advice for my students (since i shall be retiring soon)

it’s last period 

at the end of a covid month

and i'm free writing.

well,

mostly i’m just thinking.

which is exactly what i say not to do.

and i’m wondering

how many eyeballs out there

recognize

they’ll need a new planet soon.

and even sooner:

they'll be teaching.

and have they noticed

i’m pretty done with

dates. and days. and time.

and antagonists.

and spelling and synonyms.

and names of things.

and since i used to

think i knew much more

and there was still so

much left to learn

there will be a few holes

in today's curriculum.

and maybe

that's wisdom.

but vague words

take up space like

tuskless elephants

and mansions and prisons

while suburbia knocks 

down centuries of sentry 

trees and dusk arrives

with her pockets

flush with surveying flags: 

planting pink goodbyes. 

go where you want to go.

do what you need to do.

and my only other advice: 

when you realize you have lost

your soul

get it back. 

p.s.: maybe your neighborhood lab 

is really a reincarnated master 

with nothing better to do 

than to do nothing 

all day: 

look   looklooklooklook    look.