29 November, 2010

What's a Christmas staple to you?

The time has come upon us again...Christmas!!! The most important holiday ever...and also the most exploited/commercial holiday ever. I won't get started on that (maybe another time) instead I want to ask you what's the one thing, whether it be a movie, cartoon, hearing a Christmas song, reading a Christmas book/poem or putting up a Christmas tree and decorations that gets you in the mood for Christmas? Staples of Christmas time to me are (mostly the same with everyone too I bet) "A Christmas Story", "It's a Wonderful Life", "A Christmas Vacation", "Miracle on 34th Street", Rudolf, Frosty, Charlie Brown, The Grinch, endless Christmas carols and "Twas the Night before Christmas"... Personal favorites to me are "A Christmas Story", "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman", " The Grinch that stole Christmas" and my absolute favorite Christmas song: "Christmas time is here" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio off  "A Charlie Brown Christmas" soundtrack/cartoon. And last, but certainly not least the birth of our loving Savior Jesus Christ. Whether or not he was truly born (or conceived) on December 25th we won't really know until we get the chance to ask him ourselves (God willing). So now I ask you, what's yours?

Also I would like to thank Diane and Karen for your kind words it means a lot. God bless.

24 November, 2010

Fortified Fortresses

This poem is from "The Dim Light" collection and deals with a subject I've had since I can remember. It's classified as a "distress or uneasiness of the mind"...anxiety or more specifically for me social anxiety. I hope you enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.


Fortified Fortresses

Scattered amongst the broken variants
is a vessel, of a man, in a shell.
Echoing weepy words worded and heard;
you know there’s a hell, this is where you’ll dwell.

He won’t leave, but doesn’t want to be left,
dampened sagas and glimpses implicate.
The forum on his demeanor is lithe
and just fragile enough to indicate.

Watch for the marquee matinee unfold
in the backdrop of ill equipped tidbits.
It will not grow old, so let it be told,
he feels at ease in the land of misfits.

In close quarters without neutral borders
frolics a man with a begotten soul.
With urgent excerpts of hurt to exert
he knew it was best to live in a hole.

Clasping together a will and a way
he composed a vow to seek assistance.
Enshrined was the fear of a new frontier,
but he desired to have an existence.

22 November, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories (when young)

What memories do I remember about my Thanksgiving’s of the past? Well there are several to choose from, but mostly I remember it being held at my parent’s house with me watching football, waiting for my grandma (DeCarlo) and my aunt and uncle (Day) to arrive. I remember we ate at the dining room table (which was off limits the rest of the year) and falling asleep a short while after eating dinner. I remember sometimes we played cards (31) and eating chocolate pie for dessert by the fireplace or kerosene heater. What do you remember?

17 November, 2010

The Day Gave Way

This poem is from "The Dim Light" and is sort of a hybrid of free verse w/some rhyme. I hope you enjoy.


The Day Gave Way

The pulsating ripples on the ocean’s blanket
subside occasionally and accordingly.
Waves waver like the movement of a rowing boat
as inhabitants of the great mass drift unfazed.
Ragged rocks and ancient coral wait to ambush
while hiding underneath the unforgiving brush.
An assortment of birds fly bye, sprawling carefree.
Ships and boating vessels startle the world beneath.
I feel a driving urgency compelling me
to chase the exploration of my untapped mind.

Lord almighty sees Earth’s reflections from up top.
The sky’s painted with foggy aqua-fresh colors.
Is this sense of clarity just an illusion
that happens to be making its own conclusion?
Dawn appears to me persuasively bright today.
Pea soup covered and concealed the surrounding air.
Vision wasn’t crisp but the air was refreshing.
The sun responded to its captive audience
by playing many playful games of peak-a-boo.
And the whole entire expedition meshed in sync.

The mystique’s ambition was clear and contagious.
The day gave way for refuge, it was infectious.
It inspired me to seize more than to stake my claim;
it inspired me the way an omen does the same.
My transition was a souvenir for the day.
I inherited the epitome of light,
a landmark embodied in mystical splendor.
The day gave way to my inner inspiration.
Maybe the day’s intentions were more intended.
Maybe it was destiny, maybe, just maybe…

