Whoa
It’s been a bipolar day if ever there was one.
First, I go back to work to discover that one of the people I work with died Sunday. A young guy, too. Maybe 25. Talented. I’m still reeling.
I come home later this evening, and learn that the anthology edited by Naomi Shihab Nye in which one of my poems appears is out. A copy was waiting on my doorstep. I’m very pleased. is in it, too. In the tradition of publishing my recently published poems here on this blog, I’ll link you to the poem at the end of this entry.
Fed Ex finally arrived, with my birthday present from my parents. It’s an iPod, which was on my “not a chance in hell” list like 3 years ago. It’s very exciting.
However, I go to hook it up, and discover I need Mac OS X, which I don’t have installed yet. Doh! So, playing with the new toy will have to wait.
But, I got more birthday presents from my two best friends, and so I’m very happy. Supergirl now owns a Supergirl watch! Very happy.
I’m still in shock over the first thing. I’m still reeling. But there has been much going on around here to distract me. Sometimes that’s a good thing.
And now, the poem:
For the Elderly Man Whose Heart Gave Out While I Washed Dishes at Twin Sisters Restaurant
Published in Is this Forever, Or What? Poems and Paintings about Texas (ed. by Naomi Shihab Nye) in 2004
I don’t want to die hungry
“Can I take your order?”
recently pierced Susan asked
no, I’ll just have
cardiac un-rest instead
and then the men in blue
came and strapped him in plastic oxygen
breathe in breathe out
hope your heart can stand
the pain
this life brings
and I hope to god
I never have to die hungry
allow me to devour
thick-breaded egg salad life
plump vegetarian sandwiches
with soulful avocados
oh so creamy
melt in my heart
and keep it well
so that forty years from now
let me not cry when She
tiptoes in
and asks to
see me outside
let me cry out in joy
when She
sends me to the principal’s office
because there is nothing left in
this world
for me to hunger for.
Supergirl Saves the World 
I’m so sorry to hear about your co-worker. I am so happy to hear that your writing is being published and you’re having a great birthday.
It’s kinda like the Steve Martin skit about the impossibility to sing a sad song when you’re playing the banjo. Or maybe it’s not. Maybe it is possible to be both sad and happy at the same time. Maybe not everything is about dualities. I don’t know.
shanamadele said this on February 27, 2004 at 1:14 am |
yes…life is not as bipolar as it seems to be on the surface some times. it’s a lot of things at once.
i love steve martin. have i mentioned that he’s my boyfriend?
realsupergirl said this on February 27, 2004 at 2:57 am |
No, but it kinda goes with the duality/non-duality theme.
shanamadele said this on February 27, 2004 at 3:15 am |
is that a bisexual crack? And why, now that I read that question, does it sound so perverse?
realsupergirl said this on February 27, 2004 at 4:03 am |
Glad you liked the watch! 🙂
Sorry to here about your co-worker….
And congrats on the book. I shall now go buy a copy- it looks fabulous!
🙂 Fawn
anonymous said this on February 28, 2004 at 2:10 am |
Want OS X? I’ll mail you some CDs.
pnsm said this on February 28, 2004 at 3:05 am |
I talked to you about this earlier today…thanks for the offer. I’ll keep you posted on the developments…
realsupergirl said this on February 28, 2004 at 10:48 am |
Just to clarify – I’ve told some of you this privately, but – the person who died was not actually a co-worker. I wish I could go into more details, but due to confidentiality, I cannot. I can be a little more specific (again, without breaking confidentiality) in private emails, but I can’t say much more at all here in this blog.
realsupergirl said this on February 28, 2004 at 11:42 am |
LOL! 🙂 Fawn
anonymous said this on February 28, 2004 at 11:58 am |
Well, not a crack. A statement of fact. A celebration of the many-faceted aspects of you that make you fabulous. An acknowledgement of the multiple ways our lives integrate dualities daily.
I can’t answer the second question.
Love ya like butta. (Smooth, creamy, no cracks.)
shanamadele said this on March 2, 2004 at 2:33 am |
I love you…I miss you….
realsupergirl said this on March 2, 2004 at 4:27 am |
Right back atcha.
And, of course, the subject line should read….
shanamadele said this on March 2, 2004 at 5:36 am |