Selling the sizzle
and not the steak
Milking a lie
universities take
In debt-ridden wastelands
they prey on our youth
With worthless diplomas
— that mortgage untruth
*****
Whims That Betray
He sobs false remission
to skirt admonition
as his Guardian Angel
smiles ...
“What’s with the tears
after so many years
and choices rejecting
denial
“You did what you pleased
without Heaven appeased
and lay prostrate
feigning regret
“This game isn’t played
at the whims of betrayal
And called you must pay
— for what tears can’t correct”
*****
Love Centered Circle
The things that I’ll miss
are the things I looked past
Those small hidden moments
in memory that last
Giving up little
to chase what had burned
Distracted I forayed
the magic unlearned
Now distant a loner
I look for those tracks
I made through greed’s sand
to find my way back
Because there in the center
holding all that we give
A love centered circle
— where joyousness lives
(Dreamsleep: June, 2026)
THE SHEER NOTION OF SURVIVING SEVERE TERRORIST THREATS HOME INVASIONS FROM MY STALKERS SEARCHING FOR OBITUARIIES HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES MILLITARY RECORDS OUTDATED CANCEL EXPIRED DEACTIVATED ID CARDS RANDOMLY ALTERING IMMUNIZATIONS RECORDS PASSPORTS MY STALKER BELIEVED SHE COULD ACTUALLY EXTORT MY HUSBANDS PURPLE HEART MEDAL HACKING INTO COMPUTERS TV AMAZON ACCOUNTS FINDING MY COLLECTION NON TAXABLE PENNY SENDING PRAYERS TO MY ENEMIES CORRUPT FEMALE MELVIN PURVIS OBSSESSED WITH MY LIFE HENCE MY DEATH MY SPOUSE MY FAMILY INCLUDING DECEASED LOVED ONES OBITUARIES UNAFRAID OF YOUR THREATS I FOUND YOUR TROJAN HORSE FROM VERIZON TO YAHOO TO APOLLO BACK TO YAHOO VIRUS MALWARE DISCOVERED YOUR TRASH THAT KNOCK OUT VERIZON CUSTOMERS TWISTED YOU TRIED TO INSTALL ON MY OLD COMPUTER HACKING INTO PERSONAL FILES MEDICAL RECORDS BILL PAYING RECIEPTS MULTIPLIED BY MELVIN PURVIS SUBTRACT JOHN DILLINGER AL CAPONE ADD NON TAXABLE PENNY DIVIDED BY ONE PHENNING BITTE DATA BREACH IDENTITY FRAUD CYBER ATTACK NOT A LEGAL TENDER BLUEBERRY DANISH SCONE FREE
The so-called experts have been saying lately
There's a slow down in global warming
It's true, it hasn't been very tropical lately
Global warming is under performing
Do you think it's possible it just could be
A normal fluctuation in the world's temps
But who am I to offer this assessment
Why they're fluctuating to this extent
Could it possibly be the experts have it wrong
Oh forgive me for suggesting such a thing
After years and years in “forecasting” school
With diplomas under their wing
Weather forecasting is a lot of guesswork
Next to impossible to predict the future
There's so many variables to affect the outcome
Even with all those fancy computers
Radicalizing Our Young
Miracle Man
5/1/2024
The college protest problem,
isn’t insurmountable.
But a good first step to take,
is holding activist accountable.
They travel throughout the country,
Their aim, stirring up trouble.
Today it’s long past time,
someone bursting their bubble.
But we just slap their wrists,
and its back to business as usual.
We must show more force,
when dealing with the delusional.
Attitudes might change,
after a week spent in jail.
Where there’s no choice of food
or opportunity for bail.
But they get on their soapbox,
and yell about public speech.
But destroying those unlike themselves,
is a sermon they shouldn’t preach.
Any students involved,
should immediately be expelled.
Or perhaps thought given,
to diplomas being withheld.
I pray that I see peace,
once more in my lifetime.
But I see the answer to this problem,
is in making the time fit the crime.
We can’t negotiate with those,
intent on radicalizing our young.
We must look to God for our strength,
until. the last verse of song is sung.
colloquialism to say is quite the trick
tells where your from by words that you pick
with diplomas on the wall
my friends I appall
when I go fishing down at the crick
Queue, in my nation, is a customary circumstance,
Women, each day, stand in queues for municipal water;
Young and old, before government ration stores, stand in trance,
Youths, with diplomas, stand in queues for the imprimatur...!
Banks have long queues and the A.T.M counters have no less,
One could find, in front of Public Washrooms, the longest queues;
Sure, one could read on the faces of those in queues, big stress,
Yet, in a system where there is no system, can one choose...?
As queue has become part of our life we seldom anguish,
We have accepted and resigned to this fate, merrily;
We make friends with the one near us and, hence, never languish,
We take, hence, our physical and psychic aches airily...!
Though an imminent evil, queue teaches me endurance,
This, in turn, molds me and brings to life a vast difference...!!!
