Valentine's Day Post #5 - Better Luck Next Year!

I've been doing these posts for so long, I almost feel it's become obligatory, so for what it's worth...

Another Valentine's Day come and gone

Now comes another 364-day reprieve

Before the odious reminder comes once again

That being single marks us

Unwanted, unloved, unworthy

I don't by that

True love is but a thing of chance

And those of us lucky enough to find it

Are just that...lucky

What most people find is companionship

Another half to share life's ups, downs, 

and everything in between

Are they lucky?  Who knows?

Those of us without

Long for true love

We hope and we dream

Waiting for that arrow to shoot us 

Straight through the heart 

Everyone wants to be lucky in love

The most wonderful feeling in the world

I thought I had it once

In the end, I learned it was never really there

And seven years on I wait

And hope and dream

Please don't misunderstand me

Don't get me wrong

How can anyone hate a day that celebrates love?

Cupid certainly has a spirit

And it touched me today

Even though my spirit lies dormant

Valentine's is a night 

For lovers 

Romance, a rose, a date night, sweet, sweet music

For the lucky ones, I am happy

For the rest of us I say

Keep hoping, keep dreaming

Maybe there's better luck next year

Your Ghost Lingers

Once upon a time

You blew in and out of my life

Like the force of a hurricane

Filling my heart with strife

I didn't think, I knew

All inhibitions thrown to the wind

Threw myself in head first

Not realizing it was so close to the end

Well it's been a long time now

 I've moved on to find

That skeletons live in closets

And your ghost lingers in my mind

It's not that I'm not over you, I am

But my search is forever fruitless

Remembering that knowing, that knowing

And never finding success

I don't know if it's me, or just your ghost

That leaves me expecting too much

The next one's got it hard

I'm just afraid of using you as my crutch

I know it's been a long time now

And I've moved on to find

That skeletons live in closets

And your ghost lingers in my mind

We had something special

That was something I believed

Though we came from different times and places

A true bond is what I thought we could achieve

But please don't worry

Please, don't feel bad

I'm truly good now

Just sometimes I think of good times we never had

I know it's been a long time now

And I've moved on, only to find

That skeletons live in closets

And your ghost lingers in my mind

Skeletons live in closets

And your ghosts lingers in my mind

Yeah your ghost still haunts me

It lingers, it just lingers

Tweet

Broke

shirtoid

Broke

Every once in awhile

I just get tired of being broke

I make plenty of money

Yet I'm always broke

It just makes me so sad

Can't afford much

Living eats away all my money

Food, gas, mortgage payment

And forget about upkeep of a house

Vacation's are a thing of the past

People have a hard time understanding

How I'm so broke all the time

I tell ya this

I sometimes don't understand it myself

But then I look around

I live in America, for one thing

No...check that

I live in New York, even worse!

Empty my wallet at the gas pump, 

The grocery store, and everywhere in between

But yes, only in America

Can you still be paying off debt

You incurred years ago

It never seems to go away

Banks get rich and I'm become broker

Yet I see money all around me

Housewives in gas guzzlers

Talking on their cells, as kids watch vids in the back

Kids driving Beemers, wearing Gucci, D&G, and Hugo

Flying past me on the road, with a smirk, or a finger

So what's wrong with this picture?

In America we say work hard and you'll reap the rewards

Live the American Dream

I work hard, too hard sometimes

Yet I'm always broke

So what's the answer?

Rob a bank, stop paying my bills

Go on welfare?

Nah, I can't do that

That's not me

So I guess I'll just go on being broke

Working hard, struggling harder

Perhaps I'll be rewarded when I'm beyond, who knows?

Till then I'll keep on keeping on

Hoping for a miracle, so's I'm broke no more

Tweet

A Winter Evening's Walk

I'm not a person in this world - I am a place

Seven o'clock

I grab my cigs, my phone, and my iPod 

Head off into the night

The air had warmed,

Turning to fog over the snow strewn landscape

It's a potentially dangerous walk

On these perilous streets

"Don't forget my wallet!"

