RSS Feed

Category Archives: Humanity

Strings Attached

Posted on

 

I look at a Facebook photo of a baby sleeping on the indentation of a guitar as his young father strums it quietly. I remember playing the guitar against my protruding belly when I was pregnant for each of my sons. More than sound, this was a bonding between two worlds, still unknown to each other. Love flowed through layers of skin and muscle with every note, every lyric carefully crafted from the wonder, anticipation and unity. This was and is my poetic hum.  I ponder the picture again, slightly worried about this tiny bundle nestled rather precariously in the crook of a wooden instrument. Could she slip off? Possibly…but only into loving arms.

 

love moves beyond walls

love is a constant murmur

love never silent

 

Written for Poetics ~ your poetic hum,

a thoughtful prompt by Gina at dVerse Poets Pub.

Join us!

 

Image credit: pixabay.com

https://www.faithpot.com/guitar-baby-naptime/

 

Captured

Posted on

 

And now she waits on corners, sold

Purity pilfered and pried apart

Silenced by the sting of biting cold

Slapping hands and tainted hearts

 

Purity pilfered and pried apart

Stone clouds creep over indigo skies

Slapping hands and tainted hearts

Repeat – she thinks she’d rather die

 

Stone clouds creep over indigo skies

Bentley slows, and window rolls

Repeat – she thinks she’d rather die

Desperate dreams of an undercover mole

 

Bentley slows, tinted window rolls

Hollow eyes attached to scum

Desperate dreams of an undercover mole

To save her soul, to take her home

 

 

Written for Poetry Forms at dVerse. This is an imperfect pantoum, which has the following pattern of repeated lines….ABCD, BEDF, EGFH, GIHJ.

The statistics for human trafficking are astounding…an issue not limited to particular countries or to females. It breaks my heart that humanity still struggles to evolve.

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Human Equation ~ A Sonnet

Posted on

 

 

 

 

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”  ~A. P. J. Abdul Kalam ~

 

 

Has God given up on us? Does he weep?

I listen for him in the moon shadows

Dew droplets at dawn, in earth’s gentle sleep

 

Where is the light we were born to embrace?

I sift through the compost of dreams rotted

In darkest alleys, I search for His face

 

Why do we build our own prisons of fear?

Humanity’s keys we hold in our hands

Intentions perish with the silt of tears

 

Do we have the right to ignore our own hearts?

Were they not the gifts of the righteous souls?

Far be it for us to tear them apart

 

Stir gently the pot of evolution

Ignite the flame of a resolution

 

 

Written for a special Poetry Form prompt at dVerse. Bjorn starts us off with some helpful information on sonnets and some exciting news! Doors open at 3 p.m.EST.

  I decided to use the structure of a Terza Rima with 4 tercets and a couplet , but I wandered from the rhyme scheme. Mine is  ABA CDC EFE GHG II.  Oh my, perhaps I shall stick to free verse?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nookwezigan (Smudge)

Posted on

 

For many years, I worked on a First Nations reserve. It was part of my job to become familiar with some of the Ojibway language and culture and to promote it within a daycare setting. Native American customs and spirituality have always intrigued me and still do. The legends and rituals shared with me by my co workers opened my mind to other ways of thinking. I admire the simplicity of thought and their many symbolisms of nature.

While attending a Native Early Childhood conference, I chose a workshop involving an outdoor excursion. We slowly climbed a steep, grassy hill, leaving gifts of tobacco along the way for ” the little people”. At the top we rested on large rocks and meditated on a breathtaking view of the valley below.  When we returned to the community center we sat in a circle to be “smudged”. Nervously I anticipated my turn as a seashell with burning sage was passed around the group. I watched as each of my native colleagues stood one at a time, directing the pungent smoke towards their body with beckoning hands. Drawing it close and gently pushing it away. Cleansing themselves of negative energy. I was welcomed into the ceremony, treated no differently than the rest. As I embraced the smoke I believed what they believed. This was healing.

 

bashkodejiibik

i am not Anishinaabe but

mino giizhigad

 

Translation:

sage

i am not native but

it’s a nice day

 

Written for Paul’s poetic prompt, “Medicine” over at dVerse Poets Pub.

 

 

 

RAMblings on Faith

Posted on

 

I’ve lost faith. Not in myself or any one person…but in society as a whole. We’ve truly outdone ourselves, haven’t we? Our power is devouring us. Self-destruction disguised as bits and bytes of betterment. Perhaps once we’ve surrendered the rest of our intelligence to a robotic regime, we’ll cycle back to playing with sticks and rocks. Building our own fires out of boredom ….just to see if we can. History repeats itself. We’ll sharpen our knives again instead of our minds. But will we ever sharpen our awareness? We have only scratched the surface of our abilities to evolve into humanity. On the contrary, we’ve regressed. We’ve even lost faith in friendships, walking on eggshells around social behaviours we’ve already mastered. Texting conversations that freeze, then flow again, with license to ignore as if the norm.

