July 4, 2018

Margo, “That little voice“, has a few very pertinent questions for the American people on this, their Independence Day. The same questions apply to all countries, to all societies, to all peoples, and it is the people who must decide the answers. I do so hope that they get it right!

that little voice

July 4, 2018

Can I celebrate this day the way I have past Independence Days: without thought, concern, doubt, fear, disgust, or alarm?

The question plagues me as I watch the sun rise on this two hundred and forty-second birthday of the United States of America. On this day more than two centuries ago a group of men signed a paper declaring America would no longer be ruled by another nation. Our country would be independent of and from outside dominance. Henceforth we would determine our own fate, decide how we would be governed, guided by a Constitution that promised equality.

Not a perfect document, but one filled with hope, determination, and belief that individual voices can better chart the future of this new democracy, not one person.

So I wonder if we, the people of this fragile yet strong, and relatively new nation, can weather the storm of today’s internal…

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Sunday Pipes #32

A Maestro playing a Masterpiece on a Magnificent organ. Yet another great Sunday Pipes presentation from Ray Visotski on Mitigating Chaos.

Mitigating Chaos

This is simply amazing.

Plain and simple.

Easy come easy go.  Little high, little low.

Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody  performed by Bert van den Brink on the Verschueren organ in “het orgelpark Amsterdam” June first, 2013 at the presentation concert of Bert van den Brink’s cd “BLOWING” http://www.bertvandenbrink.com.

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Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 17 June 2018

Kat is a very talented lady, a fine poet, a beautiful singer, a lady who knows her own mind. Her patience is wearing very thin though, and here she sums up her week and only pulls a few punches. Check out her blog – you will be amused, amazed, and, probably, in agreement!

like mercury colliding...

I realized that I started two of my magnetic poems this week with the phrase “there is no sanctuary”. It was completely accidental, or perhaps it was subliminal. I think it was most likely the latter. I have felt helpless against the recent atrocities perpetrated by my government on innocent people in my name as an American, and now most egregiously in the name of God as well. We are learning more and more about the Trump/Sessions'”Zero Tolerance” agenda for those crossing our southern borders; the horrors experienced by families seeking asylum in the U.S.; children being ripped from their parents’ arms and shipped to holding facilities, some even lost in the system. A system that uses intimidation and fear to dissuade people from coming here. And now we have a president who is using these innocent children as ransom for his ludicrous border wall.

To be honest, I don’t…

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Hybrid

Hybrid is the first word prompt for the brand new, exciting site, set up jointly by my friend Sue W , and her partner GC.

I used to enter a weekly Limerick competition, and really enjoyed doing so. That ceased some time ago and I have neglected Limericks since. It is now time to limber up for a limerick, so here goes.

My car is electric and gas

It’s been such a pain in the ass

It stutters and starts

And uses up parts

Next time I’ll give it a pass.

 

Look out for the weekly prompts here.

#SixWordStoryChallenge – 9th June 2018

Every week my friend Kirsty, along with her fellow blogger at Wonderwall, sets a new Six Word Story Challenge. Check this week’s challenge out HERE and vote for your favorites, or leave a story of your own. This week’s prompt word: Magic.

It’s a fun challenge, but not as easy as you think!

kirstwrites

Challenge open Saturday 9th June 2018 – Thursday 14th June 2018

Welcome to the Six Word Story Challenge.

For those who have never dropped by before, a new prompt is posted every Saturday morning at 9am GMT, either on this site or that of fellow blogger Wonderwall. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to plot a story on that subject… in just six words.

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The Finale! A2Z Challenge–X for Xenophobia

Margo may well be a little late in finishing her A2Z challenge for April. She may have gone a little bit out of sequence, but, my goodness, she certainly saved the best ’til last.
Check out this fabulous commentary on the scourge of modern society. Just how can people be carried along by such hatred, such unfairness, and such sheer malice.
Let’s join Margo’s revolution and refuse to accept even a hint of xenophobia.

that little voice

Finally I have finished the A2Z April Word Challenge that was to end on April 30. A month + past the deadline is not too bad, some would say, and I will agree. You can read what others said about words from the letters of the alphabet at a-to-zchallenge.com.