I rush back into the house

A morbid reminder of potential disaster

I risk my evening walk anyway

For the solace of darkness

And the solitude

That jars my thinking

I am at peace, if just for a little while

Oh, the beautiful stillness of such a night!

Remnants of a blizzard not long gone

Have kept everyone inside

Only a very few cross my path this evening

I am virtually alone

The walk is not long

Tonight's I follow the short route

But for that little while

I am king of the world

At one with my surroundings

And it is beautiful!

If only I could feel like this forever...

.  

Tweet

Reflections on Tragedy and God

The last I left off with you, I had been telling you about the long week I've just experienced.  Now that it's Saturday evening and I've had a full day to digest it all and come to a sense of normalcy again, I'm feeling much better. It's really amazing how time really does make things better and just a cool 24 hours from craziness, things don't seem as crazy as they were.

This is a really difficult post to make.  All of the things I'm going to refer to here are of a highly personal nature, and I need to be as sensitive as I can to not say too much, so I hope you understand.  I share this here because the nature and scope of the things I want to share are about life, and how to live it...

fruci

Mourning Children

Very sad day today and a reminder to appreciate all you have. Just remember, we all have our own problems, but there's always someone out there who's got bigger ones! Don't sweat small stuff...


This was a status I posted on Facebook sometime Thursday afternoon.  It was written somewhere in between a mass mourning and a personal shock.  As many of you know, I am a teacher by day, and I absolutely love my job.  I love kids and I am both proud and honored to be able to give back to society by working with children and helping to guide them through the formative years of their lives.  Working with young people is rewarding, frustrating, joyful, and so much more, and this week I got to experience some of the pain that comes with being up close and personal with children on a daily basis.

Earlier this week, a young student in my school passed away after collapsing on a field a few days earlier.  He was only fourteen years of age and from what I could see this entire week, he was a very likable and popular young man, not only with his fellow students, but with his teachers, as well.  You can imagine the enormous amount of grief that was expressed that morning and the entire day after his death.  

After a sullen assembly in the auditorium, my students and I sat down and discussed the tragedy.  I reminded them that they didn't have to know somebody to feel sorry for them, and that was the case for me, too.  Even though I did not know the young man personally, I could feel, and still do, the enormous sense of loss associated with his death.  My heart goes out to his family and his friends.

vimeo

Questioning God

Contemplating this tragedy has once again brought me to a place where I feel I have to question the existence of God.  I mean, how could God allow such a thing to happen to an innocent young soul, who had yet to live his life?   Some say that when a person is taken too soon it's because God needed them, but I still don't get it.  Then something else happened.

The death of this young man was but one tragedy I experienced recently.  Over the past several weeks, I've borne witness to the suffering of other innocent children at the hands of the violent, and I feel helpless in trying to make things better for them.  Perhaps I just have to accept that I am powerless to prevent such things.

All I know is we all need to appreciate the things that we have, while we have them.  I believe the timing of these things in my life has made the Thanksgiving season even more relevant, and a reminder to practice one of the Keys of Life: Live in the Present. We all need to live life not dwelling upon the past or contemplating the future, but always in the present, aware and appreciative of the things around us.  Again, do not sweat the small stuff!    

Here is a piece of poetry I penned after this week's events.  It will soon appear on the Yahoo Contributor Network, but I present it here first...

Why God?

I believe in God

Sometimes I just don't understand Him

Especially in times like these when things make no sense

Tragedy and suffering afflicting the children

A young boy

An unexpected tragedy

Taken too soon

Why would He allow that to happen?

Some would say it was just his time

A young angel called to do His service

Perhaps this is true, yet it is still tragic

But what about the living who suffer?

A young girl, scarred for life

Unconscionable acts perpetrated against her

Mistreated, abused, unloved

Why would He allow that to happen?

