Author Archives: jackpelham

After all this timeWe are still on EarthYet farther from nature than ever—And having no timeWe thinkTo dance with her.

How can I avoid sinningThe sins of my people,Whatever they may be in my day?

He is wiseWho understandsThat he swims at his own riskEven when there’s a lifeguard—

When you wake upAnd see, finallyThat you have hurt us,

Slogging awayThrough the quagmire—

There is reading for comprehensionAnd there is reading because you were reading. And then there’s re-reading—Because you had been Reading for comprehension, But discovered somewhere along the line That you had slipped into Reading because you were reading.

Surely caringAbout about important thingsIs among the most underrated Of the virtues.

It is possible to sullyEven the most wonderful ideaWith your pride inBeing the one who had it, orBeing the one who’s presenting it.

What vanity it isTo bear either conceitOr shameOver the deedsOf one’s ancestors,As if we had done those deeds ourselves.

James wrote this in 2016, at 13 years old—for Father’s Day, I suppose. I had forgotten about it until it came up in my FB memories. He comments on some things I had done quite on purpose. Glad it worked … Continue reading →