Every Day

Blessed are they who never read a newspaper, for they shall see Nature, and through her, God. - Thoreau

every day

about a mile away

that trek up the seemingly insurmountable hill

to deliver newspapers and give folks their fill

talking to god

singing and air guitaring all the way

breathing life and innocence

waiting for my time to arrive

whilst a fleeting youth thrived

catching manna from heaven

all seven

every day

toting that heavy stack

never looking back

asking once and hearing twice

my own slice of paradise

learning how to live and pray

carrying black and white

discovering grey

every day

Author's Note

"The news we hear, for the most part, is not news to our genius. It is the stalest repetition." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Ruth]

There are many shades of grey inbetween I always say...I can visualise this piece well Pete, really vivid :) Life - what folk have to do to earn a few quid here and there, even if they are aware they sell/deliver nonsense mostly...news is already history by the time we hear/see/read it...cleanse the mind and rid the world of newspapers I say lol

[Pete]

a nostalgic look back at my youth and coming of age. to live is to learn for those with an open mind. things aren't always as they appear if we dare look beneath the surface. grey is much more prevalent than black and white. thanks for taking a peek ruth ... :)

[barleygirl]

This is brilliant with a million subtleties in shades of gray. It reminds me of my own youth, when I did not have any TV reception in the boondocks, so I did not realize that the horrors of the Vietnam war were being graphically broadcast to the public for the first time in war. I love the juxtaposition (the core brilliance of this message) of the paper boy bringing all this s****y news while remaining pristine in his outlook & not becoming soiled by the ink he delivers. I quit TV 18 months ago & this has made all the difference in my life. I can't enumerate how much I've changed for the better! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

i remember watching shows like "Leave It To Beaver" as child and thinking that is the way we're all supposed to live. we live in an overbearing society pounding us daily with the message of 'go along to get along'. i learned that off the beaten path is where the real 'marrow' of life is ... :)