Mirror Poems (Book) - 7/8/2026 2:53:54 PM
Hello,
I recently discovered your story and wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading it. The storytelling felt incredibly natural, and the way you developed the characters made them easy to connect with.
I'm a commissioned comic and Webtoon artist, and throughout the story I found myself imagining many scenes as illustrated panels. Your work has a strong visual quality that could translate beautifully into a comic adaptation.
If you'd ever be interested in discussing the idea, feel free to reach out to me on Inst.gram (luna art soul).
Best regards,
Luna
Distant Islands and Sea Light (Travel Essays) (Book) - 7/27/2022 1:19:16 AM
Congratulations on your book, John. this feels amazing. i'm sure it's going to be a one of a kind experience being on an adventure on those islands through the pages of your book.
Distant Islands and Sea Light (Travel Essays) (Book) - 5/12/2021 2:10:11 AM
I can’t wait to read this collection of travel essays with its superlative descriptions of distant Islands...
If the above is a taste of the content it will be a journey for the reader of mystery and true magic!
Diana...
Earthrise (Book) - 11/22/2018 4:22:14 PM
If the excerpt is an example of your Haiku/Tanka forms, I may have to get a copy, John. I spent many years in the Kingdom (of SA) as a civilian (MoDA and the Ministry of the Interior) but never made it to Quatar or the other Emirates. I also never made it to the moon, except allegorically. صلى الله عليك
Feathers in the Dust (Book) - 4/9/2018 1:38:18 AM
Your words are educational and soul fortifying. Thank you for sharing this. I will share it with my young friends whom I counsel. Brilliant young people who hunger for a light in their journey. This will do great as a study manual.
If Birds Could Talk (Book) - 4/6/2018 4:18:35 AM
Congrats on your latest book of poetry.
Ron
Somewhere a Flower Blooms (Poetry) (Book) - 8/15/2017 11:25:30 AM
It's wonderful book of Poetry, John!
The line which sums it all up for me is;
"We're Hand Painted by Divine Touch". I was drawn to it because this book of prose and poetry is about life and how we each persevere in our own way and continue to bloom/hope, as we
journey-on. In these powerful lines you declare who God is and who we are in our relationship to Him, as we go through life with Him. Enjoyed immensely, thanks for
sharing.
Love, Blessings and Faith...Joyce * His Inspirations
Somewhere a Flower Blooms (Poetry) (Book) - 4/5/2017 1:28:51 AM
I can see you are a classy writer, I love your delving heart, take care and stay mused my dear, it's the only way to go, xo
Living a Muslim Life (Book) - 11/7/2016 7:14:40 AM
There have been cult leaders since time began. God warns of it as something like wolves in sheep's clothing. I believe there is good and bad in everything and stuff like that.
Love ya!
Jane
Distant Islands and Sea Light (Travel Essays) (Book) - 6/25/2016 7:48:56 AM
Congratulations on getting to back your strength, your superlative writing about the exotic places you have been. I envy you, because my few brief travels to exotic places were so rewarding, both for their knowledge and enjoyment.
For the most part, I found hotel rooms primarily only a place to sleep. I was always eager to leave them and spend all day and far into the night away from four walls and out into the sights, sounds, and smells of the place I was. And, I was fortunate to stay in private homes where I was always treated like royalty for being from that place of movies and riches, the United States.
And, I always found an honest friend. Often a countryman who knew the language and the lay of the land.
For anyone reading this, I would highly recommend that you read some of John's beautiful essays that are so descriptive that you feel you are there with him. He uses much fewer than 1000 words to describe the beauty pictured around him. Through his eyes and pen, you will view these islands like never before.
Ron
Holy Qur'an: An Intimate Portrait (Book) - 2/16/2016 12:51:27 PM
The Islamic Bible for all intents and purposes I never read, though I have gotten into Buddhism and those eastern religions...I doubt that I could read it as I have to admit I have not even read the Christian Bible all the way through...It basically just sits in my bookcase collecting dust...-e-
Wisdom's Journey (Book) - 1/9/2016 11:54:35 PM
I don't make claims about anything. I write about my impressions and experience. John
Living a Muslim Life (Book) - 1/9/2016 11:51:08 PM
The short answer, John, is no: I do not cover in the book the beheading of non-believers, or believers for that matter, since ISIS has killed perhaps more Muslims (by beheading or otherwise). My focus in writing was on the spirituality of Islam and not the politics or the horrendous aberrations committed in the name of Islam.
Wisdom's Journey (Book) - 1/9/2016 11:45:41 PM
Are you claiming to be a religion of peace?
Living a Muslim Life (Book) - 1/9/2016 11:43:39 PM
Do you cover the beheading of innocent non believers?
Near and Distant Horizons (Book) - 7/3/2003 10:45:14 PM
Hello...obviously you did not receive my email...or did you?
In any case I wish to aknowledge your work. I am fascinated by your mind and heart.
Many Blessings,
vesna
authorsden.com/TwinFlame
Bali: Under the Monsoon Rain (Short Story) - 5/12/2021 1:30:29 AM
That was absolutely superb!...Thank you John for a glimpse into this unforgettable sacred visit...
I was there, amidst the lush greenery, sensing the otherworldliness and sanctity of Nature, blending with our frail humanity ...and safe also under the umbrella that gave you that feeling of protection from the full force of the storm...
To experience a taste of the numinous is a true blessing...and a blessing for us the
reader to re experience again in such wonderful descriptive words...I could feel the rain beating down...and the sense of melancholy in having to leave it behind...I am feeling this now also as I finish your story...
What a gift to have read this enchanting piece....Thank you, Thank you!
With gratitude,
Diana...
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Five (Short Story) - 9/1/2020 3:56:37 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed each leg of your trip, viewing it through your eyes and culinary appetite. Glad you held out for the river fish.
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Five (Short Story) - 8/30/2020 11:42:20 AM
a great journey John. and yae for those who have traveled many countried of our world. the yen for another one to another place yet not visited is always there.
budd
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Five (Short Story) - 8/30/2020 8:45:01 AM
I fully understand what you mean about fatigue from viewing pagodas, temples, stupas, sitting and lying Buddhas. In that part of the world, they seem to be everywhere. On the other hand, your description of colonial British artifacts… Broad avenues, parks, projected Buddhist shrines, and grand hotels, government buildings, in colonial Rangoon mirror my thoughts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Except there were no Buddhist or Hindu reminders in that Muslim country--long ago removed.
That all of the jewels on that pagoda remained is a tribute to the oppressive Miramar government after the British left. Somehow preserving something of great wealth, often looted after colonial governments left. But I believe the monks would give their lives to protect their monuments to Buddha and adjoining riches.
Your last two paragraphs describe the amazing experience that you had so well. One of the worst problems of tourism is that tour companies often isolate their tourists from the people of a country rather than immerse them in the people, the real treasure. That is sad. The way that you and I traveled is much better. Reading you, I feel like I was there with you.
Ron
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Four (Short Story) - 8/23/2020 9:41:52 AM
i have such treasures from other places John. and i found your story honoring those you met along the way as a fine tribute to them all. we learn much when we travel to places far away and live among so many other cultures. kudos to you for sharing these memories with us here.
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Four (Short Story) - 8/23/2020 9:21:49 AM
I can see by this section that having the country closed for so long to outsiders as retained the ancient industries and crafts to perfection. It is amazing, especially how the young in a family, can pick up the family craft and carry it on, sometimes to even higher-quality of both production and artistry. The way you describe these things, it seems like a rather calm and peaceful life, even though every day may be a struggle for survival, like the fishermen eking out a living on the lake.
I was about five when I first saw the room in the large farmhouse that my Amish relatives had in northern Indiana that contained a large loom. And their craftsmanship, particularly with woodcarving, that was so creative and artistic… Wood carved toys that were magical. Puzzles.
You beautifully wrote about the weaving on the lake and the memento that you treasure. I also gathered crafts from countries that were outstanding. I have two scenes on black cotton made from golden straw by a famous Bangladeshi artist that I treasure.
I have just been writing about my trip with a weaving club to Guatemala. While I bought two fine examples of their weaving, I didn't stop to see their work in progress. Maybe I should have taken the time, based on what you wrote here.
Ron
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Four (Short Story) - 8/22/2020 4:23:41 PM
I enjoyed your endearing account which paid tribute to the time, dedication, patience, and pride the artisans devote to their craft.
Your lotus scarf is indeed a valued treasure preserving your fond memories.
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Three (Short Story) - 8/2/2020 9:16:47 AM
Peter sure got over his stomach problems! Six eggs followed by six pancakes sounds like a heavy load to carry with you while touring. I would bet that the man has clogged arteries by the time he is 50. You may have told me how old he is. And you may embed to make occasional bathroom stops along the way with consumption like that!
Buddhists seem to be very fond of symbols. I recall the story of Buddha riding an elephant from Ceylon to Thailand across the sea. The only Banyan tree that I recall seeing was in Key West Florida, rather out of place, but still, very interesting. I learned the secret of gold on most of the Buddhas. The faithful would buy 1 inch squares of gold leaf and then place them on the statue where there wasn't gold before. After many applications, sometimes thousands, the statue of Buddha would be covered with gold.
While I had great difficulty getting in and out of long boats that served as taxis in Bangkok, I marveled at little old ladies who jumped from the boat to the dock and vice versa, carrying their bags of goods bought at the market with ease. My experience with money came in Bangladesh where I attempted to buy something with baht from Thailand and was met with shaking heads… No!
I have found when guides give a sob story, it is often to get a greater tip at the end of a tour. I believe that Lyme was telling the truth. And I guess that's why used to call wagons "Buck boards," that our ancestors had to put up with if they weren't sprung and very bouncy.
That temple reminds me of an island temple we went to off shore at the European tourist hang out in Thailand, Pattaya. But it was an easy walk up. From the photo, your climb was, indeed, daunting, if not treacherous. I also, on the road to Hoa Inn south of Bangkok treated to mountain shrines, Vitoon dropped me at a mountain with a doorway. Inside, the mountain was hollow and there was a large reclining Buddha. Coming back outside, he told me to take a trail up on the mountain and to "watch out for monkeys." The trail led me up on top of that mountain and then along the saddle to another mountain where I came to a hole. Looking down, I saw a black sitting Buddha far down below, with no idea how to get down there. I came back the way I came. There were no tourists, pilgrims, monkeys or guides at most of the places and for the most part, Vitoon didn't tell me much except, "There's a Buddha up on that mountain." I was often amazed at what I saw, even a lizard on a long climb up a set of stairs in northwest Thailand leading to some shrine. After I told him what I saw, Vitoon warned me, "Do not approach or touch lizards."
I believe the coloring on monkeys and baboons are signals to others about their sexuality. Something maybe humans should do. And then again, red short shorts does it for me. ;-)
Ron
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Three (Short Story) - 8/2/2020 4:04:16 AM
I would have loved to dig into the sumptuous buffet breakfasts you began your account with. Kudos to you for crossing that bridge. Glad you climbed to the summit of the mountain for the rewarding view of the countryside.
Your vivid descriptions transported me to an exotic land.
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Two (Short Story) - 7/13/2020 9:37:42 AM
Love the way the tale continues. Peter certainly was a food adventurer. I never had any real problem while traveling and tasting, not necessarily eating, everything offered. In Karachi, I had lunch with executives eating Pakistani food in a busy hotel and Chinese in a suburban neighborhood resembling the old West with a hitching post out front on the dirt street. My hosts bought nearly everything on the menu that was in plain English that I could read easily. I sampled everything and had no problem with any of it.
After I was paralyzed at 20, I developed a neurogenic bowel and bladder, making it urgent, sometimes, to take care of both, individually of course. I also became lactose intolerant and didn't solve the problem for about seven years. From 20 to 50 I never drank water, only coffee, tea and juice. Never got dehydrated that I know of. If I got thirsty, I would buy a soda, someone assured that the water had been sterilized. I occasionally drank tap water at home if I was working in the yard and worked up a sweat, but preferred something like lemonade that I made.
In Bangkok, we ate every evening in sidewalk cafés. Some of the seasonings I liked, but I would have avoided salads anyway, even if they weren't laced with special "liquid fire" dressings that were in the specialty of whoever was cooking. Much of the meat that was processed had a sickly pink look and most meat was seasoned with mint, making it taste like someone had poured aftershave on it… Ughh. So I visited the little floor level squatting toilets quite often.
In Bangladesh, we ate at one old British restaurant, but I don't remember what we ate. My host had a compound and apparently killed their last chicken because they served me curried chicken, peas and rice the whole time I was there. Their gatekeeper kept pigeons for them, apparently also for food and eggs. My sour stomach from Thailand disappeared.
I think Peter would have fallen through the bridge before you. Why were you afraid to cross? The one thing I didn't see in Thailand was the Bridge over the River Kwai. I loved the way you wrote about the little boy. Young children have also fearlessly approached me, curious about my hands. I'm sure his mother was glad not to have to keep an eye on him for a while. He was on a good lap with grandpa.
Ron
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part Two (Short Story) - 7/13/2020 3:17:17 AM
I certainly would have loved to sample the eggplant dish you mentioned. I'd be good with sticky rice too.
Don't know if I'd have the stamina to traverse that bridge.
Your anecdote about the little boy tugged at my heartstrings.
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part One (Short Story) - 7/8/2020 10:05:01 PM
The voluptuousness of your descriptions, and the passion with which you wield them, have delivered me to Myanmar/Burma in a near physical sense. I can't wait to read Part 2.
Rebecca
Once Upon a Time in Burma - Part One (Short Story) - 7/8/2020 1:25:44 PM
Little typos… “mote" should be full moat, "change" should be chance and "out" should be our. Those aside, once again I am reading your fabulous way of writing, in great detail and with great flourish, your travels that astound me with their diversity.
Your descriptions are so vivid I can almost picture them. But you wrote, "The blackened highlands turn to rugged mountains with nary a tree to see." As though there were no green jungles or trees? I have to assume you're talking about the mountains having no trees. But I'm not sure what caused the highlands to be black or dark… Trees?
