Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Barack Obama: Re-Asserting American Ideals
"We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake."
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Poem: Take Out The Trash (Or George Bush's Term Ends)
Take Out The Trash (Or George Bush’s Term Ends)
Goodbye to that snicker
And the empty, dumb stare
Adios to the “leader”
Who never did care
I speak of Katrina
As he flew overhead
We can talk of our soldiers
Four thousand-plus dead
Or maybe the workers
Who Enron sold out
Perhaps deregulation
And the greed it would flout
Might mention the warnings
In the NSA brief
With a vacant expression
Our Commander in Chief
While Towers were falling
He read “My Pet Goat”
A half-hearted mission (Afghanistan)
Then a too early gloat (“Mission Accomplished”)
Tax cuts for rich folks
The planet a foe
Faith as a weapon
Divisions would grow
Never held interest
In the interests of all
Exclusive for zealots
With a self-righteous call
Gitmo and “Brownie”
Abu Ghraib, Karl Rove
Wherever the story
The low road he strove
Torture made “legal”
A Veep of no bounds
In every step taken
Corruption resounds
So goodbye George Dubya
Farewell Cheney, Dick
The people have spoken
As grown cold to your schtick
Copyright SGW 2008
Goodbye to that snicker
And the empty, dumb stare
Adios to the “leader”
Who never did care
I speak of Katrina
As he flew overhead
We can talk of our soldiers
Four thousand-plus dead
Or maybe the workers
Who Enron sold out
Perhaps deregulation
And the greed it would flout
Might mention the warnings
In the NSA brief
With a vacant expression
Our Commander in Chief
While Towers were falling
He read “My Pet Goat”
A half-hearted mission (Afghanistan)
Then a too early gloat (“Mission Accomplished”)
Tax cuts for rich folks
The planet a foe
Faith as a weapon
Divisions would grow
Never held interest
In the interests of all
Exclusive for zealots
With a self-righteous call
Gitmo and “Brownie”
Abu Ghraib, Karl Rove
Wherever the story
The low road he strove
Torture made “legal”
A Veep of no bounds
In every step taken
Corruption resounds
So goodbye George Dubya
Farewell Cheney, Dick
The people have spoken
As grown cold to your schtick
Copyright SGW 2008
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Ten Things We'd Be Better Off Without
1. The far right of the Republican Party.
2. Cablevision Corporation.
3. Pennies.
4. FOX News (Ok, that is kind of the same as #1).
5. Text messaging.
6. Geese. Have you ever tried to walk in your yard if geese have left deposits behind?
7. Organized religion (As opposed to a strong belief in God).
8. Daylight Savings Time.
9. Anything in a TV weather report beyond showing the forecast and a quick radar map. You can just put it up on the screen, so count TV weather reporters here, too.
10. Ties (As in the men's clothing accessory, not a 3 to 3 score).
2. Cablevision Corporation.
3. Pennies.
4. FOX News (Ok, that is kind of the same as #1).
5. Text messaging.
6. Geese. Have you ever tried to walk in your yard if geese have left deposits behind?
7. Organized religion (As opposed to a strong belief in God).
8. Daylight Savings Time.
9. Anything in a TV weather report beyond showing the forecast and a quick radar map. You can just put it up on the screen, so count TV weather reporters here, too.
10. Ties (As in the men's clothing accessory, not a 3 to 3 score).
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Poem: Present And Accounted For
I have combined Present's 3 challenges into one. Three different topics, but all done within the same cup of decaf, soy latte.
Present And Accounted For
Wind, Storms, Water
Spread the seeds of life
Wash upon a stain
Outlet for re-birth
Cleanse away some pain
Softness to the face
Cool against the skin
Mystery of God
Without and from within
Glances
Me, in my corner
Chance upon your lovely face
Catch eyes returning a gentle stare
You look away
Then back again
From the corner of my eyes I peek
Our little game
Or simply the goings on over my shoulder?
A lack of confidence says I will never know
Watching
Come home from our real day
Our real world
With tail between legs
Spent of life
Dripping into a recliner
Looking for escape and illusion
Televisions bring … reality TV?
Where nothing is really real
Really
Voyeurs, wishing to flee from the mundane
Within the trivial, shallow, meaninglessness of another mundane
Watching, not doing, because the doing done doesn’t do it for us
Copyright SGW 2009
Footnote: For my poetry challenge from Present 1) the purpose or intention of wind, storms or water 2) glances or looks or eye movements and how they could be interpreted 3) attach an unusual meaning to every day observations, such as the way people walk, talk or dress and what it says about them.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Parting thoughts of George Bush
1. President George W. Bush will go down as the 42nd best president as of this writing.
2. Speaking of his presidential library, Bush said, "This is not going to be a ‘George Bush is a Wonderful Person Center,’ or the ‘Center for Republican Party Campaign Tactics. It’s going to be a place of debate, thought, writing, lecturing." Needless to say, President Bush will be supplying little in the way of thought and all writing will be done with crayons.
