Genius is more work than just
being a genius.

#17 GENIUS

I know what it’s not.

It’s not folding laundry and hanging up the shirt
hot from the dryer before it wrinkles.

It’s knowing when to stop the folding
for coming back to later
because the idea has taken you somewhere
else
now
because your brain has formed a tiny fold
putting two parts altogether differently
and promises more
and it just
can’t
wait.

So you throw the rest of the laundry on the bed
(mostly socks and underwear at this point)
to follow the thought
wherever it leads.

Genius takes work
practicing the basics
relaxing into the zone.
It’s taking many at bats
and actually
coming up with something

hitting deep,
over the fence,
looking up as it takes off,
and streaming sweat infused with joy.