Your choice of Myanmar is exactly what I would choose for a destination if I could still travel and had the financial means. It is "out of the way" for most tourists, but like Cambodia and Cuba, since opening up to the West after so many years of being closed provides a unique view of life, "the way it used to be." Also, I have never visited a place, or lived in a place, either, that I didn't come away with an entirely different vision of what that place was than I had before coming there. Also, visiting a place after many years may result in lamenting progress or marveling at it, depending upon the circumstance. Travel educates us all. Those who do not travel or take standard tours with like-minded individuals, miss out on the real life of places. Unlike you and I have, on the ground and with the people
From what I read, you found old Burma still there and, for the traveler, English speaking guides, reasonable pocketbook expense and a Buddhist heritage that seemed to be everywhere. It is so good that you have Peter to travel with, but I can also see that you have some differences that make travel with him difficult at times.
You reminded me of my travel with Vitoon halfway around the world to his native Thailand. Along the way, we had some differences regarding entertainment, otherwise got along quite well. But when we got to Thailand, he was in charge, my money was no good, and he took me around the country as he returned to see far-flung relatives and girlfriends along the way, stopping at roadside dentist locations for numbing for his painful diseased teeth and at various temples and shrines where he didn't guide me, but let me get out of the car and explore the usually, deserted, places. I don't recall ever having to take off my shoes, perhaps I did in some places. But I marveled at what I saw in silence just making up my own mind what I was seeing without anyone telling me.
Like you, I'm not generally one to be a fool and ask a lot of questions, allowing guides and sometimes, locals to tell me the details of a particular place. But I have found that guides tend towards mythical stories that I have found out, through research by scientists, have no valid history like the Thai "ancient city," a ruin that I went to alone on a big commercial tour because Vitoon was doing something else that day. Turns out, in Thai history, ancient is about the time of our United States becoming a nation, nothing ancient about it. But the jungle deteriorates things quickly and that place was a ruin filled with pickpockets selling fake artifacts. We ate in many outdoor restaurants in the evening, but I don't recall any mosquitoes, just pesky dogs and cats seeking a handout and no roaches, thankfully, although some of food appeared to be them.
Looking forward to the next half of the story.
Ron
Larnaka, Cyprus: At the Tomb of Umm al-Haram (Short Story) - 3/3/2018 8:45:14 PM
An encounter with strong spiritual overtones given the setting and circumstances. A touching story!
Larnaka, Cyprus: At the Tomb of Umm al-Haram (Short Story) - 3/3/2018 2:23:40 PM
What a lovely story! Would be that all could be more like you and your new found friend! Very refreshing!!
Love ya!
Jane
Larnaka, Cyprus: At the Tomb of Umm al-Haram (Short Story) - 3/3/2018 10:11:40 AM
Another wonderfully written story of your travels. Only the cats didn't stretch, they stretched… ;-)
It was delightful how you were perceived as a potential husband for an Islamic woman, perhaps wishing entry into the United States, or merely finding a husband of worth, like you. Hopefully, she wasn't ugly. ;-)
And, being mistaken for a beggar, leads me to believe that your dress for the day to keep off the chill that made man from Pakistan believe that you are not able to buy better clothes when visiting the mosque.
In all my travels, I don't recall visiting a mosque. I did visit churches in Cologne, the Cathedral, and a bomb damaged church in Frankfurt on Christmas Eve with all of the wealthy Germans wearing furs because the place was unheated. And, I did have the pleasure of attending a service in high school at the Frank Lloyd Wright Chapel on an island in the Chain of Lakes in Wisconsin.
I did visit many temples in Thailand. I don't recall seeing anyone in any of the temples that I climbed several hilltops to enter. They were all empty of people. But, coming back from having a picnic lunch on a beautiful remote lake in Pakistan, we stopped to buy fish and a man selling fish there with a broad smile and missing teeth, declared to me, translated by my host, that he would like to, "Visit America sometime." My perception was that over half the country wanted to do that, and most of those would also want to stay.
Ron
Trabzon: Journey's End in Turkey (Short Story) - 2/15/2018 2:40:52 PM
Thank you for this "mini journey"! I enjoyed every single word of it.
Love ya!
Jane
Trabzon: Journey's End in Turkey (Short Story) - 2/10/2018 10:49:07 AM
a great story, reminds me of some of the places I have enjoyed being in during my life. I've had the good fortune to travel much of the world during my 68 years, starting at 18. you make a fine statement here for many to heed and then heed the joys of other cultures and parts of this world.
Down with Group Chat (Article) - 8/12/2026 12:43:22 PM
You have chronicled what happened perfectly. It's really sad that there are so many news outlets all competing for the commercial dollar that they have lost the purpose of just reporting the news. It seems to me they could find enough news stories to fill the void or just shut down their operations when they had no news to report.
There's always been commentary. In newspapers it was the columns. Those so-called, experts, became the talking heads. Barroom, club and after church discussions were augmented online and on television. I don't know what a news program is doing selling stuff and contributing to credit card debt and conspicuous consumption.
Ron
Daylight Saving: Stop Legislating the Sun (Article) - 7/24/2026 1:59:53 PM
That was a very thorough and thoughtful discussion of the silliness of saving time when there is no time saved by all of the laws passed to try to change it.
Might take on it when it first started in my grade school school all time was that I could stay out and play later before I had to go back in the house in the evening in the summertime.
But by the time I was a teenager and driving, it was frustrating to wait until it got dark so that you could go to the submarine races with your girlfriend and it got dark enough for the movie to come on…after a lot of honking of the horns.
Finally, some of my relatives were dairy farmers. Twice a year, the milking schedule for their cows at 6 AM and 6 PM every day, was shaken by the shift in the time, making the cows mighty upset if the farmer did it abruptly. I can imagine their aching udders with no calf or milking machine to release the pressure. It needs to stop for the cows' sake.
Ron
A Quiet Word about Money (Article) - 7/22/2026 3:13:09 PM
I love your philosophy of money. I followed it for sometime. I was in the market, in retirement funds. That I let grow because I knew there would come a time when I would not be able to earn a paycheck and no one was going to help me live except myself.
But as I begin to hire people to take care of me I realize that I needed much more money than a simple retirement would give me. Especially Social Security. Our insecurity as it has become for many who rely on it for their entire retirement.
Fortunately, by being in the market and by being a little more active, my retirement is actually growing while I'm paying a tremendous amount each year to pay the people who get me out of bed in the morning and take care of even most necessary tasks like drinking water.
My anxiety about money has almost disappeared in my desire to give a large amount to help students is being realized more each year.
Ron
Great Deferred Payment Illusion (Article) - 6/5/2026 12:45:20 PM
Another great article. Especially how you carefully explained how the marketing of products with those special catch phrases hook people into thinking they are getting something for nothing or beating the market, etc. When what's actually happening is they are falling into a debt trap. Beautifully done.
I already wrote you that I am frugal. Never had to keep up with the Joneses and buy the latest whatever that they had. I also never had a family, making it easier to live with hand me down furniture and almost everything else rather than buying new. I bought very few used cars with cash. I will admit buying this house that I'm living in now 45 years on a sucker deal of "bought down interest" for five years that had most of my neighbors fleeing their new houses well before they hit the 15.9% mortgage rate that I endured until I forced the finance company to reduce it to 10%. But my wife wanted the house, so we bought it with both of our salaries. Three years later, she wanted me to sell it when its value had dropped about 40% and left me.
Ron
What Eye-Glass Vendors Don't Want You to See (Article) - 6/5/2026 12:20:13 PM
Another great article. But you missed one very important point – fashion. Like clothes, eyeglass frames have been sold as styles for most of my life. It's always difficult to keep up.
Always frugal, I haven't experienced what you have. I was diagnosed as myopic with astigmatism in the 10th grade. My first heavy rimmed plastic eyeglasses in the Buddy Holly style didn't endear me to the opposite sex and made me look like a geek. But I needed them to drive and watch TV. Took them off to read and write.
At 19 and in my second year of college, I spent $120 to get contact lens. My father called me, "Money bags." They were the cause of much eye irritation. One year later, when my hands were paralyzed, I could no longer put them in or take them out. I still have them. Somehow, when I found out that I couldn't get my broken frames replaced because the fashion had changed, I managed to get through my entire life with only about four different pair that never cost me any more than $100 to change. Since retired, unless I drove, I haven't worn glasses and I'm not wearing glasses to write this or read your article. And no cataracts, yet, like my twin brother as had removed, restoring 20-20 vision.
Finally, a few years ago, 60 Minutes had an expose about the eyeglass frame business. It seemed that one company in Italy had bought out nearly all of the eyeglass manufacturers. They were controlling the price of eyeglass frames from that small country. Including some brand names with very high prices. But since 2000 or so, print manufacturing and Internet companies have began to undercut those high prices. You just have to look or search the Internet to find them.
Ron
Great Deferred Payment Illusion (Article) - 5/31/2026 1:15:39 PM
I'm glad I'm too poor to ever "take advantage" of those "great deals"! Thanks for explaining it all to me in terms I can actually understand.
Rebecca
Eating Less: A Secret Hiding in Plain Sight (Article) - 5/25/2026 11:13:32 AM
Once again, you've written a fact filled article that is short, to the point and so needed in modern society that thinks there is a pill for every ailment when there are simpler ways to do it. How are you covered all this is amazing to me. Thank you.
My mother was a great cook. Neighbor kids want to eat at our house. We could eat all we wanted, and I did. But as a kid I remained skinny with all the energy I had as I left the table, never slowing down. Mom would eat the leftovers that she couldn't feed for lunch the next day. Eventually, she became overweight and diabetic.
I left home at 18 to go to college. I was frugal and didn't spend a lot of money even though you could buy six hamburgers for a dollar. I didn't period I'd buy one. Cooking for myself to save money, the right foods you suggest, I kept a 30 1/2 inch waist for 30 years. Some people around me thought I was malnourished. But I was healthy.
But I've always been a clean plate guy. Since I now have others cooking for me and serving me. I often get too much on the plate and eat it all. Even though I can't get out of this wheelchair and exercise like I did. The food is nutritious…I just have to cut the proportions.
I remember a professor who I chastised for parking in the disabled space (parentheses I never did). She came to me one day and fell in need to confess. She said, "I spent $3000 on a weight loss program. Please don't tell my husband." She was grossly overweigh and loved cooking.
Within a year or two she died. When I saw her husband later, he seemed very happy with his new, much younger and slim wife.
My sister, only 5 foot tall, lost 80 pounds by eating only every other day. Alternate fasting.
Ron
Some Sound Nutritional Advice (Article) - 5/24/2026 8:24:23 AM
This article shows your ability to write in many genres. It is not only short and to the point, it is very powerfully presented.
You caused me to remember when I ate for a dollar a day in college. I was in wrestling and trying to keep my weight at 129 pounds. I savered every bite and chewed carefully.
And then, for all the years that I cooked for myself, I sat down with my meal and ate it very slowly. I never drank water like other people had a meal. I sipped coffee with my morning breakfast that I also cherished, whether it be cereal or my favorite, two fried eggs with toast and bacon. For my evening meal, I would relax and sip wine.
Unfortunately, my caregivers are on schedules and tend to feed me too much better food, faster. I have suffered from it and need to slow down and eat less.
Ron
Strange Rituals in Tennis (Article) - 5/21/2026 3:02:29 PM
I DON'T PLAY TENNIS, NEVER HAVE. AND AT 81 I AM CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BEGIN NOW. I AM NOT A FAN OF THE SPORT, HOWEVER...I DO, AT TIMES, FOLLOW UP ON WHO WON AND WHO LOST AND WHO'S THE BEST AT THE PRESENT. SO...I AM QUICK TO DISMISS TWO OF 'THE RITUALS' THAT YOU MENTIONED AS 'ACQUIRED, ACCEPTABLE TENNIS HABITS' THAT MAKE THE PLAYERS FEEL BETTER. PERHAPS THEY LIKE A PARTICULAR 'BRAND/MAKER' OF BALL...OR...AS RONALD HAS SUGGESTED, THEY ARE MAKING SURE THEIR SHOE SOLE IS FREE FROM ANY DEBRIS. HOWEVER...AS TO ONE GETTING UPSET OVER THE LOST OF ONE POINT? I CAN CLEARLY UNDERSTAND AS ONE POINT CAN LEAD TO TWO AND...ETC. ALSO, I DON'T FEEL THEIR SHOW OF PASSION AND EAGERNESS TO BE THE BEST IS 'THEATRICS' AT ALL. WHEN THEY LOSE...THEY FEEL IT!!! I GET THAT...NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO LOSE A GAME THAT HAS DIMINISHED THE 'GOAL' OF 'BEING THE BEST'. THUS, WHEN THEY WIN...THEY FEEL IT!!! ALL THE WORK; THE COACHING, THE PRACTICE AND DEDICATION HAS BEEN WORTH IT...THEY WON AND ARE NOW CLOSER TO THEIR OVERALL GOAL OF BEING THE TOP PLAYER!!! SO, I UNDERSTAND WHY A PLAYER LITERALLY DESTROYS THEIR RACKET WHEN THE LOSE; AT THAT MOMENT, THEY GOTTA TAKE IT OUT ON 'SOMETHING'(THANK GOD IT'S THE RACQUET)... RATHER THAN 'SOMEONE'. LIKE I SAID, I HAVE NEVER PLAYED THE GAME SO HERE I AM, IN SPITE OF ALL MY FAULTS, A DOCILE AND KIND CHRISTIAN(FOR THE MOST PART) AND JUST MAYBE, JUST MAYBE...THERE IS A GOOD REASON WHY GOD NEVER STEERED ME IN THAT PATH(BIG SMILE).
