Irises

Mockingbird

   THINGS FALL AWAY
Things fall away lost to man?s World
forever - an epistemological invention.

The illusion that things can stand still
frozen as in a photograph.
Each thing imbedded in space
a specimen pinned writhing on display.

A tree clings tenaciously
to the Earth each root-toe
holding fast, its shadow
silently stretches across the moist Dirt,

interweave with others
forming a complex tapestry
of competing shadows
that blend together into one dark mass.

Beneath the surface
pebbles grow, the stones
private mass frees them
from inertia
but not the sorrow inherent in all things.

Their density is irrefutable
and can?t be discarded.
The weaving shadows form a web
that entraps man in their net.

A thing, has certain properties
that can be quantified and codified.
Twilight, and colors fade into oblivion,
until, nothing remains.

Shadows grow stronger,
Death steps out and
approaches the prostrate body
soon to be a corpse.

Stooping down
formidably dressed in black
it removes the mask.
Behind its skull
you discover your own face.

When Nature, hot with desire,
once conceived her solemn progeny;
then, I would love to live as a young prodigy,
like a mendicant worshipping at Sibyl?s feet.

To watch and wonder, while her body blooms
with healthy desire, expansive in its honest and happy play,
comprehend her hearts blazing hearth,
whose warming fire would dance delightedly on my eye.

To leisurely explore all her fantastic myriad forms,
camp on her naked shoulder,
and, when Summer?s medicinal sunshine
returns once more,

sojourn across her mountains and valleys
and sleep on the pinnacle of her brow,
like a small white chapel
nestled in the verdant hills.

AN INAUSPICIOUS JOURNEY
The light is on, fasten your seat belts
with each shock and shudder our plane
knifes forward into fury; dark as hate,
wind whips beating the resolute nose.
Stung by sleet, we meet the challenge,
grasping the armrest, staring about, and wondering how much more

of the brute force we can endure; but, outside is revealed
a neutral gray, rank and file, march the advancing clouds.
Inside, knocked chaotic sick, sit passengers
flight attendants lurching to assist, discrete brown air sick bags;
an immigrant huddles in homogenous clothes
among the human cargo, grimacing behind
the severe Ensore mask of his anguish.

Behind the panes, distant from the dangerous air
where our friends and loved ones are betrayed,
insulated from its icy sting, I?m amazed
at Nature?s shattering indifference:
what an absurd and seemingly meaningless test of character
than against this assault, these insouciant blasts
that beat us like sadistic bailiffs;

the deterministic chance of landing intact
through this tumultuous din taunting us
with stupid disdain. Gold and blue attired travel agents
smilingly oracle smooth flights filled with sunshine,
shining waters and rainbow colored sunsets;
but, bleak crags thrust up sentinels for our passing,
while flashes of lightening cleave clouds and blanching mountains,

in the morose afternoon of the inauspicious journey.
We, reduced, by danger?s circumstance, from ordinary maladies
standing on our fellows throats, we pose pretending bravery,
to hide our startled awe at this magnificent demonstration
which is completely beyond man?s control:
humble and arrogant all fall at 32 ft. per sec. Squared - as stark naked violence

reduces all walls to ruin; private property plundered
before the dull public eye. We abandon our lucky star
and forced by species common bond, we make
the usual empty gestures, for forms sake,
and extend the equally empty hand.

And, so we descend towards cities, neighborhoods and homes
of other people, where statues celebrate poets and victories
heroic acts performed in peace and war; and, like tyranny,
all dangers end: green hillsides and blue rivers appear;
we assume our identities, and carry on luggage,
and proceed to the exits where corridors are lined
with suspicious eyed security guards - I can?t help wonder
if they look like that at home with their families at dinner?-
and who temporarily obstruct our plastic epic;
no debts survive customs, as we debark into today?s safe prison.

             DEAREST DAUGHTER?
Dearest daughter, Byron once borrowed from a Greek poet
the sentiment that haunts me today: I wish that we
had never been born, or that you had never died!
For when you steal away, you sever all strings
to our hearts. Leaving us utterly bereaved.
What else can we do? How else can we live now:
but to grieve? Little darling its not your fault-
you were a dream, a beautiful dream that kept repeating;
in landscapes of golden sunshine, a vault full of gleaming treasure;
but, the chamber was full of fools gold, and the jewels all were glass;
when we wake in the morning, our hands like our hearts
are all empty and the luster is lost. Oh, my little one,
I know its not your fault; but, in mad fate?s
blind path you did this in some mysterious way:
your light brightened our day but could not stay.
You could not have destroyed us any better
even if you had tried. Its as if you?ve stolen all life?s joy
from my very soul. The sudden shock of your brutal death:
tore my still beating heart out of my breast:
it departed with you, and keeps you company
and provides comfort in your cold dark grave.
There your Dad?s happiness slipped like the time
through his fingers. And may those still living
learn from your Death the carelessness of Fate:
each year when Spring arrives -
the ripening crop already stands.

