In the 60’s / early 70’s, I read everything that Richard Brautigan wrote.  Novels, short stories and (very short) poems.  Last week I sent six old favourites about growing old to Robin in Cordova Bay.  He liked them.  I thought you might.

Nobody knows what the experience is worth

but it’s better than sitting on your hands,

I keep telling myself.

—

Things slowly curve out of sight

until they are gone. Afterwards

only the curve

remains.

—

Night again

Again night

—

Fred bought a pair of ice skates.

That was 20 years ago.

He still has them but he doesn’t

skate any more.

—

The last surprise is when you come

gradually to realise that nothing

surprises you any more

—

With so short a time to live and think

about stuff, I’ve spent just about

the right amount of time on this

poem.

KR