- J. Blake Gordon
Selected Poems by J. Blake Gordon

how could this have happened
i hear a crash, it's larry, his travel mug
landed upright
in the middle of a puddle
of coffee, at his feet, where he stands
(having fallen?)
fellow workers have gathered around,
all still, and larry is still
i stop, having stepped out into the hall
from the room with the refrigerators
and microwave ovens
at the instant after
larry looks at me, surprised
i too am surprised
take it away
dwindling, dawdling, demonstrating, demonstrative
whispering, prohibitive, inhibited, distressed
pretended, extended, distracted, distended
it's a good life, if you think of it
you have to accept people for who they are
figure out what it is that's bothering you
be alone, be together, or be whatever
stop assigning meaning to everything
when they say something comes from the heart
it really means the brain
how to stay alive
pay attention, your full attention
wear comfortable shoes, light jackets, have patience
see doctors, stay active, curious, learning, earning
enjoy food, books, music, friends, family, animals
nature, water, shelter, language, time, partnership
gratitude, hygiene, humility, community, humanity
sleep, smile, and die (without really dying)

J. Blake Gordon lives in Chicago, works as a product copywriter. His poetry collection love calls out to love is forthcoming.