Idiot Box
O Cable TV - God of this New Age,
Art thou here to teach me?
Art thou here to amuse me?
Methinks thou art here
mayhap but to rot mine poor brains.
Thou bringest forth the daily news,
nay, the hourly news, forsooth!
The minutely news to boot!
Dost thou care I should be informed
of dire happenings in yonder distant lands?
Seekest thou not rather to confuse
and maketh me worry
this, that or t'other shouldst befall
that I may rush to the nearest mall
and load my reluctant ass
with baskets of sundry wares
I'd never thought of buying
but for these new cares?
O Cable TV, thou son of darkness,
wherefrom cometh thou
to despoil my soul of light?
To rob mine brain of comely thoughts?
O, who shalt deliver me
from such a loathsome monster?
Who shalt come hither
and lead me once more
into the calm reading of a simple book?
The Immune System
We speak of our “immune system”
and speculate on our fate:
why do we incur diseases?
why do we age - why do we die -
or should I say, why do our bodies die?
Maybe there is no such thing
as “immunity” against death
because life is energy patterns
and somehow we put too much store
in some, ignore others,
or don't even know what an energy field is.
If we entertain the thought that life is energy
we can reason thus:
beneficial energies give and maintain life,
predatory energies destroy life
for selfish reasons, always selfish reasons.
That man is a predator - the most dangerous -
is not in question anymore.
That he destroys life without thought or qualm
thinking that “might makes right,”
is not in question.
By his passage, life is destroyed.
But not just the life of his victims,
his own need must be included in the pattern.
The field of life generated in the womb
dissipates with the passage of time,
or the intensity of his destruction
and he dies, brutalized by his own brutality,
never realizing how it all comes about -
never knowing that it is he, only he
who causes his own demise.
The Last Train Out
I've asked for a great gift:
understanding, you know,
why things are the way they are
and how relationships work,
and where does the universe come from?
I need to know, it's that simple,
and human wisdom leaves such gaps,
so I've been asking, a long time now
and it seems I'm still waiting,
I know the answers exist, within or without,
they're not really veiled or tricky,
but will I fully understand this time?
Or have to experience another turn
of this earthly Ferris wheel?
Time is like a hound on my trail
and I'd very much like this to be
the last train out!
The Military
The military, as depicted by
its glossy ads:
as a great profession to get into,
of perks, bonuses, promotions and perhaps
a diploma or two for later use
Ah, the good life beckons.
Can a license to commit mass murder
be called a noble profession?
why give soldiers medals
and call them heroes
after killing innocent people
in some foreign land?
After blasting the earth
and destroying the environment?
Heroes, indeed! Who did they kill for?
The multinational corporation's profits;
for money, for numbers... for nothing
and when they return home
will they find that life here
has substantially improved?
Heroes? No.
At best: fools; at worst: psychopaths.
Early Morning
Early morning by the river,
the sun rises;
it's warmth touches my face,
like a kiss... I think of Tara,
how I long to be with her,
to touch her soft skin;
caress her hair.
I know she is miles from here,
not sure where,
and the pain of knowing that
cuts like a knife through my heart.
Do I wish she didn't wander?
Do I want her for myself alone?
A gust of wind touches my face
as the tip of her finger.
I know she is here with me,
that her shared love is true
and I must remember
she is free to ride any wild wind
of her choosing or making;
free to indulge her fancy.
I can never claim her as mine,
and like her, I am free to love another
but that is difficult
for Tara seems to be the only woman
who wants me just the way I am.
Although it burns
not seeing her luscious form,
or exploring her divine body,
it gives me a certain joy
knowing a man somewhere
may be having the best sex of his life.
I will see her again when she returns
and she will awaken my passion
as only she can.
Empty Hands
Time slips inexorably
from my empty hands;
life ebbs away;
understanding flees.
Life propels me forth;
I move as blind,
my future hidden
in clouds of doubt.
How will I ever know
if I have found
the river of life
dissipating slowly
in the sea of dreams,
If I cannot dispel
this darkness?
"Life, why don't you stand still
and give me time to think?"
Fields Of Dreams
As dandelion seed-heads
blowing seeds over the land,
creative thoughts
scatter to change the world.
Freely across the surface of the earth
they spread in whispering breezes
of changing times.
Wherever fertile soil is found
they spring,
create new worlds
filled with hope within new hearts.
Of the thought creators,
These are the ones
who long to walk
their fields of dreams.
To Change The World
Can one person change the world?
Can one simple idea?
There are those on this world
who bring about such change,
who live simplicity in joy:
quiet, steady as the stars
in the night sky - points of light
shining bright, not unto themselves;
There are those whose heart
is vast and open as the ocean;
of gentle word and soft mien,
a haven for those who hurt.
There are those whose mind
is
like a mountain ringed with clouds:
whose thoughts are noble and wise;
who have the spirit of an eagle;
who remain graceful and free
in the face of adversity
You will not find them in the temples
nor in the high places of power;
their faces do not grace the TV screen,
or fill pages in magazines.
Lucky are you to recognize one,
wise are you to emulate one.
And how do you find such a one?
Just look deep within.
The Unfolding
Do not kill me
for I am not made
of such substance you dream of...
Do not kill me
for my life does not reside
where you think it does...
Do not kill me
for if you believe you had
I would only be
another burden,
another load,
another you!
Freed for a moment,
my spirit would slip
inside your mind:
it would then have
to serve us both.
Think about the conflicts
resulting of such a union:
wouldn't it be better to wait
for the unfolding of time?
To The End Of The Universe
There is a bus
going to the end of the Universe,
I hear they're holding a conference there
on some small planet.
The agenda is about violence,
how to stop the killings, the wars
and the corruption in high places
that ignites and condones
violence in all its forms.
I hear they are seeking representatives
from all the worlds
still mired in violence;
first hand input
from perpetrator and victim -
of course, Earth is invited.
They wish to make it known
that the best tools against violence
are (as is so often forgotten)
compassion and cooperation.
I'm heading for the bus stop
this morning;
I figure I could be a delegate.
Will I be waiting alone?
To Vote Or Not To...
Vote! vote! vote! vote!!!
the scampering madmen scream
from the TV's confused screen
and I too want to scream:
get out! get out! get out!
thieves, robbers, liars all!
I can't help but ask myself
why should I vote for packs of fools?
Is one set of clowns and crooks
better than another in your book?
Why would I want to play their game?
Do I only exist to give these arses
what's left of credibility
since they have none of their own?
I won't! I won't! I won't! vote!
I have nothing left to give you
thieves and scoundrels all!
Get out of my face and out of my life
and quit pretending you want to give me
something for nothing,
when I already know it is I
who always gives everything
and get nothing back: your endless lies
have reached rock bottom here!
In politics, there's nothing new
under anything at all...
TV Ads
Businesses jockey for ad space
on prime time T.V,
in hope they can con you to buy their brand of junk,
good or bad, true or false: all's fair in that game!
Do they really think humans are that