Bios – what you want to know – what we want you to know - The short version:
Tom Odegard lives with his wife of 25 years on San Juan Island in Washington for most of the year, where he writes poetry, hosts readings at the library, volunteers as a pump and water tender operator for the County Fire District, and cares for 12 plus acres of wetland. For two months or so, he and his wife live in Oakland, California where they polish their nest eggs, indulge their taste for cosmopolitan food and culture, and visit various art, dance, and poetry venues.
Tom has been spotted at readings around the Bay Area as far south as Santa Cruz.
Who are we?
In the beginning, being
and subsequently, I , until
inadequacies appeared despite
egocentricities; then an “other” required
Time – not so much out as a subtext for_by.
Resisting, I fought and succumbed to Herim and She
until at last, we revolved, evolved into fragile détente, “we”
Carl Jung put it archetypically as anima and animus
resenting an individual housing her opposite him
his opposite her and hence a talkative duo
debates becoming discussions
turning into flow-going
Two Spirit Shamen
Wiccan Magician
We ARE sooo
much more
than one
47 XXY, a dash of Diethylstilbesterol (faux estrogen), we were conceived,
gestated, birthed, weaned, all the usual scenes – with some of the usual results.
We could have been – but were not aware – nor, for parents part, neither.
Stirring the pot of me unknown as us, we are come, just come, quite recently
wondering…
Too much too many too full too empty too closed too open// stop /and go for:
LOVE
A spendthrift’s ideal currency – the more you spend the more you have to spend:
LOVE
Not barter, interest bearing, qualified, or conditioned in any way including “if”:
LOVE
Gifting as does our Gaian sphere - Accumulation thru use without saving:
LOVE
Who are we? We are LOVE
LOVE is always on time or late or fashionably early!
Herein:
Much that is mystickal – in-tell-lectural – a dash of raisons
nothing perpetual save, LOVE UNCONDITIONAL – and some
solar/lunar phases thereof: Eros, Agape, Philia, Mania, parental,
romantic, Caligular, Sado, and Maso with plenty of LET US,
pepper and salt, please hold the mayo.
Christ worshipers beware: STRINGLESS LOVE practiced here.
And twice the same for other exclusive Gods/Goddesses –
LOVE – no one left out – on the obverse – accepting lets you receive to pass it on…
No one is so blind, deaf, dumb, numb as one who “will” not see, hear, speak, feel,
LOVE It’s free an tastes/smells, perfect, everywhere/when.
The journey continues with K. Vonnegut as Bokonenist writing in Cat’s Cradle
Politicks? Of course…
and our nation downward spirals toward universal mutual distress. Is this what we intended? To be led by Psychotic Politicians drowning in their unfeeling interiors? No, no! Let there be LOVE – even as Kurt’s PP’s (psychopatholigical personalities) may require a “Time Out” with considerable compassion from their parents, us, you know, We The People.
And btb, there’s no getting even. The dead dragon awaits the next hero with equal strength, fire, and treasure. Each successful hero returns to become a despot to be overthrown by yet another hero.
SO BE compassionate, Bend like a reed, be Kind!
“The highest treason in the USA is to say Americans are not loved, no matter where they are, no matter what they are doing there.” KV A Man Without A Country
and again: Oh a lion hunter in the jungle dark,
and a sleeping drunkard up in Central Park,
and a Chinese dentist, and a British Queen,
all fit together in the same machine,
Nice, nice, everyone in the same device.” KV Cat’s Cradle
Or alternatively – as Billy Pilgrim said over and over again, “Hello_Goodbye_Hello_ Goodby KV Slaughterhouse Five – A children’s crusade
Tralfamadorans are waiting here to welcome us to Earth to welcome us home.
Yes, we are XXY - Intersex – a mixed gender – and a mule (whoa Nelly!) – just like all the men with vasectomies who’ve opted out of the reproducing game. A great book is out: INTERSEX by Catherine Harper – read her concluding words,
“Let’s stop non-consensual cosmetic sex assignment, until comprehensive qualitative research on past treatments reveals that its benefits outweigh the pain currently reported. Lets consider ways to make amends for deceitful practices and secrecy, however well intentioned. Let’s evaluate humans not as monsters, symbols, or archetypes nor as “phallic females” or “failed males”, but as people capable of love, intimacy in relationships, sexual function and mutual pleasure.”
