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| Nick at 70 |
NICK AT EIGHTY
Slovak-Ukrainian immigrant ancestors
Appalachian coal-mines, Lake Erie steel mills,
Thirteenth-century seminary-schooled
By Latin-savvy Catholic priests
LSD at 27 in East Palo Alto:
Too much reality
All in one shot!
Freaking Christ Lord Jesus,
Please make it stop!
Stanford physics PhD
Silicon Valley magnetic ink-jet play
Esalen Institute Bell's theorem sage
Physics-saving hippie
Sequoia forest tantric bard
Thanks to father, brother, comrade, son
Thanks to mother, sister, lover, chum
Thanks to each of you
Who have touched my body
Who have aroused my mind
Who have inflamed my spirit
Even though it did not turn out
As I had hoped
Even though it did not turn out
As I had imagined
Thanks to each of you
For surprising me
Thank you for my miracle birth
Into this complex mysterious life
And next, before I forget:
Thank you in advance
For my upcoming death.
Keep on truckin' !
ReplyDelete"Even though it did not turn out
ReplyDeleteAs I had hoped
Even though it did not turn out
As I had imagined
Thanks to each of you
For surprising me"
Only a person with the fortune of having a mind and heart of innocent wonder can find such gratitude in a world whose surprises are equally as tragic and crushing as they are beautiful and heightening.
Love you, Nick!
Beautiful. Thanks Nick. Glad I have come to know you. Blessings on your 80th.
ReplyDeleteGreg
Nick,
ReplyDeleteIt's Christina who was at the Esalen meeting with you last November. I have been receiving your missives and it looks like it's your birthday! The 26th was my mother's birthday too. Thank you the beautiful poem. Life certainly is a mystery. Lately I have been contemplating this question posed by a friend, "What if we knew that our highest good is wished for by the universe and the universe is proceeding according to this wish?"
Best,
Christina
Big juicy blessings to the bard of word-woof magic and hilarity and somber reflection and all that gorgeous, benevolent, leaking-out-of-you love-for-the-Mother joy!
ReplyDeleteSo what if you can't bend a spoon; you have bent many a listening ear, my friend!
Well done!
Jenny
Nick,
ReplyDeleteWOW, you are certainly all together and an inspiration to all of us. You have enriched our lives--from trying to contact Houdini, Lonely Sloth stories and on to much, much more. Your Godson Drew thrives and has much to emulate. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Love, Bob and Sandy
Our pleasure for sure!
ReplyDeleteThank you for continuing to inspire :)
ReplyDeleteExpiring is probably the toughest and easiest tantra move of all time, whenever it comes.
Take care Nick and know you are loved.
Nick,
ReplyDeleteMay you have a Beautiful 81st Year!!! Yes, you are a great inspiration!!!
Len
Happy Birthday! And many more. Time is never enough...
ReplyDeleteOnly hit 65 on the 27th. Hope I make it has well as you over the next 15 years.
Interesting times!
-- Harald