The Seventy Eighth, Mar. 19, 2011

Sunshine warms the grasses
too long hidden by the snow
a new growth begins to rise
and with it lift my hopes

a small yellow glow is seen
peeking above the brown
as the first flower of spring
the prolific dandelion

do not despise this weed
for it is a gift to us, you see
as the flower petals gathered
creating a refreshing wine

The Seventy Seventh, Mar. 18, 2011

My poor friend smiles happily
a large grin from ear to ear
as he describes his family
and the love that fills them

He laments not having wealth
to spend lavishly on them
to buy the gifts he wishes
hoping to make life better

he sees the wealthy man
as the definition of success
having all he can want
and thinks there is happiness

My rich friend smiles drunkenly
slurring through another drink
describing his latest conquest
more personal wealth acquired

then tears fall from his eyes
as he laments his family lost
traded away for his career
not having those special times

he sees the poor man
as a lesser man then he
deeming him a failure
based on material gains

I see two very different men
focused on their own needs
one living for his family
the other for his wealth

One claims to be a success
the other seems to agree
I see things differently
as the roles are reversed

the poor man has found it
that great true value of life
the rich man cannot buy it
alone at the end of it all

find the source of real happiness
and the treasure will be yours
one thing that stays with you
the one true sign of success

The Seventy Sixth, Mar. 17, 2011

And so it was on that day
I took into my home a boy
lost he was, taken from his
sold into a life far removed

to him I gave food and drink
shelter and a job fill his days
gifted him with our language
showed to him our custom

His thanks I expected not
'twas not for gratitude done
was not with kindness given
nor was he despised by me

he fled one night from me
seeking his own people
returning once more home
and so the story should end

but not so for this one lad
and his return heralded evil
as he sought to destroy us
taking away our culture

he had never been denied
and often practiced his faith
praying morning and night
steadfast alone he stood

he returned to us once more
repaying us as he believed
in the name of his church
under the name of their god

you no longer see us today
though him you venerate
calling him a saint for his acts
driving out an ancient culture

celebrate the birthday well
of the man who drove us out
we are the snakes you despise
we were the Druids of the Celts

The Seventy Fifth, Mar. 16, 2011

panic rises fast within
as a bright light blinds
heat radiates from it
what new hell it this?

now light gets brighter
the heat grows stronger
eyes watering freely
blinded and frightened

how long can this last
as torture pushes limits
madness coming soon
as sanity melts away

wait, the light dims!
eyes can actually see!
warmth soothes not burns
It is only long lost sunshine!

The Seventy Fourth, Mar. 15, 2011

Japanese nuclear reactor melt down
North African government melt down
US state budget debate melt down
welcome to the new global warming

The Seventy Third, Mar. 14, 2011

What good the system
which offers a chance
to blame the victim
rather than protect them?

children used as excuses
to justify the base animal
declaring them the cause
for adults' inhuman acts

are we so truly pathetic
that we blame another
for our own deprivations
to avoid responsibility?

How sad a statement
of where we have gone
of what we have become
if this is our  evolution....

Let me be a chimpanzee .

The Seventy Second, Mar. 13, 2011

A Poem From Max

I woke up this morning
with a deep concern
for the world around me
ooooo a car next door!!!!

The situation with weather
has altered a great deal
from the norm I recall
Was that a dog over there?????

Events in the Near East
have been continuing
as they come to a boil
I smell BACON!!!!!!!!

The economy is easy
I will explain how to fix
the swelling deficits
SQUIRREL!!!!!!!!

The Seventy First, Mar. 12, 2011

Can some one explain to me
when and how we changed
altering society's priorities
making new illogical truths

corporations have personal rights
but not gays and lesbians
rich deserve the tax breaks
paid for by the low income

when did corporate greed
become our social need?
sorry you are different, folks
ALL HAIL WALL STREET!!

