the wurdy durd

the cave

2009-08-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

the cave has very few visitors, the path is hard to find. the cool, clear water of the pool inside the cave bestows life to those seekers who find and drink from it. they become the watchers. with the power to change the course of events. they are immortal.

lightning

2009-08-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

my father asked me once when i was younger wandering aimlessly through life doing nothing much but reading all night into the wee hours of the morning. "what are you doing?" "are you waiting for lightning to strike?" "it may not." "do something." so i went out the next morning and joined the marine corps. but that's another story. a few years ago i bouht a lottery ticket and lightning did strike. after uncle sugar and all the other various governmental agencies got their pound of flesh i still walked away with several million. it's amazing the friends and relatives you never knew you had suddenly have the urge to get in touch with you. i got a call not long after my picture and story ran in the newspaper from a preacher down the road. he said he had read about my good fortune and he was having a conversation with god that night and he was told to get in touch with me and i would be moved to help he and his church. now i do believe that anyone who claims to be in direct contact with the almighty should be listened to so i heard him out. now he is the pastor of one of those churches where they handle poisonous snakes to show their faith. i remembered reading once where this particular church had caught fire one night and the local volunteer fire department had responded. they were beginning to pull their hoses across the grounds when someone noticed that the yard was full of snakes. needless to say all the firefighters got back in their vehickles and let it burn to the ground. this gave me an idea. i had a few friends who, they or their relatives or friends, had been snake bitten. i made a deal with him that i would donate $100 to the church for every poisonous reptile they caught as long as they weren't released back into the wild. that's how i became the patron saint of the annual "ya'll come back now, sacred bleedin' heart of jesus church" snake round-up. men, women, boys, and girls all gather once a year and scour the surrouding countryside trapping and counting their catch. i figure everybody wins. except maybe the snakes. but i do insist they are fed well and treated humanely.

letter from a druid

2009-08-04T14:32:00.000-07:00

some say we commit a grievous error. that we worship the creation rather than the creator. but when i look around me this creation is the only tangible evidence i see of the creator. this is still eden if we are only mindful of it. protect it and it will sustain us. abuse it and it will eventually vomit up that abuse and lay waste to us. we were put here and placed in charge. if you can't worship the creation then respect it which is only watered down worship. a rose by any other name huh?

lost dog

2009-07-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

reward!!! lost dog. mixed breed. blind in one eye. left hind leg missing. right ear chewed off. only has one testicle. has no hair due to rare canine condition. answers to the name of "lucky".

big rock candy mtn. or "death, where is thy sting?"

2009-07-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

i believe the majority of mankind spend their lives trying to find their way home. the hobo dreams of the big rock candy mtn. the viking dreams of valhallah. there are many houses in my fathers kingdom. were it not so i would have told you. (jesus). to me it's that final, ultimate , understanding that brings peace. to be joined with the all. we all take different paths to get there, but get there we will. by striving for that balance. that place where wants and needs cease to exist. where struggle is unknown. where to know god is to be god. in the meantime i will live here and try to take the advice of bobby mcferrin who said "don't worry. be happy." i will try to give of my money and myself. if i see a man or woman on the side of the road holding a sign asking for help i will strive to understand that my god is giving me an opportunity. i will try not to say to my cynical self, "they'll just buy booze with it." is the need less real? i will try to give enough to soothe mind and body. i believe to the open-handed the search for one who will receive is a joy greater than giving.

flag

2009-06-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

i am the last of my tribe, and i will die a free man. the white man likes to put those who will not follow his rules into cages. our land is full of the yellow rock they covet. so we are hunted to extinction. this stone appears to be their god. a cruel god who demands living sacrifice. i have watched the people die. seen my woman and children fall. i see the flag flying over their camp. the stars must represent the number of these people. as numerous as the stars. no matter how many we killed, many more took their place. i have painted my pony and donned the war paint myself. soon i will ride to meet them. soon i will be reunited with my loved ones. mother earth, father sky, grant me a warriors death. let them know that they have been joined in battle with a lakota warrior.