I have faith in potential. Before I allowed video games to sweep my children into a “Call of Duty”, we collected shells on the beach until the sun nestled on the horizon. Clouds were clouds. Facial recognition meant nothing more than counting freckles. Collecting precious smiles that burst into laughter over almost nothing. We traced the shape of the moon as the grass tickled our skin. I remember. They remember.

I have faith in possibilities. I see starving children no longer starving. I see the end of violence. I see lonely people surrounded by love. I see it all because it’s all there waiting for us to create. Much more rewarding, I would think , than superimposing fictional characters into a digital environment. You don’t need goggles. Just a good heart. I do have unwavering faith in God, but I fear he has lost faith in us.

 

lone seagull sets sail

sun waits patiently for more

waters uncharted

 

 

It’s Haibun Monday at dVerse Poets Pub and the topic is “faith”.  You are all welcome to join in. I am pleased to be your host. Doors open at 3 p.m. EST and this poetic prompt is open all week.

Image credit: pixabay.com

Til(l) Now

Posted on

we toil in toxic soil

planting intentions,

nurturing our contemplated

marinated seedlings of hope

and it feels righteous

downright righteous

is this not the path to peace?

when hope dies in the eyes of

the oppressed and forgotten

how many prayers are enough

for the darkness to fade,

for light to be cascaded

over hate so barbaric?

oh but we sing and we say

we are the world

We are compassionate

you…and me

aren’t we?

we must step off of our

overturned garden crates

weed out our own fears

and act

 

Amaya Cranston Engleking has joined our team over at dVerse.  Her poetic prompt for us today is to “write an epigraph poem (not an official form) in which a quote about global peace, social justice, or human rights is embedded”.  I chose the following quote…..

It is not enough to be compassionate – you must act.”- His Holiness The Dalai Lama

 

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shipwrecked

Posted on

 

 

 

We bobble like iron bubbles

Anchored to docks of despair

Waving flags, still bragging

About love of country

Humble hearts whisper

In feathers, doves

But hope does not float

Intentions are stuck in

Stagnant sea scum

Blood flows and God knows

We are tired

 

 

Written for this week’s Quadrille prompt over at dVerse Poets Pub

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

E-volving

Posted on

 

 

“We are all just prisoners here

of our own device.”

Well isn’t that nice….

Robotic, hypnotic little

Sheep grinning, grazing

On bits and bytes of

Techno trash and hashtags

Phubbing our friends

There’s a word for that?

Doesn’t deserve one

We sulk like fools

In our own game

Propagating our own pain

Immunized, mesmerized

Publicized, then wondering why

Our hearts hurt

And our heads are spinning

This is the fork in the road

My friends

The end

Or the beginning

 

 

Hope you enjoyed “Musical Muse”, my offering as a poetic prompt this week at dVerse Poets Pub. Choose some lyrics, preferably one line from a favorite song and grow your own poem from it. You are not limited to the original theme of the song. Instead, forge your own poetic path.

**Quote is from the lyrics of “Hotel California”, The Eagles

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

Flicker

Posted on

 

 

When nightfall finds you

Breathless under muted moon

Your shattered heart fumbling

Tumbling faster than your thoughts

May you count stars instead of tears

Echo the moments, over years

Summon one precious particle

Of light within your soul

Carry on, my friend

Carry on

This life is not over

 

 

Written for dVerse as Paul brings us a beautiful prompt for Poetics, called

“Blessings”

Collaboration for Peace – 52 – Pass it On!

Posted on

We did it!! We set out, 52 poems and photos ago, to collaborate in bringing peace to this cyber-village of poets. In the process we each found a kindred soul and a shared passion that was not bound by borders. Now that we have reached our goal, we are asking you to continue this journey of peace. Reach out to a fellow poet or photographer (amateur or otherwise). Combine your talents to express your thoughts about peace and inspire others to do the same. At the very least, you will challenge each other, and make a meaningful connection from across the miles. Let us know in the comments if you have decided to take on the challenge. We would love to hear from you and follow your collaboration.

For our last post for “Collaboration for Peace”, Candy and I decided to share our answers to some questions about PEACE. Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments.

What does peace look like to you?

Candy: Peace is a moment (or two) of calmness in a busy life. A time without fear or worry.

Mish: It’s not about rainbows and butterflies, peace signs and such. For me, peace looks like a world united, with non judgemental faces and open minds.

 

Photo: Mish

How do you experience inner peace?

Candy: Being outdoors is where I find peace to quiet my inner self, to prioritize. As an introvert, I need those moments to recharge.

Mish: When I feel turmoil in my life, I try to remind myself of my priorities, what truly matters in my life and eliminate the “small stuff” that gets in the way. I find inner peace when I am in nature, examining a wildflower in the woods or watching a hawk soaring above me. I think the simplicity of nature has many lessons for discovering inner peace.

Photo: Mish

What do you believe needs to happen for peace to happen?

Candy: We need to learn to respect others and appreciate our differences. And then follow up with actions that demonstrate that respect. A genuine smile goes a long way to promoting peace.

Mish: We have to break free from societal walls. We need to build bridges instead of walls. Respect and embrace our differences. Become part of the melting pot. Let go of our fears. Stop celebrating any country as the strongest or the best. No country is better than another. These arrogant personas do not support the goals of peace.

