How can we believe

negativity doesn’t 

pay when money’s raised on it?

~

If it bleeds, it leads:

journalistic truism.

Politics is just the same.

Do you have to be

“antisocial” in order

to be “anti socialist”?

~

This is a question

well worth pondering which means

the media won’t.

If Polyanna

and Trump walked into a bar,

what would they each drink?

~

It’s less a matter

of “what”, than whether it can

quench the unquenchable thirst.

How many times do

we turn the other cheek when

we only have two?

~

It’s not the number

of cheeks that count, but rather,

all the turnings that matter.

What do you expect

from life’s giant chocolate box

ever since we lost the lid?

~

I guess there’ll be no

cover-up so at least we’ll

have transparency.

How can we reclaim

misplaced dreams and gently bring

them into reality?

~

Manifestation

of our many dreams, misplaced,

takes all Shiva’s strength and grace.

As days grow longer

And night, increasingly brief,

how can we escape from grief?

~

Be it day or be

it night, there’s no escaping

grief. Give up the flight.

Why is schadenfreude

so much more satisfying

than the kinder mudita?

~

When we are deeply

satisfied ourselves, we grieve

for and rejoice with others.

If we keep singing

do you think the rain will fall

 fast asleep at last?

~

If the tune is right,

falling rain will harmonize

lulling all in blissful sleep.

When vultures circle

patiently above  the maimed,

do we label them evil?

~

A certain Martin

is aptly labeled evil

and is also charged with fraud.

Do you really think

it’s a sign of weakness to

be the first to blink?

~

Some may perceive strength

in those who are slow to blink…

or… it might be Parkinson’s.

How do you assist

those in need of assistance

when they won’t assist themselves?

~

We can offer but

not insist, allowing them

freedom to resist.

Am I daft or not

to hope that mind and heart may

come together and bring peace?

~

Hope is never daft

 but faith won’t guarantee

peaceful unification

Why does sudden snow,

unexpectedly falling,

buoy my spirits upward?

~

Perhaps it takes you

back to times when things were more

simple and a lot more fun.

How can we condone

active acts of violence

and follow the Prince of Peace?

~

Perhaps “free will” means

hypocrisy is a choice

unwise folk are free to make

Can teenage mortals

 ever learn that there’s a vast

realm beyond cell phones?

~

There are realms beyond,

but so many realms within.

With luck they’ll find a balance.

Weekend once again

and yet, will there be a chance

for true rest from our labors?

~

 The solution rests

 on whether we can give our

  accustomed doing a rest.

Now that the new year

is here, what should we do with

the old year just past?

~

Maybe best to wrap

it up in swaddling clothes 

and leave it in a manger.

At Janus’ gateway,

we find ourselves once again:

but what shall we leave behind?

~

Year after year we

resolve to leave things behind 

then  just snatch them up again.

As this year slowly

fades, what causes your poet’s

heart to skip a beat?

~

Diversity breeds

an asynchronous rhythm

when we welcome it inside.

Is it a sad truth

that just the presence of pain

provides us with fresh perspective?

~

Sometimes pain can be

a crowbar that loosens the

old and makes way for the new.

Are we completely

daft to hope that before long

snow will fall and fires warm?

~ 

When hearthfires burn

and winter snows return, 

we will daftly hope for spring.

Sales and Santa sail

off to hidden storage bins;

how to keep that joy within?

~

Ah, and therein lies

the rub for we have to learn

to catch joy on the fly.

It’s the day AFTER

Christmas. Why haven’t the kids

gotten that sleep memo yet?

~

Alas, Boxing Day,

at least within this household,

is no day of servants’ rest.

After record warmth,

perhaps we should consider

spending Christmas down under?

~

I thought the whole point

of Christmas was to help us 

avoid going down under.

It’s the night before

Christmas. Why haven’t the kids

gotten the memo on sleep?

~

You are so old school!

If you want those kids to sleep,

You must email, text, or tweet.

How can one protect

beloved family members

from so poorly misplaced trust?

~

We do our best through

love, vigilance, and prayer,

taking action when we must.

Ok, so there’s no

snow. Are we going to just

be left with those plain red cups?

~

Why go to and fro

over the absence of snow?

Candles set red cups aglow!