tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71928793266468550942024-03-14T02:27:36.651-07:00The Story Place - In Poetry, Fiction and ImagesJoseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-78355172083205752892023-12-21T22:48:00.000-08:002023-12-21T22:48:00.837-08:00Remember the ChildrenRemember the children <br /><br />crushed and obliterated <br /><br />under the weight of 2000 pound bombs <br /><br />screaming from the sky <br /><br />dispatched by uncaring machines of death. <br /><br /><br />Remember the children of <br /><br />Israel and <br /><br />Somalia <br /><br />Yemen <br /><br />the Sudan <br /><br />Nicaragua <br /><br />Honduras <br /><br />victimized by <br /><br />insidious bigotry, <br /><br />religious differences that <br /><br />seem so oblivious <br /><br />to the suffering they engender. <br /><br /><br />Remember the children of the present <br /><br />and the future <br /><br />who live in a world <br /><br />that offers no relief, <br /><br />no respite <br /><br />from the cruelty of their captors, <br /><br />from endless punishment <br /><br />over which they have no control. <br /><br /><br />Remember the children <br /><br />suffering needlessly <br /><br />for no good reason. <br /><br /><br />Remember the children <br /><br />denied the capacity to thrive and grow <br /><br />for they are our lost treasures <br /><br />consumed by the raw power of hate. <br /><br /><br />Remember the children for <br /><br />they hold in their feeble hands the <br /><br />ultimate fate of humanity. <br /><br /><br />Remember the children <br /><br />to forget is to <br /><br />consign ourselves to an abysmal future <br /><br />devoid of compassion and love <br /><br />leaving us with an uncaring and brutal world.Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-35581213761613048532023-10-28T10:35:00.000-07:002023-10-28T10:35:07.995-07:00Ode to Existence Revisited<p> </p>As the hours and days and weeks and months and years move me along life’s relentless journey, I have been contemplating during those precious moments of solitude the nature of existence. <br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Ode to Existence Revisited </h2><br />Enmeshed and so often, entrapped <br /><br />within this human world <br /><br />distraction the norm, <br /><br />conversation distilled into <br /><br />a kind of relentless babble <br /><br />born on the wings of bits and bytes, <br /><br />joy equated with pleasure <br /><br />and childish excitement, <br /><br />happiness to be forever <br /><br />pursued and hoarded like treasure, <br /><br />a synthetic world of trinkets <br /><br />and idle possessions, <br /><br />heirlooms acquired, <br /><br />building vast fortunes <br /><br />of synthetic and finite illusions, <br /><br />all with no consequence <br /><br />all with little meaning. <br /><br /> <br /><br />And yet, <br /><br />the reality of existence <br /><br />moves along its <br /><br />indefatigable path, <br /><br />within the boundaries of <br /><br />the wondrous cosmos. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Surrounded by the matrix <br /><br />of the living world, <br /><br />passengers aboard this fabulous spaceship <br /><br />Earth, <br /><br />caressed by capricious winds, <br /><br />greeted by morning mist, <br /><br />tossed upon perilous water, <br /><br />enlivened by sunlight, <br /><br />subdued by nightfall, <br /><br />intimidated by fearsome storm, <br /><br />forever surprised by the intrinsic beauty <br /><br />delicate intricacies of nature’s tendrils <br /><br />that reach into every corner and crevice, <br /><br />every delicate spring blossom, <br /><br />every blade of undulating grass, <br /><br />every tree no matter how massive or <br /><br />diminished, <br /><br />every creature within its domain, <br /><br />every idle thought that triggers <br /><br />perception, <br /><br />every substantive or meaningless dream. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Surrounded by this most amazing <br /><br />universe, <br /><br />this most fabulous galaxy <br /><br />decorating the heavens with <br /><br />innumerable stars, <br /><br />witness to the dance of the planets, <br /><br />subtleties of light and dark, <br /><br />to the wild configurations of <br /><br />shape and form and texture and color. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Blessed with this most awesome capability <br /><br />of the sentient mind <br /><br />to uncover the mysteries of <br /><br />the nature of things, <br /><br />to explore the vast and inner terrain of <br /><br />self, <br /><br />to find meaning, <br /><br />to explore possibilities, <br /><br />to appreciate detail and <br /><br />discover function, <br /><br />to search for truth <br /><br />and find it, <br /><br />to know peace <br /><br />and appreciate the essence of love. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Life is a voyage and a journey, <br /><br />bounded by explosive birth <br /><br />and the finality of death, <br /><br />constrained by the <br /><br />vagaries and vicissitudes <br /><br />of unfolding time, <br /><br />life is to be affirmed <br /><br />by wrapped attention, <br /><br />life is to be possessed <br /><br />from moment to moment and <br /><br />neither squandered nor abandoned. <br /><br /> Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-35123154453114761222023-10-17T12:41:00.004-07:002023-10-17T12:41:38.355-07:00Shadows of War<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Darkness once again falls</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">heavily upon this tiresome human
world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shadows of war<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">propelled by ridiculous dreams of
dominance and empire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">sustained by minds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">unable to see the horrid future they
project,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">unwilling to embrace the pain and
suffering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">they inflict,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">unreceptive to the laments of mothers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">over the children forever lost to the
shrill<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">call of bombs and bullets<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">as explosions rip through the fabric
of neighborhoods,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">unrepentant for the death they distribute<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">to the innocent like candy,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for all the blood and bones and
carnage,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for all the wrecked lives and
distorted hatred<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">injected into the future,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">unable to embrace all of humanity as
equals,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ever ready to crawl into bed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">with hollow and pointless death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shadows of war,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a long and tiresome story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">revisited again and again<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the litany long,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the dark foreboding song always the
same,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the list seeming endless,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">stretching back<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">to the very beginnings of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">civilization.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How long can Homo sapiens endure?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">how long can the natural world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">upon which we depend<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">sustain us?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">when we choose<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">chaos over harmony<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">needless death and unimagined
suffering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">over love and life,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">darkness over light,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">stupidity over real intelligence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">over and over again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Darkness once again falls<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">heavily upon this tiresome human
world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-66661553139783457002023-10-17T12:39:00.003-07:002023-10-17T12:39:57.272-07:00Ode to the Elusive Peace of Mind<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I wish to say farewell</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">to all trivial considerations,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">all venal and self-serving dreams,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">all of ego’s darlings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">piled up like so many useless
magazines<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">cluttering the thoroughfares of the
mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I wish to terminate the leases<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">of all the shabby and unwanted
tenants that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">occupy the precious real estate
within<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">my neuronal wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I wish to finally release all the
hostages<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">reminiscent of bygone desires and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">missed opportunities,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">they take far too much succor to