give me the free easy money
show me the profits, baby!
screw the labor over hard
to earn that dime dividend

no need for family values
with loving parents at home
if we can save on taxes
giving bonuses to the board

better stress and competition
controlling our every day
dominating personal lives
and destroying the home

than allowing real people
with caring and love to spare
join in a ceremony to show
the world their commitment

what will be the great decline?
will we marry our jobs legally
as companies have more rights
then those of our own kind

it all revolves around money
Wall Street offers a dream
free money for the taking
forget that nothing is free

better we support divorce
and the throw away family
then support love and caring
because they are not like us

stop the hate in God's name
as you fear the name Allah
believing yourselves the only
and all others damned

going about your life of lies
hypocrisy running rampant
claims of christian ideals
ignored behind closed doors

give the office your soul
give the office your devotion
give the office your life
worship the bottom line

follow the corporate path
chant their mantra of greed
faithfully playing your part
dedicate your life to THEM

then comes the day it fails
the profits are falling fast
you act surprised at this
as your calmly cast aside

and what do you see there
in the corner you ignored?
the happy family still exists
in spite of your blind hate

businesses are not eternal
societies also rise and fall
religions go through changes
only people endure it all

time to reevaluate our lives
determine the real values
opening minds and hearts
stopping all discrimination

Time to stop believing blindly
open your eyes, ears and minds
think a bit before you hate
or risk becoming the hated

The Seventieth, Mar. 11, 2011

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
I found this poem,
Stuck to my shoe.

but on a more serious note:

Too many things around me
happening too fast to follow
feeling lost as I try to swim
fighting the surging waves

turn right into earthquakes
turn left to find the tsunami
ahead are near east protests
behind local failing democracy

it is impossible to follow them
and hope to see events clearly
blurring by the sheer quantity
of events outside my scope

closer to me are other concerns
blind eyes turned to corruption
cronyism running rampant.... still
new faces taking the old places

difficult times are upon many
but the few can still turn a blind eye
have nots must sacrifice and suffer
while the haves keep taking more

eventually the fog will dissipate
and a pattern begin to emerge
discovering all things are united
evil wears only one face

intentional ignorance

The Sixty Ninth, Mar. 10, 2011

Common sense, oh common sense!
Wherefore art thou, common sense?
I mourn the loss of you in my life
like a lover stealing away my heart!

I feel a whisper of your presence
and turn with hopes of finding you,
only to have them dashed again
as I find only cheap impostors.

Oh how I yearn for your embrace,
to hold you once more in my mind
and know the comfort you offer!
Life is cold without you, my desire!

I know why you hide yourself away.
You have felt the sting of rejection!
Many others overlook and ignore you
seeing only their heart's desire, Greed!

I beg you to return once more to me
that I may bask in your wisdom
and learn life's lessons at your feet
that I may become as you wish me,

Sane in an insane world....

The Sixty Eighth, Mar. 9, 2011

I have spent my life
seeking understanding
of who I am and why
by looking within

the answer isn't there
only a path to follow
a direction to head
and yet more questions

Who is a fluid concept
changing constantly
as growth moves on
I become something new

I am what the why makes
as each action builds me
the motivation defines
eliminating the blurring

new thought: I am why I am
it seems to work for me
as long as I keep doing
for the right reasons.

The Sixty Seventh, Mar. 8, 2011

oh sweet temptation

you decadent delight

embodiment of desire

calling softly to me

I can hear you now

your voice coaxing 

drawing me to you

seeking my embrace

I must resist you

you are deception

you hold no value

you seek to destroy

you are an evil

as you corrupt all

but I must be strong

standing against you

the battle engaged

you push harder

but stil I resist you

Vile packzi! I win!

The Sixty Sixth, Mar. 7, 2011

I am tired of ranting
tired of same old same
my voice grows hoarse
but nothing changes

is there anybody out there?
is there anyone in here?
is there any sanity left?
it seems missing in me

it is time for me to stop
trying to make sense
of things around me
before I find dispair

it seems all reason has fled
taking common sense too
leaving only selfish greed
growing to encompass all

what happens to us next
when only me now matters?
living in the moment
hedonism run amok

the instant gratification
seeking satisfaction for me
always pleasure for self
and damning all the rest

I am tired of the foot
kicking folks that fall
only so they lay still
to be used as a stair

have we outgrown it
the sense of clan, of WE
has ME become the all
that drives humanity?

if so then whats the use
why continue the fight
to bring community back?
I am feeling very tired....