lines in the sand

2009-06-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

how far will you go to get what you want ? will you lie ? will you tell that girl you're her dream in the flesh when desire of the flesh is your sole motivation ? will you steal ? will you rob the other man of his possessions ? or worse , his dreams or his dignity ? will you kill ? if you will , would you try to take some honor from it and face the man with the mark of your desire written clearly on your face , or would you ambush him through guile of word or deed ? and kill your own soul through your cowardice . we draw our own lines according to the grace of our spirits . we hold the knowledge of good and evil . are you prepared to defend the lines you've drawn ? a good man will always win if he knows he's right and keeps on coming .

pleiku ' 69

2009-06-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

i am doing my part here . giving you the opportunity to change things there . we are good men and women caught up in something most of us can only partially understand . eisenhower warned us about the military-industrial complex long ago . war is , after all , good business . these people aren't our enemies . they have been played as we have . how can you justify a huge defense budget if you have no enemies ? i've come to realize the problems of the world are not created through sin , but rather through ignorance . so wave your peace signs , scream your slogans , and i meanwhile , will do my part . i hope you are able to convince the people to bring me and my brothers and sisters home .

forgotten

2009-06-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

we are the children of many sires and every drop of blood in us in its turn betrays its ancestor . nothing and no one is forgotten . there is power in the blood . we remember .

the heaviness of light

2009-06-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

the light weighs me down . inhibits me . the darkness is freedom . the world sleeps as i wander and wonder . the moon tugs at my blood reminding me of where i came from .

path of least resistance

2009-05-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

why can't you leave us alone? we are peaceful. loving creatures. gentle and kind . we just wish to be left alone to live and raise our young . but you fear what you don't understand . so we live beneath the earth , aided by our advanced(to you) technology . we have created an eden down here . sunlight , forests , rivers , gardens . we4 thrive . yet when we "top out" as wecall it . when we venture outside to check on your progress , you set traps and come after us with your weapons . you scare your children with tales of us . so you perpetuate the myth of the monstrous sasquatch , yeti , bigfoot , and all the other cute names you have for us . we wait for an awakening among you . the day when you are no longer ruled by fear .

the church of good

2009-05-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

we try to help others to proceed with dignity through this current travail . to march in proud submission toward the infinite . to be there to see you through your confusion and pain . to show by example that no matter what your station in life god lives in you and loves you . laughs with you and if you listen to that voice inside will lead you to wisdom . search for those who need you and give freely of yourselves . show the children that it's possible to show love and kindness to all creatures even though to do so will sometimes cause pain . this is the baptism of the spirit . open your eyes and ears and see and hear the hopes, dreams, and prayers of your fellow travelers . you riders of the storm . do good .

love never dies

2009-05-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

i walk alone through the fog and mist on this cool may evening . this cemetary has been here for many years . i pass headstones whose epitaphs seem to bring these people alive to me . with a sense of irony and humor . people i would like to have known . the gentleman there whose probable hypochondria prompted him to leave the message "i told you i was sick ." or the fella here here who , underneath his name and dates of birth and death says simply "boo!". my wifes ashes are here they tell me , but i don't feel her in this place . she is still with me , but somewhere totally other . but the love will never die . love is constant and spans the generations . memories assault me . the time she opened my eyes by telling me 'bobby , don't you realize how rare it is for two people to really care about each other the way we do?" did i really casually accept that as my due? twenty years passes in the blink of an eye and i find myself alone . my heart has followed her , but the spirit still waits for release . may you never awaken with the love of your life lying cold beside you . i was supposed to go first , but would i wish on her the devastation i feel? i miss your voice , your laughter , your face, and the warmth of your body . your wit, intelligence, and loving heart . the strength you gave me . i love you!

uniform

2009-05-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

the same . equal . god created all men equal . samuel colt made them equal . we keep and bear arms to protect ourselves from enemies witout and within . there was a scandal a few years ago when it was reported that one of the questions recruits were being asked was if they would be willing to fire on u.s. citizens . a man i met once from one of the baltic nations asked me why his country treated its people the way it did . i asked him if they had guns . he said "no , they won't let us have guns . " i turned and walked away leaving him rubbing his chin in thought . he had answered his own question . they treated the people the way they did because they could . with little fear of repercussion . i remember archie bunker one time telling his daughter gloria when she was on a tirade about the number of people killed with handguns . he asked her , " would it make you feel any better little girl if they had all been pushed out of windows ? " . i believe we must find a cure for soul sickness . meanwhile we must remain vigilant .

