Yes, “poesy” is an archaic term for poetry. Apropos of a writing prompt. A challenge to use some words from an “endangered” list of our own choosing. Not all the ones I came up with are necessarily that uncommon. But most are ones you won’t run across frequently. Here they are followed by the poetry.
Albeit
Virgule
Sophistry
Gelid
Fecundity
Peripatetic
Virgil Virgule had a slashing wit, albeit tendered gently to his friend Jane.
Weekend morns restore Jane’s body and soul.
Saturday at sunrise, a lakeside cedar sauna empties pores;
Promptly plunging into gelid waters slams them shut.
Finland fecundity on his mind, she’s not so sure.
He sees peripatetic pines seeking sweet solace,
Among aspen placid in wintry white year round.
Fulminating on the sophistry of Rehnquist opinions so long ago
Flights of fancy—future fun; satire is dead in a world of alternative facts.
NOTE 1: Virgule is the real name of a forward slash. Trees aren’t known to walk far, if at all. But this is poetry.
NOTE 2: There STILL is a book coming this spring. It IS late. We hope you will see it in time for summer reading. What?As if you might be going to the beach or some other destination! Where you might read it—enroute. Stay tuned; advance notice will be posted when it is forthcoming.You could still read it at home, couldn’t you?
It’s always nice to get a good review! This is one from December, 2020. I knew to look for it after Amazon sent me notification of forthcoming revenue. Here’s what D.W. Peach had to say in her four-star review.
John Maberry’s memoir tracks his life from his childhood in a struggling family through his disillusionment with the Vietnam War, and how that experience compelled him to make a positive difference in the world. That difference came first as an anti-war activist, second through getting a law degree, and finally, through embracing Buddhism and the recognition that change comes from within.
I most appreciated the account of his childhood and his years in the service. I was a child during the Vietnam War and “protected” from much of the grim news by my parents. John provides a personal glimpse into the war, and his account of his experiences, particularly the devaluation of human life, is heart-wrenching. The callousness and corruption of US political and military leadership, is infuriating.
I found the account of the subsequent years of activism and academic pursuits detailed and not quite as engaging, though they are part of his search for belonging and a way to facilitate change. How that search led to an understanding of Buddhism and the role of karma in his choices brings the memoir to a conclusion. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy memoirs and anyone interested in a soldier’s experience of the Vietnam War, the anti-war movement, and the search for wholeness that followed.
It’s the last Friday of the month. “In Darkness, Be Light.”
A different sort of good news—for America and derivatively the world. The US narrowly avoided the loss of its 240-year-old democracy at the instigation of an aspiring autocrat.
On January sixth, thousands of insurrectionists attacked the nation’s capitol. Their purpose was to deny the will of more than 80 million people to put Joe Biden in office as President, replacing Donald Trump. Trump lost by more than seven million votes in a free and fair election–contrary to his claims and those who accepted his big lie. More than 140 members of the Capitol Police were killed or injured severely. Ironically, 140 Republican members of the US House of Representatives objected to the certification of Biden electors—after their lives (possibly) and those of Democratic members of the House or Senate were threatened by the violent extremists answering Trump’s call to restore him to office.
We can assume that any members of the GOP (America’s Republican Party) who didn’t swear allegiance to Trump in his effort to void the election could have been killed by the insurgents if asked. They failed to get face to face with elected officials—including the now former Vice-President, Mike Pence. Because Pence had already informed Trump and the public that he wouldn’t deny certification of the election, the insurrectionists put up a gallows outside the building and loudly proclaimed the intention to hang Pence.
Biden was safely inaugurated on January 20th, despite the events of January sixth. Since then, he has issued more than forty Executive Orders—many of them rescinding racist, sexist, Islamophobic, environmentally harmful actions. Others would provide various benefits to suffering people. Still more were intended to aid in the battle to overcome the pandemic and give economic relief to those who need it.
The US has disproportionately led the world in COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita far in excess of its population versus the rest of the world—due primarily to Trump administration’s incompetence, negligence and intentions to disregard the threat of the disease. That will change with the addition of people of skill, expertise and experience in positions of responsibility–rather than loyalty to a leader being their only reason for hire.
There is a new, brighter day in America with leadership of integrity, competence and compassion for all its people. Biden is already reaching not only across the country’s diverse population but to the world, bringing hope of reversing climate change and the many forms of hatred.
Yes, this reads a lot like politics. It is, in part. But it’s also human decency. Political leaders cannot solve all the world’s problems. That takes all of us. But they can make things much worse—especially if there are those among us who are OK with that. Many of them are still in office. Many of them and those American citizens who bought the lies he spun, enabled the former president to nearly destroy America as it now exists. They have not given up. They were always here; they just found encouragement and acceptance from Trump. The hope is that the delusions and hatred of those who aren’t too far gone can be overcome by those who have a more humanistic nature—and be awakened to responsibility for their own happiness and success and not blame others for the lack of those goals.
A little early for We Are the World Blogfest but the story was on CNN yesterday
It started with a what a drive-thru customer observed a customer in front of her do. The driver threw his drink through the window at the server. Apparently, according to the story on CNN, the guy didn’t want ice in his drink.