3. Sarah Palin: George Bush minus the Dick?
4. To the world one last time: We are sorry, we are sorry, we are sorry.
5. The George Bush Presidency: If we did not fuck it up, we just ran out of time.
6. The George Bush Presidency: Now morons everywhere can dream that they, too, can someday be president.
7. Preemptive, unjustified war, torture, thousands dead, a failed state, economic ruin, Constitutional violations, environmental decay, Katrina, religious intolerance, dishonesty, secretiveness. Just some things I will remember of the last eight years.
8. Come back on January 19th, as I "Take Out the Trash."
2. Speaking of his presidential library, Bush said, "This is not going to be a ‘George Bush is a Wonderful Person Center,’ or the ‘Center for Republican Party Campaign Tactics. It’s going to be a place of debate, thought, writing, lecturing." Needless to say, President Bush will be supplying little in the way of thought and all writing will be done with crayons.
3. Sarah Palin: George Bush minus the Dick?
4. To the world one last time: We are sorry, we are sorry, we are sorry.
5. The George Bush Presidency: If we did not fuck it up, we just ran out of time.
6. The George Bush Presidency: Now morons everywhere can dream that they, too, can someday be president.
7. Preemptive, unjustified war, torture, thousands dead, a failed state, economic ruin, Constitutional violations, environmental decay, Katrina, religious intolerance, dishonesty, secretiveness. Just some things I will remember of the last eight years.
8. Come back on January 19th, as I "Take Out the Trash."
Monday, January 5, 2009
But how would we fit?
John Adams to son John Quincy: "You'll never be alone with a poet in your pocket."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Poem: Brushstrokes
Brushstrokes
You never spoke in honest specifics
Said little … at least to me
You claimed … actually, almost nothing
From my perspective it was an easy way out
Cowardice
And such a disservice to the “us” we’d built
‘Least that is how I remember
I’ll never know how your mind spun
You only wanted openness in everyone else
Copyright SGW 2009
Footnote: For my poetry challenge from Jodi (Paisley) on a memory I share with someone else who holds a different perspective of that event. Again, a bit of a twist on my part.
You never spoke in honest specifics
Said little … at least to me
You claimed … actually, almost nothing
From my perspective it was an easy way out
Cowardice
And such a disservice to the “us” we’d built
‘Least that is how I remember
I’ll never know how your mind spun
You only wanted openness in everyone else
Copyright SGW 2009
Footnote: For my poetry challenge from Jodi (Paisley) on a memory I share with someone else who holds a different perspective of that event. Again, a bit of a twist on my part.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Poem: Accumulation
Accumulation
On this cold, wintry day
As I step back in time
Left with remembrance
Through the years and the rhyme
Outside there is snowfall
Each flake is a thought
Memory once fading
For the moment, I’m caught
Those whispers that linger
Form the whole of the mind
All of them shaping
To the me I’ve defined
Some are now blessings
Many bore pain
As the snow fills the window
I am here just the same
We will shovel tomorrow
Call it snow cast aside
Like memories forgotten
Or at least that we’d hide
Copyright SGW 2008
Footnote: For my poetry challenge suggested by Michelle Hix of a memory I’d like to forget that played a role in who I am now. I cheated a bit, and do not mention any specifics, but I like where this went.
On this cold, wintry day
As I step back in time
Left with remembrance
Through the years and the rhyme
Outside there is snowfall
Each flake is a thought
Memory once fading
For the moment, I’m caught
Those whispers that linger
Form the whole of the mind
All of them shaping
To the me I’ve defined
Some are now blessings
Many bore pain
As the snow fills the window
I am here just the same
We will shovel tomorrow
Call it snow cast aside
Like memories forgotten
Or at least that we’d hide
Copyright SGW 2008
Footnote: For my poetry challenge suggested by Michelle Hix of a memory I’d like to forget that played a role in who I am now. I cheated a bit, and do not mention any specifics, but I like where this went.
A Question
This is a bit risky, since I get almost all of my readers view searches, and have very few "regulars," but I would like to take a shot here that perhaps I can get a handful of comments.
I am looking for poetic writing topics. Be specific. If you suggest writing about something, go right to the core of the idea. Don't simply say that I should write about the ocean (Oh, I have done that one often.).
I am curious as to what responses I get, if any. Any subject suggested will get, at a minimum, a short vignette.
Go ahead, I triple-dog dare you!
