Saturday, June 6, 2015

He lived as though he knew...





"Live not one's life as though one had a thousand years, but live each day as the last." 

- Marcus Aurelius  



He lived as though he knew  …*
Double nickels father smiled at two fives on his cake. 
He and his big black Shepherd dog retired 
East to his country house, 
trading city-stiff for sweatshirts, his greenhouse, 
sojourns with the green frog in the koi pond, 
Camels smoked under starlit skies. 
He did not know he had only one nickel left.
Maybe.








*instructions at imaginary gardens with real toads was to write a piece of precisely 55 words including a quotation

Posted by Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP) at 2:44 PM
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20 comments:

  1. Sanaa RizviJune 6, 2015 at 3:17 PM

    Every moment of everyday is so precious.. not knowing when it will be our last.. how right of you to quote.. lets live and have a blast :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  2. HannahJune 6, 2015 at 4:17 PM

    The treasure in each moment is so palpable here, Pearl. A beautiful tribute indeed. ♥

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  3. Sherry Blue SkyJune 6, 2015 at 6:36 PM

    Oh I love the photo....and the poem really hits the heart........very beautiful! So poignant.

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  4. OutlawyerJune 6, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    So subtly and well done. Really vivid and poignant. Thanks, Pearl. k.

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  5. OutlawyerJune 6, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    (PS _ my blog on wordpress is manicddaily.) k.

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  6. kaykualaJune 6, 2015 at 9:17 PM

    Each with his own fortunes. Some are more fortunate than others! No use dreaming but to give the best for each day! Nicely Dr Pearl!

    Hank

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  7. brudbergJune 6, 2015 at 11:05 PM

    If you don't really know, maybe better to be ready all the time. Love the image of his life.

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  8. Kerry O'ConnorJune 7, 2015 at 1:38 AM

    What a loving portrait this is! The father is such an archetype, one cannot but be moved to read your description.

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  9. FireblossomJune 7, 2015 at 4:29 AM

    Five years of living how one wants to live is not all bad. Especially if there's a loyal dog involved.

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  10. hedgewitchJune 7, 2015 at 5:40 AM

    Your poem gives us a vivid picture of freedom and choice, and happiness, which we too often are willing to think is beyond our grasp, even when we are looking right at it--the subject of this poem was not lost in that illusion--none of us knows how much time we have left, but very few can live according to your quote. Thanks for the example of one who could.

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  11. Rosemary Nissen-WadeJune 7, 2015 at 6:59 AM

    Lovely photo,and I like the understated poignancy of the poem.

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  12. JinksyJune 7, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    55 words of wisdom...

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  13. ZQJune 7, 2015 at 3:33 PM

    Wow! Awesome.
    ZQ

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  14. AnonymousJune 7, 2015 at 6:52 PM

    This brought back memories of my dad - he was a Camels smoker.
    Thanks for this.

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  15. AnonymousJune 7, 2015 at 6:53 PM

    This brought back memories of my dad - he was a Camels smoker.
    Thanks for this.

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousJune 7, 2015 at 6:54 PM

    This brought back memories of my dad - he was a Camels smoker.
    Thanks for this.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Susie ClevengerJune 7, 2015 at 9:23 PM

    Yes 55 words of wisdom...Each day we are given is a blessing.

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  18. RommyJune 8, 2015 at 10:53 AM

    Beautiful and touching

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  19. grapelingJune 8, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    wistful - and I agree with Fireblossom ~

    ReplyDelete

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