silence

2009-05-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

the loudest sound i've ever heard is silence . the senses yearn and are sharpened in the silence . i've heard the dry earth drinking the rain . the wind dancing in the leaves . a single cricket making a cacaphony of noise . that moment of silence when the storm has passed . when the birds begin tentatively to sing . the world temporarily suspended . at balance . that silence in which the soul may sing .

destiny

2009-05-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

i began as a grape in the south of france . mashed with my brothers by peasant feet . turned into wine and then fine champagne . i find myself taking part in a great celabration . people . music . excitement . my role is tom be broken and run along the bow of this great ship . back into the sea and earth to reform again somewhere . they can't launch this ship without me . as i'm broken and the ship slips its moors , i notice the name on the side . fitting for such a large , great ship , this titanic .

LANGUOROUS

2009-04-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

The rain beats down on the roof . A fire burns in the fireplace . I'm kicked backed in my recliner in front of the fire with the cat curled up asleep on my chest . The dog is lying beside the chair on the floor . And my woman is someone who as Louie Lamour used to say is "someone to ride the river with" . A sturdy house . Plenty of food . I'm armed and strong . The fire is warm . The cat is soft . The dog is loyal . And the woman , when faced with a challenge , squares her shoulders and gets steel in her eye , yet melts into me . God is in his heaven and all is right with the world .

satellite city

2009-04-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

"This is our own little kingdom here" "Our feifdom as it were " the mayor said to his chief of police . "If they don't meet our criteria , ask them for theior passport" Lets make some money off this burg and leave quietly " "I know what to do" said the chief . "Hit the guy driving the '95 chevy , find out how much money he's got in his pocket , fine him , and send him on his way ." " I can even make him feel lucky about it ." "I can keep the goons i've hired in the dark about what's going on ." "What they lack in brains they try to compensate for by lifting weights" Strong or cunning '" Who do you think will inherit the earth?" "Such as it is ". "We have a meeting of the minds " said the mayor . "How much is the traffic judge going to cost us ?" "He's a weak man with problems " said the chief . "He likes little boys and i have the goods on him " . "Good " said the mayor . Keep him in line and kick back as little as possible" "I love local politics "said the chief . As do i said the mayor . "As do I '

