Poem: Middle Distance

Making the case for idleness.

Middle Distance In one of those conversations about the meaning of life, we touched on work Meaningful work the kind of thing to which one dedicates a life and states of bliss and anthills It was then I think, I made the point or tried to that man is an idler and at his best and surely his least dangerous when idling Gazing into that middle distance curiously The point was made of life being hard before the wheel, but not by me That devilish device put all men to turning and they are turning still, women as well, beyond the need, beyond desire I make the case for idleness, it’s in our blood, a heritage of middle distance and you’ll see it there any time a man puts down the wheel to scratch himself and find an idler just below his skin

This poem is included in Jim Freeman's poetry collection BROKEN PIECES available here in print or as an e-Book in your favorite formats.