Day Off

dear boss

because the world is plural multiple and various
and because walt whitman said ‘resist much obey little’
and because allen ginsberg said ‘follow your inner moonlight don’t hide the madness’
and because philip larkin said ‘how little our careers express what lies in us and yet how much time they take up’
and because the bright day beckons with its birds and insects and rivers and rocks all doing what comes naturally to them
and because i want to hear the sound of woodland silence
and because the snaking track through the forest is irresistible
and because i want to test the mystical powers of orchid asphodel and mandrake root
and because i want to sit under a yew tree and get high
and because i want to follow a stream unto its source and a canal unto its basin and a mountain path unto its apex
and because i want to embrace praise and celebrate the unbelievable truth (if it is the truth) that god is love
and because life is short and death is long and work is annoying . . .

because of all these reasons and more i will not be going in to the office today
and taking my usual place between the water cooler and the yucca plant
and occupying myself with my normal business at the computer
but instead i will be unravelling the mysteries of existence
and discovering the boundaries (if there are any boundaries) between man and tree and man and stone and man and god and man and wild animal
and walking as far as i can without feeling tired or guilty . . .

so i do beg your understanding compassion and forgiveness
and i’ll see you tomorrow in my usual place
between the yucca plant and the water cooler amen