   THE MOANING ANIMAL
Once more the moaning animal
discretely from behind a shut door:
so it is, in the river city at the hot moist wind,
humid air that wails among tenement cliffs.

The searing jolt that?s white pain:
the Sun smites the anvil Earth
under the green canopy, pants the old stone steps,
and Mars malingers fiery red on the horizon.

Where are the fiery colors, diffuse on the pale thighs
of my rivers, the iris of the moon within the Summer
thick with black hairy spiders? There the grave gapes
mourning your melodic voice, with evening?s dusky hands
                   that grieve my absence.

   MOST OF THE TIME
Most of the time I sit around studying
   peaches are ripe and my wife?s cooking is great.
   The propaganda is absurd. I sit on the deck
overlooking the garden and work on the next issue.

Park your car by the curb in front of the neighbor?s house
   in the suburbs of this provincial city.
   Their sons and daughters will hit on you
let them measure you as prey with their predatory eyes.

They?re attraction for you is exactly the sum as the sum
   of their master?s bounty money. Realize that their lewd embrace
   is the same they once tried to embrace me with
perhaps they mourn me and the money they never made.

Overgrown dark green yews tremble palsied
   the paint is peeling. The window sills are moldy.
   A sofa slumbers and forgetful chairs nap
in the shade of a hot and humid noon Sun.

Your car hurries past the fruit trees.
   Some one else is planning to pull down
   to make room for more row houses.
A flock of little wren play around the bird bath by the fragrant cedar.

       THE WORD
In the beginning was the word
which hung shining brighter than a star
over the World vibrant and alive
soon populated with prosperous cities.

A word floating over fields and valleys,
mountains and seas like a crimson flame
eagles cowered in their byres,
scared stars shrank against the black filament.

And, we creatures creeping between Heaven and Earth
discovered numbers, to measure the Word, and like industrious insects -
because we knew numbers could quantify existence which words reinvented,
and which just about explains everything.

The young long haired savior, and his followers
the apostles, bent good and evil to their will;
and, then the gray haired teacher, who in anger,
refused to speak and instead made a symbol in the dirt.

Now we worry about other things,
we?ve forgotten that radiant Word;
and, the Gospel and the Bhagavad-Gita
tell us that the Word is God.

We?ve built a wall to protect us,
a wall that surrounds the narrow confines
of human existence and like an insect colony
whose queen has died, we live imprisoned with a dead word and rotting #.

       INSOMNIA STREETS
Insomnia streets, streets that run through midnight,
these interminable streets that run all night.
How long have I sat in the savage heart of civilization
disdaining to sacrifice to its Golden Calf.

I walk and talk with the human herd/
Shadows populate the path
where black spiders hang suspended
form dew drenched webs.

And the clouds that rise,
silent wraiths heavy on my breast,
are the color of sidewalks at night,
they shuffle cold and damp, and oppress me.

Today my friend the breeze
visits with me at Gov?t. Isl.
Bringing ancient messages from ancestors,
while birds sing sonorously about twilight.

The image of your face stretches
across the diaphanous Dawn, the fiery fingers of the Sun
encircle the vast blue vault sky and suspends
over your green forest hair.
Your smile stretches across my Heaven
like the path of the Sun
and your freckles scatter across your cheeks
like a Milky Way of stars

and the North star shines from your eyes
while my heart shouts its joy
more deeply than the Spring flowing Columbia River surges to the sea.

It shouts it to the creatures
in the coniverous forests,
it shouts it to the lovers
walking together along the quay.

And when the time comes I will rest among my dreams
under a profound peace that is intensely blue,
?till God?s Dawn returns again surrendering me
to man?s harsh civilization with its cruel realities.

       THE MIRACLE
I see again the miracle of a child: which
like my wounded heart tearing again from grief,
their more tender innocents is doomed a dismal death
on this miraculous blue morning that God has dreamed.

The spiritual fly that is its mother - a monstrosity without wings.
In these brief rare moments, when I reflect on the poverty stricken
education, and social traditions with vain pretenses of remaking her
after their monstrous image and who are followed in turn by idolizing youth.