Suffering such is an even bigger tragedy than death

Innocent souls tortured in perpetuality,

Body, mind and soul

God save them from their misery, not!

Yes, I still believe in God

Sometimes I just don't understand Him

Perhaps I'm not supposed to

But I wish He wouldn't allow these things to happen

Tweet

I'm a published poet!

I tell ya, things never happen when you expect them to.  Back in June, I mentioned that an educational book publisher in Ireland wanted to publish a poem I had written a few years back.  They wanted to include it in a series of poems geared towards 11 and 12 year old students.  Needless to say I was more than a little  excited.

At the time I had never had to deal with something such as this and I had to figure out all the right things to say and do with this woman, Cora, who had contacted me.  I certainly did not want to blow it!  Copyrights had to be figured out and of course, my fee for its use, and after a little wrangling, all the i's were finally dotted and the t's crossed and she told me the book would be out  around August.

Cut to yesterday...

Yesterday was one of the worst days in recent memory.  My job so far this year has been unbelievably stressful, so much so that it's been consuming great chunks of my personal time at home, and I am finding myself with not even a few moments to myself during the school day either, but that's a whole other story... I arrived home from the terrible workday more than a little despondent.  I was tired, irritable and a little down.  That is, until I opened my mailbox.

Among the bills and advertisements in the box was a package that looked like a book.  There was no return label on it and I was curious as to what was inside.  Since this whole poem thing happened so long ago, I'd forgotten about it, and even as I was opening the package I was completely oblivious, but then, there it was!

Racing Ahead is actually a teacher's guide, a companion for a teacher to use with a series of lessons.  It's full of what we call extension activities, or lessons that a teacher can use to enhance a unit for more in depth learning on  topic.  I excitedly flipped through the pages and finally came to my piece, Push and Pull, on page 55.  There were my words embedded within the text of a book, with an illustration and a whole bunch of questions for students that center around the vocabulary and themes within the piece.  What a cool thing!

So yeah, sometimes things come along when you least expect them to, right?  Had I been watching for that book to come I'd have been waiting forever, but it came when I wasn't looking, and on just the right day for me!  I think I may have to go and celebrate this one!  I mean, I've been published before, but time is different!  Anyway, as always, thanks for reading!

Tweet

True Blood Don't Mean a Thing

the featured creature

True Blood Don't Mean a Thing

Looks like you did it again

Shot me down when I was up

I should have known better

Call me a fool for falling again

Not the first time I’ve been burned

Oh, yeah, you’ve done it before

They say that true blood runs deep

But here’s a lesson I’ve finally learned

True blood don’t mean a thing

It comes with no guarantees

It doesn’t give you a home, a bond, or a family

It takes away what it doesn’t bring

It’s not the blood that makes me want you around

It’s the person you are

Your content and your character

And the knowledge that here you will always be found

I’ve tried my best, always

Giving so much, yet getting little in return

But shunning and heartbreak

Now I see that all of my efforts were a waste

I thought I had a family once

But finally I’ve learned my lesson

My friends are the family I choose

For they’re the ones who fulfill my needs and my wants

True blood don’t mean a thing

It comes with no guarantees

It doesn’t give you a home, a bond, or a family

It takes away what it doesn’t bring

It’s not the blood that makes me want you around

It’s the person you are

Your content and your character

And the knowledge that here you will always be found

Never again will you do this to me

Yes, today I've finally learned my lesson

I’m tired of repeating this mistake

And now it’s time to flee

Right now it’s easy to say

Anger and disappointment can do that

But I’m gonna try hard not to forget

And so you won’t see me for many a day

Tweet

H is for Happy

Happy

All I really want is to be happy

I just can’t seem to define it

What it looks like, what it smells like

What it feels like

I’m not really sure

Life’s all about pursuing happiness

Finding a certain bliss in living

Happy’s not the same to everyone

We’ve all got our dreams and our desires

And we’d all like to realize them

Sometimes I imagine what happiness feels like

Money in my pocket

Love all around me

Lying on the beach on a hot summer’s day

Someone special to share my life with

Every day I awake, hoping for happiness

Yet always finding it elusive

Am I happy?