BLACK ICE

2009-03-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

He didnt know how much of a lead he had on them . The beautiful young woman in the back seat looked scared . He had been caring for herthe last three weeks . Frequently moving . Staying one step ahead of those seeking her . He was travelling about 60 mph . in his old restored shelby cobra mustang . The weather was cold with a sready drizzle of rain mixed with sleet coming down . He was coming up on an overpass when he realized the cars coming from the other direction werent throwing up spray behind them . "BLACK ICE" he thought as his wheels lost traction and he started skidding across the highway . "turn in the direction of the skid' he remembered but his attempts to correct were too late He could hear her scream as they slid down the bank on the other side of the highway , hitting a small tree hard enough to bust the radiator . "Are you all right" he asked looking back at her . She appeared stunned but unhurt . She nodded and said "yes' in that little girl voice she sometimes had . He couldnt believe how much he had come to care for her in the short time since her father had hired him . She had once had access to information that could prove dangerous to certain people . She had no such information , but the people after her wanted to make sure of that . He reached into the cramped back seat and scooped her up , looking around for cover . They were near a small lake surrounded by trees . he ran with her toward the trees . When he reached the side of the lake he spotted an old fishing shack with a tin roof a few hundred yards down the shore set back in the woods . "Take her there and rest and get warm" he thought . "think of our next move' . When they reached the shack the door was unlocked and he pushed in still carrying her . Inside was an old cast-iron four poster bed already made up with extra blankets lying at the foot of the bed . He laid her down on the bed and covered her up , lit an old gas lantern he found hanging on the wall , and set it down beside her on a small table by the bed . "Looking deeply into her eyes he asked "Are you sure youre okay?" . She looked into his eyes and saw the love and concern there . She had been aware for some time how his eyes seemed to follow her everywhere she went , and how they travelled from her face , down her body , and back up to her eyes with that hungry wolf look she had come to enjoy putting there . She wanted him just as badly as he wanted her , but there had been no time as yet to explore those feelings . There was a small fireplace set in the wall , but he decided they could not risk a fire . He knew those after them could not be far behind . "Stay here" he told her . "Im going to try and drape some limbs over the carand maybe it wont be spotted" . He took out his pistol to make sure he a a round chambered and the safety was off . He walked to the door and went out without looking back . whatever it took they were not going to get her . As he neared the car he saw a flashlights beam coming from the woods where they had abandoned the car . "Shit , theyre here already" he murmured softly to himself . He would have to take care of this now . Before they had always come in pairs . He assumed it would be the same this time . He crept closer and could hear two voices speaking low from the vicinity of the car . He took up position behind a large oak tree , picked up a rock he found at the base of the tree , and tossed it about 10 feet to his left .Immediately , a shot rang out , and he fired off a round about three feet to the right of the muzzle flash . He heard a grunt , and then something heavy hitting the ground . "Maybe ive just evened the odds a little bit""he thought as he took cover from the fire his own muzzle flash had drawn . It became quiet and he listened intently for any sound . "Best to stay put and let him come to me' he thought . The seconds ticked slowely by as he waited for the other man to reveal himself . Suddenly , he heard a soft footfall directly behind him . "Oh shit' Ive let him get behind me ". Even as he turned he heard three shots fired in rapid succession . He finished turning around in time to see the other man fall first to his knees , then forward onto his face . She was standing behind the man < holding the .25 caliber automatic he had bought for her when this first started . Her face wore an expression of horror and disbelief that turned to relief when she saw he was okay . "I couldnt leave you out here alone " she said softly , as he walked to her and gently took her arm and led her back toward the shack . "Im glad you came" he said in wonder of the woman that she was . Suddenly the rain began coming down in torrents . By the time they got back to the cabin they were both soaked and half frozen . He began immediately to build a fire with the kindling and small logs laid out by the fireplace . "I dont think we will have to worry about anyone else tonight" he said . "Take off your wet clothes and get under the blankets and i will lay them out by the fire to dry" ."You too" she said . "I didnt just shoot someone so you can die of pneumonia on me"As he turned to her she was pulling off her top to reveal a black , lacy , underwire bra that pushed her breasts up invitingly . She stripped off her jeans to reveal black bikini panties . She came to him and helped him take his shirt off , then got down on her knees and helped him work his jeans off . As she stood , her face was flushed and her breathing came heavy . She looked at him and his excitement was plainly visible . he grabbed the back of her hair and pulled her head back slightly as he kissed her fully on the mouth . "I must have you"he said as he pressed against her . They stumbled toward and fell onto the bed still pressed together . They took each other slowly at first and as passion rose went at each other hard . Urgent with need . Later as they lay quietly holding each other , she told him "Never leave me". Both question and statement . He felt his answer inside . He and seen and loved the little girl who lived inside her as he loved the woman that she was . "I will always be at your side" he said . "now ive got to call your father in the morning and let him know i wont be bringing you back to him". "Good" she sighed as she drifted off to sleep . "sometimes these decisions are made for us" he thought , as he drifted off to sleep himself ,"And i would not have it any other way".

THE TRINITY

2009-03-07T05:08:00.000-08:00

professionally , he was a scientist . he was actually only sure of two things . there was a god and it was not him . but he had seen and experienced miracles and there were no small ones . the flight of a bird or a bumblebee . the fragrance of a flower . the formation of a living being inside its mother . he believed in the trinity . but his trinity consisted of god , magic , and science . god was magic and science was magic revealed . " the big bang theory " . the universe was expanding and would one day begin to contract . his first thought was not of science , but rather that he was living in the heartbeat of god . the opening phrase of a book he had picked up in college resonated in his mind . " look to the book of nature brother . it bears the stamp of deity " . he was not seeking medals or acclaim . his search went deeper . to be worthy of his gifts .

