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Who We Are - Joe Flach's Blog

About Joe Flach
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I WAS ME


First I was me,

Selfish as can be,

Wanting everything from A to Z

And wanting it all for me.


Then I became we,

A part of an us.

I learned to share, give and take

I learned how to trust.


Next I was you,

Believe me it's true.

I would rather give than receive,

It was you I wanted to please.


Now I am them,

A family man.

Giving my children,

All that I can.


If you look real close,

It is easy to see,

I am older and wiser,

And no longer a me.





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Who We Are

Blog Posted:3/26/2013 8:53:00 AM
There are a few blogs going around discussing whether or not we can be considered poets. This reminds me of my Grandmother. My Grandmother used to tell all her friends, and anyone who would listen to her, that she always knew what my brothers and I were going to become as adults – even when we were kids. She labeled us very young and, in her mind, we became those labels, whether we considered it true or not.

She always knew that my oldest brother was going to be a doctor. Sure enough, she told everyone, her oldest grandson is a doctor. Well, not the medical kind that she let everyone believe. My brother is a doctor in the fact that he has a doctorate’s degree – but, he is a college professor of psychology, not the kind of doctor people thought he was when my grandmother spoke of him.

My second oldest brother, she always knew, was going to be a veterinarian. He got close, but actually got his doctorate’s degree in Biology and was doing genetics research when he passed away, far too young. But, to all her friends – he was a veterinarian – because he was a doctor and he loved animals.

For me, it was a scientist she knew I would always be. She would tell people, with me there, that this is her scientist grandson. When I would say, “Grandmom, I am not a scientist”, she would respond, “Yes, he is, his degree is in Computer Sciences, that makes him a scientist that works with computers”. Not really, what it made me was a programmer.

The point is – what label you wear; what you call yourself; or, what others call you – doesn’t define who you are. Aura doesn’t come with labels – it is an undefinable essence. You are what you are. You are uniquely you. Labels are used to clump us into categories. You cannot categorize a unique being. Poet or writer of poetry? What difference does it make? We are who we are. And there is nobody else like us.

That’s it for now – I have some science experiments I must get back to. ;-)



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Date: 3/27/2013 8:37:00 PM
I love this blog you made. Excellent way to view the issue. I got to thinking after that last blog about "what is a poet" that it can be many things. Look at Dr. Seuss. Even he was a poet of sorts. I happen to adore the funny poets in our midst. They are often more interesting to me than the serious ones! We are just who we are. Excellent, Joe!!
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Date: 3/26/2013 11:08:00 PM
What kind of world would this be if we weren't all unique characters with our own specialness! just like this would be a boring SOUP if all the poets on this site wrote the same way...I love and enjoy the diversity just as I love all the distinctive and different people in my life and in this world...Thank you Joe..good blog!
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Date: 3/26/2013 7:54:00 PM
@ David - there is a saying that a colleague of mine often repeated: "If one person calls you a cow, you can just write that off as someone who doesn't know better; but, if 100 people call you a cow, you can probably bet that you have utters." In other words David - since there are many folks here that say you are a poet - no matter how YOU define it - you are probably a poet. Congratulations my friend. I feel like the Wizard of Oz just needs to give you a quill or something to confirm that what you were seeking to be - is what you already are.
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Williams Avatar
David Williams
Date: 3/27/2013 1:52:00 PM
Joe it is a huge compliment...Thanks..
Date: 3/26/2013 5:08:00 PM
Sometimes, giving oneself a label can make someone become that label. Call someone stupid long enough, they will begin to believe it. When a 9 year old gets up every morning to train, eats well, takes care of her ice skates, tries over and over again, and she calls herself AN ATHLETE, it sets a mindset that helps her develope into a champion. What we believe about ourselves often comes to fruitation. Self Fulfilling prophecy, I believe they call it. Still, I DO agree with your blog, wholeheartedly. Its the same thing I say about FORMS. You can call it what you will, it doesn't change its content, affect on the reader, wisdom or craft. It is what it is. Labels are meaningless... ;-) Mostly.
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Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 3/26/2013 5:09:00 PM
Your Grandmother sounds like a lovely woman. Much like the one I had... and miss. xox
Date: 3/26/2013 2:44:00 PM
We are what we are, whatever we or others call us. Shall i call myself a crapper, lol, cos some of my work is, but a tryer is a better word, Whatever we like to think we are, its what we have done to achieve any name at all is greatness itself. Seren
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Date: 3/26/2013 2:05:00 PM
Boy I sure opened a can of worms with my question...ok Joe I can say that I have read and understand all of the comments on my blog and Cyndi's and I am now able to put it in a nutshell, I write poetry, to me that is a fact I cannot change, but will I ever aspire to the upper echelons of a being a poet I doubt it and maybe that is my own fault because I have always held the 'poet' as some sort of word god who can look at something and turn out this masterpiece that I stand in awe of, so in a nutshell if I have set my sights too high then I need to work even harder, that is probably why I set difficult contests because I have to set higher, bigger, wider boundaries to see if I can meet them..
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Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 3/26/2013 5:03:00 PM
I love your worms. :) Please, never hesitate to open those cans. We need to think, wonder, challenge and understand. Even where we (the global we) may not agree TOTALLY, as a whole I think it beneficial in all ways to see points, embrace different view points. Hugs.
Date: 3/26/2013 12:54:00 PM
Oh I love your grandma and she was so close I give her an E for expectations and endurance. Love, Joyce
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Date: 3/26/2013 9:53:00 AM
Quite so Joe, as I wrote on another blog below..We are God's poiema(work of art) what we write and say is unique...just be and create. (and never explain)
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My Past Blog Posts

