Second time around

Photo by Mike Hall

Second time around

Someone has lived here before in this
smaller apartment, and I pay my rent.
The grey SUV looked great when I saw
it on the used car lot, and now it’s new.
It was to me, and six years later, the title
has cleared to me to the last red cent.
My used TV was not the latest model out,
but with cable, I have a digital view.

Goodwill and Salvation Army stores
are places where a buck can stretch,
and my couch was a grand find at a
big yard sale from around the block.
I found have found ties and coats
cheaper than brand name stores fetch.
My office chair was all alone in the
the dumpster, and didn’t cost a lot.

I claimed a reconditioned computer
laptop as I return to a degree at school.
Much of what I have had in my life
has come to me a second time around,
and ecologists have said that it is
better to recycle, to reduce and to reuse.
I was born with nothing much to my name.
I’ll go the same way once I’m in the ground.

Beggar’s Banquet

Follow your dreams to the end of the rainbow
and you will be treated to a beggar’s banquet.
You can get what ever you want by asking,
and there will be more than food available.
Some will look for a pot of gold, but the
value of things depends on each person.
Others will want things they can’t touch,
and how much they take back will depend
on their amount of greed within themselves.

Photo by Mike Hall

The individual petals of a common dandelion contrast sharply with the green of the grass, and the growth of this wildflower signals the start of a turf war for those who value a carpet of green grass or the beginning of a fruitful wildflower season in Central Indiana.

Jericho

(Clay mask by Dakota Burks, Photo by Mike Hall)
Jericho 

Watch what you do in Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
There’s trouble in that town,
Oh-Oh- Jericho.
Carry a six-gun and knife in old Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
You need them to defend your life.
Oh-Oh- Jericho.

Drink, but don’t get drunk in Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
Problems grow as bottles empty.
Oh-Oh- Jericho.
Don’t lose your heart in Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
The woman will let you down,
Oh-Oh- Jericho.

Gamblers will take your money in Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
But it’s the devil who’ll take your soul,
Oh-Oh- Jericho.
Don’t try to cheat at cards in Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
You might end up deader than dead,
Oh-Oh- Jericho.

Don’t mess with the sheriff in Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
His justice is the only law there.
Oh-Oh- Jericho.
Jail’s the wrong place to be in Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
Justice is no lady, just a bitch.
Oh-Oh- Jericho.

Words of warning for those coming to Jericho.
Oh-Oh don’t you know.
Just pass through town, but do it slow.
Oh-Oh- Jericho.

To read this poem in Spanish, click here

Jericó

El poema “Jericó” fué publicado originalmente el 10 de Octubre de 2003 en el periódico ‘El Heraldo de Brownsville.’ Para ver la versión original en inglés, haga click aquí.

Jericó

Cuidado con lo que haces en Jerico.
Oh-Oh, no te imaginas.
Siempre hay problemas en ese pueblo,
Oh-Oh Jericó.
Tienes que traer armas en Jericó.
Oh-Oh, no te imaginas.
Las necesitas para defenderte.
Oh-Oh Jericó.

Toma, pero no te embriagues en Jerico.
Oh-Oh, no te imaginas.
Los problemas surgen a manera
que las botellas se vacían.
Oh-Oh Jericó.
No dejes tu corazón en Jericó.
Oh-Oh, no te imaginas.
Las mujeres te abandonarán,
Oh-Oh Jericó.

Estafadores despojartán
tu dinero en Jericó.
Oh-Oh, no te imaginas.
Pero es el diablo quien tomará tu alma,
Oh-Oh Jericó
No trates de pasarte de listo en Jericó.
Oh-Oh, no te imaginas.
Ahí puede terminar tu vida.
Oh-Oh Jericó.

No te metas con el Alguacil en Jericó.
Oh-Oh, ni te imaginas.
Su justicia es la única que reina ahí.
Oh-Oh Jericó.
La cárcel es lo peor en Jericó,
Oh-Oh, ni te imaginas.
Ahí no existe la justicia.
Oh-Oh Jericó.

Son consejos para aquellos
que vienen a Jericó.
Oh-Oh, ni te imaginas.
Sólo pasa por el pueblo,
pero hazlo lentamente.
Oh-Oh Jericó.

Indiana Wildflowers

Wildflower season for Indiana starts in late April and and blooms in May. By September the fireworks are over. See the 2008 season here, photographed by Mike Hall.

Power of the Truth

You should suffer no more, child,
and the truth should be spoken.
Your silence is louder than words,
but the void remaining is filled with lies.