retain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I wish to welcome all of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">life’s truly wondrous aspects,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">of nature’s magnificent presence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">and finally let all of existence
consume me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">within the grasp of perfect peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-71401614918477039962022-12-31T08:38:00.003-08:002022-12-31T08:38:43.473-08:00A Hopeful DreamTruth no longer a whisperbut a flood of clarity,<br />guns and all weapons of<br />bad intention or ill feeling<br />reduced to their base metals<br />and fashioned into implements of healing,<br />all who are hungry<br />are fed,<br />all who are afraid<br />are reassured,<br />all who are pariahs<br />brought into the human fold,<br />all who are filled with the bile of hatred<br />cajoled with sweetness and caring,<br />all who suffer needlessly<br />from their own lack of faith in themselves<br />see the blazing light of true wisdom,<br />all who have hearts weighted by greed<br />free themselves from the onerous weight of possessions,<br />all who love ignorance<br />witness the rapture and wonder of learning,<br />all who usurp themselves and others with power,<br />come to recognize their own impotence,<br />all who are crippled and torn apart by disease<br />see their true worth,<br />artists and lovers of knowledge and thought<br />are finally appreciated,<br />all without homes<br />find shelter in the heart of humanity,<br />all who are fractured<br />made whole,<br />all who are obsessed by race or creed<br />are freed of their limitations,<br />all limited and pernicious ideas<br />fall to oblivion from their own weight,<br />all who are demagogues<br />find a life of true service,<br />all ideas born of avarice and rooted in war<br />are finally dead,<br />all embrace all<br />as members of the human family.Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-80251149792749477982022-12-18T08:10:00.002-08:002022-12-19T09:42:30.297-08:00Pathetic Emperors of Greed<p> </p>At this moment in time (the winter of 2022) as the year nears its end, certain individuals of the male persuasion - supposedly worth billions of dollars - are regularly depicted in the news. These individuals are particularly vociferous and manage to project their personalities into the public consciousness with a stunning regularity. This has inspired me to create the following piece entitled, <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Pathetic Emperors of Greed</b></h3><br />Within the formidable shadow of <br /><br />accumulated wealth <br /><br />these two bit emperors <br /><br />surrounded by their phalanx of <br /><br />bodyguards and <br /><br />sycophants ever ready with <br /><br />meaningless phrases and shallow praise, <br /><br />inject their toxic venom into the <br /><br />public space to perpetually remind us all <br /><br />of the rarified space they occupy. <br /><br /> <br /><br />From shallow mind to <br /><br />slimy tongue <br /><br />they elaborate lies <br /><br />implausible fictions <br /><br />deleterious conclusions <br /><br />based upon nothing of substance, <br /><br />designed to foster hatred <br /><br />upset balance <br /><br />foster confusion <br /><br />incite turmoil. <br /><br /> <br /><br />These preposterous idiots <br /><br />enamored of themselves <br /><br />forever admiring their <br /><br />reflections in silver mirrors <br /><br />their constant companions, <br /><br />bathing in their own stupidity, <br /><br />emersed in the chaos they engender, <br /><br />murdering empathy <br /><br />compassion and <br /><br />the common good <br /><br />with utmost precision, <br /><br />suggesting violence, <br /><br />inciting hatred in <br /><br />confused minds. <br /><br /> <br /><br />These pathetic emperors <br /><br />of their shallow kingdoms, <br /><br />embrace an image of themselves <br /><br />within their tortured and <br /><br />infantile minds, <br /><br />without real substance <br /><br />frantically attempting to <br /><br />smother their desperate aloneness, <br /><br />and the perpetual fear of their <br /><br />monumental inadequacies. <br /><br /> <br /><br />These pathetic emperors of greed <br /><br />steeped in the fallacy of their <br /><br />exaggerated importance <br /><br />carry the insatiable urge <br /><br />to constantly remind us all of their <br /><br />inspired presence, <br /><br />like hapless juveniles they <br /><br />insinuate themselves into the public space. <br /><br /><br /><div>Like all the petty tyrants that <br /><br />preceded them <br /><br />they demand unequivocal attention <br /><br />threaten the peace and <br /><br />should be thoroughly and completely ignored.</div>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-86419119849246918702022-10-06T08:56:00.000-07:002022-10-06T08:56:13.187-07:00A Window into ExistenceBorn into the scope of<br /><br />sun and moon and stars and night <br /><br />into mother’s sweet embrace <br /><br />upon an ever-spinning and wondrous planet <br /><br />servant to its parent star, <br /><br />expelled from the womb of darkness <br /><br />and transformation <br /><br />in a state of sweet oblivion. <br /><br /><br />Born into the prospects for love and hunger <br /><br />laughter and grief and <br /><br />ceaseless adventure <br /><br />with a unique genetic imprint <br /><br />yet simply another member of <br /><br />the human race – Homo sapiens. <br /><br /><br />Born into family and tribe and nation <br /><br />yet forever alone with the <br /><br />wonder and burden of self. <br /><br /><br />Born into a kaleidoscope of <br /><br />emotions, <br /><br />a labyrinth of escalating ideas, <br /><br />the enigmatic world of dreams and <br /><br />the wonder and enormity of <br /><br />consciousness. <br /><br /><br />Born into <br /><br />a living world, <br /><br />a reality devoid of guarantees, <br /><br />filled with the many textures <br /><br />and surprising dimensions of <br /><br />the unexpected. <br /><br /><br />Born into the living world <br /><br />moving inexorably <br /><br />along time’s arrow <br /><br />tied to the cosmic symphony <br /><br />ultimately destined to the finality of <br /><br />the joy molecular. <br /><br /><br />Eventually to discover <br /><br />there is no <br /><br />singular solution to the <br /><br />enigma of existence, <br /><br />no one way to live a life, <br /><br />no escape from <br /><br />life’s ultimate conclusion, <br /><br />no mysterious rescue, <br /><br />no salvation from the <br /><br />tenacious grip of reality <br /><br />and the forward movement of time. <br /><br /><br />Ultimately to learn <br /><br />the art of surrender <br /><br />to the ultimate truth <br /><br />that promises no alternative outcomes. <br /><br /><br />A magnificent and wildly haphazard <br /><br />trajectory from birth <br /><br />to death <br /><br />within the rhapsody and dance <br /><br />of the cosmos. <br /><br />On occasion, my mind careens through my past and collides into the sweet and bitter taste of memories of friendships come and gone. Over the years I have experienced the deep loss associated with the death of many friends. The names that occur to me are Beatrice, Samiha, Najma, Warren, David, Bill, Chris, Robert, Nina, Noburu, Philip, Michael, Robert and others. <br /><br />I imagine that they have all gathered, both living and dead, in one place as if summoned to a sumptuous feast filled with color, and light and erotic and sensory images of the fleeting past. At this gathering, I envision a continuous slideshow displayed on a big screen in an endless loop – you know the kind I am thinking of as on display in the memorials of the recently deceased. Such displays rarely if ever display the individuals involved not at their best and most gracious selves. At this imagined slideshow, there is no such inhibition. <br /><br />All the beds slept in both luxurious and mundane with erstwhile partners. All the exquisite and banal couplings with organs engorged and engaged at the beckoning of love’s insatiable fever. All the anticipation realized or diminished. All the passion spent or eroded by circumstance. The dance and inherent rhythms of bodies in their thirst for both substance and pleasure. <br /><br />All the friendships accumulated in idle remembrance and fond recollections over the years. The bond created with childhood friends on the block outside the tenement apartment (1E) in my Bronx neighborhood. Visions of sultry summer days with the neighborhood fire hydrant spewing its content, and the bitter cold of winter sequestered in our fortresses of snow and ice as we staged joyous assaults upon our manufactured enemies with our hastily made collections of snowball weaponry. <br /><br />Friends and enemies intertwined within the web and matrix of all things past. All the intense conversations of youth; all terribly meaningful at the time, but more reminiscent of that self-absorption so characteristic of adolescence. <br /><br />At this spontaneous banquet, the guests awaited an erudite statement of some significance from their host regarding why they were all summoned. With a great deal of embarrassment, I realized that I had nothing either cogent or significant to say to them. I was speechless. What I finally uttered was pathetically inadequate: I said, “You are all here by pure happenstance; how this came to happen is a mystery to me It seems to be the physical manifestation of one of my exotic thought dreams.” This comment was met by an agitated state of annoyance and confusion. <br /><br />My dear friend Beatrice, who died many years ago at the young age of forty-one, was never one to mince her words, spoke out, “Are you kidding me, This is why I came out of my sweet repose!” <br /><br />In a hurried attempt to rescue some semblance of respectability I then said, “Beatrice, I am sorry; I did not mean to offend. I have such fond memories of you. To all of you, my dearest friends, gathered