Nuttin'

“Whatcha doin’?”

“Nuttin’.”

“How you doin’ nuttin’?

“It’s much harder than you think!”

‘Lazy days’

As we called them

When I was younger

Before family and work

Demanded so much of our time

Were easier to come by

An early fall Saturday

A spacious pond

And a few poles

Were a great recipe

For doing nothing

Well, fishing

But if you’re fishing right

It’s just like doing nothing

Laying on the bank

Pole stuck in the dirt

Line dangling lazily

An immobile bobber

A half baited hook

Before you know it

Your troubles have faded

And you’re smack-dab 

In the middle of doing nothing

Of course, as life is

Some inconsiderate fish

Will come along and be tempted

They’ll just nibble a bit

Testing the waters

Making the bobber bob

Signaling a reprieve

From the state 

Of doin’ nuttin

Maybe it’s a Sunday afternoon

Churchin’ (the active part)

Is done for the day

(Not that real churchin’ is ever done)

You’ve slipped off your shoes

Your toes are warm 

In their individual sock blankets

Your eyelids are gettin’ heavier

(The added weight of doin’ nuttin’)

Life fades in and out 

Watchin’ but not watchin’

Some favored team

Somebody somewhere

Is working hard on doin’ sumtin’ 

But all of your efforts

Yep, doin’ nuttin’

Life is good

Sometimes, the goodness

Is outside of the haste

Sometimes, the best you can do

Is simply nuttin’

Shew 

All this work doin’ nuttin’

Done worked me up an appetite 

I guess I’ll do sumtin’

Down in the kitchen 

“Whatcha eatin’?”

“Nuttin.”

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

October 5, 2020