 

What can we do as individuals to promote peace in the world?

Candy: Don’t give in to what is popular but do what you know is right. If you want to promote peace in the world it must start in your own neighborhood – a ripple of peace that will spread outward.

Mish: Reach out. Speak to others who look nothing like you. Learn first hand about their culture and beliefs. Give up the stereotypes. Become educated before you speak. Make connections. You will be enriched and enlightened.

 

Thank you to all of you who have “liked”, commented and supported our Collaboration for Peace project. We hope you continue our journey of peace.

We leave you now with our final collaboration, a poem written by Candy and a photo taken from one of my most peaceful places.

Photo: Mish

Peace Enough

 

I wish you peace enough

to last not just for tomorrow

but until we no longer

need to wish

 

I wish you peace enough

to share with those you love

and those you fear

so you may fear less

 

I wish you peace enough

to carry you through

turbulence and pain

so your heart may smile again

 

I wish you peace enough

to calm your inner self

then ripple out from you

to calm your world

 

© Candace Kubinec

 

You can follow Candy’s blog at rhymeswithbug.com

Thank you, Candace Kubinec for sharing this experience with me, for your amazing way with words, your lovely photography and especially for your friendship.

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 51

Posted on

 

Sol

Shadows still play

On the path to peace

Veins of the vicious

Testing our strength

To reach for the light

 

Dodge the darkness

Stretch your arms

To the sun

Embrace the heart

Of humanity

 

Stay tuned next Sunday for our final post for Collaboration for Peace. This has been an amazing experience. We hope to pass on the torch of peace to you, that you will join in the power of creativity and kindness to inspire others.

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 49

Posted on

 

Betterment

 

Let the past remind us

Not rewind us

Peace will bloom in

Soils of change

Winds of wisdom

Hearts enlightened

Let us not forget

That we are the rain

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 48

Posted on
peace-lily

Photo: Mish

 

Proliferation

 

Plant me some peace
Sow me some unity
Let it rise up out of the
Darkness of discord
Let it spread seeds of
Understanding and tolerance
Until the weediness of fighting
Is overrun with reconciliation

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 47

Posted on

 

Forward

 

Why are we backpedaling

While currents of clarity

Still flow at our feet?

How does one drop of impurity

Poison our possibilities?

When are we accountable

For the inevitable,

Witnesses to the destruction?

 

We are the ripples of hope

On waters, stagnant

The ancient sunlight shimmer

Dancing over shadows

We are the reflections

Of persistent hands of change

And this world did not evolve

Without us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 45

Posted on
rocks

Photo: mishunderstood.wordpress.com

 

Stones from a Glass House

It was just one pebble
Thrown in jest
No harm intended
And then one more
Hidden in soft words
Another disguised by
A smile
More and more were
Piled on top until
At last
Peace was smothered

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 44

Posted on
 img_0498

 

Reach Up, Reach Out

 

I reach up
Spread my arms
To embrace the sky
 
The sky that looks
Down on every person –
Like and unlike me
 
Every person receives
Equal share of the day
And the night
 
The sun and stars
The moon lights the
Corners of darkness
 
Regardless of color or shape
Weeping or joyful
We’re all the same
 
I reach out
To embrace the world
That the sky looks
Down upon in peace
 

 

© Candace Kubinec

 

We’re back! Candy and I bring you a few more weeks of uniting photography with poetry, all in the name of PEACE.

Knock, Knock….Peace, are you there?

Posted on

FullSizeRender

 

 

We create our own castles

Brick by brick

We build walls

High enough to obscure faces

And far away places

Pain and anguish muffled

By our own missions

 

We wonder but don’t worry

Slow down from our hurry

Only to throw a few pennies

Or thoughts without physically

Touching a soul

 

We wait for peace like we’re

Waiting for the sun to

Burn holes through mortar

Did we forget how to open a door?

Poem written by Mish

Photo credit: Candace Kubinec

Sharing with Open Link Night at dVerse Poets Pub.

Candy and I have worked together for over a year on a project we call “Collaboration for Peace”. We have been inspired by each others photos, writing poems that ponder and promote peace in our world or within ourselves. It has been an amazing experience and I am blessed to have shared it with such a wonderful person and poet.

This post was “Collaboration for Peace – 29” posted back in July. We only have a few more to go as we’re determined to reach our goal of 52. We post every Sunday and will return after the holidays.

PEACE!

