Reality Can'T Be Remade Poem by gershon hepner

Reality can’t be remade,
say realists when facing demons,
proceeding to make lemonade
when all life offers them is lemons;
but he who is no realist
keeps waiting for the orange season,
just like the girl who won’t be kissed
until she thinks she’s found a reason.
Life becomes a sorry void
if you are afraid to face
your demons, trying to avoid
distress of downturns and disgrace.

In his book Everyman, Philip Roth’s protagonist has the stoical motto: “There’s no remaking reality.” James Marcus, in his review in the Los Angeles Times Book Review on May 7,2006 writes:

It should come as no surprise, then, that a brief scene in “Everyman” overlaps with one in “The Facts, ” Roth’s single stab at autobiography. In both cases the hero has nearly died of acute peritonitis. Both are eager to leave the hospital for fear of missing the entire autumn and are chided by the doctor in identical words: “Don’t you get it yet? You almost missed everything.”

© 2006 Gershon Hepner 5/7/06