Is anyone, really?

Thinking about it has brought me to one conclusion

Happiness is a temporary thing

But it’s there

In one form or another

Just like sadness, and anger

And I found there’s an easy secret to being happy

Just savor those times when you live them

Enjoy whatever moments you get

Make em last as long as you can

Cause all of those blissful moments together

Make happy

Image Source: tiptaptip

Tweet

March 21st, 2012 - Writing Wednesday

Holy Smokes! This blog has had an amazing 48 hours, receiving more than 3,300 page views and counting over the last two days! I don't think I'll ever quite figure out exactly who the totality of my audience is, and sometimes the posts that get viewed surprise me.

For instance, one of the hottest posts was one I wrote last year called Happy Mother's Day. I remember seeing that it was just Mother's Day somewhere in the world just the other day, though I can't for the life of me remember where. That post itself has gotten around 1,500 hits the past three days alone. No matter, the more people click on this blog, the better, so I'm pretty excited to see it doing so well and I thank you if you're reading this now.

As I mentioned last week, I was planning on getting some writing done across the board, and voila! I did! Check it out:

Gather

Madonna Reaches Record 41st Number One Dance Record with "Gimme All Your Luvin'"

Last Friday, Billboard had published that Madonna's "Gimme All Your Luvin'" was going to be reaching the top spot on its' Hot Dance/Club Play chart for the week of March 31st. It's the 41st song of hers to reach that pinnacle, which is by far more than anyone before her.



Examiner

Orlando's Fun Spot Action Park expansion to include new coasters

Any news of a new roller coaster is exciting to me, and a local Orlando amusement center is undergoing a huge expansion that will eventually feature two new thrill rides and a whole lot more!

John's World

As usual, it's been another busy week of posts here. Check out what you might have missed:


Apple-y Ever After, from Ben and Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's New Flavor Celebrates Gay Marriage

I thought this news was worth a mention. Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream unveiled a repackaging of their apple pie-flavored delicacy in honor of gay marriage and in conjunction with ongoing legal battles in England and elsewhere. Go Ben and Jerrys!

Finally, The Wanted to release a US album

When I first heard the news, I had to share it! The new record, simply called "The Wanted," is due out in stores here on April 24th. Can't wait! They're also going to be playing here on Long Island this Sunday, March 25th at the Paramount in Huntington. The show's being sponsored by BLI and you can check out an acoustic version of "Glad You Came" in a promo for the show here. Anyone wanna go with me?

Battle of the Brit Boy Bands: The Wanted vs. One Direction

Just when I thought The Wanted were starting to gain some great attention here in the States, along comes this other boy band called One Direction stealing some of the former's thunder. Those newbies earlier today became the first British act to debut on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart at the number one spot with their album "Up All Night", making music history. Congratulations to One Direction and here's to some serious rivalry!


One Direction

Just Posted to Madonna's World: New Madonna Album Party at The Ritz

Madonna's World blog posted a flyer announcing the latest Madonnathon, which will hit The Ritz on Sunday, April 1st. Sunday, really? Grrrrrr....

The party's going to be called "I'm Addicted to M.D.N.A." and the new album will be out by then, so look for all the new tracks to be played that night. Again, grrrrrr!!!!!

Madonna's "Girl Gone Wild" Video

And speaking of Madonna, eonline premiered her new video for "Girl Gone Wild" and it is fierce! Check out the title for my take on the video.

A Katy Perry and Rihanna Duet in the works

I switched the names in the title, because these two are both very high amongst pop royalty these days. This one's gonna be major!



The Return of Missy...Kinda Sorta

This week Missy Elliot made an awesome singing cameo on a new song by hip-hop star J. COle. The song's an awesome mix of hip hop and R&B and I've already posted it twice this week. Check it out if ya like a little R&B flavor with your hip hop. Can't wait for her new album coming in June!