THANKS FOR SHARING MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Some Sound Nutritional Advice (Article) - 5/21/2026 2:36:24 PM
JOHN, I ACTUALLY...ATE...THIS ARTICLE, SLOWLY AND APPRECIATIVELY. LET ME TELL YOU WHY. FROM CHILDHOOD, RELATIVELY ALL MY LIFE, I HAVE SUFFERED WITH CONSTIPATION. THUS, THIS ARTICLE TOUCHED ON WHAT THE 'ROOT' OF THE ACTUAL PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN...AND STILL MIGHT BE. THOUGH NOW I HANDLE THE PROBLEM WITH A PROPER DIET THAT IS COMPRISED OF A GREAT DEAL OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND JUICE...I AM WONDERING IF THE FACT THAT I DO AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A 'FAST EATER' COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THE PROBLEM? FROM A YOUNGSTER I DID NOT 'PLAY-AROUND' WITH A PLATE OF FOOD. BY THIS I MEAN...I CONSUMED MY FOOD QUICKLY AND, AT TIMES, EVEN NOW DO SO. SO PERHAPS...? NO, LET ME GET A LITTLE MORE CONCISE...NOW 'I WILL' SLOW-DOWN AND 'CHEW' LONGER. AND I WILL ALSO WATCH MY INTAKE OF FLUIDS DURING THE MEAL. MY GOD, I AM 81 YEARS OLD AND JUST REALLY LEARNING HOW TO...PARTAKE OF A MEAL SO THAT ME AND MY BODY RECEIVES THE VERY BEST OUT OF THE IT..?!? I GUESS THERE REALLY IS AN 'ART' TO EVERYTHING AND ONE IS NEVER REALLY TOO OLD TO LEARN SOMETHING. A GREAT ARTICLE! IT REALLY HIT HOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Some Sound Nutritional Advice (Article) - 5/21/2026 9:17:41 AM
In my experiences, a healthy gut equals a happy life. They say 70% of a human beings immune system resides in the guts. That's quite amazing actually. Knowing what to eat, what not to eat, when to eat, how to eat, and the right amount to eat, is imperative. The digestive system in a human being is not just a mechanical process, but a delicate ecosystem that is remarkably bound to a persons mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Thanks for sharing
Strange Rituals in Tennis (Article) - 5/19/2026 1:06:46 PM
A great little humorous piece. There was a tennis court adjacent to our high school, but we didn't have tennis as a sport. After I was paralyzed, I tried playing tennis. When I hit the ball with the racket, the impact would violently wrench the racket out of my hand – my left hand, the only one with a grip that wasn't adequate. Fortunately, I could play badminton. Recently, and very tardily, I’ve learned of pickleball. Perhaps I could have played that had it been available.
Like every high level sport, those that reach the top of tennis, probably are intensely focused on every drive or return. For some, those emotional outbursts get them more attention and fame. Also, at that level, like I have seen in golf, the players may want to get rid of any little pebble of dirt that might cause them to slip. And it could be a habit, like so many in sports. There's probably a lot of superstition about which ball is going to work in one's favor. Again, the high level makes people do eccentric things as though they were normal.
I find most sports like tennis to be rather boring to watch, probably because I didn't play the game and understand the difficulty. However, I did play ping-pong and understand the same kind of difficulty trying to catch up with where the ball is going to return it.
Ron
Song of Mystic Poets (Article) - 5/16/2026 11:23:40 AM
Over the years I've occasionally been influenced by certain mystic poets. Their penchant to describe the souls quest for union with the divine, (a transformative experience that transcends the physical realm in an attempt to access elevated states of consciousness and understanding) is a theme that is easy to assimilate. During my time studying Buddhism, in my early twenties, the monks resonated obviously with Buddha, and also some of them Gendun Chopel and Nagarjuna. Never related to them though. Rumi, of course, was one of most popular, as well as Kalil Gibran. Loved both of them. Gibrans' book 'The Prophet' (purported to be one of the best selling books of all time) is still in my personal library. Also in my library, Herman Hesse' 'Siddhartha' still resonates with me. A good use of language John, concise and informative. Appreciated this. Peace.
Song of Mystic Poets (Article) - 5/16/2026 9:13:42 AM
What fascinated me in particular with this essay was the way you chose to layer the density of spiritual thinking, allowing both the text and subtext to gradually bring the heart into the arena of the brain, and upon that meeting, a dual importance was made as one. For me, I always look for some element of non-religious invitations (not that there is anything wrong with religious associations). My personal belief is that the rarest kind of spiritual appreciation and respect comes from a gestalt sense of protection and belief that doesn't denigrate any sincere feelings of spiritual nature that may not coincide with organized religion, but is still admirable. Well-worded, well-constructed essay that speaks volumes.
Pattern Day Trader Rule (Article) - 5/13/2026 9:19:11 AM
I was never drawn to the stock market. To me it's just another form of gambling. The market is never obvious. It is designed to fool most of the people, most of the time. And financial advisors (to me) are like trusting a coyote in the hen-house. There are some exceptions though. Bottom line: risk cannot be eliminated, it just gets transferred and spread across other investments. Since I was a kid I've saved. Have never lived above my means, always under my means. It's worked very well for me and for my wife and I. Appreciated the info John. Thanks for sharing. R
Pattern Day Trader Rule (Article) - 5/12/2026 12:23:33 PM
Thanks for the knowledgeable information. I trade regularly, but not in day trading they're in. For me, a way to lose whatever assets I have.
I have recently moved my assets from growth stocks to safer, more subtle locations. Growth will be slower, but safer.
Ron
Gen-Z University Students: Pressure, Perception and Crisis of Expectation (Article) - 5/8/2026 10:32:43 AM
A real-life insight into an age group (1997-2012) colloquially known as ‘Zoomers’. Sometimes GenZ are characterized as being more pragmatic, and maturing faster, due to the kinds of adults they’ve been exposed to growing up, and also their GenX parents who have experienced financial troubles, and were all (it seemed) remarkably preoccupied with child safety. Most of our grandchildren, and some nieces and nephews are ‘Zoomers’. One presently is in the Navy on an aircraft carrier off the coast of Taiwan, and two of them are graduating High School and College. Each of them is very skilled, level-headed, spiritually grounded, and loving.
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Your contention that “writing is never perfect” has a ring of truth to it, but has deeper waters that can be explored. As an adjective ‘perfect’ can also describe something complete, flawless, superlative, or ideal, and emphasizes the soundness, excellence, or suitability of what is being categorized. In context to writing, ‘perfect’ can mean excellent, ideal, impeccable, or splendid. Obviously a poem, or anything literary, can be re-investigated, reedited, rewritten, or clarified upon. e.g. ‘your poem was perfectly done, but is not perfect.’ Ad infinitum this thought process.
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The fact that you connected with, and planted intelligent seeds, in this young man was (IMO) the most important part of your sharing. Congratulations to you for that victory. Another interesting article John. Enjoyed. Thank you for sharing. R
Gen-Z University Students: Pressure, Perception and Crisis of Expectation (Article) - 5/8/2026 8:41:58 AM
Much to re-read and unpack for the individual reader. Some may be students themselves (like the attitude for myself... always but a student anxious to learn). Others may see in this insightful sharing a memory of their own schooling, as well as the pressures lived through many years of schooling. I'm struck also by the unnamed value, but one that is apparent for the conscious minds that know the value of reflection. My next post, which has taken days to complete, has some synchronicity with your work here. Kudos, John. Two postings of value for us all.
Tone-Deaf and Insulting Advertising (Article) - 5/6/2026 11:22:37 AM
Written with conviction John. I concur with what you are proffering. It’s a great legal drug deception disseminated by advertising. I’m shocked to see what the drug ‘Ozempic’ is doing to people. How the faces change and get distorted looking. As if they're possessed of something. There are warnings in various places in Holy Writ about rampant drug use in the years leading up to the emergence of the antichrist. Some people believe this to be street drugs, but I (and a host of others) believe it is far more insidious. A widespread deception by ‘Merchants’ (merchants symbolizing powerful influential systems - 'Big Pharma' being one of the biggest) is a great sign of end-time judgement.
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, 'witchcraft' (witchcraft in Greek is ‘pharmakeia’ and translates in English to Pharmaceutics) hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies..." Galatians 5: 19-21
"And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries [pharmakeia] were all nations deceived." Revelation 18:23
These (and many more verses) are warnings to remain sober-minded and watchful, and also to remain alert to avoid being “led astray” by substances that cloud the mind, alter the body, or open the door to spiritual deception and harm. Your use of language was excellent. I appreciated this. I will read it to my wife and friends. Peace.
Cap Interest Rates: Not the Consumers (Article) - 1/22/2026 6:38:00 AM
So true. I receive all those "invitations" to apply for credit cards (I'm always "pre-approved") and sometimes the interest rates just boggle the mind. Then on top of those there's the "application fee" in addition to the "annual fee." Seems to me that there's a lot more money being made extending questionable credit than not.
Rebecca
Cap Interest Rates: Not the Consumers (Article) - 1/22/2026 6:19:43 AM
I agree with you! My parents lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. They believed you should not buy anything if you could not afford it. I've never owned a house or new car, but I've always had good food, good music, good books and plenty of friends. Some have asked: What is the greater crime? To rob a bank or to operate one?
Inside the Horn of Silence (Article) - 5/22/2020 3:14:44 AM
Your an amazing writer with a rich tapestry inside of you, You own the discipline I lack dear friend, and I'm proud of you. Take care, stay healthy and always, my friend. xo
Echoes of Silence (Article) - 12/13/2018 7:04:05 PM
I loved Echoes of Silence. Your excerpt really dissected thoughts in varying decrees - about lack and void or is it abundance and opportunity in silence, or without it? Fun to ponder.
Nancy
Hidden Sweetness of the Fast (Article) - 6/15/2018 1:23:39 AM
This article was both interesting and informative. It also brought to mind the fast as it is practiced by other cultures and religions. There are so many examples of humanity's parallels to one another. Too bad so many prefer to concentrate on the differences by demonizing them. It truly is sad.
Rebecca
From Complexity Simplicity (Poetry) - 9/27/2026 3:32:20 PM
As life gets more complex, complexity seems to creep into everyone's life. I think the key to happiness, is to shrug off complexity that is no longer valid and we can do without. The simple life is better for giving us time to think and ponder more important things.
Ron
Consolation (Poetry) - 9/27/2026 2:43:41 PM
Consolation. Such an admirable choice to share more of your poetic thought. Yes, it is indeed becoming an endangered principle of emotional stbility. I especially felt a kinship with your: The loss of a loved one inspires words of consolation,
In feeling the suffering, one also feels the consolation.
A shift in focus so another’s suffering possible to bear,
Words of wisdom imparted with the force of a prayer.
This thought never stops resonating in me, as it seems to be with you as well. Thank you for reminding readers of what they need to give some attention to.
Cherry Tree (Poetry) - 9/26/2026 5:09:43 PM
Yes indeed John.... the sakura are beautiful and redolent. A single blossom that holds the courage to face both birth and farewell in the same breath. Certainly an excellent symbol of renewal and the fleeting nature of life. Beautifully written. Enjoyed. Peace.... rlc
Tender Is the Day That Dawns (Poetry) - 9/26/2026 3:33:37 PM
Your wordsmithing of dawn is truly heartwarming, and, coupled with your desires, an inspired focus on comforting longings. There are many days to come when these thoughts are destined to manifest. Hang in there.
This Aging Moon (Poetry) - 9/26/2026 3:29:20 PM
A wonderful acknowledgement of the moon's many moods and images. One is reminded of the question of how it relates to the sun either at moonrise or moonset. The entities seem destined to exchange their steadfast dedication of comfort and protection to our earth. Well done.
Nothing But a Memory (Poetry) - 9/26/2026 3:24:58 PM
This piece reminded me of a conviction I established for myself long ago... love has many ways to manefest and often, stronger than romantic associations. Yet, all of love remains an element of life that is very easy to lose if its bredth is confined to object. You are living love everyday you write, share words of love in different forms, often with Nature... a beloved source for my own thoughts. Hopefully I can share as worthy a text as you have here. So well voiced. Thank you for posting.
From Complexity Simplicity (Poetry) - 9/26/2026 3:20:20 PM
I read this and couldn't help thinking how your simplicity/complexity understanding is of such poetic need. I tried in a different way to express similar revelations in "The Life-long Pernicious Evil" but your concise wordsmithing is spot on and gives us all another moment to consider our choices of simplicity for soul, or complexity for life's archeticture. Well versed. Thank you.
In the Shadow of Night (Poetry) - 9/26/2026 3:15:17 PM
John, your ability to phrase words of Nature into such insightful thought is admirable. The drenched tree gave me memories of many a climb with after a rain storm, between the rocks it was not unusual to find your rain drenched triee, twig, bush... that element of Nature cropping up in unexpected places can make one pause. Now the pause an be imbued with your peaceful text of wonder and appreciation. Thank you for posting.
In the Shadow of Night (Poetry) - 9/25/2026 5:56:27 PM
Your rain-drenched tree standing in the 'shadow of night' with droplets running off the leaves, becomes more than a natural image. For this reader it blossoms into a metaphor for durability, introspection, and the cyclical nature of life. Resilience and endurance. Renewal and transformation. A living emblem of the human condition, where all of us are shaped by the storms we endure, and the quiet moments in which we find meaning. Thank you, John. Another quiet insight one can reflect on. Enjoyed. Peace. r
This Aging Moon (Poetry) - 9/22/2026 4:27:14 PM
The moon wouldn't be there to light the night if it weren't for the sun. Only reflected light, welcome as it is and changing as you have written.
The old moon is new again as of 2024 when a new crater appeared from a meteor strike that hadn't been there before.
Ron
Tender Is the Day That Dawns (Poetry) - 9/22/2026 3:27:43 PM
I had thoughts of The Phantom of the Opera and Louis Armstrong singing, It's a Wonderful Day.
Great image, too.
Ron
This Aging Moon (Poetry) - 9/22/2026 10:26:31 AM
"In the shadows of darkness
This passageway of light..."
This is an excellent capture of our beautiful mysterious mpom.
Very well done, John!
