Justice, justice you shall pursue*
a commandment Israel is devoted to
To establish courts in every town’s gates
civil and criminal disputes to debate
To examine the truth
to adhere to the law
Treating litigants with dignity
God’s Torah with awe
In this way, to be a light unto nations
compromise, not violence, for all generations
___________________________________________________
*Deuteronomy 16:20 -- This is in the third verse
of the portion of the Torah read in synagogues
this Sabbath.
little hairs on her knees,
always hard to shave, I suppose
the mascara smear
below her right eye
after she laughs
at a bad joke in the breakroom,
the fork she ate the pasta salad with,
now in the sink,
the splattered freckles
on deep-bronzed shoulders
I ignore these specifics
I maintain focus
on more important things
I make my deadlines,
I watch the news,
my kitchen is always clean,
I wear sunscreen,
I trim my beard accordingly,
I am always emotionally prepared
to evade sentimentality
wherever possible
Dorinda is always late,
her bun slightly left-of-center,
she should wear more green
and maroon to compliment
her hazel eyes, but she doesn't
I find satisfaction in work,
the constant rush,
standing just close enough to her
in the elevator every day,
up and down for five minutes
is enough
Dorinda always smells
like tangerines and vanilla
the quiet of shared space,
that is enough for intimacy
in our elevator
before the moaning of traffic,
before the smell of leftover curry
waiting for me at home,
clean silverware,
a well-kept bed
Based on Psalms 6 and 51
Examine my heart, o Lord
For Thou know the secrets of my heart,
And rebuke me not in Thine anger
As I sinned against Thee and my neighbour.
I pray for Thy boundless mercy,
Because of my afflicted soul
My body might be clean
But my heart stains with my iniquities still.
I am overwhelmed with grief and sorrow,
As my tears have flooded my bed
My loved ones and friends stand aloof from my plague
And my foes has seen me crushed still.
O Lord, my God, hear my grieving cry
Hear my supplications to Thee
Forsake me not, my Heavenly Father
Examine and heal my heart, o Lord.
Adjacent profits are gained in purchase of information
Non profit lobby hides, assemblies
And congressional lobby laborers
Caught in data shortage
Corrupt a report purchasing shares of
Corruptible budget items
Obstructing legislation
Creating false pretense for arrest
Arrest of defined confine
The hide
The title
The bonds ageing interest
Non profit
Must eat here at specified time
In thousand oaks California
Only at eves Arch, after days end
In Ventura at Catholic charities
The food reception is all day Charity
And none are required
Available coordinates for investigative
Journalists
Publicly available languages
Freedom provides the option
To thrive while unrestrained
By individual circumstances
By the self-serving demands of others
By our own compelling pain
Freedom provides an opening
For truth to roam free
Sometimes hurting, sometimes humbling, sometimes healing
Sometimes returning to its owner
A long-lost key
Freedom provides an opportunity
To test the boundaries of our souls
To examine the framework of our egos
To recalculate the sum of expenses
That renders us whole
This crisp dancing, figaro prancing,
Sailors cursed, and sideways glancing day,
Nearly, neatly, drowns us with its slow descent.
An unwrapped undelivered present
To behold.
Some catch a star, Some catch a cold.
Are you still listening
To what you have been told?
Well tell a lie if you must
But roll the butter and cinnamon dust
Of some sweet morsel of your own,
Created and sold before you could disown.
Give me your best shot for the love of life, man.
Sometimes the needle skips a stitch
The music skips a beat
And we let moments slip between the cracks
While we await an erstwhile cause to celebrate.
What could be more noble than the tuning of a life?
Where is your walden waiting?
When will “it” arrive?
The moment of truth that daily impacts your brow.
To what do we allow?
F-rontliners
E-xamine
L-ungs
I-mplementing
X-ray
J-ust
U-nder
R-epublic
A-ct's
L-aw
B-ecause
A-ntagonist
L-oiters
Topic: Birthday of Felix Juralbal (April 08)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
“The point blank of our firelocks,when attention
is paid to the loading, is known to be about 300 yards”
Lewis Lochee Elements of Field Fortification
examine each word
within musket-shot of shore
point-blank as you aim
over the placid waters
aim for sweet spot not the throat
11/18/2019
You see the sunrise in the east
You see it set in the west
Are your better days behind you?
Or are the best days still to come?
Do you lie in bed and cursed the dawn?
Do you stand and greeted with a smile?
Is your life a burdensome trek?
Is it a journey on a cloud?
Is it somewhere in the middle?
Do you feel you're a part of life's great plan?
Do you feel you're a spectator on the side?
When you give it thought will it make you humble?
Or will it make you proud?
Will it make you stop and examined thy self
To see if something is wrong?
How do you feel about puppies?
Kittens, baby bunnies
Do these things make you smile?
Or have you become so callous?
That nothing makes you smile
All of these questions I have asked myself
Now I ask this thing of you
Examine thy self look deep within
And seek out your true self
Test me, O Lord, and try me.
Examine my heart and mind!
I trust you o Lord.
You’re so loving and kind!
Your love is ever before me,
I shall walk in your truthful ways!
It is my prayer and desire
to honor you all of my days!
I will not sit with deceitful men,
or those hypocritical of your name!
You are the God who is powerful!
And will bring them all to shame!
I shall proclaim aloud of your praise,
and tell of your wonderful deeds!
For you have given me everything,
And supplies all of my needs!
I love the house where you live, O Lord,
and where your glory dwells!
I am thankful for you! And love you more
than words can tell!
By Jim Pemberton 07/14/13
Read Psalm Ch. 26
Holding out for a sign of life.
You're distant now,
And distance severs love
Like love separates difference.
True only to our hearts, and minds
And never to desires of the flesh -
Solid and alive with darkness: -
Every cell a reminder of that
Which we cannot control.
I'll live this life only as long
As the sunlight keeps flickering
Through the black clouds above -
Helpless and constant -
Reminding us that hope is here
To help us ride out the storm.
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