here, my sincerest apologies. I just didn’t know what to say – I was overwhelmed by this amazing gathering. Since you are here, please enjoy yourselves.” For some reason, this pathetic explanation was considered plausible enough and the party continued. Many of those present had no connection whatsoever with anyone else. I did my best to introduce as many as I could to others. As a result, many stories were exchanged that provoked uninhibited laughter, surprise, amazement and sometime disbelief. It turned out to be a wonderful event. <br /><br />I noted that of those in attendance, a preponderance were women. This reality reflected the fact that I have always felt more comfortable in the company of women than with those of the same gender. However, regardless of their sexual orientation, they were all kindred spirits to me. I have remained in contact with some of these friends, but many have moved on with their lives. I wonder about them and where there lives have taken them. <br /><br />In life, we accumulate friends, lovers, companions, acquaintances and colleagues. The experiences that are associated with them are all stored in long-term memory – to be called upon later. In life, one is born into a family of one kind or another, a locality we recognize as place and a tribe or nation. Bundled with all of these intricate and interwoven facets are a particular language(s), culture and an unwritten code of acceptable behavior. In this way norms are established that are viewed as natural to young and innocent minds filled with enthusiasm and excitement in the mere and daunting prospect of living. It is only later in life that these imposed values are subjected to scrutiny and questioned within the elaborate matrix of the thinking brain. <br /> <br /> Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-30405617156411467912022-10-06T08:51:00.002-07:002022-10-06T08:51:15.714-07:00Golden MomentOutside in Early Morning <br /><br />hours before dawn <br /><br />camping on the oregon coast <br /><br />full autumn moon <br /><br />breaking free from the <br /><br />embrace of tenacious clouds, <br /><br />castes its light <br /><br />upon my solitary figure <br /><br />creating a multitude of shadows <br /><br />everywhere. <br /><br /> <br /><br />A flood of clarity <br /><br />fills my being <br /><br />the subtleties and magnificence of <br /><br />this wondrous convergence of <br /><br />air and sky and the moon’s caress <br /><br />upon the living world <br /><br />awakens me. <br /><br /> <br /><br />As a creature bless with consciousness <br /><br />transient and fallible <br /><br />yet capable of understanding <br /><br />the true nature of my <br /><br />minuscule place within <br /><br />the wondrous nature of the cosmos. <br /><br /> <br /><br />A golden moment <br /><br />I want to share <br /><br />with dearest Julia, <br /><br />here we stand within <br /><br />our brief sojourn <br /><br />with reality <br /><br />uncluttered <br /><br />by the human propensity <br /><br />for distraction.Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-50428023787439203612022-07-15T14:02:00.001-07:002022-07-15T14:02:53.483-07:00Beauty and its Manifestations<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9ttxB0PYYBkGDwlG-OPtxlulJf5-2snhStdKsWaoh7LoNESlaHNmeo_hmQDqLqfxFIxRP-z0rDb48Ph1kjIYO0QfOx74isjrtkpRxXSzFQpOYIFx8D1ul0Si1DparBK7FxRHr5dvLJufOhOn8XWpW_gvkIe7iA5YZk83ZDL_4gF7kJj4XmA/s3456/IMG_3848.JPG" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9ttxB0PYYBkGDwlG-OPtxlulJf5-2snhStdKsWaoh7LoNESlaHNmeo_hmQDqLqfxFIxRP-z0rDb48Ph1kjIYO0QfOx74isjrtkpRxXSzFQpOYIFx8D1ul0Si1DparBK7FxRHr5dvLJufOhOn8XWpW_gvkIe7iA5YZk83ZDL_4gF7kJj4XmA/s320/IMG_3848.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><br /><br /><br />Modern humans who are living in the world where reality itself has been manipulated and distorted by the imposition of an artificial and contrived environment have become disconnected from the intrinsic beauty of existence. This disconnect I believe is the source of much of the upheaval and apparent violent and destructive behavior of so many individuals.<br /><br />There seems to be an unravelling of the social order. Turmoil, confusion and fear seems to have taken residence within the fabric of a society that has placed far too much emphasis on the individual at the expense of the common good. The dissonant nature of this kind of existence stripped of meaning has placed humanity on a collision course with a dystopic future.<br /><br />Beauty can be found everywhere. It is everywhere apparent once the veil of the make-believe has been shattered. It is resident in every moment –<br /><br />In the dance of sunlight in the morning sky,<br /><br />in the infinite textures of light and shadow<br /><br />that expose the diversity of the natural world,<br /><br />within the myriad of expressions of the human face and<br /><br />the wondrous wealth of life that permeates<br /><br />this most incredible planet.<br /><br /><br />Beauty is resident within<br /><br />every breath,<br /><br />with the way the oceans greet the shoreline,<br /><br />within the timber and rhythm of conversation,<br /><br />the wondrous flight of birds,<br /><br />the sheer power of storms,<br /><br />the incessant pull of the moon and the<br /><br />power of night,<br /><br /><br />Beauty encircles the day with<br /><br />outstretched arms,<br /><br />embraces the fiery displays<br /><br />of sunset and starlight in<br /><br />the dome of the evening sky.<br /><br /><br />Beauty reflects the symmetry<br /><br />of the simplest flower,<br /><br />swirling movement of rushing rivers<br /><br />power of wind,<br /><br />tempestuous seas,<br /><br />belligerent volcanoes,<br /><br />the many manifestations<br /><br />of an active planet.<br /><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Beauty inspires the artist<br /><br />to approach the awaiting easel,<br /><br />visits the adventurer<br /><br />through fantastic dreams,<br /><br />sharpens the senses of<br /><br />poets and musicians,<br /><br />makes the world<br /><br />sing.<br /><br /><br />Without beauty’s evident presence,<br /><br />we are all lost<br /><br />within a shallow and barren<br /><br />existence.<br /><br /><br />Beauty is connection,<br /><br />beauty is love,<br /><br />beauty is the eternal hope<br /><br />for sanity and grace<br /><br />in a tormented human world.</span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-22990807260440022682022-05-29T08:24:00.004-07:002022-05-29T08:32:13.488-07:00At the Abyss<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">At
the Abyss<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Uvalde,
Texas May 25, 2022<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Nineteen children<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">barely adolescents<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">life evident in every step,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">filled with<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">playful enthusiasm,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">brimming with possibilities,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">drinking in life through<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">every pour,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">engaging every breath with<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">shimmering resolve,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the world the canvas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">on which they painted<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with vivid imagination and a<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">tapestry of color.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Suddenly and terribly negated <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">by the fiery discharge of a<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">cold metal gun,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">bullets riddling through their young bodies<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">destroying hopes and idle dreams,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">exhuberant ideas,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">incipient joy and so many aspirations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">terminated in an instant,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">locked in the grip of absolute terror,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">negating their future,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">driving their families to the very edge<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of corrosive despair,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">turning off the light of existence <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">leaving a blackness steeped<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in hollow silence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Nineteen children<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">slaughtered by a young man<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with madness in his brain,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">delusional and beset by <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the demons of explosive hatred and rage,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">nameless passions unhinged and deadly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">The scope of this tragedy would not be<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">conceivable or even imagined<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">without weapons of such ferocity that <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">only a few moments intervened between<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the living and the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is another madness present,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">large, insidious and looming,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">a madness resident within a social order<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that formulated the idea that all<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">citizens have the right to be armed,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">encouraged to be fearful and ever vigilant<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">prepared for violence and stoked with hate<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">for the sake of profit and greed,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">for the sake of a <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">corrupt and deformed ideology.