X for Xenophobia

Admittedly my vocabulary is not classified as abundant, and I don’t race around adding words willy-nilly to my limited supply of verbiage. However, in today’s world, new words seem to find their way to my mouth’s attention more often than just a few years ago.

One of those surprise additions is Xenophobia, meaning chauvinism, racism, nationalism, prejudice, racial intolerance and dislike of foreigners. The word has been around for many moons, but it had not crept into my consciousness until the last Presidential campaign.

Suddenly it became a household word, at least to a segment of my friends. Xenophobia was…

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Alone With My Bike

I’m shamelessly reblogging this because I added a little verse to the comments, and I rather like it. Also, if you haven’t ever read any of Colleen’s posts then you are missing out on some very wise words, some selfless, and often moving, observations, and the chance to get to know more about a lovely lady. I think Colleen should be prescribed to everyone as a pick me up!

The Chatter Blog

I got on my bike.

To be alone or so I wouldn’t be alone.

I’m not sure which.

Along the way I received waves,

Hellos,

Good mornings,

Thumbs up,

and

A few things I couldn’t decipher but they were said with smiles

So I accepted them with delight.

I met Judy who was on a bike for the first time in 15 years.

She was grateful for being on the bike and determined to resume her joy of biking.

I was appreciated her smiling face and her sharing her story with me.

I stopped to watch a muddy river.

It wasn’t so much roaring as it was rumbling,

I enjoyed the sound of it.

On the way back

I saw a damn snake.

And with that adrenaline I nearly flew over the next five miles.

There was no poetry to my day,

But maybe the rhythm of it lent to…

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#SixWordStoryChallenge – 19th May 2018

Kirstwrites and Wonderwall have recently taken on the running of this Six Word Story Challenge. Why not pop across and see what it’s all about.

kirstwrites

Challenge open Saturday 19th May 2018 – Thursday 24th May 2018

Welcome to the Six Word Story Challenge.

For those who have never dropped by before a new prompt is posted every Saturday morning at 9am GMT.

And…. drumroll…. This week’s prompt is:

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Parking the mind

I particularly enjoy the poetry of Frank Hubeny, and he often includes a recording of his reading of his original work. He normally includes his own photographs to enhance the overall experience, and they are always a delight.

I wish I had his talent.

Today, he posted Walking to the Botanic Garden, a haibun, which combines prose and haiku. I know it sounds complicated but, believe me, it isn’t. As usual, Frank began, and ended, with his own photographs that perfectly frame the whole experience.  Follow the link, above, to see why I love Frank’s poems.

I commented on today’s haibun as follows:

I don’t park my mind, I just let it wander all by itself. Not only does it seem perfectly capable of wandering during the day, but it also wanders a great deal most nights too, and it is kind to me in that it holds the memories for me to consider later!

That struck me as profound,  and I thought I should record the thought, if only for my own peace of mind!

50 Yards of Florence;

Join John on his tour of 50 yards of Florence. It is beautiful, and totally missed by all the crocodiles of tourist groups

Broadsides - A collection of bits and pieces

The medieval lanes and streets and alleys provide welcome breaks of shade from the heat and the sun, and occasionally from the crocodile lines of tourist groups faithfully following their guides.  But you tire easily for you are not so young now, the back hurts a bit, the legs ache,  the sun is hot, you need to pause, to sit down, recover a little and you look for a pavement bar or café. But they can be intimidating these Italian bars and cafés,  and you pass that one and avoid this one and then you come across a rough looking bar in a little rough looking space, a small scruffy square; there is graffiti on the walls and a few battered tables and chairs clustered outside the very ordinary and un-prepossessing door of the bar “Mingo”  There is a van, and a motor cycle lazily  parked across the small square…

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