one thing today

 

  Johnny Carsons ex-wife's "spoonful” of Truman Capote's ashes sold at auction in   2016 for $43,750.

  Melon collie climbs up as down goes the day  & wants to stay up past the midnight hour  & thankfulness & miss-fullness too  for faces & times when ease was big & new things showed bold  & yearning was smaller & laughter taller  but mostly for longer this tiny all time ache in air & sky & wider still on streets  wiffs sweet & tart & also wild rings  the drain ensues as well as trees & stories of when hours were rocky but right in attitude & determination & progress.  politics, songs, words & motions.  Art. Redemption. Both close friends.     

  In summertime in quiet wood and friendly shade from secret regions of myself my soul screams the question ancient as man and older than the sound of human song Must we die so soon? Must we sicken and suffer and cry for comfort? Must great men and infants be plucked from our midst well before their time by the thousand awful plagues that steal inside us? If we can build a nation out of virgin land                                                                                                                                                ...

  A man in his forties bangs on the knocker of a brownstone. A woman with a flat affect opens the door. Bill Hello, Diane. Diane He’ll be down in a minute.   Bill What’s he doing? Diane He’s learning to tie his shoe.  Bill He’s advanced.  His bilateral integration is off the charts. Despite herself, she releases a constrained giggle.  Bill contd What?  Diane Nothing,  Nothing.  Bill It’s true.  Diane I guess it’s true then. Bill It is.  ( pause ) I like your new haircut.  Diane Yeah.  Sure.  Right.   Bill Oh, come on now, D. Be nice. It’s easier than you think.  Diane I’m going to the kitchen.  He’ll be right down.  She slams the door. He knocks again. She opens the door. Bill Why do you have to be so goddamn horrid?  Diane Because I want to be.  Because I ...