Stones shattered // scattered
Revealing Earth’s upheaval
Iron-powdered sandstone
Ocean waves grind away cliffs
Even Rocks crumble with time
***
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Shattered
change
Fossil Fuel
Fossil Fuels made the steel that built this country. The coal fields of South Western Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were rich in bituminous coal. Miners labored long hours in dark mines to extract the coal from the land. Steam trains carried it to the Steel Mills of Pittsburgh, where some of the best steel in the world was manufactured. But, as with everything else, times have changed. Climate change is bringing an end to the coal mining era, leaving many people of rural Appalachia wondering how they are going to feed their families. With the winds of change comes the push for solar and wind to replace coal. So what do we tell the people of rural Appalachia??
Bluefield coal train
Steam engine labors upgrade
Only songs remain
***
Miners dangerous decent
Forgotten // lost in the wind
Painting by Dwight L. Roth
Sand
Mountains majestic / rising tall above us all
Solid and strong they stand immovable.
Until shaken, they crumble and tumble;
their strength broken and their high position
brought low, scattered across the landscape.
You see, mountains are simply rocks waiting to crumble…
Even the tallest mountains turn to sand in time.
Sand is the great equalizer!
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Trojan Horse
The political debates rage on
Nasty politics as usual
Twists of truth filled with lies;
and we believe…
what we have already set in our minds
But, with every election
there come a Trojan Horse;
One of beauty and promise
captivating the minds of believers;
Promising they are on you side
The Trojan Horse of politics
doesn’t come sculpted in wood or stone;
Rather, ladened with sculpted words
carved and shaped to entice…
Believing there is nothing within them
that would change or harm us
Don’t be swayed by outward words.
Look deep into the sculpted belly
of hidden agendas and dark money;
Into the self-centered soul of the beast (politics)
that in the end will burst open
disillusion // and destroy us all!
Crossroad
We are at a crossroad of the mind
Not of dirt and gravel // asphalt or cement
Rather, a crossroad of thinking…
One that permeates our being.
Elections are not about the man or woman
They are about a mindset
A way of thinking that affects attitudes and actions.
It is so easy to get lost in the superficial
Age, gender, personality, party, or politics;
But it is much deeper than that…
Elections are crossroads of the mind;
Forever changing the landscape of thinking;
Changes that cannot be reversed only adjusted.
Elections often come with lies and broken promises;
Expectations that repeatedly remain unfulfilled
Leaving us disillusioned at the next crossroad.
Remember, you are not choosing a person
You are choosing a mindset for the future.
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Head Banging
Watching change taking place in my lifetime makes me conclude that it doesn’t happen quickly. Seems like paradigm shifts are happening all around, demanding immediate changes in society. History shows us it may take awhile.
Ocean’s white head slams
Against solid rocks of time
Change happens slowly
White foam creates a big splash
Hard heads take time to erode
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
What Lies Beneath
Invisible lines
Demarcations of the heart
Oblivious to some
Rigidly held by others
Impositions for many
Deadly for others
Marked // labeled // branded for life
Cast systems remain
Rivers of entitlement
Flow just beneath the surface
Paradigm shift starts
Parana of injustice
Caught from time to time
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
I used a repeated Tanka format for this poem.
Bottom Leaf
In an everchanging world, I find myself struggling with the way in which things are moving! Life goes on whether I want to come along or not. As I watch the struggles of social groups and see the injustice that has long plagued our country’s history, I wonder where we are headed. History like politics has very dark times. We can embrace it, be offended by it, or attempt to deny it, but it will always be there. As the next generation comes on, I hope they learn from history instead of repeating it. I pray that we can all learn to live with each other, allowing for our differences in values and beliefs without feeling like we need to impose ours upon everyone around us. Uniqueness has always been our strength!
Sometimes I feel like the bottom leaf of a plant
Birthed from seed // providing sustenance for a time;
Now eclipsed by more recent growth rising above…
Providing new solar sources to feed from…
Obsolete // no longer making that much difference.
Never meant to shine or blossom // I’ve done my job…
Supporting // nurturing new growth and change;
Yet, now that life has grown beyond me,
I am here // drying up at the bottom of the stalk
while growth and reproduction of values and thought
happens above me // in a world very different from mine.
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Learning From Children
Racism, hate, and discrimination are all learned from the example of adults who show these attitudes. Children don’t think about skin color or ethnic roots. They just see one another as God sees us, full of love and acceptance. Perhaps adults could learn a lesson from their children.
Sweet friends full of love
Not bothered by skin color
Love begins at home
***
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Choices
It pains my heart to see the way one policeman’s deadly action has reopened the door to division and strife that has been stewing for years in the United States. Peaceful protests are very much in order, but the violence of opportunistic looters and destructive vandalism in no way honors the memory of George Floyd. How can one call for respect when their actions show otherwise. The lack of wisdom and understanding in this situation is very disheartening!
Choices affect everyone;
changing the course of a nation
Choices are the difference between life and death;
altering the lives of everyone around us.
Wise choices lead to life…
“Above all, seek wisdom and understanding…” Proverbs
Painting: Dwight L. Roth