Collaboration for Peace – 41

Posted on

falls

 

Let Peace Flow

When you see sorrow
of another
Let joy flow from
Your soul
To cover the dark in light

When you hear hatred
toward a neighbor
Let love flow from
Your heart
To cover the hard in softness

When you feel the anguish
of humanity
Let peace flow from
Your mind
To cover the shattered in healing

© Candace Kubinec

If He is the Homeless

Posted on

Then we are the heartless
His eyes, cimmerian pools
Conscious waters we dare not tread
His words, rendered null and void
And so he holds the sign
Of failure, defined
As if guilty of existence
Beaten by this steel wool system
Of surface scratchers
Mirrored and jagged
Buffing them up
To send them back out

Dead people live on this street
Like the gray of pigeons, pecking
For rations of sweet sanity
Between dagger eyes
And swift kicks
Tears siphoned back from the edge
Hold more truth than sorrow
Tiny little diamonds
Of the highest clarity

Squinting, scanning for prospects
The sun exposes his lines
A tally of  tragedies
His glance, as empty as pockets
Races past the la-de-da
Seeking one heart, unbiased
One heart that drops the dollar
Without assuming it’s next exchange
And as it free falls to the pavement
He struggles to remember
How it felt to not be treated
Like a modern day leper

 

people-1010001_1280

 

 

Sharing this with dVerse ~ Open Link Night

Image credit: pixabay.com

Collaboration for Peace – 38

Posted on

 

We Wait

For ashen skies to

Drift and greet the sun

For time to turn this

Turmoil to tranquility

As gifted abilities

Go to waste

We wait for walls to

Fall but they will stand

Unbroken as long as

Goals remain unspoken

We wait for peace

To magically evolve

Like childhood dreams

And it clearly seems

That we have lost our way

 

 

Photo by Candy

rhymeswithbug.com

Collaboration for Peace – 37

Posted on
pic

Photo: Candace Kubinec

 

 

Nature sings to me

In melodies of sun

And baritone shadows

Harmony on forest’s floor

Echos of peace

 

 

Visit Candy at rhymeswithbug.com

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 35

Posted on
thumbnail_fruit-copy

Photo: Mish

Uncommon Friend

 

some say you
don’t belong
don’t  fit in
a nonconformist –
trouble
and so they
don’t
give you a chance
but you are bright and
sparkling
adding zing to my
dull life
zest to my ordinary days
balance to my humble story
and I am better for
knowing you

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 33

Posted on
dscf2798

Photo: Mish

 

UnMasked

 

it was the ghost of a smile
you tried to hide
behind a calloused hand
that was the first crack
in your prickly facade
a secret sense of humor
you tried valiantly to keep
in check
and when that grand guffaw
was set free
I knew you had a tenderness
inside

 

© Candace Kubinec
 
 
 

Collaboration for Peace – 32

Posted on
20150329_122502

Photo: Mish

Build Up

Let’s learn from
the past
spite and envy
slowly crumble our
foundations
we gradually collapse
under their burden
Let’s build each other up
bit by bit
word by word
creating a future
of peace

© candace kubinec

I Wish

Posted on

20160523_195350

 

I wish love grew as ivy

Boundless, disencumbered

Sprouting across spaces

Rainbows of faces

As we sway hand in hand

 

I wish for seas

Of selfish hearts to crash

Against rocky reefs

Dissolve and dilute

In harbors of integrity

 

I wish for all clichéd

World peace, homemade

Stirred, simmered, seasoned

With the very gifts

That God gave us

 

I wish for stars

To forever befuddle me

Amaze me, allude me

Remain unreachable

So I never stop reaching

 …and wishing

 

As your host today at dVerse Poets Pub, I am asking you to leave your worries at the door. Make a wish and write a poem about it. It may be a personal longing or a global vision. Your poem can be serious, humorous or whimsical.

Join us for some “Wishful Thinking”. Doors open at 3 p.m. EST.

 

Collaboration for Peace – 30

Posted on

 

 

 

Burgeon

 

Seeded in the same soil

Some will bask in

Universal beams of light

Shadows lurk and twist

Not all hearts will evolve

To bear the fruit of peace

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 29

Posted on

FullSizeRender

 

Knock, Knock….Peace, are you there?

 

We create our own castles

Brick by brick

We build walls

High enough to obscure faces

And far away places

Pain and anguish muffled

By our own missions

 

We wonder but don’t worry

Slow down from our hurry

Only to throw a few pennies

Or thoughts without physically

Touching a soul

 

We wait for peace like we’re

Waiting for the sun to

Burn holes through mortar

Did we forget how to open a door?

Poem written by Mish

Photo credit: Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 27

Posted on

 

Find peace in the shadows and joy in the sun.

 Mish and Candy

 
 

In Sun and Shadow

 

sometimes we sit
in the
shadows
content to be
a quiet observer
– champion of
others

 

sometimes we shine
like jewels
in the sun
bringing joy
to all who pass
our way

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 22

Posted on

chip 242

 

speak words of peace
among the swirling
darkness of deceit
and fear
listen for the humble
echo
of
hope

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 21

Posted on

Photo by Candy who writes at rhymeswithbug.com

 

hollow tree

 

I Choose Tolerance

 

Because hate has

No substance

Nothing to offer

I wouldn’t hire hate

I wouldn’t marry hate

I wouldn’t even hang out

With hate

Hate is hollow

What would I do with hollow?

Collaboration for Peace – 18

Posted on

Another collaboration brought to you by Candy and I. Have a peaceful day!