 
A Voice from the Past with Hope and Encouragement
Date Posted: 1/29/2018 10:58:00 AM
Another Short Story
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A Promise to Myself
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A Question for My Fellow Poets - Men and Women
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Everybody Has a Holy Grail
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Date Posted: 5/28/2014 10:01:00 AM
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Tears for Oso
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A New Milestone
Date Posted: 4/29/2014 12:46:00 PM
Walk A Mile in Her Shoes - Today's the Day - UPDATED WITH PICTURES FROM THE WALK
Date Posted: 4/25/2014 10:42:00 AM
Walk A Mile in Her Shoes - Contest Winners Posted
Date Posted: 4/21/2014 12:32:00 PM
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Date Posted: 3/31/2014 11:23:00 AM
An Update on the "Walk A Mile In Her Shoes" Contest
Date Posted: 3/27/2014 3:25:00 PM
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Date Posted: 3/12/2014 12:27:00 PM
Walk A Mile in Her Shoes
Date Posted: 3/12/2014 12:38:00 AM
Harder Than it Seems
Date Posted: 3/7/2014 5:02:00 PM
Taking a Stand
Date Posted: 3/4/2014 10:46:00 AM
The 12th Man Includes Women Too
Date Posted: 2/22/2014 3:51:00 PM
Excuse My Brag
Date Posted: 2/20/2014 2:19:00 PM
Walking Fools
Date Posted: 2/17/2014 12:26:00 PM
Finding Evidence that Someone Found Use for One of my Poems
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What a Super, Super Bowl
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6/4/2015 Pepsi Jingle Lyricsong,
6/3/2015 The Girl In My Dreams Rhymedream,
1/15/2015 Stand By Me Rhymefriendship,life,
12/17/2014 Whispers of Your Soul Rhymelife,
12/3/2014 True Detective Rhymemystery,
11/2/2014 The Porch Light Rhymeinspirational,
10/29/2014 An Unfortunate Circumstance Rhymelove hurts,
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10/27/2014 Mocking Reminders Rhymesad,
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10/9/2014 Blinded By the Speed of Life Lyricfather,song,
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Book: Shattered Sighs