surprised by being still alive, this jack anders Surprised by being still alive, this Was the part of my life I hadn’t planned for. When the everlasting rolling energy you grow to depend on Fades; gray stakes its claim in the hair falling down In the barber chair, What is, more and more a repetition Of the previous day. It’s as if My guardian angel Grew bored with me, My idiocy, recalcitrance, and finally decided: Just show him the most important thing every day, Just stuff it right in his face. The smile of my wife, her green eyes, each day. Those extremely tiny socks, putting them on My daughter’s 5 year old feet. The black dog asleep in back of my knees. I sat in my car at a stoplight today, And wondered at the grass Growing on each side of the concrete sidewalk. I suppose it has to be miracles every day, Over and over, until you know no going.