There are things about veterans that we should know.
Veterans have taken our place.
Many Veterans gave up their civilian jobs.
Veterans were away from home.
They did jobs that we do not want to do.
Veterans make sacrifices.
Military was employer of last resort for some veterans.
Veterans have given up a part of their lives.
We remember veterans and are thankful for their
service, sacrifice and security
They meet a need and fill a void.
They play a vital role in our lives.
They accept a responsibility and declare an oath.
Veterans protect and defend things that make us
safe, sane and secure.
There are veterans who are still alive.
That number is dwindling.
Soon veterans will only be represented by tombstones,
memories, diplomas, awards and plaques along
with pictures. A genealogy may exist.
This is all that is left of veterans.
Why do some folks belittle an education
Looking down on those with degrees?
Jokes about the educated in circulation
Making learning like an unwanted disease.
Many smart folks are ashamed to admit
Their diplomas, degrees, and certificates,
For some will laugh, calling them unfit
Like they are unappreciated illegitimates.
All of us have some needed unique ability
We all make up our societies’ inclusion --
Some with limitations, others’ great agility
We must never on others cast aspersion.
Written August 26, 2022
In my experience, most adults have “vanity walls”, usually in their offices, where they hang diplomas, awards, certificates and important pictures. Most parents I know have them.
I like to look carefully at those momentos - they’re like breadcrumbs tracing back through their lives. Some items are expected while others are extraordinary - like pictures of Lisa’s dad playing golf and laughing with famous people.
“It’s a very particular kind of vanity.” Lisa’s dad said, from in back of me, from his office doorway. I almost jumped in surprise - I definitely flinched. I’d become so absorbed in examining his wall that I’d unconsciously inched into his space, like someone stealing into a closed museum exhibit.
I flushed with embarrassment,”No,” I said, making a hand gesture that swept the area. “I LOVE these kinds of things - I couldn’t resist - I’m sorry!”
He made a “Pssshtt” sound and waved his hand, “You make yourself at home.”
“I want to have a wall someday,” I said. He smilingly turned and with a little backward wave said, “You will,” as he strolled off to the kitchen, leaving me to continue my tour.
I will.
Q.1.What is your first choice in the room?
Q.2. Are you freezing in search of warmth?
Q.3.Do you believe in skyrockets?
Q.4.Have you shred your own morals?
Q.5.Can you show us your diplomas of romance?
Q.6.Can you afford four marriages?
Q.7.What is the difference between a grizzly bear and adulthood pressure?
Q.8.Do you still remember hugging down the mirror?
Q.9.What is your taste wild sensation or rushy touching?
Q.10.Have you lost faith in marvelous moves?
Note.If it was easy, everyone would do it.
A PhD in emotion and feel,
licentiate of what lives within
Professor of imagery, doctor of will,
a Saint with a penchant for sin
Explorer of evil with devils to hunt,
the fire burns liquid and hot
Degrees of atonement, diplomas unread
—graduate of words future bought
(Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2020)
The Army band’s thunderous sounds filled my ears.
Such deep patriotic emotion fully engulfed me while I
felt my heart fill up with pride as it bonded with the thrill
of that music supporting the grand vision of those great
young men and women, in huge formations, marching
to receive diplomas- and then- off to serve our country.
I saw our son, marching within that "Long Gray Line,"
stepping in unison with fellow classmates to the music.
The relentless rhythm from those drums and horns,
with the fine artistry of merging formations, moved me
so- as tears slowly filled my eyes with pride and joy-
that day- the *USMA graduation at West Point- May 1981.
He spent the next 30 years, along with so many others,
proudly serving the United States of America.
January 11, 2020
For The Contest, 'Whitman-Inspired Uplifting Poetry'
Sponsored by Carolyn Devonshire
*USMA - United States Military Academy
Inkhorn means ostentatiously learned and pedantic
Ostentatiously Learned Inkhorn
What I had learned after being born,
Was that I would become an inkhorn;
Knowledge showing,
And brain growing;
All over my walls diplomas did adorn.
Jim Horn
Accolades And Barricades.
The accolades that I have won
The medals for all the deeds I’ve done
The countless diplomas and awards
The rapturous applause
Don’t say who I am
But where I’ve been
And mean little
I don’t shout about it
And I keep it underwraps unseen
Far better that people see me
For who I am
And aspire to be
A product of my good parents
Who sacrificed so much
With such a caring loving touch
Pointing me in the right direction
For I am their reflection
Far from perfect
But good at heart
Even though my worlds fell apart
I do things that I know
Would make my parents proud
To show
Even though they are not around no more
They help me grow
They taught me
The little things are important
That are free
And mean a lot
Not the possessions
You have got
And be thankful and content
With your lot
And the life you have spent.
Peter Dome©2019.
Last
Day of
School, signing
Yearbooks, summer
Plans
Caps
And gowns
Diplomas
Graduating
Class.
5/20/19
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