 

bird

Image: Candace Kubinec

 

Out on a Limb

 

Hearts begin beating

With innocence

Untainted and pure

Helpless they long to be

Loved and nourished

Expecting nothing more

Than other hearts

To improvise

Join in, synchronized

To their sweet song

 

Collaboration for Peace – 15

Posted on

 

Candy and I would like to challenge you to leave a trail of peace this week…

snow bird pic

 

 

Contrails

 

We leave a trail
as we pass through
the atmosphere
of each day
The vapors of each
word and action
follow us –
heavy, dark lines
of unkindness
airy stripes of
peace and love
that show our
true direction
 ~

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 13

Posted on
Thanks for joining Candy and me in this effort to spread peace and goodwill through our Collaboration for Peace.

 

chip 2633

 

 

Spin Me

 

I have lost all sense of direction

East is moving west

The world is upside down

Spin me around

And point me towards peace

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 11

Posted on

Words and photo combine across the miles to bring you today’s collaboration.

 

 

Overcast

 

Darkness is a veil

Masking moonbeams

Casting shadows over

Rays of hope

Reach deep

Light is more powerful

Than shadows of doubt passing

Reach deep

And peace will overcome

 

 

Seeds of the Milkweed

Posted on

milkweed1

 

 

I have to know

Mysteries make me mad

And wondering seems

A waste of time

When I was young I pried apart

Nature’s precious plants

To see, to feel, to know

 

I have to know

What’s inside and why?

What made you do

The things that you do?

Why do we follow as if

We are hollow?

What is the point

Of selfishness?

 

I have to know

Not why I am here

But why I don’t quite fit

Into this purposeless puzzle

We are now calling life

Children still cry

People still die

And so many watch

I have to know

Why

 

A first person narrative poem is the prompt today at dVerse. Victoria has given us the freedom to write from our own point of view or that of another.

Collaboration for Peace – 9

Posted on

 

Candy and I are happy to bring you another collaboration.

 

 

001

Photo: Candace Kubinec

 

Universal

 

We may not see

Scars and bruises

Heartaches hidden deep

Or know the twisted roots

Of troubled minds

Understanding takes time

But we can feel the rain

Of a thousand fears

Streaming down faces

In faraway places

We have never been

We can start here because

Tears are universal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 7

Posted on

Candy and I have united with photography and poetry. These collaborations are a very small example of how perfect strangers can work together, be inspired by each other and share a passion for peace.

 

Single Drop

Image by Candace Kubinec

~

Life is delicate, intricate

Complicated, segregated

But one heart still beats

At the center of existence

One soul still strives

To be one with all

Rain Gauge

Posted on
rain

Image Credit: Gabriella

 

He wandered west from the financial district destined for relief from the squirrel cage they called success. Grey skies merged with the concrete below his feet. Tiny droplets remained stoic for an instant before rolling like tears from his navy blue pea coat. The clouds erupted. Looking up, his forehead caught a colossal drop that had dared to dangle from the coffee shop overhang. He ran his index finger along the glossy storefront just for the sound or perhaps to startle the young girl sitting on the other side of the distorted glass. He pondered the vanilla latte and moved on.

No eye contact was made with the unshaven man huddled under wet cardboard on the corner. His conscience took hold of him as one Gucci oxford failed to miss a puddle. Turning around he knew his small gesture would be more about him than the one who was destitute. He handed him a twenty. The sky lit up suddenly exposing the contrast between his smooth, manicured hands and the grimy palms of the homeless man. He glanced quickly at the man’s face. Somewhere in one short gaze, he found himself.

 

Yesterday’s downpours

Today a soft shoe tap dance

Weathering the storm

 

Inspired by one of Gabriella’s beautiful photos for Haibun Monday at dVerse.

Collaboration for Peace-6

Posted on

It’s Sunday which means another Collaboration For Peace! Candy posted yesterday as she is busy traveling today. We are happy to share our creations and hope that they can inspire you in some small way.

 

pic5

 

Peace Comes

peace comes not from inky
words on paper
or notes sung by choirs of angels
it comes instead when two souls
reach across the gap of
their differences
to find commonality

 

© candace kubinec

Collaboration for Peace-3

Posted on
Hope you’ve been finding inspiration in our Collaboration for Peace project.
Here is our third post.
You can find more about Candy at rhymeswithbug.com.
While you’re at it stop over and visit Aritists4Peace.

 

 

sailboat

 

i found a friend when
i wasn’t looking
when i was in need
there was nothing
we had in common
except a love of the sea
and we sailed on
© candace kubinec
Related posts:
Collaboration for Peace (1)
Collaboration for Peace (2)
 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace-2

Posted on

Candy and I have been working on a project that we would like to call “Collaboration for Peace”. Here is our second creation, combining my photos with her haiku.  We hope to spread peace and hope throughout this community of poets. Who is Candy? You can find her at rhymeswithbug.com We are both members of Artists4Peace.

