2024.61

I took last week off for my birthday. I ate cauliflower crust pizza and had an extra beer. So exciting—turning 46.

I bought a lot of poetry at Bart's Books in Ojai. I've been there a few times before and have never been impressed with their poetry section. Something has changed since the last time I was there, because the selection now is impressive. I talked to the manager (I think) who complimented me for spending some quality time in the poetry section. I told him I was a poet and was generally impressed with how good the curation was. He went on to explain that he realized it was less than stellar about five years ago and has since been on a journey to educate himself. Fantastic. I even found a signed copy of Charles Simic's Jackstraws.

Speck-Sized Screaming Head

By Charles Simic

Hoping to make yourself heard,
Mr. No-See?
Busting your balls
For one long, bloodcurdling scream,
Out of the dustheap
At my feet.

Fat chance. Someone's just putting
A quarter in the jukebox,
Someone else is starting the pink Cadillac convertible
On the street, And I'm lifting and cocking the broom
In your direction.

What a weirdo. I love him. RIP to a legend.