Back to the Personal

This was my first personal memoir in awhile and it recounts a Saturday night full of bowling and clubbing...

Repostings

I reposted a couple of older pieces I'd written in the past in the hopes of getting them noticed again. One was an old phonology paper I'd written on the unique language of gay men. Check out Gayspeak.

Another piece I republished this week is an old poem about the wonderful feelings that come with this time of year, especially in a place that's just experienced winter (though we really didn't have too much of a winter this year!). Please see Spring Awakening.

Family Matters

Finally, just this morning I posted another poem I had written a couple of months ago, but never published. If any of you have ever had to deal with someone in your life who's gone astray and feel helpless, then check out Open Your Eyes - It's Up to You.

As always, thanks for checking me out!

Image Sources:

rollercoasters.org

John's World

sonicnation

SEMTEX



Tweet

Open Your Eyes - It's Up to You

It's Up to You

It’s hard to know where to begin
But I guess I’ll say first and foremost
That I love you baby sister
And I want you to be happy
Everyone does

You say we’ve all abandoned you
But that’s not true
We all love you and
We’ve been tormented for a very long time
By the path that you’ve chosen to take

It’s not your lifestyle that drives us away
Or maybe it is
Only it’s not the lifestyle you say it is
That keeps us at arms’ length
Believe what you believe, but you’re wrong

It’s curious, and I mean no ill with this
But it’s funny how we only hear your voice
In times of trouble
Relationships are a two way street
And we deserve to get some of the good with the bad

One of the most difficult things in life
Is watching a loved one make a mistake
Or two, or three, or more
There’s nothing you can do, really
Except pass on your own wisdom and hope for the best

Life is full of mistakes
Everybody makes them
But the key to a happier life
Is recognizing the error in the choices you’ve made
And learning not to make the same ones again and again

No one has the power to change someone else’s life
Not with money or advice or even just an ear
No, that power lies within yourself
The ultimate honor and oath of taking responsibility
For the situation you find yourself in now and forevermore

No, you haven’t been abandoned
Just left to your own devices
By the ones who have all realized by now
That this train wreck can only be stopped by you
No longer can we participate in feeding into your madness

You say you’re going through a rough time
We’ve all heard that one before
Many times over
This time we choose to let you fly on your own
For on your own is the only way you will get through the storm

Tweet


Image Source: graphicshunt

Spring Awakening

Here's a poem I published two years ago on Yahoo Voices. I don't consider myself a poet, but sometimes I think I do alright...



Spring Awakening

The Northeast
Land of the snowbirds
Fleeing the cold northern chill
For the warm Florida winter
Only to return to the splendor of a New York summer

I say these wintry migrates don’t know what they’re missing.
Yes, winter here can be long and cold, it can make you weary
But there are things about winter that are nice
Like the beauty of the snow, hot chocolate to warm the heart
A restful sleep beneath a warm blanket

The best thing about winter, though,
Is its end… the transformation from winter to spring
When that first burst of warm air returns to the region,
Igniting a fire within the weariest of souls

A reawakening like no other
A return of the spirit, one that slowly dissipated with a long winter,
But has now returned

A spring awakening is a much needed part of the cycle of life’s years
The warm air, the newly flowering blooms beckon us to great days ahead
Relighting a fire that’s been dormant for months

I’ll take winter anytime
As long as I can experience the euphoria of spring awakening!