 

pic10

 

shore birds gather
along the beach like children
collecting treasures
~
© candace kubinec

All We’ve Forgotten

Posted on

We forget the essentials
As we pretend that gratitude
Is a new way to live our life
We forget substance
We forget joy
We forget how it feels
To feel
We numb our minds from the pain
Of a thousand knives and bullets
Aimed at someone else
Our hearts forget to beat
For those we’ve forgotten

We forget the land
We forget the land can heal us
We forget authenticity
We forget to worry about
Monsters under the bed
They reside in our head
We forget to imagine
We forget to look…
For anything
We wait for it…
To load, begin the show
As we deprive ourselves from accomplishment

We forget possibilities
Woven, sewn or whittled
From nothing but a dream
We forget how to knock on a door
We forget what friends are for
We forget that hope is not just a word
Or a bird or another tattoo
For some it is all there is
We forget why we’re here
We forget to care
We forget how it feels to care
About all we’ve forgotten

all we've forgotten


Grace is hosting at dVerse Poet’s Pub. She introduced us to the work of Loyce Gayo, Slam Champ of the UT Spitshine Poetry Slam team. Her performance poem, “How We Forget” was my inspiration for this piece.

http://dversepoets.com/2015/09/08/poetics-how-we-forget/

Seeing the Light

Posted on

October 049

 

We eat intentions for breakfast
Blaming our half done deeds
On calendars and clocks
We are the watchmen

 

We look to the skies and heavens
Waiting for God to repair
The gifts we’ve destroyed
We are the watchmen

 

We find faults between layers
Of good will and grace
Wipe tears from blind eyes
We are the watchmen

 

 

Lynn is hosting Poetics at dVerse Poets Pub! She asks, “Who or what acts as our personal or social watchman?  Do we choose to believe or ignore this watchman?” In my opinion, if society has failed, then we have failed…yes…you and I.

 

The Philosophy of Every Breath

Posted on

August 2014 192

 

We tread in the turbulence
Only to save ourselves
Creating our own human condition
We set our own foolish fires
As we direct our demise
Blindfolded
Do you ask why?
Do you feel each wispy breath as it
Leaves your tired lungs, wondering
Why we are here?

Listen to the faintest crackle
Of leaves on the forest floor
This is the voice of truth
Feel the soft skin on your lips
As you kiss a baby’s cheek
This is the canvass of innocence
Follow the red lines in the eyes
Of the man begging on the street
This is the road map to justice
And we have lost our way

~

Brian Miller is hosting at dVerse! He asked us to write about philosophy.

 

3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge: Day Two

Posted on

geese and goslings

 

“It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.”

~L.R. Knost~

     ______________________________________________________________________

This is something I hold close to my heart. Whether we are parents or educators, I believe it is our responsibility to nurture, be empathetic and model kindness for the mental health of our children and for the future of our society.

A big thank you to unexpectedincommonhours for nominating me for the “3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge”. Check out her blog!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Post a quote each day for 3 days.
3. Each day, nominate 3 new bloggers to take part in the challenge.

Today’s three nominees:

1. The 2015 Chronicles

2. Butterfly Sand

3. Zimmerbitch: age is just a (biggish) number

~

Speaking of Peace

Posted on

DSCF1204

 

We are but one decibel in the scream

One whisper of insight, unspoken

Tongues too frozen to speak

Or are we tone deaf to the sound of

Fingers running along wind chimes?

Glass, bamboo, shells, stones, porcelain, metal, wood

All different

Dangling in the same sweet sea breeze

Tapping on each others hearts

To find perfect harmony

~

Truth, peace, harmony, love” are part of the poetic prompt at dVerse this week.

Also written for Artists4Peace.

Dearest Self

Posted on

DSCF1122

 

So I’ll let you know now

Not that it matters

‘Cuz there’s no stopping this time train

But I just thought you might

Appreciate some tips

Put away these 5 things

Paper money, photographs, a map

Sensitivity and creativity

I suppose I could have 3D projected

This info but I didn’t want to freak you out

Holograms are in these days

Soon you’ll be scanning yourself for disease

They’ll send you the results via…

Yep, you guessed it

Dr. Hologram

And as we battle over nothing in space

I’ll picture you

Sitting by your retro gas fireplace

Natural, of course

Sipping on green tea

We don’t do natural anymore

Take trees for example…

Yes, take a tree

Maybe a small bonsai you can hide

Because you’ll be charged extra just for having one

Advice from the heart…

Don’t let them implant anything in your head

Life was better before becoming an Android

“Look above you- it’s raining
Look around- there’s a flood
Who can say when it started,
but now the ghost is in our blood”

 

~

Grace at dVerse has asked us to imagine the future and write a poem or letter to ourselves in the here and now. The last stanza is from a poem by Ben Burke.

http://ideas.ted.com/a-poem-from-the-future/

 

Unblemished

Posted on

totomai martinez photo

 

Let me swim again
In pools of innocence
I will not surface for air
Until it is safe and pure
I will not speak with forked tongue
But sing only sweetly of stars
And cars and the buzzing of bees

Let me lay down again
In fields of pink moss
Where seeds of treason and trickery
Are not sown
I will feel joy
As eagles, not egos
Soar overhead

Let me be young again
Eyes wide with wonder
Waiting for the next miracle to unfold
I will not know of lies
No alibi, candy coated
Only love given graciously
Untainted and true

 

At dVerse, Mary introduced us to a talented photographer and poet named Totomai Martinez. Among thousands of amazing photos, this one spoke to me immediately.

