Tuesday, July 3, 2012

How to Spend a Hot Summer Day


Yesterday morning, while the temperature was moving steadily upwards, I spent some time with Ted Kooser on the back roads of Nebraska (So This is Nebraska), feeling the wind move through my fingers, hands gliding over the wheat. A while later, I rode along with Debra Allbery in the back of a pickup on the way to her first job, picking Produce with other kids and old men in berry-stained shirts. It brought back some nice summer memories. I used to love riding in the back of a pickup. I've even been thinking about getting one.

In the afternoon, I sat with Donald Hall as he recalled how his beloved wife and fellow poet, Jane Kenyon, once stood at the sink of their Summer Kitchen with a glass of wine, listening for the bobolink and crushing garlic in the late sunshine. His loss deserves my time.

Next thing I knew, it was evening and a storm was rolling in. I'd been hanging out at Ginsberg's pad, A Strange New Cottage in Berkeley. I'm sure I'll return to hear more about how he found a perfectly good coffeepot in the vines by the porch and, even more important, where he hid his stash. Right now, there's fresh potato salad cooling in the frig, Buddy's staying cool in his man cave, and what I really want to hear about is Alice Persons' crush on the UPS man. Here's the scoop:

"Why I Have a Crush on You, UPS Man"

you bring me all the things I order
are never in a bad mood
always have a jaunty wave as you drive away
look good in your brown shorts
we have an ideal uncomplicated relationship
you're like a cute boyfriend with great legs
who always brings the perfect present
(why, it's just what I've always wanted!)
and then is considerate enough to go away
oh, UPS Man, let's hop in your clean brown truck and elope!
ditch your job, I'll ditch mine
let's hit the road for Brownsville
and tempt each other
with all the luscious brown foods --
roast beef, dark chocolate,
brownies, Guinness, homemade pumpernickel, molasses cookies
I'll make you my mama's bourbon pecan pie
we'll give all the packages to kind looking strangers
live in a cozy wood cabin
with a brown dog or two
and a black and brown tabby
I'm serious, UPS Man. Let's do it.
Where do I sign?


~ Alice N. Persons



Painting by Danish artist Peder Severin Kroyer (1851-1909). Thank you, Grethe, thyra2005.blogspot.com, for introducing that wonderful school of painters to me.

40 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Wasn't that clever? And, boy, does that pecan pie sound good.

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  2. You certainly do know how to spend a hot summer day. I love the poem. An uncomplicated relationship indeed.

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    1. It makes me wonder if perhaps I should order more things online.... :)

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  3. Now that's just the thing to while away the time on a summer's day: imagine running away with the UPS man and living in Brownsville. Perfect! :-)

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  4. You day sounds great to me. The poem was new to me, and I really got a kick out of it.

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    1. Wasn't that fun? Exactly what I was in the mood for.

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  5. Thanks for sharing poetry. I was never into it, so it's all new to me. Kindof enjoying it!

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    1. That makes me kindof happy. It sounds like you're having all kinds of fun with your camera.

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  6. I so admire the time you give to poetry. While I waste some of mine on Facebook.

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    1. I'm taking a FB break. Reading poetry is so calming for me.

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  7. A nice selection of reading, I hope you had a good day.The UPS man gave me a good laugh, a friend orders everything online and I tease her about their moments spent.It is easily 3-4 times a week.

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    1. I did, Steve. One hot day after another and so time in the garden is limited. I can see where the UPS man could become a habit! ;)

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    1. Hey Carolyn! You traveling woman, you! The places you are going to all sound so fun and they're beautiful, too!

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  9. That was a very busy day, relaxing and staying cool!

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    1. Busy, busy, busy. :) I am sooo grateful for the time. I feel very fortunate.

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  10. This is a great post! I swam through all the cool passages that you mentioned. The UPS Man was my favorite -- reminded me of my son. barbara

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    1. Thanks, Barbara. It's a fun poem, isn't it? And, I'm glad it called up a nice reminder for you.

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  11. It seems like those hot summer days are few and far between doesn't it? Let us enjoy each and every one that comes our way this summer! Lovely!
    Happy Thursday Teresa!
    xo Catherine

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    1. We're having a few of them this summer, in between the thunderstorms. And a Happy Thursday to you, Catherine.

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  12. I love the fact that she doesn't even know his name, yet still wants to run off with him.

    She and I must not share the same one, however, since mine looks absolutely ridiculous in shorts...

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    1. Details, details....

      In the eye of the beholder? :)

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  13. Dear Teresa, what a drowsy day you had in the hallways of Elysian reading poetry. I so liked the poem you presented to us. It made me laugh out loud at its sheer boldness of dream.

    Thank you for all this and also for the lovely Danish painting. Peace.

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    1. Dee, Each of those poems can be found in Keillor's anthology, "Good Poems: American Places." Perhaps you have that one?

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  14. You keep good company...and brown has always been my favorite color. This heat seems to make us sound like we've gone back to the 80's...I've been hearing this often as of late and wishing it for you....Stay Cool! :D

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  15. Isn't this a great poem, Teresa? A perfect one to read as I close out my day here and it as if Alice Persons has the same UPS man that has worked our old neighborhood for the last 20 years. I think I'll copy it and send it to a few friends from there.

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    1. It is. I love how she wants to run off to "Brownsville." I've read very few poems by her, but she has a nice perspective. I like how she handles Life's circumstances.

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  16. I heard bobolinks for the first time this year. Smitten, I was. I promptly ordered them up for my phone ringtone. And now, when I'm walking outside and the bobolinks go off in my pocket, I look up in the trees searching, then remember we don't HAVE bobolinks in these parts, and often answer the phone in time.

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    1. It sounds like you're adjusting to this whole mobile cellular phone thingy. During the final stages of the '08 presidential campaign, I used "A Change is Gonna Come." Since then I've given up on ringtones and such. The bobolink sounds nice, though. That's a "ringtone" I could get into.

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  17. This was a day well spent, in great company. The poem, had me smiling, and nodding, knowing how I have noticed the nice legs and cheery disposition of the UPS guy too. This was great. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Like the UPS man, poets never let me down. Good company they are.

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  18. It's not very often that poems make me laugh, but his one did.

    Your life has been enriched by those you "hang out" with. Some pretty darned interesting company.

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    1. Yeah, time for some happy stuff. And Ted's always a good time. :)

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  19. Yesterday a friend and I visited a senior friend of our and took her some yarn to choose which she liked best for her next project. While we were there, she showed us the book she checked out of the library. It was the Ted Kooser book you speak of here. She was enjoying the book so much I told her I would check it out after she returned it to the library.

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    1. I'm so glad you stopped by. It reminded me to stop by your place, too, and I really appreciate your post on being single.

      What a nice synchronicity. Ted is wonderful. An insurance agent with the soul of a poet. I hope you both enjoy him as much as I do.

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