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">A madness that pretends that<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the corpses of children are<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the price to be paid for a contrived<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and ridiculous idea of freedom<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">devoid of any sanity,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">empty of compassion,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">dismissive of the common good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">A madness so cold that<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">it sees no need to <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">take such random and brutal<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">termination of young lives <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">A madness infused with such stupidity<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that it cannot see the <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">consequences of its own<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">barren and disastrous conclusions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">A madness that if unchecked<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">will bring only grief and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">wreak havoc upon the future<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">for us all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-72330633671985305782022-05-13T07:25:00.003-07:002022-05-13T07:25:57.453-07:00Changing Times - an Optomistic Look Towards the Future<p> </p>In the second decade of the twenty-first century, the political arena in the United States remains dominated by the male of the species. But like the trend within the demographics of this county that is obviously moving towards a majority of non-whites (projected to happen by 2045), there is another seismic shift that is unfolding in regard to the societal power and influence of women. This change is reflected on many levels by the following statistics. <br /><br />Currently (2022), 57% of bachelorette degrees are held by women; 54% of law students are women; 50.5% of medical students are women; 50% of current students are women who are earning degrees in the areas of science and engineering. Since the days of my childhood, I have witnessed amazing changes in the area of women’s rights and women’s progress. Currently, there is no profession or livelihood that in not represented by women. This aspect of life that we have taken for granted was certainly not the way it used to be. There was a time when women were only allowed to participate in a limited aspect of the human world other than their expected roles in motherhood and nurture. <br /><br />Given these statistics, it becomes quite evident that within a generation, the social and political climate will undergo a significant transformation. As women participate more and more fully within the larger culture, the tone and timbre of politics and policy will undergo substantial changes and the heretofore white male-dominated environment would become seriously threatened. <br /><br />In many states – mostly in the American South – long dominated by white males, there is a stark realization that those in power will face a very different reality. The underlying fear of this eventuality is, of course, shared by many in these backward and repressive states where the development of educated and free-thinking people is discouraged and ignorance and religious intolerance is thoroughly exploited. This explains why in many states, legislation has been speedily crafted and made into law with the transparent aim of suppressing the ability to vote by many of its non-white citizens to the ludicrous degree of making it “illegal” to supply water to those waiting on long-lines to vote even in the hottest of climates. This subliminal fear also explains blatant attempts to control women even by imposing draconian measures to condemn and outlaw abortion. <br /><br />There are backward areas of this country where Big Lies are freely supported and propagated. One of course is the completely unsubstantiated conviction that the 2020 Presidential Election was stolen. Another absurdity that is currently being codified in some states is that human life begins at conception. This purported truth flies in the face of biological reality. Clearly, a fertilized human egg is not a person; is not human. In fact, the human fetus does not become viable outside the womb until after twenty-four weeks of development. To suggest that the termination of pregnancy in the early stages of fetal development is equivalent to murder is preposterous and draconian. <br /><br />The purpose of this kind of lie is to substantiate an absurd political reality that allows for convicting a woman seeking and abortion or those in the medical profession who could safely abort fetal development as guilty of attempted murder. The defense of democracy or morality is not the foundation of such assertions – they are driven by an exaggerated fear of a changing world in which women are no longer held captive by their gender, and men freely acknowledge and support a true equality of the sexes. <br /><br />These attempts at changing the course of human history will fail as all fundamentalist and extremist ideas must, for they are ultimately unsustainable. The tragedy lies with the fact that many innocents will suffer unnecessarily due to this level of extreme ignorance and profound stupidity.Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-65606832406964527212022-05-12T19:42:00.003-07:002022-05-12T19:42:52.817-07:00Mother and Child<p> </p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Across the boundaries of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">arching time,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">mothers have enshrouded their infants<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">with selfless love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">From first beginnings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">descended from the ancient trees <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">forest primeval,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">thrust into a world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">mysterious and unforgiving<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">perilous rain storms<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">stalking resplendent earth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">ice-bound cold<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">covering everything with <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">savage snowfall<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">descending.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Mothers seeking refuge <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">their infants clinging<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">breasts engorged<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">creating safe places<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">among the chaos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Through the eons <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">civilizations taking shape<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">in the wilderness,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">empires born<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">empires in the midst of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">fiery dissolution<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">mothers prevail<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">giving birth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">without fanfare<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">without justification<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">throughout the fitful generations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">building the human kind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">from bits of matter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">into a human presence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">across the boundaries of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">arching time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-89691748959077303242022-04-14T08:28:00.001-07:002022-04-14T08:28:23.090-07:00Excerpted from Thoughts and Reflections Regarding Life's Journey<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
seem to be in the midst of struggling with the prospect of ageing that
dominates the horizon of my remaining years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is no easy matter to find accommodation with the ineluctable reality
that body is no longer as capable of doing the complete bidding of my wishes
and desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In regard to my intrinsic
abilities I can no longer trust them as completely as I used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, this comes as no great surprise, and
to resist this reality is, of course, futile.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
me the only sensible course is acceptance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Furthermore, a recognition of individual mortality has an additional
benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That benefit resides within an
increased and more acute awareness of the wondrous qualities and subtleties and