Feroza Syed, the customer who observed the outrageously childish behavior of the person in front of her, found Bryanna (the server) soaked and crying. Bryanna was six months pregnant.
That gave her an idea. She asked her thousands of Facebook friends and followers if they’d be interested in sending “$5 or (whatever)” to her Venmo or Cash App and she’d figure out a way to get the money to Bryanna.
Donations poured in.
“I used to work retail and this story has me shaking mad,” one woman replied on the post, after donating.
A few days after the incident, Bryanna said her manager told her the woman who witnessed the incident was trying to get in touch with her. They eventually connected.
“(Feroza) was like …’I have a surprise for you and I really want to give it to you in person’ so I sent her my address,” Bryanna told CNN, asking that her last name not be included. “She gave me the envelope and I couldn’t do nothing but cry because I wasn’t expecting that.”
Inside the envelope was $1,700 in donations from people who saw Bryanna’s story on Facebook and, as Syed said, wanted to “put a smile on her face and show her not all humans are horrible.”
“A large portion of the donations were $5, $10, $20 and that totaled up to a large sum of money,” Syed said.
TWO items for this month’s We Are the World Blogfest.
First: all those people who have volunteered for COVID vaccine trials!
Secondly, the folks at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. They came up with this overpass–for wildlife, to protect them and drivers on an interstate from deadly collisions. It’s working very well, considerably sooner than expected, to everyone’s surprised delight.
It went up in 2018. Here’s a recent video showing its use by the local animals. Can’t locate one that I can embed here, you will have to click the link to the CNN item–it’s just 46 seconds.
Well, yes–but there is that pandemic. That justifiably worries many people about going to the polls, given the number of cases and deaths here in the US–more than anywhere else in the world!
Most states in the US have expanded the opportunities for both absentee ballots (that go by mail) and early voting (before the regular November 3rd date). That hasn’t gone too smoothly in many cases–due to those of one political perspective who don’t want voting to be easier or safer. They fear their candidate will lose if more people are able to vote.
Where’s the good news here?
People have not been deterred by the obstacles to voting–they have turned out in droves to vote early.
Younger people, with less risk of contracting the virus, have stepped up to work at polling sites. Sites that have typically been staffed by older, retired folks.
Most secretaries of state and local officials responsible for ensuring that voting goes well, have made an effort to see that it does. For those that have–rather than making it more difficult, deserve our gratitude.
Wait, there’s more people to thank.
Typically, Americans (at least those who are interested) expect to hear predictions of the outcome the same night voting ends. This year, that may well not happen. The large number of mailed ballots will take time to count. Those tasked with that duty will deserve thanks–provided they do the job accurately and efficiently.
Finally, some countries around the world have very high participation in national elections. The US hasn’t generally been among them. That is already looking to be different this year. So, thanks go also to all those who have already voted or will in the next couple days–that is good news!
We had a very special trip planned. Three countries separated by the North Atlantic. Then the pandemic came. As it happens, we weren’t in our 20s when we married, so we’re retired. For that reason, COVID-19 didn’t hit us as hard as others—for whom we have much sympathy.
We do have to take wearing a mask and social distancing more seriously. So far, we have remained virus free. Can’t really go anywhere either—not even to a restaurant.But we can get carryout.Sounds humdrum and disappointing.But it isn’t.There’s no distractions. We can sit out on the patio and enjoy the view from our dream house, high atop a hill at 6,700 feet.
Daisaku Ikeda says this in Buddhism Day by Day: Wisdom for Modern Life,
“A shallow person will only have shallow relationships. Real love is not one person clinging to another; it can only be fostered between two strong people secure in their individuality. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince wrote in a work called Wind, Sand and Stars, ‘Love is not two people gazing at each other, but two people looking ahead together in the same direction.’ “
We were following de Saint-Exupery’s prescription some time ago and we still are. We looked ahead together for our move to the Southwest. And to designing that dream house with a view for many miles. In a dry climate with seasons not to hot and not too cold. We have already been on wonderful journeys here and there. The trip we planned for this year may happen the next—or it may not. But there will be more ahead.Meanwhile, we will enjoy our day reminiscing and discussing what we will do until our 50th anniversary.And where to go in 2030.
Writing advice that gets you started and keeps you going.
Wouldn’t you love to have authors reveal the secrets of their successes to you? You get that in this collection of essays, many by award-winning authors, and all of them fine practitioners of the craft. Their insights provide you with tools, tips, and encouragement for your own writing.
The book covers fiction and nonfiction. It includes samples of writing techniques used across various genres and for all sorts of readers.
Here’s a list of our authors–many award winners in their own right: Catalina Claussen, Alethea Eason, Chris Lemme, Kris Neri, E J Randolph, Kate Rauner, Eve West Bessier, Luanne Brooten, Sharleen Daugherty, John Maberry, Sharon Mijares, and Joni Kay Rose.
Another Zoom brunch and another photo prompt–no, we do word or phrase ones too. Here’s the photo. From Lake Tahoe, Eve says. She is the group organizer–also a poet, photographer vocalist and more.
