the five Jobes

Egon Schiele - Porto di Trieste, 1907

The last of the bees have gone.

This valley is an egg,
hatching cities and towns.
The cities bring forth people,
cars, trucks, highways,
trash, stink.

The egg is then re-laid, so to speak,
again and again. Re-hatching.

The last of the bees have left,
gone up-country maybe.
No one knows where.

Raccoons watch it all, scratching
their heads in wonder.

james lee jobe

'"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."

John Lewis

John Lee Hooker - You're Leavin' Me, Baby

The five Jobes.

I shall divide myself into several men;
mountain Jobe, desert Jobe,
valley Jobe, city Jobe, ocean Jobe.
One lifetime for each.
Sky above, earth below, it's all quite lovely.
No, I'll remain just one Jobe, me.
And I will love it all from right here.

james lee jobe

"The most effective act is, once the mind is made up, to go on without looking backward."

D. T. Suzuki

The clouds pass by, they are
but an entertainment for the sky --
--and for you and I.

james lee jobe 

“Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.” 

Dōgen

Five dogs sitting together,  above them, empty sky.

james lee jobe

"I am too pure for you or anyone."

Sylvia Plath

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James