You are only the victim of the actions
and events which occurred in the past
Their attempts to hide them have just
brought attention to them in the present.

They say they give you protection, as
 the devil saves those souls from fire.
 Your speechlessness gives them time
 to only hurt those like you even more.

Fear keeps your tongue quiet about
those involved within your family
But who is it that keeps you more
than warm, fed, and body alive?

Trust in those who have your true
 interests in the center of their heart.
Only then will the truth be revealed,
and you can be free of your bonds.

La medida de un hombre

El poema “La medida de un hombre” fué publicado originalmente el 13 de Diciembre 2002 en el periódico ‘El Heraldo de Brownsville.’ Para ver la versión original en inglés, haga click aquí.

La medida de un hombre

Los callos crecen en la palma de su mano,
y la tierra se acumula bajo las uñas de sus dedos.
Profundas líneas en su cara muestran donde
ha triunfado y dónde ha fracasado.
¿Es ésta la medida de un hombre?
¿Que se supone que un hombre debe ser?
Algunas veces de verdad no lo sé.
Necesito tranquilizarrne.
Lo único que puedo hacer es ser yo rnismo.  .
Su cabello está recién cortado y peinado
rnientras se apresura vestido en su traje de negocios.
Su cerebro se encuentra en su portafolios, y se
siente segura con una navaja escondida en su botín.

¿Es esta la medida de un hombre?
Trabaja arduamente para ser sensitivo a su amada
y lucha para mantener fuerte los lazos familiares.
Su corazón perrnanece en un estrecho camino, y
trata de no hacer nada equivocadamente.

¿Es ésta la medida de un hombre?
En las reuniones, es afortundo con las damas,
y sabe cómo comportarse.
 Selecciona una para el resto de la tarde,
y posteriorrnente deja fluir sus sentimientos.

¿Es ésta la medida de un hombre?
No demuestra susemociories,
y no dejarfa a nadie verlo llorar.
Después de todo, el hombre
tiene que tener el control,  
aún cuando alguien amado muere.

¿Es ésta la medida de un hombre?
Se supone que su cuerpo retiene el licor
 cuando sale con sus arnigos a tomar.
Y se pregunta porque comete errores
cuando reza al centellante lavabo.
¿Es ésta la medida de un hombre?
¿Qué se supone que un hom­bre debe ser?
Algnas veces de verdad no lo sé.
Necesito tranquilizarme.
Lo único que puedo hacer es ser yo mismo.

Take life one step at a time

One of the members of the Lambda Sigma Chi fraternity is Paul Abernathy. A person would not believe what he is into now if he or she would have seen him 20 years ago, but now he has been a music minister at a church in Tacoma, Washington, for 12 years, after getting his ministers license. He enjoys being with children and youth. He should because, he and his wife, Diana, have two of their own, a boy and a girl.  Let him know what you think at paulabernathy@gmail.com. A year or so he sent me these lyrics to a song he was working on. I have not yet heard the music, but he has a few distractions in his life I suspect.

Take life one step at a time

Do your finances have you counting your dimes,
Especially when the job you want is hard to find?
Just put one foot in front of the other, and
Ask for help from family and others.
Plans you have may seem 1000 miles away,
 But they can become a reality one day,
If you take life one step at a time.

(Chorus)
Take life one step at a time (at a time)
And you’ll get where you want to go (to go).
You may crawl before you can walk (oh yeah),
And the changes may be slow (be slow).
The Lord helps those who help themselves ( amen)
And through His grace you’ll know (you’ll know)
You can face the future with hope (with hope)
And your love for life will grow (will grow)
If you take life one step at a time.

Do you have problems finding and keeping a lover,
Especially when the one you want loves another?
Just put one foot in front of the other, and
Ask for help from your sisters and brothers.

Dreams you keep seem like they’ll never come true,
But your success depends on your attitude.
Just take life one step at a time.

(Repeat Chorus)

(Instrumental Bridge)

Take life one step at a time (at a time)
And you’ll get where you want to go (to go).
You can face the future with hope (with hope)
And your love for life will grow (will grow)
If you take life one step at a time.

Trust

You asked me if I loved you,
but I really don’t think it’s fair
when in the way you asked it,
it sounded like a child’s dare.
I really have enjoyed the times
we spent together and shared.
I have a funny feeling I should
be prepared to say goodbye.

I want you to know I need to care
about how you feel about me too.
This time we would need no lies,
and we should each tell the truth.
If you should decide to leave me,
your departure won’t be a surprise.
Our love is a matter of trust, and
feelings shouldn’t be compromised.