What Old Men Do

 

What does an old man do, disabled to a good extent,

retired from a fair degree of productivity? Well, I for

one review my past, renewed to me through photo-

graphs, writings and copies of my artwork I have man-

aged to create and save throughout the years.

Places I have been (which were many), people I have

known or strangers I have met along the way (so many

of those as well). Oils, pastels, pen and ink caricatures

and sketches, 3D construction pieces—enough to fill

several good-sized galleries or a modest museum.

Sometimes I am surprised when I come across a

piece I had forgotten completely. And then I get to

thinking about all those photos and artworks I

have given away, sold or lost over time to the myriad

moves I have made, items destroyed by flooded apart-

ments and fire.

And all the poetry, essays and stories, so many of those.

Who, even if gifted with photographic memory, could

ever hope to remember thousands of those? Ah, a life-

time of work to sift through and review.

And to think, most of it gone unseen by anyone. Much of

what I had done which is not recollected even by me. And

for what? One day, along with me, artifacts of the eye and

mind all to ashes and dust.

The Cosmos and life, neutrons of energy, each and every

breath are enigmatic bedfellows indeed.

This piece I wrote for posterity today--Poof!

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Chris Hanch 9-17-2020