Image Source: college fashion



Tweet

Clarity

I need for you to know
I need to be more clear
My signals were not enough
And so now clarity will bring understanding
I need for you to know

You need to leave me be
Allow me my own time
To decide where to go next
Take my cues and understand
That you just need to leave me be

I’m a man striving for my own happiness
Though I have no idea what that looks like
Career? Wealth? Friendship? Or love?
I just don’t know
But I continue to strive for my own happiness

I need to right my own ship
And set my own life straight
Lots of soul searching to do
And thoughts to be thought
So I can right my own ship

Right now I’m all about myself
Working on the things
That get me through my days and my nights
In hopes of a clearer tomorrow
Right now I’m all about myself

I’m not so sure what you see in me
That makes me so special in your eyes
I feel I have nothing to give, lost in my world
Enjoying yet dreading the solitude of my life
I don’t really know what you see in me

Love will come again one day, I’m sure
And I’ll know it when I feel it
It may sweep me up unexpectedly
Or be right there where it always was
But love will come again one day

I want you to understand
That right now I have no love to pursue
None for you, nor for anyone else
No time for love, only for life
This I need you to understand

Should the day arrive
When I believe that you’re the one
I’ll come to you with arms wide open
And rejoice in the joy of love again
Should the day arrive

Just don’t pin your hopes up
There’s no promise in my words
Who’s to say anyway
That you’d still be around
Just don’t pin your hopes up

Please don’t dream a fruitless dream
Take heed my words
Love has no rhyme or reason
And one way love is a hopeless love
So don’t dream a dream that may never happen

Tweet

August 24th, 2011 - Come on Irene; What Earthquake?; Opening Up; Writing Wednesday; H is for "High Rise"

Happy Hump Day everyone! It’s yet another beautiful summer day on Long Island and here I sit in my office, in the middle of the day, typing away, lol. This is my last bit of writing for the day, thankfully, and then I can get on with doing stuff I should be doing…outside! Here’s the latest from my so called life…


Photo Source: cbs news

Come on Irene!

For the first time in a long time, we here in the northeast are under watch for the latest hurricane, Irene, which seems to be heading in our direction. We’ve had these types of warnings many times in the past and a lot of them turned out to be nothing more than some rain and a little wind, and I hope that’s the case this time, too. They’re saying Sunday, so anything can happen between now and then. We haven’t had one since I bought my house in 98 and I shudder to think about one hitting here full force because I have a lot of trees in my yard. Fingers crossed and stay tuned…


Photo Source: Watt's Up With That?

Earthquake? What Earthquake?

I think I am probably the only person I know who didn’t feel the Earth trembling at yesterday’s earthquake, which struck in Virginia but was felt all over the Eastern Seaboard. I spoke to a couple of people who felt it around 2PM, but I didn’t even know about it until much later. They say it’s the strongest earthquake to ever hit the area at 5.6 on the Richter, and of course the end-of-the-worlders are out in full force. Gimme a break!



Opening up

As I told you the other day, I’ve been struggling a lot lately with the things I put on this blog. It all started when I got a nasty and derogatory email from a reader that made me do a lot of thinking. More than a week has passed now and several friends have given me cause to keep doing what I’m doing and not be affected by such malicious nonsense. After all, this is my space and if anyone doesn’t want to read it, they don’t have to.

Though I have no idea specifically what the emailer was referring to in his rant, I had removed a piece I thought he might have been responding to, a poem about my recent face to face encounter with him. At the moment I have no plans to republish it in full, but here’s an abridged version of the original that I had penned a week ago Sunday:

Yet another regretful episode in this muddled story
A chance meeting unforeseen
At almost the very spot where we first met
We’d both imagined this in our minds
Yet neither could know what really to expect

It all happened so suddenly
I looked up with disbelieving eyes into your face
And saw you looking into mine
And in a flash, all I could think of to do was turn and run
But you saw me as I saw you and called to me from behind

At that point, the deed was done
The circumstance of our encounter was settled
You were excited and I was terrified
My reaction dampened your evening and mine
The latest in a series of miscommunications between us

Running away was not the mature thing to do
Yet it was an impulse borne out of months of despair
And yes, anger, at the very thought of you
I regret the action and wish I could take it back
But what’s done cannot be undone