intrinsic beauty that imbues every passing moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world presents me with a remarkable array
of details and perspectives present in the simplest of experiences if I choose
to open myself to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
my mind, if I allow myself to be caught up within the intricate fabric of
distractions produced and sustained by the modern world the unfortunate
consequence is that the precious moments are lost within the crazy-quilt miasma
of contrived existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, after
all, an inventive and intricate shadow world that envelops the modern human
world that constantly demands our complete attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of this shadow world is wrapped in the
comforting domain of the pursuit of material possessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The potpourri of images and manifestations of
objects that are continually fed into the sensory apparatus of the thinking
brain are presented to us as palpable vehicles designed to enhance our chances
for individual happiness whether it be a shiny new car, an ensemble of fabulous
clothes that would improve our sexual appeal, all manner of so-called “hygiene
products” that have become our necessary companions in the social world,
labor-saving devices that are guaranteed to free up our time and bring us even
more happiness, and on and on – the list is seemingly without end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Moments
lost to these distractions cannot be regained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Life cannot be rewound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life
proceeds moment to moment through a continuum of choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modern living demands heightened unquestioned
passivity to the multi-faceted norms that have been carefully constructed for
mass consumption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This intricate structure
is indeed a reality of a kind, but it is not representative of the natural
world and by its nature is impermanent and can readily implode upon itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many examples exist of such an internal
collapse have been reported through the course of history of human
civilizations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are representatives of a sentient species – our home is planet earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are by no means the sole inhabitants on
Spaceship Earth, although we often behave as we should be and possess a seeming
determination to make it so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we
will accomplish, however, if we do not awaken from our collective stupor, is to
craft an environment that will ultimately be unable to sustain us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the height of stupidity, for we seem
to relish the idea of killing each other over issues that are more contrived
than real, undermine our collective future by our continued raping of the
natural world, and endanger our future rather than embrace peace, harmony, and
real and substantial social justice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Without
the presence of Homo sapiens, the earth will continue to spin on its axis,
revolve around its sun and move through time within a vast and wondrous cosmos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our continued existence as a species is not
required and is certainly not a necessary component of the working
universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
products of our collective imagination, the panoply of gods, ethereal beings,
spirits, demons, apparitions, etc. will all vanish when humans are no longer
extant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have no substance outside
the realm of the human brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
universe, however, is real, time is substantial and each moment is
transient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within this fabulous matrix
our individual selves are created and move on time’s ineluctable trajectory
until our individual brains cease to function and the molecular organization
that sustains us unravels joining us once again to the chaos and ferment of
creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may pretend that this is
not reality; we may put our faith in fabulous ideas of other-worldliness, but
it is not matter for it changes nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Self-delusion may provide comfort but it changes nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may choose to embrace death with the belief
that there is something more, but it changes nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reality has no need of either our
acquiescence or resistance, for when the brain ceases to function, as
individuals we are no longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is that
simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
my thinking, if I choose delusion over reality, I choose to engage the pretend
version of existence and fail to appreciate the vivid reality that surrounds
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I do know is that while I
continue to have a conscious existence it is my responsibility to fully appreciate
that I am a living witness to the wonders around me no matter how brief my
sojourn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am, after all, grounded to
this Earth, lungs filled with the air that sustains me, a body that moves me
through life and the marvelous organ of the human brain that is me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
I can embrace myself so thoroughly and completely than I can embrace
everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once stripped of the array
of filters that distort existence in order to fit into prescribed limits, it is
then that I can truly see and understand what it is to be human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an inseparable bond between the
ability to see with clarity and love, compassion and understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all, in fact, flawed creatures,
imperfect on account of the evolutionary path of our species, mortal by design,
contained within the architecture of our brains, yet we are collectively capable
of so much more than the disastrous and unsettling choices we have made to
date.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Think
of the world we could craft if all humans were to fully incorporate the truth
that we are all (the eight billion of us) members of the same human family
rather than continuing to pursue the current idea that we are somehow intrinsically
separate based upon contrived differences in race, belief systems, political
ideology, sexual preference etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think
of the world we could craft if we finally stopped killing each other for no
good or apparently justifiable reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think of the world we could craft if we seriously began to be responsible
stewards of our earthly home rather than actively undermining the natural world
that sustains us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the world we
could inhabit if we finally took full responsibility for our collective fate
rather than allow ourselves to move about in a delusional reality of our own
making that presumes that a super-human being(s) is “watching over us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we were to bring about our own
self-destruction tomorrow, the cosmos would be completely unaffected and the
movement of time would be unimpaired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
human species is not a required component for the running of the universe
machine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-60540454130702120412022-02-25T07:44:00.003-08:002022-02-25T07:49:59.697-08:00The Shadow of War<p>The Shadow of War</p><br />Darkness once again falls <br /><br />heavily upon this tiresome human world, <br /><br />yet another feeble-minded <br /><br />arrogant and stillborn leader <br /><br />devoid of compassion, <br /><br />emptied of grace and kindness, <br /><br />possessed by self-imposed demons <br /><br />rattling around within a demented brain <br /><br />imposes his will through the <br /><br />soft bodies of those who do his bidding. <br /><br /><br />Shadows of war <br /><br />propelled by ridiculous dreams of empire <br /><br />sustained by puny minds <br /><br />unable to see the horrid future they project, <br /><br />unwilling to embrace the pain and suffering <br /><br />they inflict, <br /><br />unreceptive to the laments of mothers <br /><br />over the children forever lost to the shrill <br /><br />call of bombs and bullets <br /><br />as explosions rip through the fabric of neighborhoods, <br /><br />unrepentant for the death they distribute <br /><br />to the innocent like candy, <br /><br />for all the blood and bones and carnage, <br /><br />for all the wrecked lives and distorted hatred <br /><br />injected into the future, <br /><br />unable to embrace all of humanity as equals, <br /><br />ever ready to crawl into bed <br /><br />with hollow and pointless death. <br /><br /><br />Shadows of war, <br /><br />a long and tiresome story <br /><br />revisited again and again <br /><br />the litany long, <br /><br />the dark foreboding song always the same, <br /><br />the list seeming endless, <br /><br />stretching back <br /><br />to the very beginnings of <br /><br />civilization. <br /><br /><br />How long can Homo sapiens endure? <br /><br />how long can the natural world <br /><br />upon which we depend <br /><br />sustain us? <br /><br />when we choose <br /><br />chaos over harmony <br /><br />needless death and unimagined suffering <br /><br />over love and life, <br /><br />darkness over light, <br /><br />stupidity over real intelligence <br /><br />over and over again. <br /><br /><br />Darkness once again falls <br /><br />heavily upon this tiresome human world.