barely wanted

2009-03-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

he hitchhiked out of chico , ca . with his tent , sleeping bag , and his pit bull "aces". he spent the first night still in california , so he decided to bury his i . d . the next morning as he had a couple of misdeamor warrants current in the state . once safely out of state they will not extradite you back for a misdemeanor . he had a thought as he buried his i . d . that some archeologist might dig it up much later and ponder the significance . anyway , just use a name easy to remember , keep the first three digits of your s. s. n. { these identify the issuing state } , rearrange the rest , and you are who you say you are "i find sometimes its easy to be myself . sometimes i find its better to be somebody else" {dave matthews band} '' so much to say" . ah , the road . i think more people picked up the dog than the man . i dont blame them . theres no guile in an animal . theyre open in their desires .went all the way to naples , fl . lost "aces"to traffic . she loved to ride in cars , but didnt realize they could kill her . he still treasures the friendship . took care of the warrants later . much harder to replace the i . d .

the necromancer

2009-01-31T05:37:00.000-08:00

do not be afraid of your dreams baby girl . the necromancer comes . i will join you and keep you safe . there are many wondrous things to explore . places and times you can only visit in your dreams . nonetheless, they are real . " now take my hand and hold it tight . i will not fail you here tonight . for failing you , i fail myself . and place my soul upon a shelf . in hells library , without light . i will not fail you here tonight . { the book of counted sorrows }

bind her feet

2009-01-28T12:36:00.000-08:00

you know. were stronger and they depend on us. never mind their wisdom and capacity for giving. we can do it. so lets. make them bind their feet. the result being they cant run no matter how we treat them. after all, the power is ours. doesnt might make right? what do you mean? respect their souls, their spirits, their humanity? i say we make them paint their faces too. make them wear clothes pleasing to us. well even allow our daughters to be treated in this fashion. we are men! they are here solely for our pleasure! why do i feel vaguely ashamed?

snake

2009-01-20T06:29:00.000-08:00

HOLY S..T!!!! THERES A SNAKE IN THE ROAD!!!!!! occasionally, when i wore a younger mans clothes {billy joel-"piano man"} i would get restless and bored, grab a small pack and my sleeping bag, walk to the highway and stick my thumb out, and say "you and me lord" and proceed to have an adventure or two. hitchhiking thru west texas in the dark is an interesting experience. if you are impatient like me and must walk when not ridingyou must be careful of the snakes who crawl onto the edge of the roadway to take advantage of the heat stored up in the asphalt during the day. when a vehicle passes, its headlights show a portion of the road ahead. look carefully and walk to the edge of your visibility. its slower than striding confidently forward, but i suspect a serpent, finding himself being trod upon, may be inclined to turn around and BICHU!!!

a memory

2009-01-12T12:51:00.000-08:00

this pen is a memory of a restaurant. across the street from a by-the-week motel on the edge of the desert in new mexico where i once passed some time. a knock on the door one night . a pretty young lady who smiled an invitation at me and asked if i had the time. i told her the time and softly closed the door in her face. i wish i had said "of course i do. lets pass this lonely night together. and talk and laugh and eat and drink and celebrate life as men and women have done for millenia as the sun rises over this barren desert". this pen is a memory i did not make. i miss her still.

the hat

2009-01-10T12:11:00.000-08:00

my father died in the viet-nam conflict as it was called . i personally believe that anytime a countrys sons are dying in the service of that country its a war . i never got to know him . i was just a baby when he was killed . when i asked my mother about him she always assigned to him the finest attributes of a man . bravery , courage , selflessness , with a heart that bled for people whom the world had treated maybe less than fairly . there was a box in the attic which contained some of his letters to my mother , his medals and letters of commendation , and a faded camouflaged "bush hat" with salt stains from his sweat and dirt i always imagined was foreign soil from the place where he shed his blood . i used to put that hat on from time to time and see my father in my minds eye . doing heroic things . charging bravely into battle against impossible odds . rescuing the helpless and hapless. i grew up , saw combat myself , and came to realize that war is never a good thing . the lessons i brought back and hold dear are lessons of friendship and brotherhood and sacrifice . im a cop in my small town now and have been for a number of years . i do my best to live up to the ideals ive cultivated and the memory of my father. the hat sits on my mantel under a picture of my father in a dress uniform . such a young , handsome man . other boys had their father to help teach them valuable lessons of life . i had my imagination and the hat .