Honor, Duty, Country. A line borrowed from another. A tattooed line, On the arm of a Brother. Without Honor there is nothing. Without Honor we are dead. Where ice-cream is eaten, Or the blood runs red. To be there. To carry your load. To hack it. To pay debts owed. Pain is temporary. Honor is […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “How to Build a Wall”
At first, there is only me, but then I grab the hand of the young Mexican boy who walks his tiny chihuahua past my house at the same time every day, and he in turn shyly takes the hand of the middle-aged Chinese woman who does the alterations at the dry cleaners, who quietly holds […]
Poetry Corner: Bud Light “Tides”
Boundaries of light and darkness, Seasons Running out of days, Experiences That we would like to know. Why is it with us that We mime others, despite The clock of unanimity which warns us Not to store emotions In closets of our fears, or insecurities. Why is it with us that Everything is dimly quiet; […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Walls
The Great Wall spanning China Or the Wall in East Berlin Were made to keep the people out And hold the people in Masons mixing mortar Joining bricks in common cause Silencing the voices With their edicts and their laws Can only stop the flesh Because a mind is free to roam Behind closed eyes […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Inauguration (An Open Letter of Hope)
This is the poem I wrote and posted for the inauguration of President Obama. It is a hope, a message…a prayer that I have decided to humbly submit for each new president going forward; especially this one. It is a prayer that it seems to me, is most apt on this particular day of […]
Poetry Corner: James Garrett “He Read Fate”
The four letter word Navy, Once meant both love and “yuck”. It gave trials and errors, For a strong, young buck. Individuals form families, Blood connects most. The adopted were chosen, Oath closed to boast. Sun adopted Rock, He granted rays day and night. His ears heard sounds of the past. His eyes saw far […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “How the Dream Comes”
It doesn’t matter how the dream comes, just that it comes, and it always does. Poverty, heartbreak, or abuse might defer it, but it still finds a way to slip inside you and begin its song. Sometimes it first appears when you’re a little girl, maybe five or six years old. You see a bird, […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Pedro’s Back! (No. 361!)
Yes, it’s true, The A Cappella Handyman is BACK! Let’s just say a sabbatical was in order and I got some home chores done, re-started my Friday Blog and gave a shot in the arm to my “Taproot & Aniseweed.” And yes, this IS my 361st column for the Benicia Herald. Really, since 2008, 360 […]
Bobby Richardson: Camp Diversity USA
They say familiarity breeds contempt. Whether you subscribe to this philosophy, or not, please allow me to vent. To be different is to be blessed. What if we were all the same? Can you imagine the bigger mess? Imagine much more madness, than we currently have now. It would manifest exponentially. I mean wow!! I […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Desire
A sidelong glance turns to a gaze, inciting dreams of wonder It’s everywhere and all the time, from here to way down under Anxious insecurity; an unsure breathless smile Try to speak but words won’t come, so wait a little while The very young and very old, and all folks in-between Have lived out these […]