Thomas Edison

I feel like Thomas Edison,
Creating to remain sane.
I don’t want to be the one without a mind.
I’m only building myself a heart
To show you
Because the one I came with is not
Functioning the way I want.
It quarrels often with my mind,
But now that it has won
I have to draw on dear old Mr. Edison
To find a way to get to you.

1983/edited 2017

A few notebooks containing old poems (among other things) have survived fire and flood for more than 30 years. This one has notes scribbled on the outside:

• dedicated to my parents for making the future more possible than it ever was
• listen to Someday Never Comes CCR
• plus some ideas for titles
  • Adventures in growing up: poetry in desperate times
  • on white paper without lines
  • Toothbrush
  • the thin spectrum alongside the rest of the color range
  • the honorable maggot
  • Myrnah, the dogs are loose again
  • A fortune in bathroom reading
  • Critic’s Choice (for the fireplace)
  • Adventures in Bonzoland
  • My mind threw up & this is what came out
  • With a hint of rhythm
  • From the movie soundtrack of the same name
  • Discarding a few eights around my neck