The Sixty Fifth, Mar. 06, 2011

we seek a vision of tomorrow
from the sands of yesterday
hoping the answers lie there
hidden within the tiny grains

millions of them are waiting
and each may hold a clue
if you examine each of them
you will have no time for now

I seek to live my tomorrow
as a gift to be unwrapped
I do not want foresight
or what would be the point?

we can ponder the outcomes
of what we did today
or live in the moment
making tomorrow fresh

but do not forget the past
that is what shapes us
nor dwell upon the next
because it has yet to come

enjoy the now that is
for that is all we have
grab your favorite cuppa
kick your feet up a bit

savor the flavor of now
smile and enjoy your day

The Sixty Fourth, Mar. 5, 2011

oil dances on water
separate and above
never blending in
would it be elitist?

how different we
looking at the world
feeling above it
the masters of all?

what drives humanity
to believe we rule
over all the others
that call Earth home?

elitist species: human
control by domination
subjugation, intimidation
even our own kind

control through fear
bully and overpower
never having enough
always seeking more

seeking to be gods
believing we are
all the world a toy
meant for our ease

how hard we fight
to gain upper hand
never having enough
harmony lost in greed

we are like that oil
dancing on the top
never understanding
we can't stand alone

nurture the water
on which you dance
earn its support
by giving yours

we should live together
with the life around us
together in harmony
or find extinction alone

The Sixty Third, Mar. 4, 2011

I have nothing to write
I have nothing to say
sometimes a morning
just happens that way

still too tired to think
too asleep yet to care
finding no wisdom
or insight to share

maybe I'm broken
with creativity lost
given away too freely
never minding cost

but no, not faulty
I am still working well
at least in most areas
from what I can tell

I am just slow to stir
simply taking my ease
letting the mind wander
drifting where it please

I know I will wake
and return to my rants
calling for awareness
firing people's pants

until then, let me drift
once more into my fog
living a mental lifestyle
like my hero, my dog.

The Sixty Second, Mar. 3, 2011

Silence weighs heavy
on the seeking mind
searching for answers
we may never find

truth hides very well
within shadowed depths
avoiding observation
hushing all its steps

Many claim to seek it
yet few press it hard
surrendering the chase
clutching but a shard

more needs to be found
captured for display
revealing hidden goals
before they get away

perhaps one called friend
revealing what they lack
as light reveals knife
moving toward your back

truth however hidden
is never truly gone
knowing we may find it
helps us to carry on

So if you find a truth
lying about somewhere
shine a light upon it
for all the rest to share

and soon with hope
all truths can be revealed
no more secret deals
will be left concealed

The Sixty First, Mar. 2, 2011

Sunshine and warm balmy breezes
are not in store for me yet today
but I will not give up the hope
that they will soon come my way

the arrival of spring draws nearer
with every single day that passes
soon there will be flowers blooming
and we will be cutting the grasses

with each day earth's life renewed
morning breezes with a warm touch
bring the scents of renewed growth
the time of year I love so much

The Sixtieth, Mar. 1, 2011

Stand firm on the left
raise your clenched fists
shout against the the right
knowing they are insane

Stand firm on the right
raise your voices and shout
call out those on the left
knowing they are insane

I stand in the middle
I raise my hands to the sky
I shake my head in shame
knowing you both are insane

Come join me, middle ground!
Stand up and be heard
it is our voice that must rise
to drown out the madness

Africa is now awakening
changes desperately needed
people claiming rights
the cradle of life once more

watch closely these people
oh developed world
feel the ground shake
as a new ideology blooms

a sweeping is coming
no carpets to hide under
every where will feel it
humanity tires of corruption

sit down on the left
sit on your hands for now
close your mouth finally
take time to listen

sit down on the right
clasp hands in your laps
make certain ears are open
hear the cries of the world

stand up with me in the middle
help wake the sleeping minds
call for accounting of power
be a vocal majority

Wake up and smell the future.

The Fifty Ninth, Feb. 28, 2011

Anxiety and stress are thieves
stealing us from ourselves
twisting the person out of shape
creating something unclean

hatred springs from fear
a man made condition
created to provide power
over those being controlled

suppression of free will
dominate and subvert
turning the beliefs around
to serve the basest needs

what gains can these have?
what good this greed
serving self at such cost?

we are united in this life
one species out in space
hurtling along on a rock
rinding it till the end

each man is our brother
each woman our sister
all part of one family
like it or not, we're blood

share with your family
open your heart to all
inside you will find truth
you are not better at all

it is time we stop the cycle
of putting down others
in attempts to feel better
about the disaster we are

life is about the living
with one common result
it all closes here sometime
and we begin all over again

you can't take it with you
but it may follow you along
so choose your baggage well
and live your life as a gift