I see and hear repeated again and again how TV, movies, politics
and church work together in a system to stupefy people.
Eat what is authorized when she?s subordinated to this whim of fashion
debilitated by rules regulating hygiene, dwellings, clothes food and work,

which she dare not ignore during her short life.
Kept so busy so that there is no time to reflect
and at least one acquaintance to monitor her empty brain,
and see how well she observes the orders whose violation

of even one will bring about her downfall;
by a population conditioned for nothing but that purpose,
and to work. And, its this living tragedy, woman
who, as their role as mother, rule the World.

Just look, and see and hear again. Laws of conformity
children learn to please by shaking hands, how to work,
how to use a napkin nicely, and how to be perfect hypocrites.
Do they learn to understand people? Do they learn real facts of life

that determine their happiness and sadness.
No, they learn to live with their eyes tightly shut.
Or, to wish for soft lives lived as lies at others expense,
sycophants and the terrible bonds of stupidity,

which are chaining mankind again and again.
The product of a pedagogical system applied to women,
anachronistic political, economic and social theories:
which are offensive to common sense and to reason!

Innocence the future of civilization,
modest, noisy and wise in their youth,
I love you now time frozen into discontinuous moments, with your
beautiful little hands and faces, whose eyes are being stitched shut!

   ROUNDED
Who is calling?
A voice shatters the silence!
   Who is it answers?
   Death, softly lisps a whisper.

Did your young friendship die,
in that impenetrable fortress - sleep?
   Yes!
   Why is there only silence?

The white lily waits
for the gentle kiss of dew!
   What?s that?
   The red stain grows like a .shadow?

The instant loneliness fell from the edge of Time.
Its murdered by eternity.
   What?s that?
   Say again?

Sleep, Death and the Universe
are totally indifferent?
   (silence)
   (silence)

               RUMOR MILL
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Approximately, 10 years ago it was believed by many that George Sr., while acting as Pres. started a bogus war with Iraq. They contended that it was designed to divert public attention from economic woes and rally sagging public support, and thus save the political prospects of Saddam Hussein and George Sr.. The attempt was half effective. Saddam Hussein is still in power in Iraq, but it failed to save George Sr. and his ill fated bid for re-election.
   Before The Rumor Mill evaluates the upcoming election the United States of America?s citizens should take a moment to review what is though to be known about the political relationship between the Bushes and Iraq?s Saddam Hussein. If for no other reason than to place current events in a historical perspective, which might provided greater insight and further our understanding before performing our responsibilities in the upcoming elections. First, the U.S.A. provided intelligence and other assistance during Iraq?s long war with Iran, which along with other things helped to make Hussein very unpopular in his country. Second, Iraq?s leader was left inexplicably in power after the war was over, while other foreign leaders were ousted for less glaring transgressions during the same time period. Third, toward the end of the expensive, so called war, a battalion personally loyal to Saddam Hussein was allowed to pull out of the front and re-deploy around the capitol and palace, in broad day light, without any effort made to attack such an obviously valuable military target; or, take advantage by assaulting the huge whole left in the enemies front that was left when Hussein?s personal troops were pulled out and re-deployed. They were literally sitting ducks! The action obviously occurred to provide Hussein with personal protection, and the means of assuring political stability necessary to guarantee Hussein?s continued control of Iraq during the post war period. Fourth, the Bush Sr. and the Republicans then tried to make Americans pay for Iraq?s war debt with so called agricultural loans secretly funneled through a bank in Rome. Clearly, if true, there is a long standing relationship between the Bushes. and the Republicans and Saddam Hussein.
   Now, Rumor Mill contends, 10 yrs. later, when no is supposed to remember, with Bush Jr.?s popularity plummeting, Iraq again comes into the picture. It comes after 2 yrs. of conflict, when Bush Jr. and the Republicans with the greatest military might in the World at its disposal (one who won a war in the Balkans without one fatality under a Democratic Administration) couldn?t defeat one Afghanistan tribe who provided the primary political power base (beside of our own radical right) of the Taliban. It was becoming increasingly embarrassing for Bush Jr., so after two years of working this gold mine of political popularity the Republicans felt that it was exhausted and abandoned it. Obviously, with the economy still being mismanaged into a tail spinning depression another foreign conflict was felt to be convenient as a ploy to
shore up Bush Jr.?s dismal showing in the recent public opinion polls. One in the Middle East, which would guarantee media coverage because of the proximity to the World?s largest oil reserves. One with someone large enough to be viewed as a legitimate threat, but someone who was dependable, too. In a word Hussein. Interestingly, it comes during an election year and centers around a Nuclear threat that supposedly will enable Iraq to dominate all mid-East oil. However, Israel has already had a Nuclear capacity for years. And, does anyone believe Iraq can stand up to the USA?s extensive Nuclear arsenal built up during the many decades of the Cold War? Its interesting to watch as planted stories surface in our media by our own CIA and NSC about how popular Hussein is. Also, its interesting watching Chenny and other Bush Jr. administrative officials interface with the media to try and minimize the blatantly obvious comparisons between Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. and Saddam Hussein. There are those who think this is just another Republican political rerun that The Rumor Mill hopes will soon be canceled.