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-26369983848522805772022-02-15T07:46:00.002-08:002022-02-20T15:24:20.867-08:00Excerpt from an Ongoing Work entitled, Reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFaiHrpz1ko4zkUKQN42wnjJSFcOrZhT8SrviAtEqC7G0eklS6RrvSZJlwzxMpF9q_EI_P6ZqqiqCDn6U1DEdGd7nYFiz_A2Awk2LSp59iButbJ7I4Gp0MNvQmRnFa5Jh6veYoLqpuZBNCMem5sAxehog9euzAX1YnTBIE7hfpT3IJUgPRABIB9gvTSg=s3456" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFaiHrpz1ko4zkUKQN42wnjJSFcOrZhT8SrviAtEqC7G0eklS6RrvSZJlwzxMpF9q_EI_P6ZqqiqCDn6U1DEdGd7nYFiz_A2Awk2LSp59iButbJ7I4Gp0MNvQmRnFa5Jh6veYoLqpuZBNCMem5sAxehog9euzAX1YnTBIE7hfpT3IJUgPRABIB9gvTSg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Life is an exquisite experience. Appreciating existence through the medium of a self-conscious brain (mind) is beyond the realm of ordinary discourse. Perceiving the living world in all of its multifaceted layers and trying to uncover some of the many inter-related facets is a wondrous endeavor. This is not an absurd attempt to over-simplify and sentimentalize the experience of living. Existence, as we all fully understand, can be painful, uncompromising, disappointing, and often brutal at times. There is no guarantee at birth in regard to the duration, quality, or efficacy of the journey. We are, however, assured of its transient nature. We discover early on that the cosmos is essentially unforgiving and that we inhabit a rather ordinary planet blessed as it is with a breathable atmosphere and plenty of water caught within the matrix of a chaotic universe that moves us all through time and its unfolding events. <br /><br />Yet, we have the capacity, with this sentient faculty to perceive beyond the simple confines of our home world and witness the immensity of this universe and can appreciate the worlds within worlds that exist within this earthly confinement. We may, as a species, break free from mother earth and travel the universe, or remain earthbound. We may flourish well into future time or perish as a result of our own inanity – depending on the choices we make. We shall see!Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-46785196627956736952021-10-04T18:36:00.004-07:002021-10-04T18:36:28.761-07:00Letting Go<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m entering that time and space of</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">letting go,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">my chronological timepiece<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">witness to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">time’s relentless forward motion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Letting go<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the affectations that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">erect a facsimile <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of existence and the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ephemeral nature of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Letting go<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of all the ego’s darlings,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">edifices built upon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">shifting sand and the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">irrascible winds of change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Letting go<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">affiliations built upon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">intricate mythologies<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">constructed to obscure<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the unavoidable finality<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of human existence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Letting go <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">for death stalks with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">painstaking persistence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">regardless of the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">elaborate scafolding of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">comfortable delusion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Letting go<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">all the countless<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">protestations,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">righteous indignations,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">tilting at windmills,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">while the natural world exposes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to blinded vision<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">true nature of reality<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">far more comprehensive than<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">human mind’s tentative grasp of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the present moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Letting go<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">all the artful dodging,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">all the pretense,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">all the absurd vanities,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">all the comforting illusions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that contort the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">wondrous gift of comprehension.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">It is time for this<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">letting go <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to prepare myself<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">when it is my turn<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to join the joy molecular,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">hopefully <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with grace, integrity, love and clarity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-64106301216888316932021-10-04T18:34:00.000-07:002021-10-04T18:34:02.516-07:00Red Rocks<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AmfhPRX_7cU/YVurIXNgfPI/AAAAAAAANFE/H50jfxsi4uw5qAvImsnaF9Kc7mb4QICAQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/bryce%2Bcanyon%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AmfhPRX_7cU/YVurIXNgfPI/AAAAAAAANFE/H50jfxsi4uw5qAvImsnaF9Kc7mb4QICAQCNcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/bryce%2Bcanyon%2B9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Solar furnace now</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">burning bright<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">dancing across <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">azure skies,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ignite the rocks with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">crimson gold<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">impinging upon the human mind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">inherent wonder of passing time,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the power of existence and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the sustenance of the natural world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in naked sparcity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in luxuriant rhapsodies<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in kaleidoscopes of color and form.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">From eyes to brain,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the world entrained,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">dangling before hungry eyes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">waiting for redemption, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">upon this earth <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">nestled in the cosmos<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">an itinerant jewel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Red rocks hewn from<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ebullient power of rushing water,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">eddies of turbulent wind,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">sentinels to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">relentless upheavals of a restless planet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">born from the fiery bosom of a<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">raucous star<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">our sun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-10473281802796641682021-08-29T19:11:00.003-07:002021-08-29T22:53:09.809-07:00Crazy Apes - A Tribute to Albert Szent Gyorgyi<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Young fighters</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">erstwhile warriors<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">prepared to explode<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">their body parts into<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">organic confetti<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">taking hundreds with them<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">to death’s crematorium<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">for glory<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">for god<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">for fruitless revenge<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">for retribution<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">for nonsensical beliefs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Colonialists</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">with daydreams of empire<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">and untold fortunes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">dancing in their heads,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">strap weapons of destruction<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">to their merciless portfolios<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">of greed,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">politics like a game of marbles<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">played with abandon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">upon our earthly globe,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">ignoring the ultimate reality<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">of victorious death,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">we depart with nothing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">no matter how filled our coffers,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">regardless of all the possible satisfactions of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">physical delights,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">we depart from the living<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">much like when first expelled from<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">mother’s luxuriant womb<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">with nothing except<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">what is required to fill our lungs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">with the very first breath and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">bodies to sustain us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">Crazy Apes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">have filled their precious brains<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">with ideas of endless and relentless<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">prosperity,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">that if fulfilled<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">with come to naught,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">yet the dance continues<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">to the incessant beat<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">within the fantastic dream of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">having it all,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">yet the idea of cheating death<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">in some extraordinary journey that<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">will carry us beyond the finality of the grave<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">to an eternity where all the physical laws<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">fall away like some annoying and burdensome baggage,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">our airy souls can then surpass the very<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">essence of time and space.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">Crazy Apes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">sustain themselves<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">upon a bedrock of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>twisted concepts,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">beliefs exquisitely drawn from<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">erroneous conclusions,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">that lead to nowhere and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">suggest a world that<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">can no longer contain them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Crazy Apes</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">nearly eight billion strong,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">sucking great gobs of matter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">from the earth<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">without benevolence or<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">sensible feelings of dread,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">expelling poisons carelssly into<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">precious air,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">draining the oceans dry of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">precious life,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">sacrificing exquisite beauty of wild<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">transformative earth<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">with mountains of trash,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">living on the home planet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">as if it was not responsible for<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">our continued existence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">Crazy Apes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">with a world deperately in need of mending<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">problems mounting,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">disaster looming,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">doom approaching,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">more content to annhilate<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">each other<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">over trivial concerns<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">than join together to<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">choose harmony instead<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">when harmony is so critically needed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px; mso-no-proof: yes;">Crazy Apes</span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-17822912426896334992021-08-05T07:05:00.007-07:002021-08-30T06:39:37.310-07:00The Grand Illusion<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is no superhero<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">roaming the cosmos<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">balancing the cataclysmic forces<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in limitless space for our<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">precise and mutual benefit .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is no wondrous savior<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ready to descend into the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">human firmament<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to rescue humanity from its own<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">reckless behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is no grand <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">all-encompassing master plan,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">no magnificent paradise <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">engineered for the truly saved,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">no other-worldly place<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of eternal succor,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">no fiendish caldron of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">suffering and damnation,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">no transcendent peace or place of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">infinite interminable suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is an insatiable quiet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">within the molecular void of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">empty space,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">there is an inspired chorus of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">galaxies in riotous collision,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">black holes that bend light into<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">utter darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">We are transient time travelers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">marooned on spaceship earth,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">moving through the generations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">hapless and alone,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">magnificent yet fragile,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blessed yet beseiged by<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">aching and profound consciousness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Life is ours to fathom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">within all its <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">fabulous and alluring<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">manifestations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Life is ours to experience<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">own up to and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">embrace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">No heavenly guidance,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">no celestial validation,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">no prophets that will descend<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">from lofty perches,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">there is no rapture,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">there is no escape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Life is ours to comprehend<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">or neglect,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">life is ours to appreciate <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">or discard,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">life is ours to enhance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">or abuse,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">choice lies within<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">not held hostage in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">some remote and distant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">otherness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Whether we persist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">or descend into our own<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">particular and disastrous conclusion,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">time unfolds,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the universe endures,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">existence prevails within the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">scope of the ever-present moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-83365940317227068492021-04-21T16:26:00.005-07:002021-04-23T06:55:20.597-07:00Four Hundred Years<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 148.