Autobiography
Autobiography 1
The story of my life
would put insomniacs to sleep.
Nothing extraordinary
has ever happened to me.
Except for you.
God blesses the undeserving
sometimes
in His mythically
Random Way.
Autobiography 2
Mother never lectured.
Father never lectured.
Nonetheless the lessons
of southern, white, Protestant,
genteel, gentile, lower
middle class expectations
were ingested along
with chicken fried steak,
snap peas, mashed potatoes,
and cream gravy.
In a world of places
it is best to know your own.
Once in a while,
you do get banana pudding
made the right way
with Nilla vanilla wafers,
actual custard,
and lightly browned meringue.
Autobiography 3
Please pardon my existence.
I didn't plan or condone it,
was never consulted in any way,
never asked to be conceived,
developed and delivered,
another unnecessary burden
on the world. I might have voted
to be aborted long before
my crowning, screamed bewilderment,
and terror. From my beginning,
I never felt at home in this skin.
So, pardon my existence. It was
an accident I have always found
appalling and I am
innocent of all its
precipitating circumstances.
The story of my life
would put insomniacs to sleep.
Nothing extraordinary
has ever happened to me.
Except for you.
God blesses the undeserving
sometimes
in His mythically
Random Way.
Autobiography 2
Mother never lectured.
Father never lectured.
Nonetheless the lessons
of southern, white, Protestant,
genteel, gentile, lower
middle class expectations
were ingested along
with chicken fried steak,
snap peas, mashed potatoes,
and cream gravy.
In a world of places
it is best to know your own.
Once in a while,
you do get banana pudding
made the right way
with Nilla vanilla wafers,
actual custard,
and lightly browned meringue.
Autobiography 3
Please pardon my existence.
I didn't plan or condone it,
was never consulted in any way,
never asked to be conceived,
developed and delivered,
another unnecessary burden
on the world. I might have voted
to be aborted long before
my crowning, screamed bewilderment,
and terror. From my beginning,
I never felt at home in this skin.
So, pardon my existence. It was
an accident I have always found
appalling and I am
innocent of all its
precipitating circumstances.
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Author's Note
Fragmentary, like the real thing.
Other stories by Gary Hardaway
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"Nothing extraordinary
has ever happened to me.
Except for you."
All of these are great.
*
"Except for you." The saving grace. So heavy, these, so perfectly honed. *
*
*, Gary. I read this well-written poem as a guilt trip for having a good, legitimate life.
wow, wow, wow!
One of your best pieces, Gary. Strong set that must appear together.
Very powerful. Such wonderful images of the south. Conjures up my youth, but I never did like banana pudding. *
Thank you, Bill.
Thank you, Matt.
Thank you, Amanda.
Thank you, David.
Thank you, Meg.
Thank you, Sam.
Thank you, Nicholas. May the goddess of Banana Pudding forgive you.
Winners all. 1 & 2 especially resonate.*
Thank you, Gary.
I very much like them all but 2, I think, is my favourite.
By some artifice you avoided sourness. Strong stuff, Gary.*
I have to post this as a recommendation on FB, today. This must be seen.
*
Thank you, Ellie.
Thank you, Daniel.
Thank you Gita.
Thanks for the share, Gita.
"In a world of places it is best to know your own," is particularly resonant to me. Great line.
Thank you, Dianne.
Brill,Gary *
Thank you, Myra.
"I am innocent" Got that right.*
Thank you, Tim.
All good. #2 sounds a lot like the upper Midwest. Same stuff, give or take fried chicken.
Thank you, Steve.
*Average white kids don't write like this, though.
Thank you, Nonnie.
Good God, Gary--you are crushing it. *
Thank you, Brenda.
Love this--a good reading experience, right on the money.
Thank you. Darryl.