Monday, October 12, 2015
Contemplative Division
is it normal
this mindset
the demonstrative fashion
flashy
I thought it punitive
I thought it course grade sandpaper
I thought the wind would whip us bare
I thought nothing- then everything
and I though nothing of it
too many times my thoughts have proven
nothing
I can never stay with a thought long enough
to work it backwards the way you proof long division
math was never my best subject
Michael Allyn Wells (c) 2015
Sunday, October 04, 2015
The Discussion That We Are Not Supposed To Be Having
What do you say after something like this? What can you say that has not been said before?
Another campus/school shooting with 9 victims & one shooter dead. But the devastation doesn't stop there. There were additional victims wounded - some with very serious life altering injuries. Then there are the families. The wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents, aunts & uncles and so on...
Some will argue this is not the time for this discussion. I know this because I have heard it ad-nauseam since 1968 when Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated. That was the year I realized America had a problem with guns. Not simply because of these two deaths, but they shined a light on a growing problem. I began looking at the costs to this country for our easy access to firearms. That problem has only escalated exponentially as the numbers of guns have grown in this country. As concerned as I was back then, I never dreamed it would grow to the level we ave reached today. I believe those who say this is not the time are right. That time has passed and so this means we are late to the discussion. That means it is appropriate to engage in it now.
I realize that the the issue of gun ownership is a nuclear-hot topic. I realize there are people who fear that the government is coming to take their guns. I also realize there are persons who are hell-bent on continuing to propagandize this idea, and even more people paranoid enough about it to take it to heart. This leads to a few observations:
The fact that gun owners look at the issue in the form of absolutes leads to these types of responses to the overall discussion:
I don't want to ban guns. I know we cannot prevent people from killing other individual even from guns or other means. I also know that the law does allow us to make reasonable regulations.
This discussion needs to be had with legislators on state and federal level. We've not really had that discussion in recent years mostly due to political intimidation from the NRA and industry lobbyists.
If gun owners don't want to have the conversation and be a part of the solution (the NRA has already proved it doesn't) then the rest of us need to have it with our lawmakers. I know many gun owners are actually with us. I know the NRA (which one had a positive mission) no longer represents the wishes of many gun owners.
We are no longer at a point where we can just shove this under legislative carpet. This is a violent bloody mess and it has to be cleaned up.
Another campus/school shooting with 9 victims & one shooter dead. But the devastation doesn't stop there. There were additional victims wounded - some with very serious life altering injuries. Then there are the families. The wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents, aunts & uncles and so on...
Some will argue this is not the time for this discussion. I know this because I have heard it ad-nauseam since 1968 when Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated. That was the year I realized America had a problem with guns. Not simply because of these two deaths, but they shined a light on a growing problem. I began looking at the costs to this country for our easy access to firearms. That problem has only escalated exponentially as the numbers of guns have grown in this country. As concerned as I was back then, I never dreamed it would grow to the level we ave reached today. I believe those who say this is not the time are right. That time has passed and so this means we are late to the discussion. That means it is appropriate to engage in it now.
I realize that the the issue of gun ownership is a nuclear-hot topic. I realize there are people who fear that the government is coming to take their guns. I also realize there are persons who are hell-bent on continuing to propagandize this idea, and even more people paranoid enough about it to take it to heart. This leads to a few observations:
- That some pro-gun people/groups/lobbies actually want to perpetuate misinformation about guns in order to keep this nation at each other's throats. They believe as long as some of the most ardent gun owners ate vocal and out toting there guns in public, they control the message.
- That many gun owners look at the issue only in absolutes.
- That the second amendment is the most supreme law of the land and it supersedes any and all other laws.
The fact that gun owners look at the issue in the form of absolutes leads to these types of responses to the overall discussion:
- You want to come at take all our guns away. I know of no serious legislative effort that envisions that. It is not even practical.
- Even with background checks, waiting periods, etc., there will still be deaths. You can't prevent them. This is a very narrow argument and again reflects an absolute ideology. Of course it will not stop all deaths by guns, If it will somewhat stem the tide of gun proliferation it will save lives. If it will keep a firearm out of the hands of someone who should not have a gun, it will save lives. Those saved lives are important even if they are some faceless fixture in this debate. They could be a gun owner's niece, daughter, or other family member. Some will argue that we will be defenseless as a nation. That is what standing armies are for. We had no standing army when the second amendment was written.