Image credit: Yoshi by Totomai Martinez

https://www.flickr.com/photos/totomai

Pieces of the Rainbow

Posted on

shawls

Sitting in her favourite chair
Her tiny dog on her lap
Persistent stitch and steady hands
She makes masterpieces
Together, they would stretch
Across skies of sadness
Oceans of tears
Mountains of despair
Beautiful colours of comfort
Filling empty hearts
Painful situations
Unquestioned

Because this is about
Unconditional love
This is about a lady whose compassion
Reaches for miles
To grateful smiles that
She may never see
Places she may never be
People she may never know
But they will know of her
As they wrap a piece of the rainbow
Around their tired shoulders
They will know her love

One Gift

Posted on

DSCF8504

 If I had to choose one gift to give
To every single child
I’d walk, I’d run to find each one
And sit down by their side

My rocking chair would hold them all
My heart would stretch for miles
My arms would wrap around their pain
To find one tiny smile

We’d sail away on twinkle stars
From darkness to the light
The senseless hate this world creates
Would weaken from our flight

A million salty tears, we’d send
To peaceful skies above
If I had to choose one gift to give
The gift I’d choose is love

Peaceful Intentions

Posted on

September 2011 739

 

 

We have not even begun
To make peace
We simply roll it around
With our tongues
Stand united in multicultural scenes
Singing in different languages to
Candy coat the truth
We pray for it
We stand for it
Make demands for it
But we don’t know peace
Because we don’t know
What we’ve never had
It has yet to be created
And that takes wisdom
Not war
That takes a plan
Not a song
That takes love
Not hate
That takes you and me
And everyone else on this earth
To look inside their hearts
Forgive, forget, reset
And start again
Do you think that will happen?

We have not even begun
To make hope
We simply………

 

~

Please visit Artists4Peace

https://artists4peace.wordpress.com/blog/

Beautiful Soul

Posted on

April 13 081

 

I watched the leaders of my country
Dodge bullets today
Literally, dodge bullets
That was the news
And that’s all it is
Simple violence
Point and shoot
Any coward can do it
But the story is not the news
The story is about a boy
A son, who became a man
A soldier
Corporal Nathan Cirillo
A father, an animal lover
A friend to many
Only 24 years old
The story is about
Hearts ripping, tears flowing
Making sense of inhumanity
Sorrow deeper
Than can be imagined
No, I did not know him
It doesn’t matter
I am a mother
And he was like no other
How do I know?
Just look in his eyes
That is the gift
We have been given
Beautiful soul
One heart in different bodies
One life in different times
One love in different worlds
We are different
Thank God
We are all different

 

 

In response to poetics at dVerse…but mostly in response to my aching heart.

 http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/10/22/soldier-shot-outside-of-parliament-at-national-war-memorial-active-shooter-believed-to-be-on-the-loose/

Coexistence

Posted on

peace post

I will find peace here

You will find peace here

Together

We will find peace

~

Fusion

Posted on

September 2014 472

Colours were meant to be blended.

People are destined to live in harmony.

Don’t they know?

That’s what hearts are for.

~

The Most Humble

Posted on

homeless

 

 

Love is nestled deep
In the hearts of the most humble
They are the lost
The forsaken we only speak of
As if this makes us care
Our thoughts, only echos
Bouncing off their dreams
Small change, petty offerings
Pools of pity at their feet
This is not love
Love hides
In sweaty, weathered lines
Of stories untold to us
Because we did not ask
In warm, filthy hands
Held above the fire
Love lies under blankets
Praying to the light
Curled up, messed up
Teardrops, trembling
Love waits patiently
In faded faces, beaten
By stronger hands
And evil minds
Love speaks gently
Or not at all
Cryptic, mute
Silenced by storms
That rage in brains
Unrecognized
Until it’s too late
And love is out the door
On the street
It’s you and me
But we don’t see
Our beds are warm
But we are cold while
Love is nestled deep
In the hearts of the most humble

~~~~

~~~~

This poem is my way of expressing concern for a better understanding of homelessness in our society.

I am inspired by others who have dedicated much more of their time to directly reach out with acts of generosity, moments of kindness, friendship and most of all…conversation. It is this respect that sets an example for others. If the majority of us do no not speak to those on the street, then thank God there are people like Dennis Cardiff , Kaze Gadway who do…..on a regular basis.

In addition to his blog “Gotta Find a Home”, Dennis has recently published ” Gotta  Find a Home- Conversations with Street People” which documents his conversations with the homeless as he visits and interacts with them without judgement.  You can find a digital version at Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iTunes and Flipkart.  Print versions are available at Amazon.  “All profits will be used to support the Ottawa Innercity Missions, Street Outreach Program and those people forced onto the streets.”

Kaze Gadway blogs at “KazeStories” sharing her experiences as she spends time with the homeless, offering them water and blankets and talking with them. I admire her willingness to become involved by not only acknowledging them, but by listening to their stories, offering hope, comfort and helpful ideas if only to get through the day. Her compassion is put into action on the streets of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Please take the time to check out both of their blogs.

Photograph: Courtesy of Steve Huff  from a collection called “My Homeless Project”.

