We are of One Blood

When self-preservation

at all cost

overrides our understanding

of humanity,

Ideologies arise

blinding us to the truth

that we are all of

One Blood

that pumps

through our veins

interchangeable

with you or me

regardless of color

race or ethnicity,

Life-saving blood

revealing

that we are all one

in the midst of

our diversity,

but not exclusive

in value

or superior in

entitlement.

We are humanity

created in the image

of our creator

Spiritual channels

of light

in the darkness

We are hope and comfort…

not death and destruction.

*

My sad condolences to the people of Buffalo whose family members were attacked and killed yesterday by a raving lunatic who thought his humanity was greater in value than the lives of others who were different from him.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Make a Difference

What good is knowledge if it moves no one to action

The spouting of words and details that leave one wondering

Saving the words preserving the truth holds little value

without real life application and motivation for change

*

What good is rhetoric, going on and on, yet going nowhere

Outlining, detailing facts that leave us in confused limbo

Futuristic admonitions that leave us wondering, “So what?”

A lifeless dust storm of theories full of gritty residue

*

What good is history if we never learn from it

Generations cycling through life like hamsters in a cage

Looking back but never seeing, listening but never hearing

Doomed to repeat what we vowed would never happen again

*

Are the answers simply blowing in the winds of change?

Is change just one step forward and two steps back?

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Sand… or Gold?

Truth will set you free…

Sales-pitches creates blinders

Like panning for gold

One must wash away the sand

To find small nuggets of Truth

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Lillian gave us several proverbs and adages to choose from to write a poem. I chose “The truth will set you free… from John 8:32.

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Stony Rubbish

Stony Rubbish

Jim loved going up to Old George’s house to visit. George waved when he saw Jim coming up the lane on his mountain bike. Old Blue bounded off the porch, barking with joy, as Jim arrived.

“Hi George” “Hi Old Blue!”

“Hello Jim, come on up, sit on the swing awhile!”

Jim plopped down on the swing, while Old Blue lay down by George’s feet as he rocked in his old rocking chair.

“I guess you heard about the Presidential Election coming up in November? Jim said.

“Oh, don’t get me started,” George replied. “Back in my day you could take a man at his word. These days it is all meaningless political nonsense!”

“What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow out of this stony rubbish?”

“Seems all of them will say most anything to get elected. Truth and integrity are lost.”

***

Today at d’Verse, Mish asked us to use a line from T.S.Elliot’s poem, The Wasteland, and write a Prosery piece. It is flash fiction and must be 144 words that includes the line: “What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow out of this stony rubbish?”

I decided to continue my story with Old George and Jim, this time addressing politics.

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Reflections on the Easter Perspective

Some folks have a hard time believing the Easter story. The resurrection of Jesus found in the gospels gives the account from different writer’s perspectives. You might think that creates contradictions and therefore cannot be true. Others say that since there is no historical record of these happenings, other than the Biblical account, that it is just Christian mythology.

I believe getting lost in the details causes one to lose focus and misses the real message in the Easter story. Easter is about God’s love for all of us, and the belief that he would do what ever it takes to show us that love. Jesus shows us that there is a way to move beyond our self-centered way of thinking to a renewing of the mind… a rebirth of Spirit if you will. Our connection to God is not to some far off being, but rather found in His image and Spirit that dwells within our souls. It is through Jesus’ life and teachings that we can see the Father and find that personal connection to the Living God.

Telephoto

Focusing takes out

all the background distraction

Sees subject only

drawing in a sharp clear view

finding your true perspective

Violent Ideology

When ideology supersedes the common good

the cause becomes a righteous one;

Rhetoric gets substituted for truth

and action replaces common sense.

*

Trying to guard our constitutional rights

while neglecting our social contract…

“that all men are created equal”…

is a failure of moral responsibility.

*

If we are to survive as a country

we must show one another

respect and dignity

in the face of disagreement.

*

Without cooperation and compromise

our dreams get squelched by violence

as we implode on ourselves…

knowing WE are right!

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

My poem today was inspired by thoughts from John Paul Lederach’s Saturday news letter , The Pause.

John Paul Lederach 
Senior Fellow at Humanity United and Professor Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame University.

Abstract Perception

Life a series of abstract images

Some realistic some absurd

Reality eludes the ideologist

Illusions of truth plague the pragmatist

Do we seek the photo image

Or blurred lines of enhanced color

Abstractions of truth stand alone

In the minds of all who follow

Distortions also stand alone

In media and pulpit

Abstraction better left

To paint slingers and sculptors

Leaving voyeurs of truth

To speculate on what they perceive

And claim it as their own

*****

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Opinion and Truth

A statue of the blindfolded lady justice in front of the United States Supreme Court building as the sun rises in the distance symbolizing the dawning of a new era. – Getty Image

In today’s divided society, with cameras everywhere, no one wants to wait for the system to do its job. We all have our opinions about what we are fed on the News Media. Some believe everything and others believe none of it. Protests and riots occur immediately when incidents happen. When we are given only half of the truth, we tend to accept it as the whole truth. This divides us even more. When opinion becomes truth we are all in trouble.

Social media

Everyone judge and jury

Public Opinion

Tantrums thrown stores up in flames

Not everyone gets their way

Today at d’Verse, Grace asked us to write a protest poem. She emphasized that words and poetry are powerful tool that can help bring about change in our world. I struggle with all division and misinformation that comes across social media. The tragic deaths of black men and women, as well as police officers, and children killed in crossfire disturbs me greatly. Somehow we need to learn to listen to each other and co-operate together to make everyone’s life better. I have written my poem in the Tanka format!

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Who Am I?

Doer of projects large and small… in and outside the box

Writer of poetry, theology, stories, and memoirs

Imaginative, creative // musician, and painter

Giver, helper, fixer, loyal friend // lover, and family man

Happy, hopeful, emotional, compassionate, and disillusionary

Truth seeker, lover of beauty // spiritual thinker

Sit with me awhile

Dialogue truth and beauty

Find spring in winter

Today at d’Verse we were asked to do a Selfie poem! This was one the hardest challenges yet. What does one say about themselves!?? It was very hard to decide what to share, so I did an acrostic and a haiku to sum myself up!

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Click on the Mr. Linkey box to read other poems.

Trojan Horse

Bing photo:

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!