“First do no harm: Primum non nocere”
Our continuing conversation between me and my “other”, between Tom and Ms.G
Oh my dear, come play
moon turns cold winter nights white
our bare skin silver.
Above us stars shimmer dance
while owls silent seek their prey
Thinking of you, I
wonder fill our secret joy
being two in one
Hello, fancy meeting you here. Shall we have a look/see, together?
Please Ms. G we must never be otherwise. Isn't this a beautiful planet!
Oh yes, she's beautiful.
She's grand isn't she? I mean look at all the colors.
And the light… how it fills sky, land, & your eyes.
Not the The Grand Canyon but still Grand.
Ohhhhh My!
Beaches, what's not to like about them? (Pick up the litter?) Tread lightly!
Three quarters water means a lot of land meeting sea – whatta love affair.
Perfect reciprocity, wearing away, building up, moving around, spreading,
emptying, filling, just plain enjoying…
Say, are you a poet? Me too.
Soooo hop, skip, and jump…
Nice, a tanka? 31 syl – la – bles, right? Very near a classic, that!
Hey, thanks for noticing.
De rien.
So, tu parle francaise?
We parle franglaise in the present tense. Enuff to be dangereuse.
So who are all these folks, identical clones?
Not at all. Here be the XY group of us.
You can’t miss that Gemini trick of twins, eh?
Side by side and all lined up. What a scoop! I guess you’d call this the examined life?
Certainly one half of it.
We’re still shooting for
that perfect shot of you
in all your womanifestations.
Me?
You!
Designed – permitted with a lotta help from our friends, Diane, Carl K., Rich, Chris and our dearest, one and only lovey, Connie.
Built in a year an’ a half spanning three years ‘cause we only worked on it during the late spring, summer and falling toward winter while living inna Cabinette of 160 sq. ft. with trailer kitchen and a picnic table scullery. Here’s our cottage of 842 sq.ft. with one bed, one bath, one not quite adequate kitchen en suite with a living room, two doors which lead into each season of work as they appear.
Of course there’s not enough room for “stuff” so we continue to add and re-cycle in harmony with alders and conifers, grass and flowers. As Kurt might say, “Thanks a lot, Love – for the chance for this mud to be standing up and farting around.”
Snow anticipates
winter rain, running ditches
spring into summer
So do you think there’s a chance for humans to be humane?
Tough question against our addiction to oil . Ya gotta wonder, put any serial killer up against so called world leaders, or mechanistic corporate misers, simply no comparison, so much death, stress, destruction for no other reason than capacity. But still, we say, “Yes! And here’s why:
lost in aloneness
sunlight pierces the spirit
self-discovery
forgiving past/present selves
now we reciprocate: love”
This is a Barred Owl – herim is really big and talk about “coming out”, oh my hesh was “out” surveying our projects: building a greenhouse, cutting grass and cordwood, Firewising the area around our dwelling places (that’s a 30’ defensible space). Nothing phased her. He liked the poles but also work benches, trees, logs we were cutting, the picnic table and stumps. She hung around for about a week and then went to study other humans at work. We know this because we saw a couple of other pictures of herim at the County Fair. One of those pictures won a first prize – they wondered how the photographer got so close. Well, we know. No Fear!
This is Beth’s Car & she was visiting with excess pro-duce from her garden. We had visited a bit and she headed out to her car only she got stopped by this person of grave countenance who regarded us with disdain for about an hour and a half. This is a very wise bird for he has chosen a saw and a lubricant to promote. We admit to loving our sawbuck which we had to refurbish with copious oil sprays due to damp clotted brushes. The owl didn’t mind though and even sat thru numerous comings and goings to get our cameras. She then flew off to a nearby tree. Then down to the garden fence poles.
She/he's been back for very short visits since.
I take it gender is a difficulty!
Oh yeah, for us too.
Say isn't our stuff on OII?
Yeah, and here's how you get there www.intersexualite.org/Art.html
addresses of more friends: madeleine@typepad.com, www.rowepoet.com ,
www.littlebrownsparrow.com, www.lightwatcher.com