Transverse Lines, by Wassily Kandinsky from 1923 image courtesy of https://www.wassily-kandinsky.org/images/gallery/Transverse-Lines.jpg
Yes, it’s a geometric abstract painting from nearly a 100 years ago. Why is it here? It’s a writing prompt from our Zoom “Tea and Scones Brunch” from a week or so ago. Oddly, but perhaps not surprisingly, no one actually has either the tea or the scones–so far as I know. We will start with my verse response and proceed on to the prose. A mashup of thoughts on the painting, perception with or without the aid of stimulants, etc., word association and excerpts from the memoir, Waiting for Westmoreland.
Verse Inspired by Transverse Lines
Analytical-lyrical or mood-sensational
Right brain struggles with left in Kandinsky land
Cyclops at the edge of time
Peers through a Venn diagram
A warped declination of mind
Where now—when, about?
Out of mind—Dylan, not Fagen
The stars have turned cherry red
Out of the blue, a palette offers more
Swirling shades arc across a porthole
Wormhole worlds gaze back, far away
Claw marks scratch a busy blend
He is unmoved—perhaps Ganja needed
Yet, the work does correlate with the diverticulitis
Perceptual reality–then and now
Once upon a time he focused on a flute, an alto sax—rhythm, lead or bass guitar. An augmented mind slowed to a moment. Perception advanced one note, one instrument at a time–transcendent. No more–he gave up marijuana 40 years ago.
Now it’s caffeine calibration—achieve the fine-tuned blend of alertness without feeling flutters. Alcohol allocation—maintain motor control and not too tipsy—yes, relaxation, words flow fast and freely as in first-year-law classes. Mary Jane—now legal but too strong. No amount tolerable—THC is too high, he is not buzzed, he borders on seizure. Nearly as stoned as the opiated hash he smoked several times in the 70s—without ill effects.
“Be here now,” Richard Alpert, AKA Ram Dass, said. So, that’s today’s target. Not always easily found. He strives through faith and doctor’s advice on what more medications he can stop. Coming back from a New Year’s Eve Buddhist event 30 years, his exhilarated mind felt like nothing more than the high of good weed—without any. Now, without recreational drugs, listening to Return to Forever’s Romantic Warrior, the Pooh character Christopher Robin pops in his mind each time a certain bar repeats. From whence comes the association, he wonders.
Without aid, words and music heard prompts memories—times, people and places. Time travel is possible—he goes there whenever he wants, via those recollections. Current events—America’s racism, old and new.
Recollections From Waiting for Westmoreland–a bridge to current times
At home, in Minneapolis:
I was eight or nine years old when my mother read me a newspaper report about a gruesome murder. The killers had dragged the cook out of the Bandbox, a burger joint in Camden, a tiny business district in north Minneapolis about a mile from our house.
“They banged his head on the curb until he was dead—because he was Chinese,” she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s just like the Ku Klux Klan, dragging black people from their homes—whipping, beating or killing them because of their skin color.”
I said nothing, unsure how to reply either to her sorrow or to her disgust, but the image of people being dragged out and beaten remained seared in my mind.
In Vietnam:
Upon our arrival, much to my surprise, I immediately spotted Sam Jackson, my former radio school classmate and fellow Ft. Meade parade participant. I knew that he too was heading to Vietnam when he left Ft. Meade, but I hadn’t expected to see him again here. Jackson’s orders had come two days before mine and he had arrived in the unit two days ahead of me.
“Jackson here says you were one of the best students in radio mechanic school.”
“Well, I did OK,” I said, unprepared to provide a more sensible answer. As it turned out, no answer would likely have sufficed to avoid the fallout from this.
“No Sarge, he was really tops,” Jackson helpfully added, in a respectful tone very different from the one I was accustomed to hearing from him when addressing white NCOs. Whether sincere or calculated as a setup, I soon learned it would be difficult to live up to Jackson’s buildup.
Since I had seen him at Ft. Meade, barely a month before, Jackson had shed the guise of Huey Newton. Now he played the role of Rochester, Jack Benny’s man. Instead of the “Yass, boss,” that Rochester always said to Benny, it was “Yass, sergeant” from Jackson. It was accompanied with a happy hop-to-it attitude, instead of the sneer common to earlier times. What the hell had happened to Jackson? Later on, I would see the wisdom of his change in behavior. This was a cloak of compliance, shielding him from harm in a place where opportunities abounded to deal with “uppity n*****rs.” Clearly, some other brothers had quickly clued him in. Why risk a “friendly fire” accident for the sake of ego or pride while here in Nam? The score against whitey could always be settled later on “back in the world.”
Back to Transverse Lines
Can he find his way from auditory to visual association—visual prompts from previously unseen art. Perhaps. He might try working on that—Dali’s Persistence of Memory, that brings forth much more than Kandinsky. He’d like a print of that surreal work.
Footnote: just days past the writing brunch, he found himself isolating the multiplicity of instruments layered into the pioneering fusion of Miles Davis in Spanish Key, from the 1970 Bitches Brew studio album–the left drum set versus the right, this horn or that. Yes, it can be done–without the drugs, even while mentally fatigued.
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