june 11/RUN

3 miles
2.5 mile loop + extra
65 degrees

About once or twice every month during this pandemic, I’ve had a day where I feel really unsettled and uncomfortable. A little fatigued, tightness in my throat, harder to breathe–not in my lungs but in my nose and throat. That is happening today, so I decided to listen to a playlist during my run and try and forget about it. Success. Felt much better during and right after my run.

What a beautiful morning, although I wish it wasn’t so windy. Sun, some clouds, a few glimpses of my shadow, some shade. No river views. Lots of green. Encountered bikers, walkers, runners, and a troop (6 or so) roller skiers on the road. Didn’t see the Daily Walker or any cottonwood floating through the sky. No sparkling water. I don’t remember what I thought about while I ran–anything? Don’t trip in that pothole, maybe?

Here’s another poem that mentions a door: “What if we wake one shimmering morning to/Hear the fierce hammering/Of his firm knuckles/Hard on the door?” Door as entrance to willful ignorance/exit leading to truth

truth/ GWENDOLYN BROOKS

And if sun comes
How shall we greet him?
Shall we not dread him,
Shall we not fear him
After so lengthy a
Session with shade?

Though we have wept for him,
Though we have prayed
All through the night-years—
What if we wake one shimmering morning to
Hear the fierce hammering
Of his firm knuckles
Hard on the door?

Shall we not shudder?—
Shall we not flee
Into the shelter, the dear thick shelter
Of the familiar
Propitious haze?

Sweet is it, sweet is it
To sleep in the coolness
Of snug unawareness.

The dark hangs heavily
Over the eyes.

Woke up this morning thinking in alliteration: Some Saras sit, some Saras stand, some Saras stretch their limbs in the sand. Why? Not sure. Spent a few minutes in delight, writing out some more lines. This exercise is distracting me, making me feel better.

Alice asks Agatha about Aunt Anne’s asthma.
Bob better buy butter.
Claudia cuts cuticles carefully.
Derek doesn’t do dishes.
Even Evelyn eagerly eats eggplant.
For fourteen fortnights Fred farted ferociously (or Fred fretted fervently?).
Generous Gretel gives giant gifts.
How high Harold’s hats hang!
Isabel ignores idiots.
Joking Jackie jests.
Kissing Kate kills.
Lecherous Lonnie’s lascivious laughter lingers loudly.
Millie mutters malevolent mantras.
No nonsense Nancy needs normal neighbors.
Oliver organizes outrageous outings.
Please plant Patty’s precious petunias promptly!
Quit questioning quarantines Quint!
Rosie recognizes rude Ricks readily.
Susan soothes sad, sobbing Sandra.
Terrible Todd taunts timid toddlers.
Ursula’s urges unsettle us.
Veronica Vaughn’s vests vanished.
Walt Whitman wanders west.
Xavier xeroxes xylophones.
Yolanda’s yurt yellowed yesterday.
Zach’s zesty zebra? Zero zen.