I Still Dream Of Nike

History is one long processional of crazy ideas. – Phil Knight

Does that make me a historian?

Is the Swoosh a wing or a fin?
I still dream of Nike,
almost forty years 
after I ran away.
Dream about working for Nike.
Last night, 
I was trying to wrap 
a banana box 
full of high priority 

fan mail 
and omniscient instructions 
for Tinker Hatfield,
who was in Aspen 
designing 
an espresso shop-
ski lodge-
shoe store.

The Tiki-bar
was my idea.
Meanwhile, 
Knight wanted me 
to watch 
his Maltese puppy,
the adventurous sort, 
intent on investigating 
all the dangerous places 
on campus. 

I forget those 
dangerous places,
even in my dreams.

So, anyway,
got in tremendous shape
chasing Phil's dog,
while

I was supposed to be 
doing my actual job, 
offering sage marital advice 
to star high school athletes.

Woke up
running laps
v e r y  s l o w l y
on the Joe Henderson track
circling 
the secretarial pool.

There comes a time in every life when the past recedes and the future opens. It’s that moment when you turn to face the unknown. Some will turn back to what they already know. Some will walk straight ahead into uncertainty. I can’t tell you which one is right. But I can tell you which one is more fun. – Phil Knight
IF 
there comes a time 
in every life 
when the past recedes 
and the future opens, 
I am guessing 
that's 
when you wake.

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