Earth Day

Oh Beautiful for smoggy skies, insecticided grain, 

For strip-mined mountain’s majesty above the asphalt plain.

America, America, man sheds his waste on thee,

And hides the pines with billboard signs, from sea to oily sea

-George Carlin

We are all guilty of it in some way or another, it is our way of life and there is no turning back.  We do what we have to do to live as active members of society.   Airplanes and automobiles have become a necessity making highways and oil necessities as well.  An increase of the population leads to an increased need for housing developments, bring on the bulldozers.   Thousands upon thousands of gallons of oil are leaked, devastating the environment.  I watch the news in sadness, but I make my daily trip to the gas pump just the same. 

 I often dream of leaving society to go live in the wilderness as far off the grid as I could possibly get.   I would hunt, fish, and farm for my sustenance.   I would wear clothes made by my own hands out of the hemp that I grow and the game I kill.   My horse and my feet would be my only mode of transportation.  I would spend my days soaking up the peace and beauty of God’s creation, living in harmony with nature.   I dream, yet I stay.  I stay to make the money that I hate by building the housing developments and pouring the concrete that destroys the nature that I love.  I stay to fight the wars that determine rights to the natural resources that we abuse.  I stay to pay the taxes that make the highways and the dams possible.  It is our way of life and there is no turning back.

We are destroying the earth, it is inevitable.  It’s a good thing this is only a temporary home.  While the destruction may be unavoidable, it can be slowed.  My carpet will eventually be ruined but I will continue to vacuum it until it is.  This earth is our home and it is our responsibility to keep it clean.  We can’t change the way we live completely to protect the environment, but we don’t have to be disgusting either.  We can still hold oil companies and the like accountable for their mishaps, just as we can hold ourselves accountable for ours.  We can still strive to improve on the way we do everyday things, and we can protect the nature that we have left.   Recycling, reducing waste, and never littering are all small ways to positively affect the environment in a huge way.   We can keep it in our minds every day and remind ourselves and each other not to be disgusting.

The Mind

My mind drifts; it floats, it wanders

It soars, it questions, and it ponders

I travel all space and time

In the labyrinths of my mind

It sees the beauty of the plains and trees

Of happiness, of truth, of love

It rejoices in all the victories

That I have in my God above

It’s peaceful when it’s been renewed

It is violent when it’s not

It is eager to learn all things new

And all that it’s forgot…

Brutal battles break each day

Personalities fighting for control

Casualties in the carnage lay

In the murky darkness of my soul

In combative contrast they collide

The darkness and the bright

Will the iniquities be justified?

Will the valiant win this fight?

Once again the intrepid win

But the struggle is not finished

Malice and sin will return again

When their armies have been replenished

In its countless caves and catacombs

My mind buries secrets deep

Never will they leave their tombs

Forever they will sleep

It may be burdened but it is free

It seeks beauty, wisdom, knowledge

It learns from everything I see

The universe is my college

My mind drifts; it floats, it wanders

It soars, it questions, and it ponders

I travel all space and time

In the labyrinths of my mind

National Poetry Month

I have been meaning to get back to writing on the ol' blog for some time now, but due to recent events my life has been somewhat hectic.  To tell the truth it actually calmed down about a month ago but thats when I encountered another problem.  After so long without posting I just didn't know where the hell to start.  Thank you National Poetry Month. 

People are generally pretty suprised when they find out that I love poetry.  Now that I think about it people are usually suprised when they find out that I write...or that I know how to read.  I guess I just don't strike most people as that "type".  Thats just me I guess, I don't fit into a "type". 

I do enjoy poetry.  It's all the beauty and pain of life wrapped up into eloquence and rythm.  Good poetry defines the human mind and explores the human soul.  It allows us to express ourselves as individuals and gives us insight into the hearts of others.

I have always had a passion for words.  By themselves they don't look like much, but put those words together right and they will flow beautifully off the page, seeping into the readers heart and mind to never be forgotten.  They can convey our deepest emotions and desires.   They can persuade and convince.   They can inspire change, they can start revolutions.  Most people don't realize the power that words hold.

I love the way words can be pieced together to make somethething beautiful, especially in poetry.  Poetry has that lyrical swagger that no other form of writing can compare to.  It moves rythmatically across the page, dancing its way into our minds.  It evokes a sense of freedom and sincerity in us.  Poetry is the language of our heart.