15 November, 2010

The Great Debate: Secular music vs. Christian music

My friend Steve and I have debated over this subject a few times (always in a civil realm, of course) and many good points (+ opinions) have flown back and forth. His theory is: he only listens to Christian music and will only listen to Christian music stating secular music is not worth listening to. Now as someone who only listens to 1 radio station (Air1) I have no problem with that except (cue suspenseful music)…just because an artist or band doesn’t play Christian music do we assume they are not believers or write inspiring songs as well? Some secular artists might be more of a faithful follower than a Christian artist, but if we refuse to listen to them because they are not labeled as “Christian Artists” who’s in the wrong? My theory is: use your own discretion when you listen to music, if you listen to something that riles you up and makes you want to hurt someone, chances are that’s not the best music for you to be listening to. I think we all need as much positivity in our lives as we can possibly get, but as long as the music doesn’t “change” you (or you let it change you) I say go ahead and listen to what you like. Now one could argue I am just defending the fact that I listen to Coldplay, Linkin Park, Muse, Interpol and others to which I can’t disagree with them. But I also listen to Red, Kutless, Tenth Avenue North, Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Plumb, Group 1 Crew, Sanctus Real and many more so I say: use your own discretion when you listen to music. I know in my case sometimes I need or yearn to hear a certain kind of song that might not be Christian. Am I any less of a Christian than Steve because I listen to secular music as well? Is Steve any less of a Christian than me for judging that all secular music is bad? I don’t think so...what’s your opinion on it all?

10 November, 2010

A Golden Oldie

This poem I’d say dates back 9 or10 years ago. It’s from my “Open Your Mind” collection of poems (my first collection). I wrote this as an open letter of sorts to my girlfriend at the time (now my wife), for I was still hurting from past relationships. Much like Pasteurization, my trust is a timely and difficult process, but an extremely imperative doctrine (if you will) to the makeup of me. Even reading it now I can revisit the emotions of way back then. I hope you enjoy it.



Pasteurize
I’m sorry, but don’t get too close,
you’re not permitted in my vault.
How’d you get that skeleton key?
In fairness, it wasn’t my fault.
I’d rather not embrace that thought
it pulsates a wound oh too deep.
I transform into my facade
rather than just going to sleep.
I don’t want the despair again
so I question any interest.
I can’t distinguish real from fake
low tolerance, what’s to suggest?
Come close, but you should watch your step
my heart’s protected by judgment.
It’s tiresome always on my guard,
I resigned without my consent.
I reformed my way to reason
inflicted, I’ll try to adjust.
Please, just grant me a little time
and in return, you’ll have my trust.

08 November, 2010

Influential Influences

Something always clicked with me whenever I read any of Dr. Seuss’ books. The way he rhymed was different and fresh…it didn’t follow the “perfect rhyme” outline. His characters were so fresh and the stories that lead these characters always had a meaning. One of the reasons (influences) I wrote “Blair the Bear” was because of him.

Poetry itself is another machine. My greatest influence is a man that had and will forever more have a “dark cloud” over his name, his poetry is “dark”, but unique if Hitchcock (another favorite) is the father of the thriller genre of movies then Mr. Edgar Allen Poe is the grandfather of the thriller short story. He wasn’t afraid to take his writing to depths that people/critics/essayists deemed “taboo” or “off-limits”. He explored the mind of darkness, but with an elegance that has its own place with the greatest poets/writers in history. Several of my poems are influenced by him and will continue to be.

So my question is: who are your influences not just with writing (if you write), but with life in general?

03 November, 2010

The Gauntlet

This poem is from my second compilation of poetry “The Dim Light”. The last three (The Battle…, Elijah Robert…& Asher Michael…) were from my third “Gray Matters”. I honestly don’t know (or remember) why I was so intent (some say obsessed) on writing this. I just had in my mind an ironic tragedy and this is what came out, I hope you enjoy it.


The Gauntlet
Nothing had ever fazed his faze-less face,
particular phases failed to crack an interest.
Depression scaled up bare walls to the base,
letting insanity outside to be witnessed.

So day after day, he would curse aloud
at himself and at anything he resented.
He would carry with him a darkened cloud
which was evident and clearly represented.

He never once thought that his daily smokes
would bring repercussions too massive to believe.
But all the while death rode on silent spokes
waiting for enough damage to go and retrieve.

When she was diagnosed, he vowed to quit,
but it was too late, the damaged had quickly spread.
She grew weak, his nightmare…an exhibit,
he longed desperately for his own death instead.

His wife urged him to stop; she bid advice
so he tried and tried until he was out of tries.
But she had ended up paying the price,
because cancer confiscated his only prize.

Suicide wouldn’t let them reunite
so everyday after he would become bolder.
He took chances deemed careless, or not right
and the blame had laden the weight of a boulder.

And right up until the end of his days
the blame was still buried inside of his burden.
The burden’s blaze engulfed a vacant glaze
to which he wore until the fall of the curtain.

01 November, 2010

The Passion for more Passion

Here’s the question of the day: With the success of “The Passion of the Christ” would you like to see more of these movies made? I am actually surprised that more movies (from the bible) haven’t been made and released yet. I think if they are portrayed as “close” to what the bible states (I guess a consensus understanding with consideration to different interpretations some straight-forward others not so much) it would be enjoyable to see. Personally I would like to see a updated version of the “Ten Commandments” a thorough story on David (no bias), Noah’s Ark and the story of Joseph (Jacob’s). What would you want to see made?