Writing From The Body

The below poem is from my soon to be released poetry book I THOUGHT GETTING OLD WOULD TAKE LONGER which is dedicated to my dear friend and colleague the late Robert Bly. The collection focuses on love found and lost, things and people that came and went, and the way nature can educate and inform the aging process itself.

I hope you will find these heartfelt poems touching at best or thoughtful at the very least while peeking into my journey into elderhood.

GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE

I’m closing the Feeling Factory. I have fired all my old
employees. Sadness my senior manager had been with
me for decades. Loneliness was just plain lazy and was
always late for work, and I could never trust him. Anger
tried to unionize the other workers several years ago; no
love lost there. Disappointment the delivery guy would
sit in the company van and smoke a joint every day at
lunch and when he was done, he just acted weird. Joy was
my most recent hire before closing, but she almost never
showed up or was always running late. She stayed out all
night dancing. Happiness was hired over two years ago
but he was just too mercurial. I guess he figured what
was the point?

So, you still can get some good bargains on the feeling
books we produced here at the Feeling Factory. But hurry
all the doors are closing soon. And yes, I’ve been offered a
job at UPS as a delivery man because they saw I still had
pretty good-looking legs for their brown shorts, even at
my age.

If you or someone you know would like to have an in person or video session while I'm in Asheville, North Carolina, please email [email protected] today to schedule your session.

I hope you'll join me for a live webinar for WisdomFeed on my new topic, From Hero to Elder: The Odyssey of Aging June 19 from 7 to 9pm Eastern Time. Please sign up today

From Hero to Elder: The Odyssey of Aging with JOHN LEE - Wisdom Feed For many men and women, the first forty is best characterized by living out what the mythologist Joseph Campbell called, “The Heroes’ Journey.”

One of my favorite things over the last 35 years or so is to coach and council writers, artists, and dreamers! Thank all all of you who have given me this opportunity and joy!!