Best wishes,
Carolyn
Feeling Lonely (Poetry) - 9/20/2026 4:28:11 PM
Loneliness can be challenging on all levels.... It can feel isolating, a kind of poverty of self, but also a place (I've learned) that can hold both pain and potential at the same time. Solitude however can be empowering and restorative, and can offer insight into personal growth and reflection. The thing about loneliness is we never outgrow it. It's part of the universal human condition. Everyone experiences it throughout their lives. No one escapes it. Perhaps we would do well to reframe loneliness not as a deficit, but as a transformative state, a teacher rather than something negative, where we can embrace it as a space for growth, creativity, spiritual alignment, and perhaps even a catalyst for purpose. Thanks for a thought-provoking insight, John. Well received. Hope you're well. rlc
Feeling Lonely (Poetry) - 9/20/2026 3:23:38 PM
You have portrayed this emotion very well. Making me believe that you really, truly are alone…and lonely.
But it seems that songs, actually poems, like those of Roy Orbison…Only the Lonely and Crying. Are deeply emotional ways conveying loneliness.
Wrong
Feeling Lonely (Poetry) - 9/20/2026 2:56:01 PM
As your poem articulates with passion's exclamation as well as its quiet way of keeping the thought alive, the sum total in the last stanza is an answer that though it might take time to find, is truly part of the answer to loneliness. I couldn't help but think of a streaming program, "After Life," written and acted by Ricky Gervais, in a moving comedy/drama that truly hits home with the pain of loneliness. On Netflix.
Thank you for the courage to share your sense of aloneness and finding some solace in the end we can all relate to.
Something Calling Me Home (Poetry) - 9/19/2026 4:20:25 PM
I can feel it, too. It's best to keep our minds on the future and hope that we are not going home anytime soon.
Ron
I Confess (Poetry) - 9/18/2026 7:05:50 PM
As your poem so eloquently states, confessing is a multi-legged entity, trapsing about, wanting to reveal, but often finding it too painful. Another insightful exploration. Thank you.
Ode to Hope and Smoke (Poetry) - 9/18/2026 6:19:51 PM
Hope is eternal, but often isn't resolved by a lifetime of hoping. As Obama put it, hope is audacious.
Once again you present a wide range of the way we view hope. Well done
Ron
Nothing Lasts Foreveer (Poetry) - 9/18/2026 5:36:18 PM
From your poem, one can rest knowing that losing certain aspects of life is gone in actuality, but oh so precious is one's memory... even with effort as we age. I find that a lot of memories that are not on the tip of one's tongue can be found; the internet's ability to bring most anything front and center is a big help.
Ode to Hope and Smoke (Poetry) - 9/18/2026 5:29:17 PM
Your analogy thoughts send the message out loud and clear. I only wish we could count more on hope as an inevitable saving grace. Seems each day attempts to take down hope another notch with the way our leadership is flogging themselves.
I Confess (Poetry) - 9/16/2026 6:17:41 PM
That's quite a confession.
To me, if one can openly admit to anyone who asks what others would deny, that's true confession.
Confession to oneself doesn't really let the confession out, it remains within..
Ron
I Confess (Poetry) - 9/16/2026 5:28:04 PM
No.... it's not easy to confess, until it becomes a lifestyle. Confession is not merely a religious act, but a philosophical and spiritual discipline, a way to align ourselves with Truth, humility and grace. Confessing our sins and admitting our faults can liberate, heal, and deepen our relationship with the Most High God, and also with those around us. Confession is a way to align our hearts with divine Truth. "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper. But the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13... A unique poetic confession. Peace. rlc
Who (Poetry) - 9/15/2026 7:36:35 PM
A very creative and interesting poem, thoroughly enjoyed. What we see, hear, smell or otherwise receive by our senses, night or day, is processed through our brain before we conclude what is going on. Your short responses to stimuli, the split-second reaction of the brain interpreting what is coming in.
That said, I'd love to hear the call of the owl again. Probably one of the most recognizable of night sounds other than the wolf and the cicada.
Ron
Kindness (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 6:38:01 PM
You make me wish that everyone was kind. Why so many aren't bothers me. Kindness is so easy. All it takes is just to accept things the way they are and people the way they are. Not immediately judge or treat anyone or anything for that matter, badly. Unkindness returns in spades.
Ron
Value of Humility (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 6:19:00 PM
Humility is something to be admired. And your poem expresses it very well. Humility can poke holes in pomposity.
To me there are no least of us. I humbly accept that everyone has value and treat them the same.
A recent 24 hour flu brought me down a few notches. I'm humbly grateful to be over it and its power over my body.
Ron
Kindness (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 4:24:53 PM
TRUE KINDNESS IS...GIVING, EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN. KINDNESS IS ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING, JUST BECAUSE IT IS GOOD AND RIGHT. HOW DO WE GET THERE? FOLLOWING JESUS. AMEN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Value of Humility (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 4:14:57 PM
HUMILITY ....IS SOMETHING ONE HAS TO EARNESTLY STRIVE TO LEARN. IT HELPS TO REMEMBER THAT THE WORD WARNS US; 'PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL. GREAT WORK, THANK YOU JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Our Restless Minds (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 4:07:43 PM
I CAN RELATE TO THIS FINE WORK, JOHN....THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Vision of Sunset (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 4:00:26 PM
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING SO MEMORABLE AS A STUNNING SUNSET. THE IMAGERY HERE IS OUTSTANDING! ALL MY APPRECIATION! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS.
Cloud of Unknowing (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:56:58 PM
THE 'CLOUD OF UNKNOWING' WILL FOREVER BE WITH US. I KINDA LIKE THIS AS IT GIVES ME SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO....ON THE OTHER SIDE. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Luxury of Solitude (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:45:26 PM
I AM NOT ANTI-SOCIAL, BUT A 'RECLUSE' WHO ADORES THE LUXURY OF SOLITUDE. THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
In Praise of Anonymity (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:39:39 PM
I AM SO GLAD THAT WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE ONE CAN 'CHOOSE' THEIR LEVEL OF EXPOSURE...THIS IS A GOOD THING. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
I Walk Quietly and Reflectively (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:34:18 PM
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE TAKING THE TIME TO...SELF RETROSPECT, EVERY NOW AND THEN. DONE SO WELL AND ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Dream Just a Dream (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:27:19 PM
SOMETIMES A DREAM IS JUST A DREAM, TRUE. BUT THEN THERE ARE TIMES WHEN A DREAM COMES TRUE...MEANING GOD ALLOWED THE DREAM FOR A PURPOSE. ENJOYED, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Kindness (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:23:13 PM
It's sad to realize kindness is rapidly becoming an endangered principle in everyday life.Your poem starkly reminds us what we lose when kindness is missing. I try to embrace it more each day, as going the opposite direction is, in a way, abandoning what life is so much about. I'm reminded of how rich so much of nature is in the realm of kindness. Even the seasonal changes can be seen as a form of Nature's kindness.
I Have Spent My Entire Life (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:21:27 PM
THANK YOU IMMENSELY FOR THIS WORK, JOHN. IT SPEAKS TO ME AND IT IS A KEEPER. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Wonder of Life's Mystery (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:17:31 PM
WHAT A WONDERFUL SHARING! BESIDE BEING RICH WITH NUGGETS OF INSPIRATION... THE STYLE AND RHYME ARE TERRIFIC. A TREASURE! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Things That Matter (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 3:09:48 PM
THESE THINGS MATTER TO YOU JOHN, AND I CAN RELATE. HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY...WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO ONE, IS OF NO IMPORTANCE TO ANOTHER BECAUSE THEIR VALUES AND EXPECTATIONS ARE SO DIFFERENT. WELL DONE AND ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Couplets in Opposition (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:59:47 PM
I ENJOYED THIS SHARING, MY FRIEND...I ENJOYED THE RHYME SEQUENCE AND I REALLY LIKE THE STYLE. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Limits of Reason (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:54:57 PM
THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO REASONING, JOHN. INDIVIDUALS HAVE THEIR OWN WAY OF REACHING/CREATING A 'REASON' THAT WORKS FOR THEM ...FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
At the Heart of Reality (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:44:38 PM
EACH PERSON'S REALITY IS DIFFERENT. THUS, EACH HEART EMBRACES THAT WHICH IS 'REALITY' FOR THEM. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Wonder of Feathers (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:35:53 PM
FEATHERS REALLY ARE BEAUTIFUL! THE IMAGERY HERE IS WONDERFUL, JOHN! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Winter's Discontent (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:32:20 PM
THERE IS WONDER IN EVERY SEASON AND EACH HAS ITS OWN BEAUTY. SO THEN, THE DISCONTENT OF WINTER IS WINTER LONGING TO BE ...SWALLOWED UP ...IN SPRING'S LAVISH RECOVERY. A FINE WORK, THANKS JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Vice and Virtue (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:22:36 PM
FOR ME, THERE NOTHING TO PONDER, AT ALL. FOR, "WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD....BUT LOSE HIS SOUL?" THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Tree of Mind (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:18:08 PM
GREAT METAPHOR, ENJOYED! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Passing (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:15:45 PM
I TOTALLY LOVE THIS WORK, JOHN. EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS TOTALLY EXCELLENT! IT IS A KEEPER, THANK YOU! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Old Shoe (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:11:03 PM
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE COMFORT...OF AN OLD, BROKEN-IN PAIR OF SHOES WITH WHOM YOUR FEET ARE SO FAMILIAR AND THAT FIT SO VERY WELL. AMEN. GREAT WORK, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Old Coat (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 2:00:11 PM
DIFFERENT STROKES...FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. IF AN OLD COAT DOES IT FOR YOU THEN, INDEED....HOLD ON TO IT AND PUT IT ON WHENEVER YOU NEED THAT ...NOSTALGIC LIFT. ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Secret of Things (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 1:55:04 PM
I AM A FIRM BELIEVER; THAT WHATEVER GOD WANTS US TO KNOW...HE WILL REVEAL. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME THINGS HE DOESN'T WANT US TO KNOW AND WE WILL NEVER LEARN, ON THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN, THE SECRET OF SOME THINGS. THANKS, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Forgiveness (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 1:46:25 PM
TO BE...FORGIVEN...ONE HAS TO FORGIVE. AMEN. I ENJOYED THIS, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
It Takes Courage to Believe (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 1:42:48 PM
ISN'T IT WONDERFUL AND SO ASSURING TO KNOW; WHATEVER COURAGE IS NEEDED OUR FAITHFUL GOD WILL SUPPLY. JUST SAY, YES...AND 'HE' WILL DO THE REST. MARVELOUS ! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
With the Secret of It (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 1:37:57 PM
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ALL HAVE SECRETS. HOWEVER, THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST...ONE...WHICH WE HONESTLY HAVEN'T SHARED WITH ANYONE. ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Threads of Life (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 1:29:43 PM
DIFFERENT HUES, DIFFERENT LENGHTS, DIFFERENT TEXTURES...WE ALL HAVE 'THREADS' IN OUR LIVES THAT HAVE 'STITCHED AND HELD US TOGETHER'. WELL DONE, MY FRIEND, THANKS. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Sounds of the Night (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 1:23:16 PM
I AM A VERY HARD, SLEEPER, THUS I MUST CONFESS THAT I NEVER HEAR SOUNDS IN THE NIGHT, USUALLY. GOOD WORK. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Call of Reindeer Bells (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 1:07:35 PM
INDEED, THE SEASON SOON APPROACHES WHEN THE FANTASY OF THE ENDEARED REINDEER FLYING ACROSS THE CHRISTMAS EVE SKY ...WILL ONCE AGAIN BE EMBRACED. I ENJOYED THIS 'ODE' TO THE REINDEER. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Do Not Forget (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 12:55:52 PM
WE ARE HUMAN...AND FROM TIME TO TIME, WE ARE GOING TO FORGET AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT. BUT ALSO, I AM REMINDED THAT THERE COMES A TIME WHEN WE SHOULD FORGET. THE 'WORD' SAYS SO; "FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND US...WE PRESS-ON FOR THE MARK OF THE HIGH CALLING OF JESSUS CHRIST. THANKS, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
On the Edge of Possible and Impossible (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 12:45:22 PM
I AM REMINDED THAT...'WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST', AND ALSO....'WITH GOD...NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE', AMEN. THANKS. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Passing of the Hours (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 12:40:55 PM
THE PASSING OF EACH HOUR IS A GIFT...WHICH LEADS US TO EXPERIENCE THE ....ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF EACH AMAZING NEW DAY! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Life's Promise (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 12:32:57 PM
THE ONLY 'PROMISE' WE CAN DEPEND UPON IS....."AND LO', I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD"... AMEN. THANK YOU, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Yet and Not Yet (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 12:27:05 PM
AND I AM REMINDED; '...THOSE THAT, YET... WAIT UPON THE LORD, SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH...'
GOOD WORK, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS +INSPIRATIONS
Ways of the Mind (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 12:21:56 PM
INDEED, IT IS IMPORTANT TO STAY 'CONNECTED' TO GOD. FOR, THE MIND IS A POWERFUL THING THAT CAN PRODUCE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ENERGY, WHICH AFFECTS AND INFLUENCES EVERY PART OF OUR BODY. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Love and Loss (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 12:10:19 PM
NO MATTER HOW PAINFUL LOVE CAN BE...IT IS WORTH EVERY ACHE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
In Someone Else's Shoes (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 12:04:58 PM
I FULLY SUPPORT THE FACT THAT UNTIL WE'VE 'WALKED IN ANOTHER PERSON'S SHOES', WHICH MEANS... GOING THROUGH AND EXPERIENCING EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE(GOOD AND BAD) WE CAN'T BEGIN TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THEM. AMEN. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH... HIS+INSPIRATIONS.
Just Feathers (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 11:54:56 AM
I LOVE THIS STYLE, JOHN....AND YOUR REPETATIVE LINE; JUST FEATHERS...MAKES THIS SHARING QUITE UNQUE. LOVELY AND APPRECIATED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+ INSPIRATIONS
BUT (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 8:02:41 AM
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING WORK, MY FRIEND. I AM OFTEN HUMBLED BY GOD'S LOVE FOR ALL HUMANITY AND I TRY TO BE CAREFUL AND NOT POINT THE FINGER AT ANYONE! WHY? BECAUSE I THANK GOD, TO HAVE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT I, OF MYSELF, AM NOT ABOVE SIN AND...."BUT"...FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THERE GO I. AMEN. SPLENDID! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Joy of Ironing (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 7:59:36 AM
MY, JOHN...I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT YOU WERE AN 'IRONING WHIZ' ! IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT TOOK YOUR MOM'S ILLNESS TO REVEAL THIS GIFT IN YOU, BUT, AS THE WORD SAYS....'ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD'.
