Self-Serving Survivors

life bends its will towards survival
creatures large and small agreed
implanted at birth, self-reliance
teach the offsprings well - instinctive
nurturing their young at all costs
not too proud to share or protect,
take what you need no more
live and let live philosophy
no musical serenades - just love
in an unconditional way...
fight or flight fantasies loom
on nature's spectrum, letting others
know when to abandon the claim,
moving on to nearby lands.
life bends no will for humans,
taking more than always needed
exercising control over survival
may the best man lose today.
wheels, deals, and negotiations
are the crust of our daily breads,
only a few sit on top of the hill
dictating to others how to live
their poor lives well...
not caring if they live or die
as long as they pay the rent.
casualties of greed at the very least
exercising our wills to be stupid,
manifesting our destiny in garbage cans
as his will be done in graveyards.
we are not what nature intended
neither on good nor bad days,
we are what we taught ourselves
wondering why it's a global crisis.

June 28, 2025

Independant Celebrations

dogs and burgers on the grill
easy reminder of freedom
chicken and beef as well
healthy does not matter
pig picking in the south
the menu of no concern there,
memories still in fashion
reflect on what it means,
wars are never kind to those
who unfortunately had to die.
corn cobs wrapped in foil
down in the coals lie,
holders at the ready on the table,
umbrellas block the sun while
fans stir the atmosphere
lingering close to the ground,
Frisbees fly from hand to hand
dogs of different sizes run in
circles after their tails as 
tales of service told by veterans.
paper clothes cover the tables
bowls of beans, salads and casseroles
sit atop the red, white, blue colors.
music plays on smarter devices
powered by the sunshine and
bags of ice rest in coolers waiting
for their turn in glasses...
a welcomed retreat planned for
every year, regardless of the weather,
regardless of politics, ignoring
the hatred that permeates the land.

June 28, 2025

Falsely Accused

alone
we stand or sit,
dedicated
we are or are not,
perfected
we might be,
irrational
we have become,
masochistic
we are not or maybe
not for sure anymore,
rampant
we have become,
premeditated
juries say we were
imprisoned
remaining are we today,
forgiveness
we don't prescribe,
termination
for which we are bound,
remembering
will be no one anymore.

June 27, 2025

Bad Actors

beyond the fringe of rationality

below the scope of indifference

beneath death's desire overridden

between the curtains of deception

we live in a world of neutrality

beckoning beacons bursting forth

with a natural need for compassion,

deep roots hold onto the truth 

like snapping turtles clinging

onto their limited lives inside a

manmade country fishing pond;

winds of complacency blow away

all uncollected evidence as if they

were drawn here by some unseen

benign force of nature, prowling

on the festivities of self-reliance, 

curling up their noses at the smell

pasture dung brought back by

wandering bovines behaving with

airs of independence formerly

associated with French expatriates.

southern traditions, lingering

delinquent habits resurfacing when

bad actors are elected to office.

June 27, 2025 

 

Counselling Fragments

as long as needed, friendships last

similarly with marriages, it seems,

witches and wizards stroll down streets

similarly with beggars I am told,

life in the south spoils those

visiting from the north who look

down their noses without spectacles,

silent animosity builds the nation

that lost its founding fathers

somewhere on the train that ran

aground in our electric land...

tips on the table for good or bad

hired help follows out the door

when it doesn't match service

rendered inside - pursuant to no

law posted on the menus...

governors and mayor clash on

Wall Street every time the voters

favor their opposition - mini strokes

are they having - none really care.

pitchers stand inside the diamond

that are a woman's best friend

wondering which curve will take

them to the series and which one

will send them home to babysit,

clowns from the circus escaped

leaving breadcrumb trails, wishing

the bulls weren't as mean as before,

unsure of their motives as they

stand in line at the recruiting station.

June 26, 2025

Undeniable Relentlessness

unknown destinations
loom on the horizon,
un-encounters and
explorations...
tree-top locations,
mountain caves,
seaside adventures;
risk-takers we become
death seekers some,
jumping and diving
like it was meant to be,
insurance claims filed
subsequently denied;
think, plan, and create,
Michelangelo mindset,
filtered by the audience
and expectations...
just perform some say
without cognition or
dampened spirits,
thrills seeking thrills
addiction, craving, and
rehabilitation pursued;
boundless energy even
the aged participate...
keenly are we eyed out
sought and procured
bringing to the market
undeniable relentlessness.

June 25, 2025

Silver Silence Instead

silence claws its way 
through my head
deep breathing exercises
willful and with intent
premeditative malice
snagging a consciousness
from the banks of memory
along its pathways...
penetrating and probing
at first blush or first glance
it matters not as it drills
down into the decayed
tooth, wanting extraction.
proof of ownerships is
always required leaving
everyone standing at the
corner for the next bus.
silence takes the elevator
down to the next level,
hoping reason and logic
await its arrival...
mercy stands on the shore
of remorse, believing
talking is required before
defoliation and the drug that
always plays well with
sixties memories...
silence craves endorsements
and remarks on the limited
edition print mean nothing
if one is not familiar with
the mindset of an artist.

June 24, 2025

Summertime

heat waves off the pavement rise
weather dome overhead
outside workers stay beware
your time comes and goes too soon,
babies stay inside this week
too weak to leave outside
mothers prepare iced cold drinks
that keep their youngsters alive,
medicines from the cabinets
don't ward off the oppressing heat
cool rooms and ceiling fans
are now all on automatic...
temperatures soar into the hundreds
beach goers remain inside water,
umbrellas without a gentle breeze
are no match for mother nature...
old folks sitting on the porch
remarking of the olden days have
no idea of the danger created
by their unofficial protesting,
remaining because they're covered,
shades pulled down in back
curtain closed together in front
whirlies on sides of both walls
grandma in the middle...
summer bends its will early and we
learn how to take shelter...
no one casts doubt over the warning.

June 23, 2025

Enemies Within

screams emitted from the pores
of our soul reverberate through
night's essence, subtle and
somewhat endearing, crisscrossing
through Pandora's box, motivated
by an incessant desire, mission
critical noise, largely ignored...
perils of Pauline resurface,
discovering doctor Who and
the realms of possibilities...
hidden in the vaults of time are
the secrets desperately desire
by the creations once divine,
we serve loyalty not subservience 
or cluster communities of false
empathy for the less possessed.
children indoctrinated on crime
freely roam of streets of failure
looking to score the next hit,
encouraged by grandparents who
want them out of the house...
associations of a similar kind
flock to empty rooms, seeking
justice for their thoughts that
reverberate throughout the valley
like some weather phenomenon.
fearful of our past, we cling onto
a tentative future that covers more
holes than an auditorium when the
tickets are reasonably priced.
we fuel our rocket desires with
Viagra substitutes, preying on those
who did not make the sports team
while negotiating treaties with the
enemies of all our recent enemies.

June 22, 2025

Peaceful Harmonies

light's umbrella encompasses silently
overhanging trees interlocking branches
nests of birds safely situated aloft
squirrels at the base rest carefully
bullfrogs adopt an abandoned pond
resting on lily pads for the Koi,
flat rock paths form boundaries
around and through water flows
fresh water recirculated daily
shadows in the trees attract the
artist's eyes in watercolors
framed and hanging on walls...
chairs and tables line the perimeter,
in the heat of the day occupied,
random are the cooling breezes 
penetrating the landscape
as if taking it own ownership
renting to neighborhood visitors 
paying homage to it calm beauty,
resting in its abstract isolations
are the soldiers who had sustained
a life of quiet restraint and mental
solidarity with their survivor blues.

June 21, 2025