Vagabond Poet

Spread the confetti of foreign coins and stolen seashells to make it look appealing. Exotic. White sand spills in hidden seashell cracks. Shores which can never be forever when we wake. Friends who shared my waking dreams, they have their loves to return – or take – back with them. How can I, with a heart that lies ahead? 

I have shiny coins, chipping seashells, and memories of trying not to love you.

Ever notice shells lose their shine? My bruised and blushing shades, my tiny spells of subtle color, they have fallen flat. I think of crying, but would rather dream. 

The Game

You get good at the game you play.

We each have 24 hours in the day. The homeless lady on the street, the president, Michael Phelps. 24 hours.

Whatever it is, whatever you’re doing day in and day out, that’s the thing you’re getting better at.

Are you building things, selling things, searching for things? Making friends? Making enemies? Training your body, sharpening your mind? Reading? Writing? Creating? Critiquing?

As life rolls on like a snowball, what snow are you packing on?

You get good at the game you play. So play the game you want to get good at.

Sobibor to Treblinka by Berend

Note from AllOf100.org: This story, as are all stories on this website, is the responsibility of author alone. Reader discretion advised.

 

It was a release to be transferred. I had not felt well in Sobibor. The lives of the men revolved around games: play cards at night, kill Jews in the day. They curse, they drink, they laugh, they murder. They spit on the corpses.

I prefer the men in Treblinka, full of purpose, full of compassion. Stricken with the horror of what they must do.  of being in a world where what they do is necessary. Not flinching in the face of death, solemnly revoking the Jews´ license to live.

 

At night, finding consolation in the glories of German culture.

June 1st

“Isn’t it a good thing, to question yourself once in a while?” I asked myself.

Keep your head up and work smart, keep your head down and work hard. Zoom in zoom out.

Focus on the value and rarity of the skill, not the difficulty.

Work, sleep, romance, health. What matters matters. Coffee and code and emails and working out and friends. Make it beautiful, make it quick.

How do you measure productivity? That’s the big question. Impact over effort. What are you trying to do? Do it.

Take pictures meet people read books be friendly be yourself.

Float on.