I am looking for poetic writing topics. Be specific. If you suggest writing about something, go right to the core of the idea. Don't simply say that I should write about the ocean (Oh, I have done that one often.).
I am curious as to what responses I get, if any. Any subject suggested will get, at a minimum, a short vignette.
Go ahead, I triple-dog dare you!
Friday, December 26, 2008
A Strange Twist
An unscientific poll on CNN's website asks:
Will you miss President Bush?
Yes 20% 9,966
No 80% 41,080
I voted no because George W. Bush is arguably the worst president in our nation's history and a complete dolt. He did more damage to our country than any enemy could ever have hoped to do.
That said, during a performance a few weeks ago where I was reading poetry, I reflected upon a loss of sorts. Now, mind you, I do not see myself as either John Lennon or Paul McCartney. However, in seeing George W. Bush leave office, I realized that a great writing partner would be going away. He has been a muse in a way (Ok, twisted) for eight years. I know there are plenty of other nuts on the right, but there will never again be a Shrub.
I have other poems that never even made it to this website, and one more is coming on January 19th, but scroll my poetry list on the right and you will find at least a couple dozen pieces that either are directly about dumb dumb, or indirectly about what he helped bring the nation to.
I'll miss the big lug.
Will you miss President Bush?
Yes 20% 9,966
No 80% 41,080
I voted no because George W. Bush is arguably the worst president in our nation's history and a complete dolt. He did more damage to our country than any enemy could ever have hoped to do.
That said, during a performance a few weeks ago where I was reading poetry, I reflected upon a loss of sorts. Now, mind you, I do not see myself as either John Lennon or Paul McCartney. However, in seeing George W. Bush leave office, I realized that a great writing partner would be going away. He has been a muse in a way (Ok, twisted) for eight years. I know there are plenty of other nuts on the right, but there will never again be a Shrub.
I have other poems that never even made it to this website, and one more is coming on January 19th, but scroll my poetry list on the right and you will find at least a couple dozen pieces that either are directly about dumb dumb, or indirectly about what he helped bring the nation to.
I'll miss the big lug.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Happy Festivus ...
... because it is for the rest of us! Who's up for feats of strength and airing of grievances?
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Poem: Quit
Quit
Her smile burns in my mind
Another reminder
Out of reach one last time
I quit
Too many setbacks, and failures sting
Always a reason or excuse or complication
So that if everyone has a someone
Clearly I am neither
Not everyone
Nor even someone
Just alone
Resigned
Copyright 2008
Her smile burns in my mind
Another reminder
Out of reach one last time
I quit
Too many setbacks, and failures sting
Always a reason or excuse or complication
So that if everyone has a someone
Clearly I am neither
Not everyone
Nor even someone
Just alone
Resigned
Copyright 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Poem: Light in the Tunnel
Light in the Tunnel
Who am I, what am I, what shall I be
The light in the tunnel is laughing at me
Flush with the promise of conclusive remark
And yet there’s the fear of the mostly-still dark
Perhaps it’s the riddle as only remnant remains
Temptation lays waste to the street peddler games
The trick is the eye can’t keep up with the hand
You never can win; it’s been long ago planned
Such is a life spent where debts go unpaid
The time passes quickly as foundations are laid
So sit by the river as it forever swims on
The beauty floats past like a sweet, tender song
Can’t catch the rhythm, though it beats in my heart
Its touch so elusive I would quit if I’d start
Is it luck or delusion to be stuck in the mud
You can’t run away so you drown in the flood
Minutes and hours and days slip on by
The cold realization of the tears I would cry
Sisters and brothers, hallelujah be praised
‘Neath the core of the poet is a fear he obeys
The light in the tunnel comes up steady and true
Train’s whistle blows, so there’s little to do
Copyright SGW 2008
Who am I, what am I, what shall I be
The light in the tunnel is laughing at me
Flush with the promise of conclusive remark
And yet there’s the fear of the mostly-still dark
Perhaps it’s the riddle as only remnant remains
Temptation lays waste to the street peddler games
The trick is the eye can’t keep up with the hand
You never can win; it’s been long ago planned
Such is a life spent where debts go unpaid
The time passes quickly as foundations are laid
So sit by the river as it forever swims on
The beauty floats past like a sweet, tender song
Can’t catch the rhythm, though it beats in my heart
Its touch so elusive I would quit if I’d start
Is it luck or delusion to be stuck in the mud
You can’t run away so you drown in the flood
Minutes and hours and days slip on by
The cold realization of the tears I would cry
Sisters and brothers, hallelujah be praised
‘Neath the core of the poet is a fear he obeys
The light in the tunnel comes up steady and true
Train’s whistle blows, so there’s little to do
Copyright SGW 2008
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