Oconomowoc Veterans Park. 9/28/2017

I’ve been thinking
a lot
about war lately,
especially the most important one,
you know what I mean,
the one that happened to us.
I’ve been thinking
about bravery,
and fear,
how the absence of one
does not define the other.
I’ve been thinking
about how
no one hates war
more than the warrior.
I need not think
too long on this.
It is a given.
It is for sure.
No one hates war
more than the warrior.

When we were kids,
we were oh so serious
about playing war.
We had the leftover helmets
from somebody else’s
most important war.
A few of us had B.B. guns,
most of us used sticks,
pretending to rat-a-tat-tat.

When we were still only teens,
some of us in our twenties,
we were still kids,
even though we thought
we were grown men and women,
just because we were stationed
so far from home.
Some of us,
a very few,
thought we were
still playing war,
though most of us knew,
it was a deadly serious game.

Now that we are older,  
even old,
we know
how foolish we were.
How silly of us to think
any of it was ever a game.

So yes, my brothers and sisters,
the only war that seems to matter
is the one we fought in.
All warriors have this understanding.
All veterans have this agreement.
There have been so many wars,
yet only one was the worst.
Because it happened to us.
So many battles,
so many dead and wounded,
even when there was nothing to win.

My brothers and sisters
did not then,
do not now,
fight for territory,
nor for some higher authority,
maybe not even for the nation,
nearly never.

My brothers and sisters,
my comrades,
fought and still fight for each other,
keeping their pledge,
abiding by their oath,
Operating with ruthless honor.
They fought and still fight together,
protecting the living
and attending to their higher duty,
remembering the dead.

I love them,
I appreciate them,
I honor them.
Even when
I have not met them,
I know them,
my brothers and sisters,
the veterans.

I don't believe 

everything I think. 

Sometimes,

I'm just out

of focus.

—

A leap of faith is

not a jump from A to B.

It's a jump from A.

—

When I tell people

what I want,

someone always

helps me

get to it.

—

I try to be kind,

a loving husband,

even when 

I'm not easy.

—

Don't fear.

Drink a bottle of 

"not me, not today",

and get after it.

—

The truth

versus that which

we want to be true. 

Both require courage.

—

I am centered

in the joy

of being alive. 

Peace of mind

is mine.

—

It's hard to have

a happy month.

A happy moment

is doable.

—

I am now at peace

with my past.

Present moment, 

wonderful moment.

—

Although I saw the play,

I will probably watch 

Ken Burns' depiction.

—

It's the

Autumnal equinox.

Day and night,

in perfect harmony

Two for Thursday

When I cherish and

tend to others,

my own problems 

soon disappear.

------------------------

Aid the

conscious evolution 

of humanity.

Light a candle

A weather poem

Why yes, I am just fine,

no I haven’t lost my mind,

and this morning’s time will bide,

dry and comfy here inside.

For months we’ve been imploring

for rain, please God, let it be pouring,

when in my living room’s safe mooring

I can be reading, writing, snoring.

We live in the nation’s Finest City,

so it's really quite a pity,

that to our couch we tether

when we get a little weather.

Nonetheless, it would be nice

to have some droplets (never ice).

Understand, I'm not complaining,

I'd just prefer it to be raining.

9/11

I get happy endings

in life when 

I don't stop

before they arrive.

-----------------------

Today, I plan

to listen,

Really listen. 

So,

feel free to talk.

---------------------

Today I plan 

to be quiet. 

No talking

will be necessary.

--------------------

Today I plan

to observe

without reaction.

I'm better that way. 

--------------------

Today I plan 

to pay close attention

to all of the

little things.

--------------------

I can only really

please one person 

per day.

Today,

I choose me.

--------------------

Sometimes I still get

angry, but then I tell myself,  

nope, not today.

--------------------------

Expressing gratitude

as soon as I wake up 

brings me happiness.

--------------------------

Appreciating the Grace

I live in 

helps me sleep. 

throughout the night.

--------------------------

"I am beautiful" 

is not about my face, 

not about my body.

--------------------------

Even when I avoid

the truth,

it sits their,   

calmly,

waiting for me.

----------------------

Less perfection

and more authenticity.

That's my goal. 

No!

I failed!

----------------------

Call me an idiot.

I would welcome that.

I like an empty mind.

September begins

It's a good idea
for a poem
to rest awhile,
until ready.

__________________

Simple pleasures
bring me happiness.
A malt with whipped cream.
What a joy.

__________________

Calling a friend,
just being there,
simple acts of kindness.
Heavenly.

___________________

Each day
I have the chance
to be happy,
to enjoy the life
I chose.

____________________

Cooking with wine
is way more fun
than trying to
do it soberly.

____________________

When bad things happen,
they pass.
When amazing things happen,
they pass too.

_____________________

I don't believe
everything happens
for a reason.
Some things just are.

_____________________

When I can't figure
how something works,
I assume
it's simply magic.

_____________________

If you would be happy
for the rest of your life,
create a garden.

_____________________

You can't score
by kicking into
your own net.
Even children
know this