- That brings me to the second amendment... Some treat it as an absolute. It is the only license they need to be armed even in public. The second amendment should not supersede another persons right to life and liberty. I'm not advocating it's appeal, but understand that it is an amendment to the constitution (an afterthought) and it could be repealed. The 18th amendment to the constitution was repealed. Further, courts (including the U.S. Supreme Count) have indicated that it is not an absolute and it does not prevent the exercise by government of reasonable controls, restrictions, or regulation. The term "well regulated" is in fact embodied within the amendment.
I don't want to ban guns. I know we cannot prevent people from killing other individual even from guns or other means. I also know that the law does allow us to make reasonable regulations.
This discussion needs to be had with legislators on state and federal level. We've not really had that discussion in recent years mostly due to political intimidation from the NRA and industry lobbyists.
If gun owners don't want to have the conversation and be a part of the solution (the NRA has already proved it doesn't) then the rest of us need to have it with our lawmakers. I know many gun owners are actually with us. I know the NRA (which one had a positive mission) no longer represents the wishes of many gun owners.
We are no longer at a point where we can just shove this under legislative carpet. This is a violent bloody mess and it has to be cleaned up.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Confession Tuesday - I Can See Clearly Now Edition
Dear Reader:
So, it's been one new pair of eyeglasses, five new books, one trip out of town and a week since my last confession.
I confess that I have plenty of new reading material that I am making my way through. I will let you know more about my thoughts on these books soon.
I confess that I have started writing in the Daily Poet Journal that was published by Two Sylvias Press. A year long journal and I am committed to writing a poem a day in it for the next year. It's late tonight, I've been at a baseball game and I still have to write my poem but it will get done yet tonight!
I confess that it was fun visiting Marceline, Missouri the last Saturday. It was a quick trip up and then we drove into Bucklin to visit the grave site of my Grandmother and Grandfather as well as Great Grandfather and his wife. I was especially glad that we added the extra little drive to pay respect to them. Also, we drove by my grandmothers old home. I've known that it was renovated by someone who had purchased it and actually has traded hands a couple of times and additional upgrading done. In a strange turn of events, we met the present owner and he gave us a tour. I was absolutely astonished by what they had done to the house. It grandma and grandpa could see it today they would not believe their eyes.
Tomorrow, I have a dental appointment in the afternoon. I confess that I am feeling yuck about it.
Reading has been so much more enjoyable since I got my new glasses. It's amazing how much difference it makes. I had been getting so tired even just reading short periods of time. That has changes. I confess this has made me so happy and I am very thankful for them.
Until next week, stay safe!
So, it's been one new pair of eyeglasses, five new books, one trip out of town and a week since my last confession.
I confess that I have plenty of new reading material that I am making my way through. I will let you know more about my thoughts on these books soon.
I confess that I have started writing in the Daily Poet Journal that was published by Two Sylvias Press. A year long journal and I am committed to writing a poem a day in it for the next year. It's late tonight, I've been at a baseball game and I still have to write my poem but it will get done yet tonight!
I confess that it was fun visiting Marceline, Missouri the last Saturday. It was a quick trip up and then we drove into Bucklin to visit the grave site of my Grandmother and Grandfather as well as Great Grandfather and his wife. I was especially glad that we added the extra little drive to pay respect to them. Also, we drove by my grandmothers old home. I've known that it was renovated by someone who had purchased it and actually has traded hands a couple of times and additional upgrading done. In a strange turn of events, we met the present owner and he gave us a tour. I was absolutely astonished by what they had done to the house. It grandma and grandpa could see it today they would not believe their eyes.
Tomorrow, I have a dental appointment in the afternoon. I confess that I am feeling yuck about it.
Reading has been so much more enjoyable since I got my new glasses. It's amazing how much difference it makes. I had been getting so tired even just reading short periods of time. That has changes. I confess this has made me so happy and I am very thankful for them.
Until next week, stay safe!
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Book Bonanza in Wednesday Mail
Yesterday mail was exciting. Four books arrived. Pictured to the left is The (hefty) Daily Poet Companion Journal. Yes, I am committing to writing a poem a day for the next year.