I don’t know how you expected me to react
With a smile and a hug, perhaps
Some genuine catching up of old friends
I laid it all out for you the last time
In a way I believed to be noble and complete

Whatever happens from here forth
Please understand that there were reasons for my action
Perhaps a little subconscious hurt thrown your way
In return for the hurt I’d endured
A little bit of karma in action

I know you couldn’t see
Through all of the discomfort between us
That deep down it was nice to see you again
In the flesh
The same person I so cared for once upon a time

So take good care of yourself
I’m happy to hear you’re in a better place these days
Should there be a next time, don’t worry
I promise not to turn my back again
Next time I’ll flash you a brilliant smile, I promise!

Reading this over once again, I don’t think there's anything about it I need to feel bad about writing, either on myself or on him. It's just the openness and feeling that I always express in my writing, no matter the subject. Yes, my experiences with him were some tough moments in my life and even though I’m in a good place now, contact of any sort inevitably brings back memories, bad and good. So I make no apologies for penning the piece, and I’m glad to share it once again with you.

It’s funny, but things have taken a sad turn even since I wrote the piece. After not having seen him for seven months, I ran into him three straight times at Splash, the last time being last night. Though I meant what I said in the last stanza, things haven’t gone exactly that way in subsequent encounters. There’s kind of a distant iciness there now, like we're both sort of pretending not to see each other while we’re standing just a few feet away. It's weird and uncomfortable, and no fun at all. I guess the circumstances from that night have brought us to this, starting with my reaction almost two weeks ago.

It’s a little unnerving and sad, but I guess that’s just the way it’s going to be. At least there’s just one more week of Splash Tuesdays and/or Thursdays for me, and so I’ll return to going there on Saturdays again afterwards and these random contacts shouldn’t happen anymore anyway.

Related post: Untitled

Writing Wednesdays

Well, I already missed the second week of Writing Wednesdays, and so here are links to some of the pieces I’ve been up to…

Gather

Amy Winehouse Tributes by Green Day, Coldplay and at the VMAs

Gaga’s “You and I” exemplifies her musical versatility

Spotlight on new music releases for the week of August 22nd

Preview of the 2011 VMAs

Yahoo Contributor Network

Elton John's Top Twenty Songs

Pesto: Easy, Delicious and Versatile

Volunteer's Corner: Working to Protect and Preserve the Environment of Long Island and Beyond

What Are You Listening To? Summer 2011

Examiner

Fun outdoor activities on Long Island this weekend

H is for "High Rise"

During my "Song of the Day" posting in dedication to Nick Ashford, who passed away yesterday, I mentioned another of Ashford and Simpson songs that I loved whose title just happens to start with the letter "H," the next letter in our Z-A Blogger's Challenge. Bonus! The vid's a little grainy, but the song is oh so sweet sounding! Enjoy!





Tweet

Untitled

Sometimes I wish I’d never met you
Then I wouldn’t have had to endure the pain.
You’ve given me the highest of highs
And the lowest of lows
Forlorn times that I wish I’d never experienced

You called to say you’re sorry
And I believe you!
I wish I could just say, “that’s okay,”
But I can’t
For the way you treated me was too hard a pill to swallow

I thought I meant more than that, and maybe I did
For months later you’ve worked up the courage
To tell me so in your own way,
That cutting me off without word was “unfair.”
You only forgot to say that it was also hurtful

It’s been months and I don’t really know what to say
Yet another new place for this tired soul
Through your apology I can still see
The man I once cared for
A decent, kind character with a big heart

Yes, bad memories abound unfortunately
What was once so bright
Now seems like a Dark Age from the past
And I, too, now look upon our time
With sadness and regret

Sometimes I wish I could go back in time
Take the good moments while they lasted
And not get too enamored
Or too complacent
With the small world we shared together for a short while

I have no such power, though I wish I did
For then the hole in my heart wouldn’t be there
The hole you left when you departed from my life
The one that leaves me
With the sadness I still carry

