Tribute to a Lost Friend: Honoring Cynthia Young

In the face of emotional suffering, physical pain or infirmity and the loss of loved ones, I keep trying to make sense of living. One way I attempt to do this is through writing. If I can bring some solace to others by something I have written, then I have helped give life some meaning … Continue reading Tribute to a Lost Friend: Honoring Cynthia Young →

What Happens After You Die

https://youtu.be/OtyYwzvI3TY?si=PFlTMp9Hn6ZS00KD If you are like me, curious about what happens to you after you die, I recommend this video to you. This woman describes many of the things that happen to her when she died. She passed away at home and then came back to life to share her story, as she was told it … Continue reading What Happens After You Die →

Can You Help Me?

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com Why do I read the news so frantically, with such desperation? I am searching for a story that will tell me everything will be all right That the death of innocents, of children and old people, has some meaning That war isn’t senseless and stupid after all I am … Continue reading Can You Help Me? →

Scorching Hot

Sun shades pulled down No plans to go to town Sitting under the ceiling fan Doing nothing special It’s like another pandemic But really much worse No vaccines to bring relief I wonder how the homeless cope Or people without air con or fans? Many fish have already died Hundreds have washed up on a … Continue reading Scorching Hot →

For The Moroccans

I originally wrote this poem for Syrians and Turks who suffered under a devastating earthquake. Now Morocco is facing a similar fate. Photo by Umit Bektas/Reuters Seizing Shaking Crying Dying God in Heaven Is this what you envisioned for us? Pain Suffering Loss Death How do we go on? Sometimes We'd rather not Admiring, perhaps, … Continue reading For The Moroccans →

News-Following Ambivalence

By Nancy Klein Collage of headlines from newspapers. IStock photo. Diving into the black hole Of news Wanting to read about the war And yet Not wanting to know Of the latest catastrophe-- Slaughter of innocents Destruction of homes and businesses Lives ruined when mortars hit families Easier to read a novel, perhaps? Pretend it … Continue reading News-Following Ambivalence →

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 →

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 →

US leaving “Graveyard of Empires.”

Lesleigh Coyer in front of the grave of her brother, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Coyer, at Virginia's Arlington National Cemetery in March 2013. He died of complications from an injury sustained in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been called the "graveyard of Empires." The British tried to take over the country twice and failed. The Russians also … Continue reading US leaving “Graveyard of Empires.” →

For the Three Million and for Those Who Remain

“More than three million people have died from Covid-19 since the first cases surfaced more than 14 months ago and upended life for people across the globe.” —NY Times The silent killer continues its work. First it stalked the old and infirm and people with underlying conditions. Now it has come on strong to snatch … Continue reading For the Three Million and for Those Who Remain →