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">400 Years<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Four Hundred Years<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ago<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">human beings,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">stolen from their home,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">from their kinships,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">from the beauty of their world,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">from their families,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">their lovers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">their children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Four Hundred Years<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ago<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">human beings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">piled into the holds of ships,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">shackled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and abused,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">barely able to move<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">stripped of their humanity,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">denied their freedom,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">humiliated,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">often drowned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Four Hundred Years<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ago<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">humans beings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">treated somehow <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">less than human,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">like expendable chattel,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">like mere property,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">disposable, exploited, murdered<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with impunity, with indifference,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with carefree and deadly violence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Four Hundred years<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">from then until now<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">intervening decades<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">this insidious poison<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">spread through the generations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">periodic massacres of innocents,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">near genocide of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">native americans<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">treated as nameless obstacles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to colonization and conquest,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">bloodbath that was the civil war<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">hundreds of thousands of bodies<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">left dead on forsaken battlegrounds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">twisted and mutilated wreckage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">forged from an erroneous notion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of supremacy based<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">not on merit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">not on reason or logic<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">nor justice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">but on accidental whiteness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">now faithfully eulogized and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">solemnly remembered,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blight and contagion spread to other<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">hapless victims<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Chinese<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Japanese,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Hispanics,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Muslims,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Human beings mostly of color,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of difference<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in outlook<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in custom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in dress<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in persuasion,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">their collective sin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">their unforgiveable inequity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the nature of their threat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to be born with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">non-whiteness,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with gradations of darkness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">no matter how slight<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">no matter how innocuous,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">this overweening falsity that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">forged so much carnage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that ushered in Jim Crow,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that gave birth to the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Ku Klux Klan and the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">NRA and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Tea Party politicians<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">inevitably spread to other lands<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">under the guise of foreign policy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">national defense<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">beneath the umbrella of justifiable wars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">leaving millions upon millions dead<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">immense carnage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and grief<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Korean and Vietnamese and Iraqi<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and Afghani and Mexican and Filipino<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">mothers to grieve for their children<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">their elders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">their families.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Four Hundred Years<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and yet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">this unspeakable terror, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">this fearsome and unimagined horror<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">still persists,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">some human beings using <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">power and wealth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to dehumanize others <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">based upon the color of their skin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and yet <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">mindless bigotry, hatred and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">violence still<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">plague this nation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">even in the twenty-first century<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with all that science teaches,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with all that we know,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">yet senseless prejudice is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">sustained and nurtured<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in spite of all that logic and reason dictate, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in spite of all that we understand as truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">For Four Hundred Years<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">In spite of all that we know,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the killing goes on,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">mothers continue to grieve,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">justice is denied<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">unnecessary suffering roars through the land<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in a hurricane of grief,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">those who live on stolen lands<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">arm themselves<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">preparing for a conflagration<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that they cannot possibly control,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">those who possess inordinate wealth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">callous to the suffering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">indifferent to the injustice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">refuse to relent in their insatiable greed,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">this poison passed around in giant goblets<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that touch the lips and infest <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">hearts and minds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with pure nonsense.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">It has been Four Hundred Years,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">It needs to stop,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">this moribund and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">dangerous idea of superiority<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">based upon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the fallacy called race,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">needs to be extinguished once and for all<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">not by the power of intimidation,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">not by violence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">not by fiat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">but simply and resolutely<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">through a transformation of ideas,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">it is up to the people of this wondrous land<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to teach the children and ourselves<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">what is fundamentally the truth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that we are all members of the same species<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Homo sapiens<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">we share the same architecture<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of body and mind,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the same panoply of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">emotions and desires<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the same capacity for love, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">for reason and harmony<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">for logic and intellect,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">for imagination and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">creativity, inventiveness and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">for art,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">each and everyone of this <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">family of human beings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">deserving of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>equal measures of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">social and economic justice,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">equal access to health care<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to shelter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to nutrition<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">opportunity to thrive and to prosper,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to learn and to grow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">without any fear of reprisal or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">bigotry or baseless retribution,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">all worthy of the love that mothers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">naturally give,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of being embraced and included<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">without hesitation or reluctance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">or trepidation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">within the all encompassing arms of the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">human family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">After Four Hundred Years<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">is this<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">really too much to ask for?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-2363313203865127932021-03-18T08:49:00.001-07:002021-03-18T08:50:14.288-07:00Lightness of Being<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ha5gy6R1ioY/YFN2UiB-2TI/AAAAAAAALkY/9dnteXWC0CI9I2CSV5K-zhdTvl6ajiKtACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/american%2Bbald%2Beagle%2B3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ha5gy6R1ioY/YFN2UiB-2TI/AAAAAAAALkY/9dnteXWC0CI9I2CSV5K-zhdTvl6ajiKtACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/american%2Bbald%2Beagle%2B3.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dance of the mayfly,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">storm of fire ants<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">beneath the jungle canopy,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">thundering herds of wildebeests<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">across the serengeti,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">bones of a stegosaurus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">millions of years deceased<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">in some faraway world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">on earth’s perpetual sojourn <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">around its parent star,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">human journey through time<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">illustrious home of earth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">generation upon generation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">stretching from tortuous past<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">into an uncertain future,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">star going nova within the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">expansive cosmos<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">engulfing its planets in a<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">momentous release of enormous energy,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">owl beckoning for the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">fall of night<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to awaken its predatory spirit,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">mothers in labor all over the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">this wondrous world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">on the same day,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">destined to perpetuate the species.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Life transient<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Impermanent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">like the passing breath,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">like a singular beat of the heart,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">gift of existence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">exquisitely present,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">surprisingly brilliant,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">intensely felt,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">momentary,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">often blinding,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">unsettling,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">full of sadness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and poignancy <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and joy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Life bonded <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to emotions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">forged by love,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">grounded in consciousness,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">imbedded in now,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">shaped by myriad experiences,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">haunted by shades of past and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">shadows of future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Yet, there is an<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Intrinsic lightness to being,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that embraces the present,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">created and extinguished<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">moment to moment<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">within the indefatigable<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 148.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">arc of time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-30419887656146824202020-12-23T10:44:00.006-08:002020-12-23T10:44:47.647-08:00Holiday Message for the Coming Year - 2021<p> The year 2020 has been in many ways disturbing and