You see that I am enjoying life
Maybe yes, from the outside
But smiles sometimes cloak melancholy.
It’s okay, though
The despair has almost reached its ebb

Yes, I’m recovered, but as you can see there is still hurt
Golden opportunities don’t present themselves often enough
And I feel as if I’d missed mine
Hopefully you’ve found what you were searching for
A respite from the storm, a long-awaited peace

As for me, well I keep going
Living my life searching for my happiness
I deserve it
We all deserve happiness
And I hope you’ve finally found yours

Sometimes I wish you’d never gone away
That way I’d still get to smile
At your beautiful face
And your playful, endearing ways
But what’s past is past, and we move on

Maybe one day we’ll cross paths once again
And the past can stay past
I think I’d like that, and maybe you would, too
But not too fast of course
There’s still some healing to be done

So thank you for reaching out
It was a surprise, no doubt
At least now when I think of you
I’ll remember that soul that’s still out there
That kind, caring soul that is you!


Tweet

J is for John

Though I’m still nowhere near the others in the A-Z Challenge, I continue today with “J”:



J is for John

My name is John. I’ve never really liked the name because it’s one of the most common names in history. It’s been used to refer to bathrooms and men who pay for sex, so there’s another reason not to like it, but John is me. It’s who I am, and I’m no ordinary John.

Who is John?

John is a very unique and special person
He’s kind, compassionate, and full of empathy
He likes to see the world through rose colored glasses
Likes to see the good in everyone
But sometimes that’s hard to do

Lucky in love, unlucky in love
It’s all been a part of John’s life
Happy memories that will never fade
And promises of love yet to come
And all in all, no regrets

John is a connoisseur of music
It’s his passion
Songs to inspire, songs to dance to
And songs to make him cry
Music is the soundtrack to his life

Dancing is his escape
The liberation of self-expression
Is an addiction like no other
Dancing troubles away
While moving to the music

Never much of a daredevil
Though some may consider him so
For another of his passions
Is strictly a summertime pleasure
Coasters, woodies and steel, is his delight

John is a son, a brother, an uncle
And a friend
Though he doesn’t always show it
He loves everyone in his life
In his own special way

In work, John’s tried a lot of things
Banker, deejay, real estate broker
And after long last
He found the one thing he was meant to do
John is a teacher

John teaches in many ways
He teaches young immigrants our language
Giving them a lifelong tool
Teaching makes good use of his talents
And helping his kids satisfies him like nothing else

In recent years, John has taken on another teaching role
Sharing all he’s learned of life
Through the written word
Hoping to help others through his experiences
And entertain with his passions

But most of all, John is a dreamer
Always yearning for something better in life
Never ceases in his quest for
The true happiness he desires
And deserves

Maybe one day he’ll find it
No one really knows
But for now he just lives in the present
Appreciating the richness
That already permeates his life

Yes, appreciation and acknowledgement is key
For he has a lot to be thankful for
His friends, his family, his talent
And his passions
This is John

Thanks, as always, for reading!

Tweet

The One that Got Away

A short piece of prose to a special person who's suddenly gone from my life. Click the title to read.

You were the one that got away
Though I wish things had turned out differently, I understand
I always knew, deep down inside
That we weren't going to last
Though I believed and I hoped that I was wrong...

Push and Pull

Immigration

Like many who came before
From distant corners of the globe
Pushed from home
Fleeing calamity
Hunger, Poverty, War

The United States
Land of Dreams
Pulling those seeking a better life
Offering hope and optimism
To the downtrodden, the desperate

They’ve come to this New World
For several hundred years now
In crashing waves from different places at different times
Only to face new struggles
In a new land

“They’re taking our jobs.”
“They’re stealing our money.”
“They don’t want to speak English.”
“Send them all back to where they came from.”
They’ve all taken turns bearing the brunt

Eventually each group melds into the giant pot
Becoming a part of a new America
Time and time again
And the wave we have crashing over our shores now
Will, too