When flying, they always say “place the oxygen mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others”.
This is a reminder to always take care of yourself first and, if lost, reclaim your position in life.
Imagination Helps
I so miss my fireflies,
but these will do for now.
Special thanks to Linda G. Hill for posting the above photo at #1linerWeds.
(Top image is from my hand and mind)
How Could I Know? #writephoto
If you stay on one side
and I the other
how will I know the color of your eyes
what tune your voice plays when your words lilt into the air?
How will I know if humor is one of your senses
or if the shoes you wear have traveled far?
I want to know what made you grow
and what kept you stagnant
what made you smile
and what made you weep
If you stay on one side
and I the other
how would I ever be
enlightened?
Dive into My Center – #writephoto
image by Kerfe at https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/2018/06/29/waves/
Dive into my center
past the bog of obstacles,
the sharp edges,
the pointed arrows.
Peel this artichoke
layer by layer
leaf by leaf
through tiny thorns.
See past the choke
into the light
of my waiting heart.
To Taste the Smells of Distant Shores
To taste the smells of distant shores
contents of wares within wooden crates
heaved on sturdy shoulders
to reach my hand between the wooden slats
and feel the relics
like silk between my fingers
those tastes of memories.
To taste the smells of distant shores
teas and spices peddled by steadfast merchants
exotic oils purified and funneled into blue glass bottles
the dusty threads of ancient Persian carpets
woven by still, sure hands
the taste of skill and craftsmanship
of those who came before.
I want to taste the smells of distant shores
the ports of entries open
for senses to rouse
for eyes to open
in harbors safe
a saving grace
exposure to
the new.
Plethora of Life #WritePhoto
Why?
Why did they leave?
Was time too short to leave footprints in the sand
or did they level the playing field to erase proof of their presence?
Did they call to me before bidding adieu
when my ears remained distant?
Discouraged I’m not.
Beneath the sea
A plethora of life.
Farewell, Poet, And the Seasons will Mend
And now September burns the careful tree
That builds each year the leaf and bark again
With solemn care and rounded certainty
That nothing lives which seasons do not mend.
…
The young are never robbed of innocence
But given gold of love and memory.
We live in wealth whose bounds exceed our sense,
And when we die are full of memory.
by Donald Hall
Mr. Hall died last Saturday, June 30th. He was 89.
read the tribute here
Karma for Snobs?
The day Miss Vivian was thrown off her high horse,
people didn’t look so small anymore.
– by C. Dennis-Willingham
Is Bias always Bias?
If you live in the United States of America, you know what happened. If you don’t, let me recap.
This is our current sitting president, Donald J. Trump.
image credit
Some people like him. Some people loathe him.
This is Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She is the president’s press secretary.
image by Flora Thevoux
Some people love her. Some people loathe her.
Recently, Sarah went with her family to dine at The Red Hen Restaurant.
When discovered who she was, the management politely asked her to leave.
Why? Because they hated who she represents. They hated her ideals and her defense of Trump.
Now here’s the opinion part.
I am not a fan of our president. In fact, I can’t wait for the day he leaves office. I hate his disregard of our global community and his arrogant, self serving ways. Not to mention his lack his moral and ethical standing.
I am also not a fan of a person who chooses to defend him. But, unfortunately, it’s Sarah Huckabee Sanders job.
But here’s the deal. How many people have been denied service because of their ethnicity, their religious beliefs, their sexual preferences? Too many.
Historically, denying service to those we don’t agree with has been proven wrong. It defies our civil liberties.
If you are a conservative Republican racist, heed those words. But not just because SHS was booted out of a restaurant. Apply it to all people.
If you are a card-carrying liberal, do the same.
After decades of discrimination, current anti-discrimation laws say you cannot refuse service based on race, color, religion or national origin. Other than that, a restaurant can refuse service to anyone. HOWEVER, they must be consistent. For example, No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service must apply to everyone. Therefore, in The Red Hen’s case, it would only have been “appropriate” to ask Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave if they had a “No Trump Supporters Served” policy.
Yes, discrimination is discrimination. Let’s stand taller than our hate.
If I owned The Red Hen, I would have allowed her family to eat in my establishment. But, no doubt, I would pulled Ms. Huckabee Sanders aside and asked her a few pointed questions.
But if the president himself knocked on the door to my private home? I’d double lock the doors and close the shades.
– Carolyn Dennis-Willingham
Learning Why I Wander
I wonder why I wander
in this forest thick sans light
how the birds can fly above it all
peering down upon this “sight.”
What must they think of us below –
– this self-discovery mass –
who struggle dusk to dawn each day
to fly a life first class?
But I will not give up this path
dark or light, while restless
for awed discovery of things unknown
makes this wanderer breathless.
