Native to India and SouthEast Asia, there is a flock of about 200 Peacocks in Pinellas County Florida… who knew?
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Sunflowers
Sunflower’s careful keepers tend
fields of yellow not yet knowing
experience of evil eastern wind.
But the winds come hard, relentless.
Children flee, father’s stand, resist
unheralded brave most are nameless.
Investing in a future more free
for their children, for future
generations will rebuild, you’ll see.
The soil may be bloodied by those who remain
but the future skies above will be free and blue
and below the yellow flowers will reign again.
The Blue and Yellow, an example for all to see
that freedom isn’t free, it is paid for by
patriots who believe and sacrifice for you and me.
In solidarity with Ukraine!
March 1st
March 1st
March and it feels like seasonal grid-lock
To the East each morning black birds flock
I know it could all just fade to white
For there was no answer in the night
Nor in the day when blue chases the gray
And these words have no clue, no sway
Other than the thought loud in my head
Maybe I should have just stayed in bed
Hoping the bear hibernates a while longer
Until we are much wiser and bit stronger
Answering Questions
This morning, as I was reading some poems to my 7-year-old grandson, he asked… “are poems supposed to answer a question?”. I said yes, they should reveal a truth about us, about nature and thus answer a question that we may not even have thought to ask. Well my answer to him was not quite that complete… but in the moment, he was answering a question that I have about the purpose of poetry that is born when I sit in front of a keyboard and a blank page.
Poetry is as simple as answering questions.
Questions are inspiring
Answers are discovery
Understanding is growing
Growing is change
Change is constant
Adventure is energy
Energy is passion
Passion is life
Life is love
answering questions
Abandonment
I get it… we cannot change a country that has been steeped in tribal and religious warfare for centuries. We cannot save everyone. But we committed to a democratic and safe Afghanistan, and we had achieve a modicum of success. Women were able to get an education, run a business, and express themselves as never before under Taliban rule. ISIS and Al Qaeda training camps were destroyed and they were scattered. We were no longer losing young men and women to violence. With our help, Afghan security forces were keeping the peace in free parts of the country. A people were given room to breathe, room to grow, to expect something more and better from life. Call it hope if you will, but it was something. Our mission to destroy Al Qaeda for their attack on us, was largely successful… but we did more. We took away the haven of Afghanistan, and we gave hope to a population that wanted a way out of the 13th century. Yes it cost us something, be we gained something more, Security, and reputation.
Now we are abandoning those that put their faith in us, those that said yes, to the question of building a better world. Yes, to the rights of women. Yes to the value of democracy. They will be destroyed in a Taliban Afghanistan.
Many argue, we cannot stay forever… yet we have bases still in Germany, we have bases in South Korea… we have stayed before, why not here? We should always give time for peace… time is inexpensive compared to war.
I know my view is not popular. Most Americans don’t care about the Afghani’s … it was a populist that said we are pulling out, now a democrat president has carried it forward. Pulling out… no it is abandonment and retreat to where we think we cannot be impacted. Pulling out is what you do when the mission is complete. There will be consequences to our security, to our safety, to our reputation. Who should believe us in the future?
Watch the news, this is what losing looks like.
Additional words:
Joe Biden said “endless war is not supportable“…my thoughts is that for 5000 troops in country… “endless peace was possible”
Words Matter 2021…
I’ve been on vacation this last week… I’ll get back to regular posting next week. However in the previous week, I helped with the publication and was co-author of this new book that features stories by Randy Coppersmith and Dennis Richardson.
“This anthology of stories and poems The Best of Words Matter 2021, is the second book by this team of talented writers. It has a little bit of everything for readers — especially those who appreciate variety and humor. For those who understand the value of words, this book offers beautiful poetry as well as thought-provoking stories about business, economics, politics and sports — including baseball and golf. Compelling story telling by accomplished authors presents a composition of works that bring back the feeling of in-depth news reporting, as well as thoughtful and insightful commentary on life in America today. It’s a fun read throughout.”
Single Malt
Good friends and a good single malt is a recipe for solving the world’s problems – Mike Varga
At least until the morning!
A rewrite of Anonymity…
Anonymity
How can anyone know all you think
If you don’t occasionally make a stink
You think it matters little today
Because they won’t listen anyway
As anonymity of the masses rule
Forwarding some mindless drool
That you know is about winning a game
Without added-value of a label or name
You know you have so much more to add
Than those unthoughtful and persistently mad
While I say, it’s hard to know who you are
If you never reach for your intellectual star
If you never say your piece
Or sign anything more than a lease
When you have an opinion you never share
Even though you privately, desperately care
Don’t allow others to talk for you
It’s time to add something new
For the world could be positively changed
With your words properly arranged
Maybe your thoughts are just what’s needed
And we’d all be better off
if your thoughtful words were heeded
Memorial Weekend
I read this poem from last year and thought it worth repeating this Memorial Weekend and add in our thoughts those that died this year providing healthcare, emergency response, and essential services. Each risking exposure to COVID-19 in the effort to fight for our lives, our freedoms, to fight back the enemy on our shores. We have a duty to do what we can, wear a mask, social distance, as well as remembrance prayer to honor all those that didn’t say why me, or find someone else to send… they jumped into the fight, wanting to help and of course wanting to live. They valued their lives and we should remember and value their sacrifice.
Memorial Day Prayer
Flag flies bright from the porch
For those that carried the torch
Into the darkness, into the awful fight
For us to enjoy freedom and safety at night
The sacrifice, of those women and men
Who answered the call, with how and when
Not why me, not find someone else to send
And they gave all they have until the very end
It is right then, that we remember and pray
For those with the angels we memorialize today
Dreaming…
Stream of Dreams
Dreams have a life of their own
They need nothing from us
But to watch, and occasionally play our roles
They roll on like a stream as they please
There are tributaries and rivulets
That take side trips, so bizarre and unexpected
We can leave those more easily
But they have a way of coming back
Or rather letting us back in
As they are always flowing
In the direction they choose
Sometimes there are rapids
And anxiety is our canoe without a paddle
We careen from boulders to overhanging trees
Thinking we can make a difference
By leaning and thrashing,
But never we do…
So too the lazy river
The one we don’t want to end
Where we float in enjoyment
And it is always this one
That the alarm clock brings to an End!