His candid shots portray the hardships of life on the streets of Phoenix, AZ .  Steve took the time to speak to homeless men and women during his daily walks to learn of  the real life events and situations that lead to homelessness. In exchange they allowed him to take their photographs.

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years…#22

Posted on

“Friends do not always reveal themselves.”

I am still hanging on to the theory that we were put on this earth to share with others. Whether it be our time, our possessions, our abilities, our talents, our compassion, our stories…whatever we have to give, I think we are supposed to give.  When doing so, sometimes we are blessed with interactions that lead to friendships.

Friendships are gifts. The problem is that sometimes they are hard to identify. If only they came in neat little packages tied up with a bow…with a little tag that says, “Really, I’m your friend..for real.”  Between reading social cues, dealing with your own personal insecurities and the fear of forming assumptions, it can become complicated…at least it has been for me. Maybe I’m just a freak so unique that I have trouble with this. I am a very open person. This could hinder the process of some potential friendships. I probably scare the hell out of people. Would I change this about me? Absolutely not.

So what have I learned about friendships?

I’ve learned that often I am afraid to call them that.

I know what I think a friendship should be.

My eclectic personality requires a wide variety of friends.

I’ve learned that the more time someone gives me, the more I feel they are truly my friend.

Although I do not fear rejection (because I am secure with who I am), I get frustrated when I can’t determine the intentions of others. I am not sure if this is a problem on my part or theirs.

For the most part, I think I am a good friend.

I treasure the friendships I have.

A friend can come in any size, race, age, occupation, social background, education, etc.

Openness is key to me.

Your spouse can be your best friend.

Anything pretentious, materialistic or superficial does not interest me.  My relationships need to be deeper.

I have learned that even at my age, I still have lots to learn about establishing friendships.

In my opinion…

A good friend truly cares about you, would do almost anything in the world for you, listens to you, advises you, confides in you, laughs with you and cries with you.

A good friend is someone who doesn’t care what you look like, accepts all of your faults, your mistakes and never gives up on you.

A good friend has no ulterior motives for being your friend.

A good friend considers the reasons you have become who you are.

A good friend sees your positive traits and enjoys them in the moment.

A good friend has time for you.

A good friend would sincerely miss you if you were gone.

pelicans

Birds of a feather sticking together at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

For Granted

Posted on
pray

San Albino Church, Old Mesilla Village, Las Cruces, New Mexico

If all is well

Do we pray?

Praise the spirit

We so openly honor

Find the time

That we have been gifted

To thank, to touch

 

If all is well

Do we stay?

In the moment

That speaks to us clearly

Hold it close

As the last it may be

For joy, for hope

 

If all is well

Do we know?

Pain and suffering

Swirling beneath jaded hearts

Eyes of steel

Secretly begging

For comfort, for love

 

 If all is well

Do we bow down?

To our maker

Fathom our fragility

Bold yet brittle

Filter fabrication

Into purity and grace

 

http://dversepoets.com/2013/12/10/open-link-night-week-126/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light

Posted on

Rest in Peace, Nelson Mandela

September 2011 741

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

‘A Return to Love” (1992) by Marianne Williamson


Related Articles

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/nelson-mandela-dead-at-95-1.2417872

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

http://www.nelsonmandela.org/

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/photo-challenge-lights/

Simplicity

Posted on

NM October 2011 065

We reach towards the sun

To feel the warmth

Nurturing our souls

Soothing our minds

Millions of miles away

When only millimeters from our hands

Placed on our chest

We can feel the life, the blood

The beating of our own sun

A gift more precious than we can comprehend

For hearts so pure and strong

Are victims to minds so tangled

Hearts so fearless and free

Become chained by selfishness

We reach towards the sun

To find simplicity

She Needs Your Help

Posted on

July 2013 001

Last week, I had to find a way to provide a family member with all the basic essentials of life. She had nothing but a bed, a couch and a few personal belongings. It is a very long story that I will not tell except to say that her situation is of no fault of her own and I would not wish it upon anyone. Helping her was a necessity. It reminded me of how blessed I am to have a roof over my head and food to eat. It reminded me of others who are in similar situations of desperation as my family member. It reminded me of Cheryl, a fellow blogger who just needs a job to turn things around. Sounds easy, but it isn’t.

I know I have stood on this soap box a few times already, but it’s my soap box. You can simply turn the page if you wish…

 We are not all given the same opportunities.

We are not all blessed with families that are willing or able to help us.

We are not all blessed with healthy bodies or healthy minds.

We are not all blessed with minimal disasters that fall upon us.

We are not all fortunate to succeed from our hard work. Some work harder than us and get half as far.

We are not all able to work.

Some of us struggle every day just to eat, pay a bill, keep our sanity or find even one small fragment of hope to carry on.

 I am asking that you really think about how you will be inconvenienced if you were to give a small amount to someone who is at risk of losing their home. If I can leave myself short to reach out to another, then believe me…so can you.

When you truly give, you look into your heart, not your bank book.

I hope you will look into your heart to help my fellow blogger and friend.

http://allbuthomeless.wordpress.com/

You can also check out her web design services at

http://deesebydesign.weebly.com/