93 Comments
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LeighK's avatar

And somehow a picture that isn’t me appeared next to my name. One of those hundred bears at work?

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

I don't see the photo! Just a blank avatar. There's a ghost in the machine.

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LeighK's avatar

Perfect. And morning voice recording is a good thing.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Ha! Before the coffee performance!

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Steve Lovelace's avatar

"the joy of removing yourself from the equation". How powerful and freeing, thank you Sherman

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Reena Kapoor's avatar

Lovely! The simple life is well...everything!

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Mary Kay's avatar

Love, love, love this poem...especially the "Ode to the Shrug" tucked within!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thanks, Mary Kay.

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Rachel Hutcheson's avatar

Wonderful!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thanks, Rachel.

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Deborah Daniel's avatar

O this is good, one of your best

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thanks, Deborah.

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Kate Bradley's avatar

Laughing - That's the meal I ate last night. I'm alone these days, but your poetry makes me feel connected. Thanks so much. I'll never shrug at your poetry!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you, Kate.

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Toni's avatar

Such a lovely way to enjoy the exact moment.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you, Toni.

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Rebecca Watts's avatar

Perfect! Contentment.

I'm reading a book called The Hacking of the American Mind (by Robert H. Lustig). Near the beginning he's explaining the difference between pleasure and happiness. Your poem feels like happiness, though pleasure is there, too. The delicious freedom of the shrug, though -- I like it.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thanks, Rebecca. I've seen news about that book but haven't read it

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Michael Frank Rhoderick's avatar

Makes me think I should shrug more, talk less and delight in the simple connections in life.

Thank you!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

All of us could benefit from talking less!

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Rich Slutzky's avatar

It’s quite a sweet and genuine poem. Thoughtful, and very relatable. The mighty salmon indeed.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thanks, Rich.

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Magpie Mama's avatar

I know that shrug!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Yes!

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Becky Spika's avatar

Thank you again for your well thought words. They invoked a subtle but powerful shift in my own thinking. The result was a deep breath and a peaceful settling. Huh...a shrug....so "simple".

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you, Becky.

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Lamoreaux's avatar

“O, the joy of removing yourself

From the equation…”

That’s a vital skill they don’t teach in schools. It’s not taught much of anywhere.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

It's a skill I'm trying to exercise!

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Sunny Hochberg's avatar

Thank you for this, Sherman. I will never think of salmon the same again! And I really appreciate your words. They brought me back to watching the fish men I saw at the Pike’s Place Market years ago, as each they threw one huge fish to the next, and so on. We are fortunate that the Earth feeds us and we must always appreciate it.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank God for salmon!

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