Ukraine to Spain, Our World in Turmoil

By Susan Champion BBC News photo of fighting in Ukraine Somewhere in a Kiev basement A mother cries out Is there a bus leaving soon? Is there a bus leaving soon? Asks the child’s aunt Our homes destroyed, nothing left Our homes destroyed, nothing left No food or water How must we survive here now? … Continue reading Ukraine to Spain, Our World in Turmoil →

Lviv – East West Street

By John Edwards Amazon photo of East West Street book cover LVIV - EAST WEST STREETI have wanted to go to Lviv where national borders movedwithout a citizen crossing a linefrom Poland to Ukrainespeakers of languages doctored by oppressors Third Reich to Stalinand now a new war I want to go to Lvivwalk their streets … Continue reading Lviv – East West Street →

For the Husband Left Behind

https://twitter.com/iaponomarenko/status/1501835567688036352?s=21 My wife and children wanted to leave town to a place of safety from bomb blasts and siren screams Little did I know their lives would end that day When they took a chance to run across the road And ended up dead, lying silent and still in the street Struck down by shrapnel … Continue reading For the Husband Left Behind →

Our “Impossible Times” by Adrienne Maree Brown

Poem as poster we are living in impossible times. if it were fiction it would be critiqued as hyperbolic. if it were nightmares we would never sleep. we are living in times created by our own species. i can’t remember the last time my tears weren’t man-made. it feels like everything is broken. we must, … Continue reading Our “Impossible Times” by Adrienne Maree Brown →

My Heavy Heart

I am retired and no longer have to work So why am I so sad? I am in good health as is my husband So why am I so sad? We have enough money to not worry about the future So why am I so sad? Is the pandemic taking the joy out of living? … Continue reading My Heavy Heart →

Our Neighborhood Pottymouth

The old man in the nursing home screams out obscenities at least once a week His booming voice carries throughout the neighborhood I can hear him 3 blocks away as he screams over and over Motherfucker! Son-of-a bitch I speculate his children put him in this nursing home to solve their "difficult parent" problem But … Continue reading Our Neighborhood Pottymouth →

Passing the Torch

Our older son Alex recently got married to a lovely woman named Nicole. They married in Palm Springs, California. I posted about Palm Springs and our son's wedding last month on my blog. But this month, I wanted to write about how marriage is such a big rite of passage that is inspires many other … Continue reading Passing the Torch →

The Hypocrisy of Texas Politicians

They want to control a woman's womb like in the Handmaid’s Tale They want to encourage vigilantes to report on women who violate the abortion deadline of 6 weeks This kind of Republic of Gilead control is acceptable to them But mandating masks to protect people from a life-threatening illness, a worldwide pandemic.... This kind … Continue reading The Hypocrisy of Texas Politicians →

Shoes of the Little Ones

My God. These are the shoes of children—Sandals, boots and leather footwear Worn by little ones with hopes and dreams for a bright future Innocent boys and girls expecting that their parents would keep them safe None of them realizing that once they took off their shoes, their fate was sealed I am not sure … Continue reading Shoes of the Little Ones →

Alien Nation

I used to love my country. I was proud of it. No more. Constant gun violence and Nothing done about it. Shootings in schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, synagogues and churches, to name a few places struck by senseless violence. So many broken lives. Twenty children slaughtered by a young man with an AR-15 and … Continue reading Alien Nation →