Good Advice

as I grow old
my memory does different things
plays its tricks
I forget names (then remember again)
but we sit together
eating chips and salsa
she asks me for a stick of gum
to punch the heater back on
stir the soup to make a big bowl
it’s our mild little Texas winter
with Canadian winds swooping down
and I read somewhere
if you wanna learn how to write
then read read read
and read and read and read
I like good advice
almost enough to pay for it
in this consumer culture
many are willing to
and do
and watch a lot of Oprah

where I’m coming from
doesn’t have to be explained
like I’m at some sorta check point
when the girl goes: “you’re so negative…”
she might be right
complaining can turn into a really bad habit
isn’t it so much more conducive to
write out a list of your complaints?
and then also
to write out the big life joys?

here comes two thousand eight
the calendar is our way of
tracking time, gauging memory
with dates circled – holidays, anniversaries,
record releases, shows, movies…