ENJOYED, THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Gift of Grace (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 7:53:22 AM
ABSOLUTELY, YES! THAT MARVELOUS, MIRACULOUS, PRICELESS 'GIFT OF GRACE'...BY WHICH WE DAILY RECEIVE BLESSINGS WHICH WE DO NOT DERSERVE, OVER AND OVER. IMMENSELY ENJOYED, THANK YOU. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Great Beyond (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 7:48:05 AM
I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PERSON ALIVE WHO, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, HAS NOT LOOKED UP AND WONDERED...ABOUT THE 'GREAT BEYOND'. AND THIS IS A GOOD THING, FOR 'THE GREAT BEYOND' WILL ONE DAY NO LONGER BE A MYSTERY BUT...OUR ETERNAL REALITY. AS...EARS HAVE NOT HEARD, NOR EYES SEEN, NEITHER HAS IT ENTERED INTO THE IMAGINATION OF ANYONE...THAT WHICH THE 'GREAT BEYOND' WILL ONE DAY REVEAL. AMEN. LOVE IT....! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Light of the Sky (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 7:40:15 AM
HOW INSPIRATIONAL, JOHN! AND, OF COURSE...I AM REMINDED OF...'THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD THAT SHINETH IN DARKNESS...' INDEED, 'HE' IS A LANTERN OF SUCH BEAUTY! SO APPRECIATED, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Ode to Simplicity (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 7:35:30 AM
I APPRECIATE 'SIMPLICITY'...IT LASTS FOREVER. SOMETIMES...A THING IS SO 'SIMPLE' PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME ACCEPTING IT. EXAMPLE? THE MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD. ONE SIMPLY ACCEPTS IT...OR NOT. NOTHING COMPLICATED ABOUT 'HIS LOVE' AT ALL. FREE CHOICE, THERE'S NO FORCE, NO ARM-TWISTING, JUST...YES...OR...NO. ODE TO 'SIMPLICITY'. AND...THIS IS WHERE THIS FINE SHARING LED ME, AMEN. THANKS, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Mistress (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 7:24:30 AM
I LIKED THE WAY YOU BROKE IT DOWN, IN YOUR DESCRIPTION OF HER, JOHN....FROM HER ABILITY TO BE 'ELITE' TO HER 'CHOICE' TO BE MANY A GOOD WIVE'S...KITE. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Place to Share (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 7:14:40 AM
AND THIS REMINDS OF THAT WONDERFUL SONG..."A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME"....WHEN THERE'S NO ONE THERE. A FINE WORK, THANK YOU FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Truth About Lies (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 7:08:49 AM
WE'VE ALL LIED. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT MAY BE BETTER TO TELL AN UNTRUTH THAN TO DEEPLY HURT SOMEONE WITH THE TRUTH. TIMES WHEN THE ONLY 'PERSONAL' SATISFACTION THAT TRUTH HAS ACHIEVED IS; 'WELL, AT LEAST, I DIDN'T LIE'... AS AN OFFENDED PERSON WEEPS. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Sense of Nonsense (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 6:56:42 AM
IN ALL ACTUALITY...IT IS SPLENDID TO BE NON-SENSICAL AT TIMES. IT IS A 'SPLURGE'...TO WALK AWAY FROM THE 'RIDGIDITY' OF ALWAYS, ALWAYS...MAKING SENSE. SO THERE...!(SMILE). ENJOYED, THANKS. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Life of Breath (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 6:48:07 AM
INDEED, NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, AT ALL! FOR WITHOUT 'HIS BREATH'...'ABSOLUTELY NOTHING' ON THE FACE OF THIS PLANET HAS ... LIFE! FINE WORK, MY FRIEND, ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HID+INSPIRATIONS
Canticle at Twilight (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 6:43:28 AM
THE IMAGERY HERE IS JUST BREATHTAKING, JOHN! CAPTURING THAT EXPRESS 'MOMENT' BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK. SO VERY MUCH ENJOYED, THANK YOU FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
I Don't Care (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 6:37:10 AM
AN INDIVIDUAL CAN DO EXACTLY AS THEY PLEASE AND THEY CAN CHOOSE, WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE, TO CARE....OR...DON'T CARE, SOMETIMES. ENJOYED, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Scent of Possibility (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 6:23:00 AM
IT IS GOOD TO TAKE A WALK AND OBSERVE NATURE! WHEN WE'VE LOST STRENGTH AND FEEL WE CANNOT MAKE ANOTHER STEP, WHAT A PURE BLESSING IT IS THAT 'SUDDENLY' THE AROMA, THE INVIGORATING SCENT OF 'FAITH' FINDS AND REVIVES US. THUS, WHEN "....THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR AND THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN..." BECOMES 'REAL', WE'RE ENABLED TO 'PRESS-ON'. SO THEN, ENHALE! FOR THE BEAUTY OF HIS FLOWERING CREATIONS WERE CERTAINLY MADE TO DELIGHT THE EYES, BUT THEIR...SCENT...WAS MADE TO ENCOURAGE US! ENJOYED IMMENSELY, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Some Truisms (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 5:04:37 AM
WITH REGARDS TO 'EVERYDAY' SITUATIONS...IN ALL HONESTY, WE ALL HAVE LIED AND WE HAVE ALL TOLD THE TRUTH... IT IS JUST THAT SIMPLE. NOW WHETHER THAT 'LIE' WAS DELIBERATELY MALICIOUS AND CAUSED NEGATIVITY TO ANOTHER PERSON OR SITUATION...IS THE QUESTION. AND IT'S THE SAME THING IN REGARDS TO THE TRUTH. SOMETIMES IT'S WISE FOR ONE TO MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSED AS THE 'TRUTH' COULD CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE, AMEN. AND THE ARGUEMENT COULD GO ON AND ON...DEPENDING ON ONE'S VALUES, CHARACTER, BELIEFS AND INTEGRITY.
NOW, WITH REGARDS TO...HISTORY(THE 'ROOTS' OF ANYTHING) I DON'T EVEN WANT TO 'BEGIN' TO GO THERE BECAUSE 'TRUISMS' CAN BECOME VERY PAINFUL AND THE 'LIES' TO COVER THEM UP, VERY UNFAIR. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THANKS FOR THE SHARE, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Keeping to my Habits (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 4:38:10 AM
'GOOD' HABITS ARE A 'PLUS'. IT'S CALLED BEING 'ORGANIZED'...IN EVERY ASPECT OF ONE'S LIFE AND...IT WORKS! ENJOYED, THANK YOU. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Little Wounds (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 4:35:21 AM
'WOUNDS' THAT APPEAR TO BE LITTLE...CAN BE DEEP, AND QUITE PAINFUL, TAKING A LONG TIME TO HEAL. AND IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES THEY DO LEAVE...SCARS. THANKS FOR SHARING, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Living with the Unknown (Poetry) - 9/14/2026 4:29:58 AM
IT TAKES...FAITH...TO LIVE WITH THE UNKNOWN. FAITH IN 'HIM' TO WHOM NOTHING IS UNKNOWN. '...FOR THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH...' LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+ INSPIRATIONS.
Value of Humility (Poetry) - 9/13/2026 4:55:54 PM
An interesting insight, John. For many, humility is hard to achieve, but if they do, it becomes a gem of great worth. "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." C.S. Lewis' quote frames humility as a shift from chronic self-centeredness to awareness of others. Humility allows an individual to recognize their limitations and remain teachable. Humility values others' contributions and perspectives. Humility cultivates inner strength and moral integrity. True humility is not weakness, but a deliberate reflective strength that enhances personal growth, and fosters wisdom, compassion, and spiritual depth. Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed. Peace, r
Value of Humility (Poetry) - 9/13/2026 3:32:43 PM
I was especially intrigued with this paragraph, as it so enhanced my own journey. Yes... I would agree there is path to happiness and contentment with oneself throgh "learning who we are." So many seem to be proding "pride" over "humility" to prove they are who they think they are. As your poem's text and subtext say: pride can destroy knowing who one really is. Thank you for posting. Much to ponder.
Humility serves as mold for every virtue,
A life-long lesson in learning who we are.
Patience and meekness as humility in situ,
In our lowly state, heaven a distance far.
Cloud of Unknowing (Poetry) - 9/11/2026 7:56:27 PM
Tis a hinge, agreed. The knowing, I think, is becoming easier. It's the unknowing we need to explore with imagination that can often reveal unexpected truths. Thanks for posting, John.
Our Restless Minds (Poetry) - 9/11/2026 7:54:53 PM
In depth look at our minds. Beautifully written the way the mind stays active until we find a way to relax and shut down all the thoughts…"to sleep, per chance to dream."
Ron
Vision of Sunset (Poetry) - 9/11/2026 7:52:28 PM
I hope you find solace in the slinter of crimson light... for it could be argued that the sun's energy is of the 24 hr nature and regardless of where we may live and view, our humanity carries forth... if we let it. For many, that energy might be asleep, but it continue to breath. You've wordsmithed a take on the sun worth all of our consideration. Many of us remain thankful for such life giving energy. Keep writing, John. Your messages are appreciated.
Our Restless Minds (Poetry) - 9/11/2026 7:45:39 PM
I suppose, John, there are many with self-study awareness, but I fear far too many don't address the issus of mind clutter and distractions. Still, a person such as yourself sees, as I do, that when a frustration with one's experiences feel disruptive, we find ways to explore a solution... such a poetry. I spent all last night with one such quandry. I remsin thankful for my work schedule, my writing schedule and my small crevise of free time schedule. I have to admit, much of what your insightful poem suggests, is being practiced to a large extent with always searching for answers and letting imagination fill in so much. Thank you for bringing your thoughts to the page. Namaste.
Vision of Sunset (Poetry) - 9/11/2026 7:38:45 PM
Your reverence for sunsets is clearly shown in your verses. Among the varied ways that sunset appear, I don't believe I've seen one like the picture and your description of it.
A tranquil time for reflection and turning down the volume of the day.
Ron
Luxury of Solitude (Poetry) - 9/8/2026 7:04:35 PM
It takes solitude to wax philosophically. Your poems are becoming more and more philosophical and introspective. You have made your solitude a chosen lifestyle. Great ideas tend to come from thoughtful people in solitary places like Henry David Thoreau. "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation."
Ron
In Praise of Anonymity (Poetry) - 9/8/2026 6:51:41 PM
Your poem brought to mind the unknown worker type that is the symbol of Labor Day. Actually, wage slaves that required a few notable individuals who were willing to risk their anonymity in order for the holiday and other benefits like the five day work week to happen.
But I respect your desire to be unknown. Your poetry certainly involves much introspection. But as an author, you stand the risk of being discovered and therefore, perhaps lose your shield of anonymity.
Ron
Luxury of Solitude (Poetry) - 9/8/2026 5:30:25 PM
"Accountability" stood out in this for me. It's not just a practical principle, it is also, in my experiences, philosophical as well. It involves self-awareness, ethical integrity, and the moxie and courage to confront ourselves, (in what I've coined the 'Truth Mirror') where we can see ourselves for who we really are, and honestly deal with the (blatant or subtle) consequences of our actions.
.
The premise of your poem brought to mind something Pablo Picasso proffered: "Without great solitude, no serious work is possible." Amen! Productive solitude (IMO) is not being isolated for its own sake, but a deliberate discipline that nurtures creativity, as well as the mind spirit and soul. "The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear." Rumi. A nicely written relatable insight, John. Well done! Peace. r
In Praise of Anonymity (Poetry) - 9/7/2026 4:18:35 PM
Perhaps the greatest freedom is to be completely unknown, for in those shadows the soul can breathe without the crushing weight of societal expectation and judgement. Anonymity though (IMO) is not about hiding from society, but I think more about claiming autonomy, protecting privacy, and acting authentically without the pressure of being seen, or listening to the bullshit opinions of others. Finding peace with oneself is not just passive acceptance, it's an active alignment with who you are, and what you do, which invariably leads one to a life of purpose and harmony. An interesting reflection, John, that got me thinking about dignity, justice, and the unseen hands that build, sustain, and enrich our world. You are one of them. Thank you for sharing. Peace. r
I Walk Quietly and Reflectively (Poetry) - 9/6/2026 5:07:52 PM
Life is certainly beautiful, especially if one has walked the many roads you have walked. And a wonderful set of memories to reflect upon when those roads are no longer open to you.
Ron
I Walk Quietly and Reflectively (Poetry) - 9/6/2026 2:02:26 PM
A beautiful and inpsiring walk it is. Thank you, John, Of special note to this reader:
"I walk quietly and reflectively through the ground of my soul,
Through all the hills and valleys in my life on this grassy knoll.
All the wisdom will register as true in this enlightened zone,
All the struggles, all the conflicts, of shadows and light sewn.
The seeds, the spring crocuses, the buds struggling to grow,
All the weeds and the roughage that we ever came to know."
This phrase not only adds to the recall of past walks, but says so much about what it means to take such quiet walks. I'll take this poem along for my next walk through the woods of my back yard forest. Again, thank you for posting.
Dream Just a Dream (Poetry) - 9/5/2026 8:16:17 PM
I always dream; almost every time I fall asleep, I dream. I would put some of my dreams into my stories. They would make a good story. I think good dreams are God's miracles, but the bad dreams... we don't want to remember them anyway.
~ Sandie
Dream Just a Dream (Poetry) - 9/5/2026 6:30:15 PM
You have covered the many nuances of the dream state. They rarely predict the future, but when they do it's miraculous. Some of them the way you pose, a really too vague to understand.
Others can be fearful and become a nightmare. My partner has those sometimes. I wake her to ask her what's happening and she tells me.
