Consequence 

This is not a movie or a TV show, 

In this world people really hurt, 

All actions have their consequence, 

At least on this side of the dirt, 

We’ve forgot the vital golden rule, 

We’re causing pain and we don’t care, 

We’re breaking hearts that we can’t mend, 

Making a such a heavy cross to bear

Bullet 

Someone said one time to me, 

You own each bullet, 

When the firing pin finds primer, 

It’s too late to change your mind, 

When that bullet finds its target, 

Someone’s life is left behind.

 

A small few will cheerfully commit atrocities, 

A larger few will grudgingly assist, 

A still larger number will agree but not participate, 

The majority will stay silent and try to ignore it, 

A number will quietly bear witness 

A small few will decry it 

The smallest number will take action

He Said, She Said

 

She said “Take my heart with you”,

He said “You keep mine here”,

She said “Be sure you bring it back”,

He told her “Have no fear”,

 

They couldn’t know their world would change,

That things could never be the same,

He brought back her heart, left part of him behind,

Left and let her keep his out of shame.

 

I’m Blessed

 

Music saved my life and mind,

It’s the thing I really need,

All the years I didn’t know,

They were sorry years indeed,

 

I’ve played for folks in hundreds,

For barmaids and for empty chairs,

I’m playing music for my soul,

I don’t mind if no one cares,

 

It’s a blessing to be playing,

Keeps me going mile on mile,

It’s a blessing to be playing,

Hope I can bring a smile.

 

Ten Thousand Years

 

The people lived with nature,

Ten thousand years or more,

Then the others came and claimed the land,

Left the people sick and sore,

 

The others brought their greed for things,

Killed the trees and scarred the land,

Slaughtered bison just for fun,

The people suffered at their hand,

 

Again the people pay the price,

As greed still rules the day,

Great spirit sees and sheds a tear,

For the people as they pay,

 

When the last tree falls and streams run dry,

How much can the takers hold?

The oceans poisoned and creatures die,

Will they learn they can’t eat gold?

 

Here's another poem for your enjoyment.

Just an Afternoon

 

I look at you and slip to dream,

Just to think of what could be,

I dream of days that never were,

Summer sheets and you and me,

 

Lazing in the yellow light,

We’ve worn each other out,

The blush of love spreads on your skin,

We’re glowing there’s no doubt,

 

Then I see me in the glass,

And know the bitter truth,

The dream explodes and crashes down,

As I’m pining for my youth,

 

In my heart I’m still a kid,

No matter what I do,

I wish you’d find it in your heart,

To see me like that too.

 

 

Hi Folks,  I've been attending some poetry meetings for a while.  I started with readings of incomplete song lyrics but over time I've begun to write some actual poetry.  Just a couple for today, more to come.

Daydream

         

I want to leave this bitter place,

For some sunny seaside town,

Where the mountains meet the water,

Narrow streets wind up and down,

 

The old men play their dominoes,

While the people pass them by,

In a friendly corner tavern,

The patrons drink their rum and rye,      

 

Sun sets on the quiet streets,

And I make my way to go,

Back to a cozy place to stay,

With someone who loves me so.

 

Only the Children

 

Only the children are innocent, 

There’s blame enough to go around,

Blame for the parents who use them as a passport,

Blame for the gangs who chase the parents here,

 

Only the children are innocent, 

There’s blame enough to go around,

Blame for the investors in the private prisons,

Blame for the ice men bringing tears,

 

Only the children are innocent, 

There’s blame enough to go around,

Blame for the bible parsing rednecks,

Blame for the leaders stoking fears.

 

Only the children are innocent, 

There’s blame enough to go around,

Blame for corporations where the parents are enslaved,

Blame for us “Good Americans” staying silent all these years,

 

Only the children are innocent, 

 

 

 

 

August twentieth, we set out for Cross Plains Tennessee to chase the great eclipse.  I picked Cross plains because it was in the path of totality and not a magnet site like Hopkinsville Kentucky.  It ended up being a great choice.  We had not gotten eclipse glasses because it was sort of a spur of the moment trip.

When we got there we parked at the high school below the village park.  We said good morning to some folks from Ontario who were parked in front of us.  They said we could get glasses up at the park.

When we walked up to the park there was a band from Austin setting up.  Glasses came with the price of the tickets.  The band leader had been writing a special progressive rock show for the time from the beginning of the eclipse to the totality.   They sounded like Yes meets Steely Dan with touch of Pink Floyd.  It was a great show timed perfectly to the eclipse.

There was a bit of cloud cover so the totality did not bring total darkness due to the sunlight reflecting off the distant clouds.  It got to a sort of twilight with a three hundred sixty degree sunset.  Well worth the trip.

Getting back to Louisville and our room was a little problem.  We had a perfect traffic storm.  The state fair was going on in Louisville along with a big horse show.  Add that to the construction on I-65 and all the eclipse traffic and it took eight hours to get there.   Still and all it was a worthwhile trip.  We hope to be here for 2024 when the next eclipse comes through Ohio.

 

        In the present political climate, I hear many folks say that I should not say anything about the abuses of the people by the powers that be because there is nothing that I can do about it anyway.

     They seem to be saying that the present surveillance state is only going far outside the Bill of Rights to go after "undesirables" such as terrorists and those who support them. How long will it be before they decide that "undesirables" includes anyone who disagrees with their narrow definition of what constitutes citizenship?  Protesters, gays, artists, environmentalists, the homeless, and any other non-conformists come to mind.    

    I'm sorry, when I learned about the Constitution in Civics class, I learned that ALL people are entitled to due process under law. Those who are guilty of crimes can and should be prosecuted and the Constitution provides adequate means for this within the process of law. An administration which places itself above the law really scares the hell out of me.