ECONOMY:
   Recently, George Jr. visited the Pacific Northwest. George Jr. was campaigning for Republican candidates. During his tour campaigning with his buddy Senator Gordy Smith
he made economic proposals to rejuvenate the Northwest economies that tend to substantiate what the Rumor Mill has been advocating since Bush Jr. TOOK office. ?Just stand there George Jr., (Dudley) just don?t do anything.? George JR. said his proposals meant jobs, but how was left up to the imagination of the voters; because, his proposals were sufficiently vague, to get Republicans elected - he hoped.
   The Rumor Mill would like to evaluate the plan. The proposal did specify cutting down old growth timbre on National lands. George Jr. stated that would solve our economic woes. It was going to prevent forest fires. And, as previously noted it was going to create jobs. What it really does is subsidize inefficiencies in a climactorate sector of the economy
   The Old Growth Timber stands were not where the majority of the forest fires raged this summer. Its nice to see our Chief Executive so well informed on an event as destructive of property and resources as the forest fires in the Western USA. The fact is George Jr. is right if we cut down all the trees we wont be bothered with forest fires. But what kind of a solution is that? The essential role of the forest fires as an integral part of our ecological systems life cycles, was conveniently never mentioned. It was obvious that neither the timber industry nor the environment were sufficiently understood by either George Jr. or the Republicans and advisors around him to present a comprehensive and competent proposal to the public who deserve better.
   Thinning the few remaining Old Growth timber stands will not create a large enough increase in jobs to appreciably effect the timber industry, which is a minor employer in either Oregon?s or Washington?s economies, let alone revitalize the Northwest?s economies. The sorry fact is this proposal might have helped the Northwest?s economies over 50 years ago. But, besides being obsolete and grotesquely simplistic, its not relevant for our Pacific Northwest?s complex diversified economies, which are integrated into the economic realities of today?s Global markets. What it does do is play to the ignorant portions of the Northwest?s rural voters who are the Republican Party?s contemporary power base.
   If we cut Old Growth timber it will primarily help Japan and then Canada, who have invested in modern mills designed to economically handle Old Growth timber. With dwindling supplies of Old Growth timber available no one will invest in the capital intensive mills necessary to effectively compete. The investment would cut into profit margins making them noncompetitive with other potential investments, whose rates of return would not only be potentially higher but would be sustainable for longer periods of time. This would discourage the money necessary to attract the venture capital in the first place. How George Jr. plans to circumvent these economic difficulties he conveniently doesn?t mention. To send timber to Japan and Canada?s mills wont make jobs in the USA. It will force the USA into a Third World trade pattern supplying raw resources to industrialized trade partners. It will in the case of Canada force the Unite States into paying a Republican tariff on our own lumber, which will raise construction costs already hit with increased energy costs (cost push inflation) . The genius of George Jr. is astounding! He proposes to rejuvenate our economies by subsidizing inefficiencies in climactorate industries, or with economic scenarios which are third World trade patterns which potentially could increase the US trade deficit by exporting our goods!
   Consider the fact that George Jr. has spent money on military adventures abroad, on what many claim are fraudulent wars. In fact George Jr. and the rest of the big spending Republicans have incompetently spent the US into the largest budget deficit in the history of this country and the World. This fact, which generates inefficient spending patterns; also, drives up interest rates, which functions to brake the economy. George Jr. and the rest of the big spending Republicans will drive up interest rates, which impairs the very program that he proposed for the economies of the Pacific Northwest. Also, it unnecessarily puts our Social Security at risk. But that is another story. And, with this representative example of incompetence and avarice is it any wonder why we?ve had 2 years of depression.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE:
   Rumor Mill claims it has continued unabated. The pattern of violence has staid the same for the last four elections. Two young girls disappear in Democratic districts in the early Summer. Mid Summer an act of violence is perpetrated on an even younger child. Then, just before the election either another act of violence is perpetrated on a child younger, or the resolution of an earlier heinous crime if it is violent enough to gain enough propaganda coverage.
The violence that started abroad by the radical right has now come home to afflict us.