How My Time Is Spent: An exercise in listing

 

Apple Tree in the Garden at Ekely, Edvard Munch 1930

When I consider how my time is spent—

my waking hours less than half my story—

I’m not certain what to inventory,

how I prayed, played, served, loved, or worked to pay my rent.

You, dear ones, shape the story I present.

Let’s sit down now under this ripe apple tree.

See how it offers shade, food, and beauty,

all three?  In that way, I, too, supplement

paid work with service, love, and much prayer:

I help others enhance their skills writing

and reading.  Creating is the blessing.

Teaching, I learned, helps us all to be free.

It took years to discover my leading.

Enough story.  Let’s play hide and go seek.

Napowrimo Day 7: Start by reading James Tate’s poem “The List of Famous Hats.”  Now, write a poem that plays with the idea of a list. Tate’s poem is a list that isn’t – he never gets beyond the first entry. You could try to write a such a non-list, but a couple of other ideas would be to create a list of ingredients, or a list of entries in an index. 

My blog poems are rough drafts.

Please respect my copyright.

© 2023 Susan L. Chast

I modelled my poem after John Milton's famous one:

When I Consider How My Light Is Spent

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When I consider how my light is spent,
   Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
   And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
   My true account, lest He returning chide;
   "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
   Either man's work or His own gifts. Who best
   Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed,
   And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
   They also serve who only stand and wait."