unsettling. What, of course, comes to
mind almost immediately is the COVID 19 pandemic that has claimed so many lives
and has been so economically devastating to many facets of the national economy,
and especially for those who have lost their livelihoods and businesses. Added to this national burden are the deep
fractures that have been exposed in regard to a national sense of unity, shared-mission
and purpose.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Along with this overwhelming sense of loss, however, is the
untold bravery, courage and unwavering energy displayed by so many who have
risked their own lives and safety to come to the aid of all of us for the
unselfish commitment to the greater good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These individuals have come from many diverse positions - as doctors,
nurses, emergency response teams, members of the police and fire departments
and first responders of all kinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
this list, we should include all those responsible for providing food; for
delivering the mail; for the taxi and bus drivers, train operators and pilots;
for the teachers; for all those who care for the elderly and for all those who
provide the essential services that we all too often take for granted.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My wish for the New Year (2021) is that we grow wiser from
the events that have befallen us and see the future as a time for healing and
learning from our collective missteps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My hope is that the new year will be a time of new beginnings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dream is that we will finally come to
recognize that regardless of our national origin, religious affiliation, skin
color or sexual orientation we are all members of the same species with the
same physical bodies, the same architecture of the brain, the same genetic
makeup, the same constellation of feelings, of hopes and of dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of us is worthy of the same
opportunities to grow and develop as sentient beings on this most remarkable
planet that also needs our kindness, care, and attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earth is, after all, our only home.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best Wishes to All<o:p></o:p></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-9091971411194170672020-08-27T21:38:00.004-07:002020-09-08T16:25:45.270-07:00America 2020<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 148.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">America 2020<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">The national leader<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">towering epitome of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">crazed ambition,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">pitiful ignorance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">remarkable stupidity,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">a hollowed-out spirit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">directing a vast army of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the walking dead<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with a cacophony of lies and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">intentioned misdirections.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">America 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">vast homeland <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">marooned on a ruderless ship<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">bound for perdition,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blind to the truths<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that lie about like<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">deserted corpses,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blind to its own endemic racism,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">its xenophobia,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">its homeless and dispossessed,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blind to its blood-soaked history<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">leaving the insidious remanants of holocausts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">around the globe,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blind to its hatreds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">its relentless and perpetual violence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blind to the tattered fabric of its<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">own brutish past,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blind to the scorched and beleagured planet,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">blind to the magnificent beauty of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">its very homeland<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">filled with such wondrous diversity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">America 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">land of the walking dead<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">fluent in endless praise<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of their great country<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that they proclaim with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">supposed love and reverence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">yet perversity reigns<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">as poisons are injected with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">haphazard indifference into<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the sky and water and soil,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">as the automobile is held sacred,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">oil valued more that the future,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">science held suspect<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and the health and safety<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of the next generations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">discarded like an old and battered<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">pair of jeans. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">America 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">citizenry armed and dangerous<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the gun <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a tool of vigilanty justice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">beneath the shadow of the noose<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">where the spirits of all of those<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">black souls hung and mutilated<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">scream out at us as a reminder<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of our collective decadence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">law and order the mantra<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">spoken with eloquence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">on the trash heap of battered justice,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">prisons filled with the poor and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">people of color,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">prison cheap labor abudant,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">lives emptied of meaning<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">among the denizens of captivity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">America 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">homeless everywhere,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">children with hungry demeanor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">plague the streets,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">poor and the destitute<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">queueing up at foodbanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">bivouaced on parkbenches,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">convening makeshift alliances at<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">bus stations and subway platforms,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">crumbs dispensed with fanfare<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">from lavish banquets where<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">deals are made<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and wealth assured for those<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">with profit running through their bloodstream.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">America 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">nation of sleepwalkers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">oblivious to the reality all around them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to the incessant beauty of the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">human world,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to the cosmos,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to the striking wonders of the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">natural world,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to all the needless suffering,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">oblivious to the inherent precious and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">transient nature of passing time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">America 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">standing at the abyss<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ready to make the plunge<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">into the swirling vortex of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">its own cumulative past,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ready to consign reason<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">to the graveyard,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ready to dissolve into the chaos<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">of violence and needless destruction,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ready to surrender freedom to the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">vagaries and madness of senseless authority,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ready to consign an extraordinary experiment<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">that was America into<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the unforgiving graveyard and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 148.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">the future to desolation and regret.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-19102713286154771142020-05-16T16:49:00.000-07:002020-05-16T16:49:28.043-07:00Caravan of Dreams - Introduction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4b0jtERzSSc/XsB7rakLkfI/AAAAAAAALHE/wQue8LwGdwQ-hG1z1HcIHcooDXUu4RH2QCK4BGAsYHg/bwwoman%2Bspinning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="770" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4b0jtERzSSc/XsB7rakLkfI/AAAAAAAALHE/wQue8LwGdwQ-hG1z1HcIHcooDXUu4RH2QCK4BGAsYHg/s320/bwwoman%2Bspinning.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>By way of information I was born when the nation was about 157 years old – the US Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787. As nations go, this country was barely out of its nappies. Continuing with this absurd kind of mathematics, at my current age of 75, my life has spanned 32% of the nation’s entire history (as of 2019). That represents a significant part of the American experience. Enfolded within this 75 years there were many wars along with a varied and explosive array of social issues including the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki near the end of World War II, the anti-Vietnam War era, the Civil Rights Movement and Jim Crow, the Gay Rights Movement, the Anti-Gun Rights Movement spawned by an incessant wave of random mass shootings, the Women’s Movement, the storm of conflict around, the Women’s right to Abortion (Roe v Wade), the horrendous destabilizing period around the destruction of the World Trade Towers in New York (Sept. 11, 2001) and the concomitant war in Afghanistan, the Gulf Wars and on and on it goes. <br /><br />We are all both the benefactors and victims of the history of our times – this is an inescapable reality. Hopefully, this caravan of dreams will shed some light on all of this especially for those who may read it at some future time when these aspects of history seem so distant that their essential significance becomes muted and seemingly irrelevant.<br />Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192879326646855094.post-60368806876045941872019-03-02T09:50:00.003-08:002019-08-22T21:50:01.906-07:00Bird Song<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They capture in their<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">fleeting presence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">a momentary glimpse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">of nature’s resilience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Magnificent eagle effortlessly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">riding the air in a pageantry of remarkable grace,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">engineering its nest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">in liberating spring air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Evening cry of the owl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">perched on a crimson-hued tree<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">in the light of the waning sun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">preparing for the hunt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ever-attentive robin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">perusing its kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">for worm sign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sandpipers scurry across the water’s edge in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">perpetual motion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">forever vigilant and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">prepared to take to the air at <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">any sign of danger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brown pelicans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">glide across the water’s surface<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">without any apparent effort<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">skilled and impeccable fishermen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the heart of the forest, bird song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">permeates the air<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">within the timeline of generations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">on this most remarkable planet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cooper’s hawk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">magnificent creature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">prepared to fly like the wind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">to embrace his victim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">within deadly talons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They ensnare a kaleidoscope of color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">in their plumage and remind us of the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">wonder of life in all its<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">variety and splendor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They capture in their<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">fleeting presence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">a momentary glimpse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">of nature’s resilience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joseph Aprilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146849288862816584noreply@blogger.com0