On the right is Crush by Richard Siken. I first discovered Siken's work at AWP15 in Minneapolis earlier this year. I've heard a lot of good things about this book and just thumbing through it last night added to my excitement about it.
Below in the left is My Feelings by Nick Flynn. I've read a few poems by Flynn and I have to say that I believe I am going to like this book as well.
And last but not lease is Louise Gluck's Faithful and Virtuous Night. A National Book Award Winner that received much attention earlier this year. (seen below)
On the right is Crush by Richard Siken. I first discovered Siken's work at AWP15 in Minneapolis earlier this year. I've heard a lot of good things about this book and just thumbing through it last night added to my excitement about it.
Below in the left is My Feelings by Nick Flynn. I've read a few poems by Flynn and I have to say that I believe I am going to like this book as well.
And last but not lease is Louise Gluck's Faithful and Virtuous Night. A National Book Award Winner that received much attention earlier this year. (seen below)
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Confession Tuesday - I Dance for Books Edition~
Dear Reader:
It has been untold weeks since my last
confession. I truly have been a fallen-away blog confessor, but I'm back.
I confess that as I write this, I have a
handful of Brach's Peanut Butter Cup Candy Corn. I recall a brochure in
today's mail from my health insurance provider suggesting it would be a good
idea to add just one more veritable a day to our meals. Candy Corn qualifies as
a vegetable. Right?
Since my last confession I attempted to
update my eye glasses, now several years overdue. Upon going to the eye doctor
they decided that I needed some holes in my eyes to relieve pressure to help
prevent angle-closure glaucoma. This procedure was done with laser to make tiny
holes in the iris. This procedure pushed back a couple of weeks getting new
glasses. Now I am awaiting my new ones to arrive any day. I am anxious because
reading with my currently outdated glasses makes my eyes tired and that sucks
when you want to read a good book for very long.
Yesterday, I was elated to receive a copy
of Ada Limon's new book Bright
Dead Things in the mail.
I was first introduced to Limon's poetry a couple years back via an NPR
segment that featured her book of poetry titled, Sharks in The River. I very much loved the title poem
from the book.
As an extra bit of excitement, I saw last
night that Bright Dead Things was on the list for National Book
Awards for Poetry. How cool is that! Congratulations Ada Limon!
I have 4 more books that should arrive
from Amazon tomorrow. I confess that I have become spoiled by Amazon Prime; especially
since I waited over a month recently for a chapbook direct from a press. I
would be on cloud nine if my other books and my new glasses were to both arrive
tomorrow. I think I would be downright giddy with excitement. If you see me
doing the Snoopy Dance, you know they came.
So, I suppose you have heard that Facebook
is getting a Dislike Button. I recall in my early days on Facebook I so wanted
a Dislike Button. Hell, it seems like everyone did. But I grew out of it over
the years. Or, maybe I'm just so tired of the fact everyone seems not to like
this or that, or this person or that person and after a while I just get
drained by all the negativity. I've been an opinionated person all my
life. I suspect I verbalized which baby foods I liked and disliked with great
expression as an infant. Well, it wouldn't surprise me. I've been a politically
active and engaging person since even before I was voter age. I follow issues
especially those on a national and international level. I confess that
this election cycle that is unfolding is one of the harshest I've ever
witnessed. I'm not even talking about "dirty politics." No, what I am
referring to is simply how negative some candidates and voters are in terms of
some hot button issues. With all the various problems facing America today, to
invest such negativity and hate in the direction of immigrants is sickening to
me. This whole mindset has me wondering how likely I am to go nuclear with a Dislike Button.
I confess that I have the cutest little
writing companion curled up on my left. I confess that Madison makes me
smile.... most of the time. ;-)
Until next time ~ be safe & happy!
Sunday, September 06, 2015
Magpie 284 - The Elixir of All Things Living
Magpie 284 writing prompt
Here,
we've come to fullness. We come to the clay shaped
by the hands of God. To folds of earth, to mountains chiseled,
to white vapor on blue linen.
We taste the sky, the earth in alchemy...
salt, the shaker, the maker of all things green.
The sweetness of grass,
the sent of moss,
the raw of iron
and we taste an elixir of something monumental in the air;
sweet nectar of God.
Michael Allyn Wells
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