busy – at least only in the summers – back in the 70’s and even into the 80’s. But then it became more known, people were traveling further, cruise ships arrived, bringing a kitschy cheap quality to the retail businesses there. One caters to the prevailing element, I guess. Living on the Bar Harbor Rd. for 34 years of my life, much was noticed. Many license plates from east coast places south of us. (I was also in the restaurant business back then – both others’ as well as my own.) But I digress. Crazy drivers were everywhere, thinking they were on a race track once they headed that far north. I was rear ended by one, a lady in a Volvo, who wouldn’t slow down for my extended blinker to turn onto our road. There were so many accidents, the state widened the highway unfortunately, taking a big sliver of our land and ruining the pristine quality of that area.
Then there was Hawaii, and we had a gallery and spoke with many tourists, many from big urban areas, trying to get away from their particular sorts of madness. But you know, I didn’t and do not mean to target cities unfairly – for one thing, if we all lived as we choose to, there would be little open spaces for us all to enjoy! And you are doubtlessly correct, it’s probably more the suburbanites. Cars are needed there, for sure, and much has been written about the future of suburbs, as resources thin. As I said (I think!), your situation is enviable. My Boston friends take public trans when they can, but the T system has been undergoing major overhauls these past few years, and to get to a T station often requires walking for miles. Or four miles! 😉
Now we’re in New Mexico, and you wouldn’t believe the major 1-200k RV’s coming through here. I have to wait for lines and lines of them, once I leave our mountaintop and hit the small highway 285. It’s just crazy, 3 seasons out of 4. And I certainly agree, I’ve seen my fair share of roadside rubbish, but and mostly because we live in the national forest, a huge destination for campers and at the end of the Great Divide mountain bike trail.
I have clearly and unintentionally touched upon a sore spot for you, but there’s always learning to be had. I did not mean to scapegoat city dwellers, and you are right, we are all guilty and should stop stereotyping one another in General! Though it certainly was not my aim to do this. Poems sort of write themselves through me, it has always been thus. Beyond that, I will certainly be more mindful as to the points you raise. Thanks, Kerfe, for your continuing support. I appreciate it! ♥️
Cruise ships…what an insane idea. The tourist industry as well. Basing an economy on tourism is bound to cause many many problems.
I understand about feeling that your home is being taken over and changed by strangers. That’s how people feel about the gentrification of their neighborhoods here in the city. I also understand the desire to see and experience other places (or to live in a more affordable apartment). But even our national parks are too full of people now. It’s not a bucket list to check off. An occasional trip somewhere–that’s the way it used to be, and it was a big deal, not a competition. Too many people, too many cars, too many Instagram posts.
Same here, trips should be a special occasion. Agreed on cruise ships as well. What an ecological affront! As for invading our home, we just simply moved on, nothing much we could do to fight and didn’t want to. So it has happened a few times. And yes, gentrification in cities I am familiar with. Being a huge fan of old architecture, it seems criminal to tear these old buildings down.
You mentioned your daughter lived in Boston, my youngest did an internship there as well. She did not find public transportation very convenient, but you know, it’s what you’re used to. I admire that you love your city, most New Yorkers I know or know of certainly do! Have a beautiful weekend, Kerfe. 🙏💕
It is all what you’re used to. During the pandemic I got used to walking, and now unless something is more than 2 miles away I almost always walk. Strange! I used to wait for a bus to go 10 blocks from the subway to my apartment. Now I can’t imagine why I even thought to do that.
Yes, enjoy the weekend. We are having some nice fall weather, thanks to the hurricane off the coast.
Wow, just realized this was 3 days ago! Hope you had an easy time during the storm! We’re finally getting some rain again today! Lightning and thunder, too. Will always take the moisture here. Take care!
Yesterday was dismal, but it’s beautiful now. Thanks!
I think my little garden is a bit like paradise but still, I need to care for it. The ivy flowers on our back hedge opened a few days ago & the butterflies & bees have been feeding in the warm autumn sunshine for a few days. Not today; it’s been raining since before dawn. It also rains in paradise (now what can I do with that last phrase?) 🤗💓🙋♂️
Haha, well. It even rains in the high desert country of the southwest! We’ve had a bit of it lately, but here, it is always always needed. But I get when enough is enough! 😉♥️
Love this one 🌞🌴🌺🐳🪸🍃🍂🌵🥀🪵 And love the one who it came through even more! 😇 hope your day is a bright and crisp one 🤓
Sent from my iPhone
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Awww, thanks so much! I appreciate and love you so much! Fall has arrived, yippee! 😎🌈☮️😍