COFFEE INSIGHTS

The watcher waits

while death bides its time

like a black butterfly on a

yellow rose.

I am a watcher

I watch alone,

I don’t like company.

Join a club? Hang out at

someone else’s party?

Sorry, that’s not me.

People are okay, as long

as we meet on my terms.

And all this from a man

who sold insurance

door to door, a man

who taught high school

English and writing to two

hundred kids a year for

twenty years. I loved

every one of them because,

like I said, on my terms.

I watched shy little girls

explode on the scene of

something good to read,

and discover they had

important things to say.

I watched lumbering

footballers write their

essays in letters so small,

I couldn’t even read them

I watched the most intelligent

give up and move to the couch

ten feet away from a giant screen

to make political analysis as though

their voice mattered. Some of them

even thought about it first and got it

right. All I did was dig their dirt,

plant some seeds then watch them

sprout and leaf out before their dead

branches laid down on the cushions.

From what I can tell, they remember

me fondly, as I do them, I even recall

some of their names.

Reviews

[Ana Papaya]

Those silent observers among us will have much to say when inspired or challenged to do so.
I really connect with your thoughts here "on my terms". As a shy and introverted woman there have been many occasions on which I have commanded and held an audience. We wear the hat we need to when we need to, on our terms. 🙂

Also, I have so much respect for teachers. If I could go back and choose a new career that would be at the top of my list. Thanks for sharing a piece of yourself here, Vol.

[Vol]

Ana,
Thank you for your mindful thoughts... I'm sitting at my brother's table watching his grandson and granddaughter do a hyperactive ballet all over the house, a great disturbance in the force, around here, so I can barely think... Maye I'm morphing from introversion to agoraphobia... I mean I enjoy driving the talk around a table of people who, like me, think our voices matter, especially when washed down with a good IPA. On the other hand, the most valuable commodity in my current life is almost total solitude. I live on Rt. 66 in Texas, thirty-five miles from the closest place to spend money. It is lovely.
Vol

[Ana Papaya]

Lol! I hope the disturbance in the force is soon balanced. 🙂 I'm trying hard not to make a cheesy May the 4th joke here. And I do agree, that far off from civilization dies sound appealing!

[Ein Ashton :)]

If I am to be honest, adding my comment here feels like intruding on a personal conversation, but I just wanted show my connection with some of your words.
I guess you could say I'm also kind of "introverted", if not a bit reticent and reserved. I spend at least 80% of my time reading, writing, or making music.

I share your appreciation for instructors. I feel teachers deserve much more respect than they are given currently. They are, after all, the foundation of our existence :)

[Ana Papaya]

Great to see our thoughts are aligned! 🙂

[Vol]

On the quantum level, entangled.

[Coyote Poetry]

Once I travels the USA and the world. I loved to have conversation and watch the movement of life. I enjoyed the poetry. You gave glimpse of people and places. Thank you for sharing the amazing and entertaining poetry.
Coyote

[Vol]

Thank you!

[DIVYA]

Deeply, deeply relatable, dear Vol. How often appearances are so deceptive and that friendly, helpful man across the street may be so different from how he is perceived. He reaches out, connects, gives and takes on his own terms, all the while watching the world from an isolated hill in him.
I think one needs to be a watcher to be a good writer and a keen observer, to be able to make a difference, change things. The point you made about seemingly intelligent people who love the sound of their own voice is just awesome!

[Vol]

Divya,
It was the greatest of all disappointments to watch my most creative, interesting students have their spirits crushed my our mundane, boring world...
Vol

[Fabian G. Franklin]

People enter and exit the play of our lives like bit players only to return before the final curtain. Thank God for the ones who stay through the drama and tragedy reminding us of the comedy and romance. All those not so eager minds and a few eager ones holding a fond remembrance must surely deserve a laurel and a smile to wear. I enjoyed this wonderful write. F.

[Vol]

Fabian,
It seems I am the "cloud" storage for everything that's ever happened to me... and each of us is. We can only exist, along with ALL there is, in this infinitely thin slice of time we call now, and have no idea what that means... it takes so long to even say it. now
Vol

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Sometimes gourmet chefs end up eating cold TV dinners. We never know what we must endure. Be blessed my friend, F.

[Vol]

The roofer with a leak
The cobbler with barefoot kids

[Poetic Beauty]

This is an amazing poem the depicts a life of watching and teaching.