Ron
Dream Just a Dream (Poetry) - 9/5/2026 5:08:23 PM
The writer touches on (IMO) the epistemological, existential, and philosophical nature of dreams. "More than just a dream" could be a dream that compels us to act, to believe, or to imagine beyond the present moment. Like a seed for change. "Give me a dream more than just a dream" could be a call for dreams that are not only vivid, but are also meaningful, transformative, capable of bridging the gap between imagination and reality, and also envisioning possibilities that might help shape the waking world. An interesting sonnet, John, that encourages thought. Enjoyed. Peace. r
I Have Spent My Entire Life (Poetry) - 9/4/2026 6:16:13 PM
A life well spent, well traveled and comfortable alone. Few have that opportunity.
Ron
Wonder of Life's Mystery (Poetry) - 9/4/2026 5:58:08 PM
Yes, "earnest destiny" could be said for your dedication to sharing thoughts and dreams that impact and offer new thought to many of us. Thank you for posting so often and giving this poet something to look forward to each day.
I Have Spent My Entire Life (Poetry) - 9/4/2026 5:54:40 PM
Perhaps it could be said that those of us poets that are seriously using poetic thought to complete the journey, as you do, in the hopes that the purpose inherent in the aloneness that accompanies serious inner-probing, will justify and hopefully make a difference, as small or large, as might be the case... just as you have for years now, You've graciously shared your innermost convictions and I can say with equal conviction, you have made a serious difference in this poet. Thank you.
Wonder of Life's Mystery (Poetry) - 9/3/2026 4:28:24 PM
An interesting view of everyone's story. An autobiography will release some of that mystery.
Ron
Things That Matter (Poetry) - 9/2/2026 8:03:22 PM
Your poem is filled with wisdom about what is really important.
The things, the stuff we have around us, pales by comparison to what you've written and what is to be cherished.
Ron
Things That Matter (Poetry) - 9/2/2026 7:52:03 PM
A wise and astute exploration of what matters. You remind of many areas that get buried in the distractions of modern times, a period of existence that is so smothered by what doesn't matter in comparison. If everyone would take the time to look into what truly mattered to them, such a ploy with Nature just might break through the melting of principles we are experiencing and grab onto ones "inner" housing of what can melt along with others if we don't take score and bring back consciousness of what life is all about. Thank you for posting, John. Really enjoyed your blueprint here.
Limits of Reason (Poetry) - 8/31/2026 6:46:30 PM
From what I'm reading there are no limits to reason.
Ron
At the Heart of Reality (Poetry) - 8/31/2026 6:29:54 PM
Reality is a very personal thing. I believe that everyone of us have a different view of what reality is. According to quantum physics, everything that we sense and think about, particularly those things we think are solid and nearly forever, like gold and diamonds, at the heart, their atoms and their quarks, are dancing and whirling sub elements that seem to have no substance at all. As if everything we have is just temporary in the life of the universe.
Wonderful attempt at defining reality the way we see it.
Ron
At the Heart of Reality (Poetry) - 8/30/2026 6:15:33 PM
I struggle with finding the right words too. Always have. It can be a journey (for me) that spans days sometimes. Truths and wonders to be found. I can attest that they're all around us always. And (in my experiences) many can be found in plain sight. A neighbors generosity, a sunset over the hills, a piece of music that moves you, a hummingbird fearlessly hovering a foot in front of your face communicating with you, or a moment of clarity in prayer, meditation, or in writing. Many of these wonders are not rare, they are just part of the fabric of daily life. Thank God for that.
.
Seems the wonders in our lives are both external and internal. Many of them can be found in what beauty remains in the world, the strength and loving kindness of others, and the depth of our own personal experiences, spiritual and corporeal. Bottom line: it's important to live aware, cognizant, mindful, watchful, vigilant, observant and open-eyed, it allows for more presence, purpose and wonder in the dailiness we all experience. A sound message, John, that can be applied in various ways to each readers lives. Nicely written. Thanks for sharing. Peace... rlc
Winter's Discontent (Poetry) - 8/29/2026 1:01:43 PM
Another of your journeys across subjects that we often ignore and take for granted. I especially appreciated your last stanza as it brought the two facets of Nature into a resonant remembrance,
Wonder of Feathers (Poetry) - 8/29/2026 12:57:53 PM
You've penned a simple treatise about an object we mostly take for granted. As a metaphor, your exploration is destined to touch the hearts and minds of many who read it. As you point out, it is amazing how dexterously you've presented the feather in its varied uses and appreciations. A pleasure to read. Thanks, John.
Winter's Discontent (Poetry) - 8/29/2026 1:17:46 AM
I can’t say I’m ready for winter yet but, this piece describes it perfectly!
Wonder of Feathers (Poetry) - 8/28/2026 6:59:08 PM
As you have displayed, feathers are amazing! I love the description of touch as light as a feather.
It is only recently that scientists have found that many dinosaurs had feathers. And those feathers were probably no less wonderful than your poem suggests for those creatures millions of years ago.
Ron
Wonder of Feathers (Poetry) - 8/28/2026 5:54:22 PM
This invites me to see feathers not just as biological structures but as metaphors for the human spirits capacity to rise, adapt, connect with something greater, and find meaning in even the lightest of things. Or perhaps they could be symbols of the human condition - fragile, yet capable, grounded, yet yearning to rise. Thanks for sharing. Made me think. Peace. r
Winter's Discontent (Poetry) - 8/26/2026 8:23:18 AM
You have neatly described the contradiction that winter is. Its beauty and its horror. So many species die in winter, and then are repopulated, or reseeded in the spring. Mammals like us have all sorts of adaptations to survive the winter.
Growing up where there was a harsh winter every year leaves me with good memories and bad. The beauty and joy of snow around Christmas time. The stillness in the forest during below zero days waiting for a squirrel to venture out.
Being cold all the time and catching childhood diseases from the low humidity. The dirty snow from cold dust and ash. The crust, slush and mud of constant thawing and refreezing.
Ron
Winter's Discontent (Poetry) - 8/26/2026 7:07:17 AM
Yes indeed, winter, (in my experiences) is a most beautiful, and at times frightening season. I've always had a love/hate relationship with it. I hated the winters in Chicago where I was born and raised. But I learned to love them in the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains where we live. What I glean from your piece: "winter's essence" is more than just a season of cold. It's also a mirror for human resilience, beauty, introspection, and the quiet magic of stillness. A sacred and reflective time that carries with it the promise of renewal. Expressed beautifully, John. Well done. Peace. r
Vice and Virtue (Poetry) - 8/25/2026 9:43:53 AM
Interesting to contemplate. We humans seem doomed to fall into vice, whether we like it or not.
I'm in favor of making some vices that don't hurt anyone, simply normal activity. Once we remove them from the list of sin, they no longer will be a vice. Just a part of life.
Ron
Tree of Mind (Poetry) - 8/24/2026 9:31:11 AM
Trees handle the onslaught of the weather by the way were a pleasant breeze. Making it a great anthology for your way of soothing your mind.
Ron
Tree of Mind (Poetry) - 8/24/2026 4:58:18 AM
Your poem brings focus to the outstretched nature of trees for the mind, and the calmness "Light on a rippled pond
Where placid waters
Seep into the ground
Of my thirsting soul." Thus, an elegant image of mind and heart coalescing as one. Another revealed piece of evidence that Nature and Man are intertwined. Lovely images to start the week.
Passing (Poetry) - 8/23/2026 8:22:22 AM
Your poem creates a beautiful image of how our lives dwindle. Just yesterday, I thought about all of the authors that I used to communicate with that seem to be gone now when they don't answer my emails to them.
Our lives do become less involved until we are only doing what we need to survive each day before we are gone.
I must not be there yet because I'm so busy with so many things to do every day.
Ron
Old Coat (Poetry) - 8/22/2026 11:29:22 AM
Another interesting bit of nostalgia with poeticizing the personification of your history's accomplaces. Yes, there's something magical about a coat and its many years of protecting the wearer.
Old Shoe (Poetry) - 8/22/2026 11:24:56 AM
This poem reminds us all how quietly old shoes maintain a sense of life. Your thoughts are moving, and nostalgia is something we should all respect. Don't we all have a pair of old shoes we won't part with? What a history these old treads would remind us of if they could speak. Enjoyed this, John.
Old Shoe (Poetry) - 8/22/2026 10:05:05 AM
Old shoes could be an allegory for old friends. We do get accustomed to them, don't we? Loafers never go out of fashion and once broken in with that soft leather, they remain comfortable.
Always learning, today, I heard that. our feet increase one size as we age. I think those old shoes just spread out to accommodate.
Mine have steel toes and are no longer made by Redwing. Convenient for pushing open heavy doors in my wheelchair with the toes of my loafers
Ron
Old Shoe (Poetry) - 8/22/2026 9:54:07 AM
Never underestimate the power of old shoes. As I see it.... the joy you find in holding onto your old shoes can perhaps be found in their comfort, their familiarity, their resilience, and all the personal stories they carry. Your old pair of shoes can also symbolize resilience, authenticity, and the beauty of staying true to yourself. Interestingly enough, these are all qualities we can apply to people, places, and experience. Enjoyed your thoughts, John. Hope you're well. Peace. r
Old Coat (Poetry) - 8/20/2026 2:17:14 PM
It could be a metaphor for a persona. But I think you're actually writing a real coat that you own that you really like and it's still suits you very well.
We were on our way to Fort Washington, my younger brother and I, to spend Thanksgiving with my twin and his family. I saw a London Fog factory store, and picked up a winter coat at a discounted price (second?).
In 1980, I moved to Houston, where a winter coat was rarely needed. But it sure came in handy, in a stylish way, during cold snaps. Still does.
Ron
Secret of Things (Poetry) - 8/19/2026 11:54:07 AM
As I read this and watch many TV shows devoted to finding the secrets of nature, I'm amazed that there seems to be a scientist looking into almost everything in nature. Secrets are being found at an amazing rate.
Among the many I've heard about, the secret of how the monarch butterfly manages to migrate thousands of miles every year was revealed over 10 years ago, teaching everyone in North America to help keep them healthy.
Ron
Forgiveness (Poetry) - 8/19/2026 11:37:35 AM
It was beautiful how you brought in nature and it's natural forgiving ways. If there was more forgiveness in the world it would be a much better place to live.
Ron
It Takes Courage to Believe (Poetry) - 8/17/2026 12:50:30 PM
I agree, John. For me, Christ is the way. And even those who believe in nothing are believing in something, because nothing itself becomes something in the mind. Faith takes courage, especially when life gives us every reason to doubt living in a secular era.
Don't doubt faith wins out.
Brill’ poem.
With the Secret of It (Poetry) - 8/17/2026 8:46:53 AM
So many ways that secrets are used in your stanzas. Some good, some bad. But I agree that the fewer conspiracies, secret organizations, and life altering concerns that we are rather than reviewing, the better.
For example, the narrative of the United States history as taught in schools, needs to change from the heroic and loftier than thou, starting with legendary George Washington's telling lies and throwing coins across the Potomac, to a more realistic account.
History secreted away and hidden. Recently reawakened through documentary research studies. Those in. power fear the truth, now that they are awakened (WOKE) to it.
Ron
It Takes Courage to Believe (Poetry) - 8/17/2026 5:19:09 AM
As your poem profers, faith comes in many sizes and shapes. I couldn't help but think about how little society seems to believe and exercise faith in the treating of other humans. The goodness in all as well as the weaknesses are part of our satient gift. No one is requeire d to have faith in any particular entity, but to not have a streak of faith running through out systems, there is something gravely missing. Namaste, dear poet. Send out your thoughts and good feelings as faith in anyone or anything that can pull not just one into the fold, but be a means of influence in finding that special focus of faith.
With the Secret of It (Poetry) - 8/16/2026 8:49:13 AM
Your poem reminds me of the unspoken experiences we harbor. Yet, there are so many, if we stop and think about it, that are really secrets that call for rejoicing, or putting smiales on our faces. You know, those secrets of good and creative experiences we've had that modesty keeps us from sharing... thus the secrets that keep us smiling like having a buried card that none of the other players see. I particularly enjoyed --
"A secret that you are waiting to tell,
Ever joyous with the secret of it.
A secret that sounds as a tolling bell,
Ever thrilled with the secret of it." I often review my secrets. You gave me some new directions to keep watch on. Fun and informative read.
With the Secret of It (Poetry) - 8/15/2026 11:41:20 AM
Some philosophers argue that living without secrets is a higher form of wisdom. I have a tendency to agree. Unfortunately too many identities are formed by what they conceal and end up being untrustworthy. Still... keeping secrets is not inherently good or bad. It all depends on the context. I suppose if our secrets become a prison that keeps us from living authentically and truthfully with others, then we might want to rethink our positions.
For me.... people that lie, and keep secrets are always easy to spot, especially in conversation. You can see it in the micro-expressions in their faces. Philosophically, I'm thinking that secrets are not just information that humans hide from one another, they act as mirrors to the human condition, mirrors that reveal our fears and desires, and certainly the fragile balance between privacy and transparency. A thought-provoking piece John, that opens up many avenues of thought. Enjoyed. Peace. r
With the Secret of It (Poetry) - 8/15/2026 9:57:30 AM
Gosh, a most thoughtful grasp of secret masks, guilt, protection, trust, betrayal, inheritance, and even joy.
repetition of secret of it” gives the poem a steady, spell like rhythm, yet each stanza reveals another consequence of keeping something secret, indeed what we do with our secrets can reveal as much about us as the secrets themselves.
Sounds of the Night (Poetry) - 8/15/2026 6:18:07 AM
As you so adroitly point out, sound of the night, and especially those from the darkness, hold imagination firmly in creative mode. Your poem brings an otherwise unremarkable room into a sharp sensorial life. I concure with your exploration, as I too have had similar arrests in the night. I actually find the genesis for poetry often in such imaginings. Thanks for reminding us of the wonderland of darkness.
Threads of Life (Poetry) - 8/15/2026 6:09:52 AM
To see and explore the many versions of thread life is indeed commendable. Using your matrix of thought, one can see the universe as needle holes and threads of movement in the shooting stars. Enjoyed your sharing here, John.
