AGING MUSICIAN AT SPELLBINDER BOOKS

I find myself at the age of personal karma —
after years of family stories
and class and culture — and all the world’s suffering.
Who am I if not my mindstream?
Seeing clearly my ego, realizing
if old age doesn’t reveal my self pity
the moment of dying will. Finally I exhale.

Look here, old vinyl featuring artists I’ve never
heard of! I buy the albums imagining
their excitement of 50 years ago
and now most of them dead,
having conquered this patch of the world,
the flow of moments continuing
somewhere else. Where? You can still buy

their albums at Spellbinder Books.
Someone back then in this dusty mountain town
collected the sounds as the Sierra groaned
another inch in height
and old age brings peace, finally, to fevered dreams
of fame or money or the old compulsion —
to be seen.

8/13/24