Category: Uncategorized

I Stand With The Jewish Community

~ mikepowernyc ~ 1 Comment

charles french words reading and writing

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(https://pixabay.com)

Today we have seen the commission of a horrible act of terrorism and murder committed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A shooter opened fire inside a synagogue and killed 11 and injured 6 others. I am not sure if those horrific numbers will increase–I hope they do not.

It must be said without any doubt that this was an anti-Semitic, racist, bigoted, and fascist act, that also is chillingly reminiscent of acts in Germany during the 1930s. In our current political climate, in which hatred is growing, and in which guns are easily available to anyone, including some people who have no business having them, such horrors occur far too frequently. This was an act of hatred by a racist, an extreme right winger.

People of all political views, at least those who are sane, must oppose these increases in hate. There are no excuses, no justifications, and no political spins…

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The Old World

~ mikepowernyc ~ Leave a comment
A young person can easily see the faults in the old world that is decaying and dying all around them,
and recognize the foolishness of old people who are trying to keep it alive artificially.
What they can’t see,
until they are older,
if even then,
is that their fresh new world is decaying too,
that all their bright ideas and revolutions begin rotting almost as soon as they are born,
and the glorious world unfolding in front of them
will close in behind them
in the time it takes to draw a breath.

 

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The Place Where It Started

~ mikepowernyc ~ Leave a comment

I went to the place where it started for me and spent time with half the people I’d known there. It wasn’t the way it used to be: it’s harder now to find some words and too easy for others. There are holes in places that used to be solid. There are flowers where there used to be trees. There is death where there used to be laughter, and knowledge where there used to be dreams.

The dark room showed violence, but not too much, and it also showed patience and grace. The room by the water showed the shockwaves of nature and the art that is hidden in food. The room meant for living was filled with opinions – ideas and voices and anger and hope. The room meant for sleeping grabbed me and swallowed, and groaned before hiding away. The room that keeps moving carried a box of silence across state lines where it was opened ceremoniously and out popped another fresh life.

chair

The Light

~ mikepowernyc ~ Leave a comment

We see ourselves through the eyes of those we love. 
We are bound to like some of the things we see and dislike others. 
We see our character flaws in their eyes as clearly as we see our physical ones in a mirror. 

Did you ever notice how much better people look in direct sunlight? 
There is a warmth in that light that draws out our best. 
Love does the same thing. 
Even our flaws can be endearing in the light of love.

The Light – by Regina Spektor

The light was shining in my eyes before I closed them
And all the dreams I had the night before came back
The faces that I’d seen looked so familiar
But they’re just strangers, I haven’t met them yet


I know the morning is wiser than the evening
I know that wrong and right can sometimes look the same
So many things I know, but they don’t help me
Each day I open up my eyes and start again


The light comes shining in my eyes
The light comes shining in my eyes
The light comes shining in my eyes
The light comes shining in my eyes


So many stories I want to tell you
I wish that I could show you the many things I’ve seen
You and your daddy, you both look like poets
Your eyes are open wide while you are in a dream


I know the morning is wiser than the nighttime
I know there’s nothing wrong, I shouldn’t feel so down
So many things I know, but they don’t help me
Each day I open up my eyes to look around


The sun comes shining in my eyes
The sun comes shining in my eyes
The sun comes shining in my eyes
The sun comes shining in my eyes


Are closed now
Count the stars inside your mind
Count the breaths, count heartbeats
Count the sounds of life


The light was shining in my eyes before I closed them
And all the dreams I had the night before were gone
The faces that I’d seen looked so familiar
But I forgot them all when I saw the sun

I know the morning is wiser than the evening
I know that all of life just happens in between
So many things I know, but they don’t help me
Each day I open up my eyes and it begins


The light comes shining in my eyes
The light comes shining in my eyes
The light comes shining in my eyes
The light comes shining in my eyes

The light, the light, the light, the light
The light, the light

Two of Them

~ mikepowernyc ~ Leave a comment

One of them used to do it
The other never did
The important thing is: neither do it now
One I know better than I’ve ever known anyone
The other I barely know
Or I’m unaware of how well I know her
It depends how close she comes to my dream
One tells me things I don’t want to hear
The other says nothing at all
So I bounce back and forth
Between anger and silence, combustible, cold
They both showed me something usually hidden
I showed both of them something too
I can only hope what I showed them had value
What I saw opened more than my eyes

The Slog

~ mikepowernyc ~ Leave a comment

Do you know the feeling you get when you’re hiking and your legs are burning and you want to rest, or turn back, but you don’t? You tell yourself: just a little more, just a little farther, and it won’t be long before I reach my destination. 
The view from the mountaintop, a view that can only be seen after the struggle, will be worth the effort. 
I have that feeling now. 
I don’t mind the slog as long as I can believe there is something worth seeing at the end of it.