Solvitur Ambulando

The experts say it means
“It is solved by walking”…
Let’s try it out.
I’ve tried everything else.
Why not try something old
Rather than something new?
New is outdated.
I’ve tried it.
We all have.
It doesn’t work.
We don’t realize that it never will.
Why don’t we try everything?
Better than trying nothing.
So I’ve been told.
But everything has no hold.
No staying power.

You can’t hold it all.
Over time, it feels like nothing.
So it all comes back to nothing.
Let’s try it, why don’t we?
Let’s try nothing.
What’s the rush?
Nothing stays for a long, long time.
And nothing goes nowhere.
Let’s try it.
I’m game.

. . .

I missed the sidewalk.
I missed the sunset air.
I missed the heat of the day
Being shaded by the willow trees.
This is nice.
No earth-shattering noise.
No cars.
No horns.
No industry.
No ambition.
Nowhere to go and nothing to be.
Just birds.

And lawnmowers.
And civilized people
With wrap-around porches
A couple of golden retrievers
And newly mulched gardens.
What did I think was out there?
I can’t believe I ever left this place.
Sometimes
I don’t think I ever have.
And I’d like to keep it that way.
I think I’ll stick around.

If you ever want to find me
I’ll be here.
Learning to walk briskly again.
Learning to think again.
Learning to stop and smell the roses again.
Hearing the children play
And the robins sing
And wind whistle through the chimes again.
I’m never going back.
And you’d know what you’ve been missing
If you came around this way.
One of these days
You and I won’t be so very different.
Come on over.
I’m never too busy anymore to be here.
It’s not everything.
Don’t come expecting it to be.
But it sure is nothing.
And nothing is a very fine place to be.
I’d like for you to join me. 

I’d like that very much.