Can we strive for that

“ancient, antiquated code”;

integrity and honor?

~

We have to start to

recognize that winning is 

not everything; how matters.

When the stress adds up

and you’re already down, what

gets you to the median?

~

Overcoming stress

under every circumstance,

takes more than average effort.

Weighing benefits

between conflicting view points

seeing deficits in both

~

Weighing both sides for

deficits and benefits?

You must not be from Fox News.

“By their fruits you shall

know them” and we do. Rotten,

they cling to decaying trees.

~

Fetid they shall fall,

all in the fullness of time,

intoxicating the worms.

Ahh… futility

howling into the abyss

begging for any reply.

~

Sometimes the reply

can’t be heard over our own

  ravenous howling.

Just how many laws

will be broken and ethics

breached before justice is done?

~

Every narcissist

knows neither ethics nor laws

apply to their lofty selves.

All journeys begin

from another journey’s end;

so where are we now?

~

So often we have

no idea where we are,

beginning, middle, or end.

With the kids going

back to school, what is it we

adults have to learn?

~

Learning never stops

as long as neurons fire

and your mind remains open.

What feeds an ego

more than blind obedience

and unflagging loyalty?

~

Fast food and slow thought,

lots of folk that can be bought,

enough tension to keep things fraught.

It’s true a smile

speaks a thousand words as we

saw at her bedside today.

~

Smiles speak volumes;

that much is true, but laughter

transcends all language.

By the light of day,

in its harsh, unvarnished, truth,

every imperfection shines.

~

Once reality

takes hold, we can begin to 

fashion realistic plans.

Today’s reminder-

Give thanks for ordinary

things we may take for granted.

~

When the world can change

at any given instant,

NOW may be the time we have.

Some people could use

an attitude adjustment

on an hourly basis.

~

Only hourly?

I won’t mention any names,

but try second by second!

Now he said it, now

he didn’t – what are we to

make of all these shifts?

~

Transitory truth

makes the journey… interesting;

navigation sans compass.

Remember when you

could disagree with someone

and still treat them with respect?

~

Those halcyon days

that only exist in our

memories and dreams?

What would you say are

some strong indicators of

thoughtful leadership?

~

Thoughtful leadership

is presaged by sentience

and a modicum of grace

Inscribed on paper,

a few simple black markings

can change the course of history.

~

We fervently hope

those who make those markings treat

all creation with respect.

Family gatherings –

when we all come together

and we sometimes wonder why

~

While we’re pondering

this self-flagellation,

have another glass of wine.

Will they ever learn?

If they want to dodge the tongue,

they just need to do their job!

~

Spoken as only

one who has met the tongue and

lived can tell the tale.

Any words to help

parents get through these last few

days of a rainy summer?

~

Unless your children

are actually witches,

rain will not melt them.

The “unitary

executive”: code word for

an autocratic despot.

~

“Fake news”: the code word

for uncomfortable truths such

“executives” can’t abide.

It wasn’t what was

said, it was the way it was

said that made my day lighter.

~

Often silence speaks

much more loudly and clearly

than some insincere mumble.

Air filled with portent,

intangible voltages

seeking easy paths to ground.

~

Those who know lightning

can strike twice are following

Trump’s explosive tweets.

Equanimity 

sometimes appears unsought if

we apply what we’ve been taught.

~

Since adversity

teaches how not to react,

some deserve Masters Degrees.

Bathed in their hatred,

must we muster compassion

as they call us sub-human?

~

If we see the pain

beneath their hatred, we’ll bathe

in our shared humanity.

Red in tooth and claw –

a description of D. Trump’s

new Republican Party?

~

Evolution, friends,

only happens under stress;

a Phoenix from the ashes?

Gently falling rain,

now and then, punctuated

by sight obscuring downpours.

~

Those sight obscuring

downpours have served as a meme

for Trump’s presidential tweets.

When name-calling fails,

bullying falters, and tweets

stutter, what comes next?

~

Denial, anger,

bargaining, then depression,

until, at last, acceptance.