Call of Reindeer Bells (Poetry) - 8/14/2026 11:34:19 AM
John, there is something wonderfully ancient stirring beneath the surface of this poem.
What begins as a beautifully observed account of reindeer gradually becomes something far more mythic — the animal, the herd, the tundra, the darkness and finally the bell itself becoming part of an older language.
I particularly loved the idea of the bell becoming a lifeline, not merely for finding the herd, but for calming and uniting it. “At the sound of the bell, something inside them went still” feels like the heart of the poem. It suggests that perhaps the bell isn’t simply heard by the reindeer; something in them remembers it.
There is an almost sacred quality here, where natural history and ancient myth meet. The reindeer cease to be merely animals roaming the Arctic and become creatures carrying something of the old world with them.
This is the stuff Martin Shaw loves.
Beautifully done, John. I could almost hear those bells in the darkness
Threads of Life (Poetry) - 8/13/2026 9:27:55 AM
You have woven a beautiful poem showing how all of life is held together through threads of existence continuing down from ancient times until today. Bravo!
My seamstress partner not only alters and sews clothes for her customers, she ties up with threads everything for my well-being with her love.
Ron
Sounds of the Night (Poetry) - 8/13/2026 9:19:49 AM
Reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe. Reminded me of the night sounds I used to hear when I lived in the country out on the summer night.
Also of the sounds that one hears in the night that might be frightening. If you don't know what caused them.
Ron
Call of Reindeer Bells (Poetry) - 8/12/2026 12:14:04 PM
What a wonderful tribute to the noble reindeer, with the mainstay of people in the polar regions. Perhaps the only wild animal that works with Sami nomads in the world.
It is truly amazing how they can find food in subzero temperatures under heavy snow. It takes a large male to break through the heavy layers of snow and ice to reach the lichen (caribou moss) they feed on so that the younger animals can feed, too.
Ron
On the Edge of Possible and Impossible (Poetry) - 8/12/2026 11:38:20 AM
A conundrum for sure. I read somewhere that if we can dream it, we can make it. We are making what was thought impossible, possible every day.
Ron
Call of Reindeer Bells (Poetry) - 8/11/2026 6:38:50 AM
A remarkable poem, John, revealing the interplay between nature, myth, and the enduring power of folklore. Reindeer bells and their corresponding cultural stories invite us to visualize the world as layered; a beautiful mosaic that interacts, influences, and enriches us. It reminds us too that stories are not just entertainment, they are also a way of preserving and interpreting the human condition. Well done. One of your best. Peace. rlc
Do Not Forget (Poetry) - 8/10/2026 8:24:53 AM
I think we all ponder your question more than once and remember what we forgot long after it matters as much. But, your final paragraph gives a heads up for what's coming... possibly that last thing you remember. Interesting journey you carved to that ending.
On the Edge of Possible and Impossible (Poetry) - 8/9/2026 9:34:35 AM
To take the wordplay seriously is to see the simplicity housed in this comparitive poem of the now forever staying the now. I come away from reading this a second time realizing how vital such a way of thinking can be in enhancing how we live out aging. Thanks for posting, John. Well worth the 2nd read.
Passing of the Hours (Poetry) - 8/7/2026 11:28:05 AM
The earth rotation does not change very much in our brief lifetime, making that ticking of time quite precise. But if we spend too much time ignoring it, we will suddenly find ourselves, looking backward at all the years we missed. Where did they go so fast?
Best to live life well while the clock ticks and there's daylight. For all of us, those sunny days are numbered.
Ron
Yet and Not Yet (Poetry) - 8/7/2026 10:34:03 AM
I, for one, a poet that used the word Yet quite often, your variations on its use was more than interesting. You managed to give it a positive and negative meaning that truly does it justice. The play on words here was fun and inviting. thanks, John
Life's Promise (Poetry) - 8/7/2026 10:29:40 AM
Ending was the perfect wrap up. Seems there is so much could be said about the variations in what life is and your contribution is well worth the re-reading. Thanks for posting, John.
Passing of the Hours (Poetry) - 8/7/2026 10:26:36 AM
Beautiful. The gradual unfolding of your impression was compelling. Well thought and penned.
Life's Promise (Poetry) - 8/6/2026 1:38:29 PM
Do we sow destiny with our seeds or do we sew it up tight with needle and thread?
A secret, like a grudge, is a hard thing to keep.
Ron
Yet and Not Yet (Poetry) - 8/5/2026 11:02:40 AM
Thank you very much for the wonderful lesson on the parenthetical word, Yet.
Much of which I haven't thought of.
Ron
Ways of the Mind (Poetry) - 8/4/2026 9:02:06 AM
So mindful and beautifully written.
"A mind is a terrible thing to waste." United Negro College Fund.
Ron
Love and Loss (Poetry) - 8/4/2026 8:39:11 AM
Having been alone and lost loves, I fully understand your sentiment. Fortunately, I'm surrounded by love these days making life beautiful every day.
Ron
In Someone Else's Shoes (Poetry) - 8/4/2026 8:33:55 AM
Some wise advice in this beautiful poem about what it's like to be in someone else's shoes. A metaphor for a living life like they do.
I'm recently corresponding with a beautiful ballerina who had a spinal cord injury and couldn't dance anymore. She became a firefighter. Her outlook is fantastic and I can't imagine what being in her shoes is like.
One advantage to being an author of fiction is that we can imagine ourselves in someone else's shoes…our characters.
Ron
Love and Loss (Poetry) - 8/3/2026 9:14:44 AM
What I glean from this piece is the philosophical view that love is both a transformative force, and a source of deep sorrow, and that loss, while painful, and at times confusing, can be a necessary part of self-understanding and growth. Thanks for the insight. Hope you're well. Peace. r
Love and Loss (Poetry) - 8/3/2026 6:39:23 AM
I'm sure many, like myself, can identify with your enumberation of human to human love. Much of what you write abot here is also in sync with other manafestatuins of love. Yes, there is much to be gleaned from experiiencing love at it fullest, and the loss of its essence. Key word thoughout your piece is: understanding. Well thought and penned.
Just Feathers (Poetry) - 8/1/2026 12:50:09 PM
As soft as a feather floating in the wind.
Ron
Joy of Ironing (Poetry) - 8/1/2026 8:24:30 AM
Interesting BTW, I used to do all my own ironing as well. Did me good when I had to make my corp uniform crispy creased. Today, I haven't ironed anything for years as I work from home and wear a running suit all day every day, washing weekly, ready to go. Fun read.
BUT (Poetry) - 8/1/2026 8:20:51 AM
Yeah, that But word is a doozy... especially when our great leader says, "But... we'll have to see." Fun play on words here, yet poignant as well.
Joy of Ironing (Poetry) - 7/29/2026 10:56:09 AM
What a wonderful way take to time on a routine that has been perfected that allows you time to relax while you're doing it. Cooking did that for me.
My mother ironed like you. I chose not to and not use commercial laundry services. My clothes had a wonderful clean scent from the laundry detergent that I used. Never owned an iron and my clothes were presentable at all times.
But, there's nothing better than a sharp dressed man…ZZ Top.
Ron
Gift of Grace (Poetry) - 7/28/2026 11:54:00 AM
Amazing Grace. I love it when I smell the laundry drying in the dryer, the Mockingbird singing his heart out trying to woo a mate, or the smell of a neighbor's outdoor or indoor cooking that somehow even comes into my house from I don't know where. The fresh air vent?
Ron
Great Beyond (Poetry) - 7/27/2026 9:11:24 AM
Call me naïve, but I don't waste my mind pondering. What happens after death to all mammals, including humans, is simple. When the brain no longer gets oxygen rich blood to cells where all of our sense of self is, the cells die, and our thoughts, with it.
But that seems to be too simplistic, especially for those who fervently believe in writings 2000 years old, from beliefs maybe earlier of a coming messiah, that there is life after death. Even glorious life at the right hand of God.
I believe that those that have seen the white tunnel were experiencing a phenomenon that their brain provided them as it was turning the lights out, so to speak, before it received enough blood to revive. The simple random firing of brain cells seen as white light in the mind. And out of body experience as simply a dream state while being unconscious.
However, with my three year encounters with death, I did not dream or see anything, just woke up with no memory of what happened.
My anecdote, I believe, is as strong as all those other anecdotes that clearly have a scientific explanation. Just look it up. Wondering is a waste of time. We can build our legacy by our writing better poetry. Something that is hard, not easy to do.
Ron
Ode to Simplicity (Poetry) - 7/27/2026 7:27:42 AM
I was particularly struck by this journey into simplicity as I've evolved myself through a chaotic existence for generations, fortunately now in a life of gentleness and simplicity. No wants. Needs fulfilled in simple, very simple terms compared to my past. Would that more could feel that relief and weight being lifted when a simple life is embraced. Ah... sublime.
Light of the Sky (Poetry) - 7/27/2026 7:24:49 AM
Loved this exploration of "light" as you suggested its many personalities and duties. We so take it for granted, but 24-hour darkness for weeks on end, as some parts of the world experience, is indeed troublesome to visualize as a part of living, of life, for without light, again as you point out, there would be little to be in awe of. As an advanced century of evolution, we can never know the appreciation the Neanderthal must have had when the sun shone, knowing it was the only light they knew... waiting, as they did, for the discovery of fire. I'm reminded of the thought provoking moiew, "Quest for Fire" back in 1981. Thanks for postinng this awakening message.
Great Beyond (Poetry) - 7/27/2026 7:14:49 AM
Ponder, indeed. As you proffer in your poem, there are multiple meanings for "the beyond" and the word is one of the most perplexing oxymoran we know, or don't know. What's beyond is beyond our knowledge, save when addressing ourselves as ash rising in the cosmos. I've always been intrigued, as you suggest for yourself, that the beyond is a specific question with no solid answer. Oh, how we ponder, eh?
Ode to Simplicity (Poetry) - 7/25/2026 12:22:26 PM
A lot to think about. Perhaps the simple lifestyle is living in nature without disturbing it. Very hard for us to do, unlike our ancestors who lived it.
Our natural ecosystem, plural, is extremely complex. But each entity in it leads a very simple and straightforward life, unlike humans, who break all boundaries and seek complexities of their own thought.
Only humans delve into complex mathematical constructs and questions like the origin of universe.
But I would agree that living simply is the best way to live.
Ron
Ode to Simplicity (Poetry) - 7/25/2026 9:00:20 AM
An interesting insight John. Simplicity and brevity certainly have there places in literature and poetry, and especially in everyday life and conversation. One of the reasons that I love writing Haiku, Tanka, and Haibun, is that they are literary disciplines that train the mind to observe deeply, condense meaning, and express with precision. As far as I'm concerned. simplicity is not about dumbing down content, but about distilling complexity into clear, meaningful, and actionable communication, whether spoken or written. Enjoyed your thoughts. r
Place to Share (Poetry) - 7/25/2026 6:45:49 AM
Yes, oh, yes. For me, that place is a mountain ledge where I could at one time make camp for the night and be with the stars and the unencumbered air. Now days, the legs just won't let me visit, but my pics from many years of climbing rock are a welcome remembrance of my beloved place to share.
Mistress (Poetry) - 7/25/2026 6:40:42 AM
Clever reveal through this piece. Yes, words can certainly take a turn in application any time. The mistress most of us have come to acknowledge and respect is found mostly in literature. Real life, as you point out, Mistress does not reign in the house (otherwise known as Home). Enjoyed reading this play on words. Thanks for posting.
Mistress (Poetry) - 7/24/2026 1:02:54 PM
Yes, I always thought that mistress was someone of accomplishment, like you wrote, the head of the household. I didn't know that the other meaning was as old as the 15th century.
Ms. Seems to be relatively new. It's nice to see that some women are now breaking through the glass ceiling and becoming embattled CEOs, presidents, queens, prime ministers and the like.
Run
Place to Share (Poetry) - 7/23/2026 12:34:16 PM
This poem struck me as very much two heart. All of those times I found places that were so unique and so beautiful that one would want to stay there forever.
But, because they were so beautiful and so remote, there was rarely anyone else there. And when I came there I had no one with me to share it with. Only, if I was lucky, a picture I took to show to someone much later.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about the same thing that I have experienced.
Ron
Place to Share (Poetry) - 7/23/2026 10:30:15 AM
Whether in a quiet room, a mountain cabin, a peaceful garden, or on a cliff overlooking the ocean - a place of solitude can be excellent for healing, reflecting, and reconnecting with yourself when life seems more whelming than nourishing. Having someone else with you can either enrich or disrupt the experience, depending on the quality of the connection, and the depth of your own inner life. Lord knows, we all need a soulmate. Someone who enriches our lives in ways words never can, where honest love, mutual growth, understanding, and a profound sense of belonging form the foundation of who you both are. Related to this John. A fine and sensitive expression. Thank you for sharing. Peace... r
Truth About Lies (Poetry) - 7/21/2026 11:00:51 AM
A lie shows intent to deceive. When someone repeats a lie as the truth from ignorance, there often isn't any intent to deceive. The ignorant person believes what he has heard from a liar is a true statement.
The danger is not knowing the truth from a lie. My knowledge and education is so important for everyone. Otherwise we are easily persuaded by the lie.
Ron
Sense of Nonsense (Poetry) - 7/20/2026 9:51:26 AM
'Nonsense'.... like balderdash, gibberish, claptrap, blarney, twaddle, flap-doodle, and so forth. Seriously though... For me, your thoughts invite reflection on how each of us navigate the tension between what we take as meaningful, and what we recognize as absurd, and how contemplating (or embracing) the latter may well enrich our understanding of the former. Enjoyed the read. Philosophical and humorous. Peace. r
Life of Breath (Poetry) - 7/20/2026 7:37:04 AM
As I've watched several films of late about the lesser aspects of animals, and I recall breathing as an often-voiced reality that has its own uique patterns. So, I especially took to this phrase: The whoosh of air in the breath of wings,
The breath of the chill that winter brings.
