ANXIETY

By the goldfish pond at the end

of the walk, a spider builds a snare

for thirsty prey in the overhanging

sage and rosemary, a deadly spiral

from the center out.

Out here on the side of the hill

I call my yard, the sun burns through

my shirt and the humidity is thick

enough to drown the impulse I had

to get something done today.

I thought to cut the grass, or repair

that place on the house where the rain

has eaten away the wood. I’ve got

gas for the mower, and lumber,

everything I need except the ambition

of my youth when nothing could

stand in my way. But now, I’m not

so hungry I feel any urgency to spin

anything except around, and head

back inside the air-conditioned den

to worry about what just happened.

Copyright

Vol Lindsey

11/25/2011

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

I must confess a similar lack of urgency in the area of maintenance. Somehow, something else manages to come up. Eventually, I get around to it, but not as quickly as in the days of yore.

PS: I had heard of Cut N Shoot, Texas, but not Gouge Eye. Probably not named by the Marquess of Queensbury.

[Vol]

Gouge Eye's name was changed years ago when the wild west was being settled and they didn't want to scare the emigrants off. We now live in a little ghost town with maybe 20 hangers on, and we call Alanreed our home town. I'm trying to get enough signatures to change it back.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

heat, humidity....they just drain us of ambition...
the air conditioning is just too tempting.
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This was an enjoyable read. It's just starting to warm up here in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Our mercury was below the freezing mark last night but it isn't stopping the trees from budding or the flowers from blooming. I've spent considerable time in the Texas heat. I used to drive a truck route all over your home state. I know the roads in Texas better than those in my home state. But most of my travels were to places south of Dallas. I think the farthest north I drove in state was just above around Abilene but I did have some deliveries in eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Colorado. Most Texans I've met are good down to earth people like those of my own home state. As for projects, well, none of have the exuberance of youth that once drove our fruitful endeavors in that area. I get worn out on a two hour trip to the park with an eight year old. (laughing) I enjoyed the read. I look forward to reading more from you. F.

[Vol]

I'm from Tennessee, and my family is in Raliegh and Rocky Mount, and for years we spent the week after Christmas renting a house in the YMCA campground near Black Mountain. I love your part of the world.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I lived with a gal from Mountain City, Tenn. right across the state line for a few years in another life. I had a brother who lived in Raleigh (he passed away in 2015) He was a staff psychologist at Central Prison, there. I love it here, too. There's no place like home.

[Vol]

I miss the splashy creeks and dense forests...

[New Yorkshire]

The paralysis of anxiety, which is so often misinterpreted as laziness (even by the people who are experiencing said anxiety) that it is refreshing to have kindred spirits share their vulnerability. Thank you!

[Vol]

Ha... It is SO uncomfortable out there when it is 95 degrees with 92 percent humidity... anyone who calls it "lazy" can do it themselves. I call it wisdom.

[New Yorkshire]

Wisdom indeed!

[Chris]

This brought a knowing chuckle to my lips. The mind feels like it can take care of such "things" - but damn, the body knows better.

[Vol]

I know, right? Despite all the evidence of my aching, worn-out body, and what I see in the mirror, when a beautiful woman passes by, I still pause and take a moment for fantasy... as though.

[emmajoygreen]

There's near surrender waiting to place a gigantic stop in your plans, Vol! Your schedule seems reasonable, perhaps even essential but.. then.. shoulders shrug. time swells, time is yours. so, what the heck.. and the poem is done. As are your over-warm intentions¬! Smiled as the words tootled along, gently, no rush.. nowordsyoked, etc. ! Enjoyed the smoothness and the repeated first person.. doing its own thing!

[Vol]

Hey, Beautiful! Your insights are always spot on, and many times help me see things I did not know were there. When I wrote this poem, I was still living in Tennessee where a temperature of 95 degrees accompanied by 95% humidity is common, almost all outdoor activities must take place in the early morning or in the evening. Here in Texas, I have seen two weeks running when the temperature was in excess of 105 degrees, but the humidity was less than 10%, and I have to remind myself to drink enough water because my perspiration dries before I know it's there.
I have SO much to do outside, and for now, the weather does not allow a sustained effort. We'll have one day of 80, and the next at 35... I call it the Interstate 40 curse. I-40 runs through America from the east coast to California and is where the cold Canadian/Arctic air collides with the warm air from the Gulf of Cortez and the Gulf of Mexico, so our weather is completely unpredictable. I remember one Christmas Eve when it was 76 in the afternoon and by Christmas morning, it was 2 degrees with snow.
My! Don't I ramble!
I better go organize the pantry or something to justify my existence.
See ya later, Sweetheart!
Vol