The white breath of the wolf that howls,
The humid breath of a panther that prowls.
Thanks for posting.
Sense of Nonsense (Poetry) - 7/20/2026 6:23:51 AM
Another joureny of a wordsmith. Your lighthearted, yet paradoxically serene honesty brings an honest and truthful focus on what, as you say, is often nonsense... until it isn't. You prove your point by bringing a new layer of meaning to your wordsmithing, showing us a depth of insight and understanding. I really appreciate your posting this. It's important to read and absorb for all of us.
Sense of Nonsense (Poetry) - 7/19/2026 2:35:29 PM
You make no sense whatsoever with this poem about nonsense. After all, it's well known that most women when they look in the mirror find themselves to be inadequate.
That makes no sense whatsoever, but to them, they must find a solution to their shortcomings, nonsense or not.
I rest my case. Where did I put my case?
Ron
Life of Breath (Poetry) - 7/18/2026 12:05:38 PM
You have covered the breadth of breath here. But I didn't see a cough mentioned. A welcome breath when something is stuck in my throat.
Like our heart muscle, the muscles that operate our lungs do it regardless of what our brain feels or thinks. Breathing is like the heart beating, silent and continuing until it stops with death. Essential for bringing oxygen to the brain and body, it cannot stop.
To you I say, keep writing and breathe on…
Ron
Canticle at Twilight (Poetry) - 7/18/2026 9:26:55 AM
A piece that (IMO) blends the romantic, quixotic, spiritual, and existential themes of Twilight with broader philosophical ideas about transition, perception, and transformation, which encourages reader contemplation, or... perhaps a broader literary discussion about the style in which the canticle is performed. Enjoyed your thoughts. Well done. r
I Don't Care (Poetry) - 7/18/2026 8:24:27 AM
I have noticed that most good writers are not good speakers, and most good speakers are not good writers. Both usually know their subject well; both are usually entertaining; and both do a good job of showing me that I am not that good at either speaking or writing. But like you, I never rest on my laurels.
Scent of Possibility (Poetry) - 7/18/2026 7:48:06 AM
You prove time and again how voluminous the choice for appreciating life is. This piece was of special appreciation as it explores the oft ignored areas of wonder. Beautifully expressed, John. Thank you for posting.
I Don't Care (Poetry) - 7/17/2026 12:57:13 PM
Read like a fight between the ego and the id. But I could relate to every line. Especially when they keep calling me, Mr. Ron. When, for most of my life I was called Ron, Mr. Hull, or Dr. Hull, correctly and respectfully.
I think it's best not to care for all the trivia and all the ignorance. But to care greatly for your craft and what you can offer through your poetry to bring people closer to the light of day in reality.
Ron
Some Truisms (Poetry) - 7/17/2026 12:00:48 PM
It is amazing how many similes you can come up for simple definitions of truth and lies.
I love the idea of the arc of history. It is a mighty trend that chooses truth over lies. One of the classic examples was the view of the universe proclaimed by Aristotle. That we were on the back of a giant turtle and the center of the universe with the sun and heavenly bodies bodies circling us.
But we are social creatures, more akin to believe our tribe, our mentors, our rituals and our friends and relatives rather than the truth. Hence, some commonly known lies have persisted and grown thousands of years since the beginning of history when unknown anomalies were labeled as gods and whole mythologies rose up around them.
Ron
I Don't Care (Poetry) - 7/17/2026 8:58:57 AM
That relationship of what you do care about and what you don't is a courageous position to take in this muddied world of a pandemic of opinions that have neither a tether nor an invite to foist their opinion on those, like yourself, who don't give a damn. Were there more of your mindset, we wouldn't have so many twisted ideas often taking precedence.
I Don't Care (Poetry) - 7/16/2026 9:18:20 AM
Indeed! Your yin/yang thinking reflects (IMO) a deep philosophical belief that your worth, your truths, and your path, are yours alone to define, and that dismissing (or accepting) other peoples opinions and behaviors towards you is a personal act of liberation and integrity. Dr Seuss had it right. "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." Enjoyed the read. r
Scent of Possibility (Poetry) - 7/15/2026 8:16:58 AM
Gracefully written. Allows the imagination to spread its wings. "life's endless mystery" indeed. A human beings olfaction is not limited to just the physical, but includes the spiritual as well. This piece has paths that lead to a plurality of possibilities. The crisp clean scent of ozone and damp earth after a storm. The sharp clean scent of anticipation. A faint lingering scent of what might have been missed. Scent being more intimate to our memory and emotion than sight or sound. And hope, if it had a scent, would smell perhaps like spring rain, or something new or alive. Really well done, John. One of your best. Peace... r
Keeping to my Habits (Poetry) - 7/14/2026 6:45:47 PM
Your routine seems to work very well for you. I try to simplify my activities, including parsimony in my use of words. Some say that makes me a simpleton. I reply "thank you."
Some Truisms (Poetry) - 7/14/2026 10:31:51 AM
I felt as if I was on a pendulum reading this. This piece effectively shows, to this reader, that truisms (while in some circles being dismissed as trivial) can be a rich philosophical territory that prompts deeper reflection on reality, spirituality, and moral values. Enjoyed the read John. Thank you for sharing. r
Keeping to my Habits (Poetry) - 7/13/2026 7:41:05 AM
You've spelled out so well a fact of longevity is often dependent on good habits, especially with one's healt habits. Your poem urged me to take stock on my own habits and, well, they're not bad. My doctors give them a lot of credit in my health evaluation. I find the habits most helpful in the daily work of proofing and editing the audiobooks for Blackstone and of course my own writing. Yes, those habits you cite are mental pills we take. Enjoyed the reviewing of yours and my own ways of lasting this long.
Little Wounds (Poetry) - 7/12/2026 9:09:50 AM
A very poignant poem so needed by those who indure the small wounds of Social Media's allowance for insults, hurts, and ignoring when there's something truly valuable to share. Your words of this nature are so needed today. Thank you for sharing the overview of just how many small wounds are out there.
Living with the Unknown (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 9:31:51 AM
Living with the unknown might just be one of our best creative motivators. Aside from Biblical prophecies escalating dramatically, the future seems more uncertain than ever before. Still... the unknown can be a source of inspiration, if we can muster the courage. It can also remind us that living with life's unknowns are part of the human experience, and if we can embrace them without fear, it may just lead us to greater resilience, meaning, and creativity. A thought-provoking piece, John, well expressed. Enjoyed. Peace. rlc
Living with the Unknown (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 8:39:08 AM
Your poem reminds me of the frequency poets look seriously at the unknown, finding meaning in the inquiry alone. Perhaps we are a society creating knowns of the unknown in order to blind-side the thrust of falsehood that often follows. There are some unknows out there for the sheer joy of investigating, many of which have no logical meaning or understanding. They are just there. I dread the thought of not being alerted at least once every day with the challenge of the unknown. It's such a challenge in a world that so often acts as if it has all the answers. Thanks for the reminder of the unknown value.
Some Ideas Take Time (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 3:51:36 AM
ISN'T IT REMARKABLE HOW, WE CANNOT FOOL OURSELVES? OF COURSE...WE KNOW 'IMMEDIATELY' WHEN WE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE RIGHT COURSE/IDEA. THE SPIRIT OF GOD IMMEDIATELY LET'S US KNOW...BUT WE 'TOY' WITH IT ANYWAY...TRYING TO CONVINCE OURSELVES THAT IT'S REALLY ALRIGHT. INDEED, YOU ARE RIGHT, IT TAKES TIME. IF ONE DOESN'T REBUKE A NEGATIVE THOUGHT RIGHT AWAY(REBUKE THE ENEMY AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU)... IT WILL 'EVENTUALLY' TAKE ROOT AND BECOME A REALITY. NOW, KEEPING IN MIND THAT NOT ALL IDEAS ARE NEGATIVE...SO THEN, ONE SHOULD PRAY FOR GUIDANCE IN EVERY DECISION. AMEN. GOOD WORK, APPRECIATED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
We Never Do Know (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 3:36:12 AM
AND WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW...'WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS'. I MEAN...WHAT WOULD BE THE NEED FOR 'FAITH' IN GOD IF WE ALREADY 'KNEW' WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN? THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS 'LUCK' WHERE GOD IS CONCERNED...ONLY TRUSTING HIS WILL AND 'BLESSINGS'. LIVING TOTALLY BY FAITH...TAKES PRACTICE, BUT IF WE REALLY WANT TO 'DEPEND ON GOD' AND LEAVE OUR FUTURE IN 'HIS HANDS'...HE WILL TEACH US HOW. AMEN. ENJOYED, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Paradox of Expectation (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 3:25:41 AM
WHAT OR WHO CAN WE PUT OUR TRUST IN...THAT DOESN'T COME WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT FOLLOWING OUR ...EXPECTATIONS? NOTHING OR NO ONE, BUT GOD. CERTAINLY, IN ESTABLISHING HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE HAS TO BE SOME LEVEL TRUST BUT...THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE 'POSSIBILITY' THAT THINGS MAY NOT GO AS 'EXPECTED. THIS IS LIFE AND THAT IS THE WAY THINGS GO DOWN HERE. SO, WHEN FACED WITH THE UNEXPECTED...? BE VERY SURE OUR ANCHOR HOLDS AND GRIPS...THE SOLID ROCK, JESUS! THEN...PRESS ON, AMEN. THANKS FOR SHARING, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Is Language Innocent (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 3:12:42 AM
THE WORD ASKS GOD TO...'GUARD OUR TONGUES'. THERE IS NO FUNCTION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PERFORM WHICH GOD CANNOT CONTROL...IF...WE WANT HIM TO. IT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE SAY, BUT HOW WE SAY IT(IN MANY INSTANCES, THERE IS ALWAYS A BETTER WAY TO EXPRESS OURSELVES WHICH DOES NOT OFFEND) INDEED. THANKS FOR THIS REMINDER, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Sitting Still (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 3:04:52 AM
ABSOLUTELY, JOHN. THE WORD SAYS...BE STILL...AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. AS WE REVEL IN ALL THAT GOD IS AND ALLOW HIS LOVE TO COVER US, WE ARE ENDOWED WITH A PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING AND GIVEN ALL WE NEED TO OVERCOME AND PERSEVERE, AMEN. A TERRIFIC, INSPIRATIONAL WORK. THANKS SO MUCH. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Mystery of Mysteries (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 2:57:34 AM
GOD HIMSELF IS A MYSTERY TO US, FOR WHO HAS SEEN HIM? BUT THEN 'BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAS NOT SEEN, BUT BELIEVE'. SO THEN...THERE ARE SOME MYSTERIES, OF COURSE...THAT GOD, BY HIS WILL, HAS KEPT HIDDEN AND WILL NEVER BE REVEALED TO US ON THIS SIDE. THUS, WE NOW 'SEE THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY' AND SOME THINGS WE WILL NOT UNDERSTAND, BUT WE 'STAND' BY FAITH(EPHS 6:10-18)...AND TRUST GOD. REMEMBER, THE WORD OF GOD SAYS...'REBUKE THE ENEMY, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU'. GOOD STUFF HERE, MY FRIEND, ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Simple Truth (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 2:43:44 AM
ISN'T OUR GOD JUST MARVELOUS?! HE DOESN'T FORCE OR STAND OVER US WITH A WHIP TO 'DEMAND' THAT WE ACCEPT HIM. HE MERELY SHOWS US TWO ROADS. ONE, FULL OF TRUTH... LEADING UP TO HIM...AND THE OTHER, FULL OF DECEPTION... LEADING DOWN TO DAMNATION. IT IS OUR CHOICE. OUR MOVE. THE BALL IS ALWAYS IN OUR COURT. AMEN. THANK YOU, JOHN...SO VERY MUCH! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Mystery and Majesty of Twilight (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 2:38:40 AM
THE IMAGERY IN THIS GREAT SHARING IS JUST WONDERFUL, MY FRIEND. SO ENJOYED...! YES, GOD...HE PUTS ON A SHOW THAT CANNOT BE OUTDONE...AND ALL FOR US TO FOSTER A DEEPER APPRECIATION AND TRUST IN HIM! THANK YOU, SO MUCH! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Where Are You (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 2:33:32 AM
AGAIN, I AM REMINDED OF THE WORD OF GOD. 'THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH'. 'FOR WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM!' WE WILL NOT HEAR HIM ALL THE TIME. WE WILL NOT FEEL HIM ALL THE TIME...WE WILL QUESTION SOMETIMES, BUT WE TRUST, BELIEVE AND AS OUR FAITH GROWS...WE PRESS ON! (JOB 23:8-10, PS 142, HEB 11:6, ROM 1:17). WONDERFUL, FULFILLING WORK. I WILL SAVE THIS. THANK YOU, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Thru the Darkest Night (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 2:14:26 AM
THIS IS SO TRUE, MY FRIEND. AGAIN, SPEAKING, METAPHORICALLY...IT IS IN THE DARKEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO 'SEE' AND APPRECIATE THE LIGHT OF GOD WHICH ASSURES US OF HIS PRESENCE. AND WHILE STRENGTHENING US AND ENCOURAGING US TO HOLD ON TO OUR FAITH, HE ENABLES US TO ...PRESS ON! A RESOUNDING WORK, INDEED! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Presence in Absence (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 1:51:06 AM
THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THAT...IN THE ABSENCE OF EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WE NEEDED AND JUST COULDN'T BEGIN TO DO WITHOUT...THERE IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD! AMEN AND AMEN. WONDERFUL! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
On Our Side (Poetry) - 7/11/2026 1:47:24 AM
LET'S FACE IT; IN ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS WE ARE 'ALL' AS FILTHY RAGS BEFORE GOD. AND AS YOU SAY...IF NOT FOR HIM BEING ON OUR SIDE, IF NOT FOR HIS LOVE, IS NOT FOR HIS GREAT MERCY AND GRACE, INDEED 'NONE OF US' WOULD MAKE IT THROUGH THIS WORLD. HE IS OUR FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. AMEN AND HALLELUJAH! ABSOLUTELY GREAT, THANK YOU! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
