Progress Concerns Me Thus...

Progress concerns me at this moment.
Or, rather,
the well crafted, professionally developed and sold notion of progress
that we in the industrialized world buy in single serving packages
of Duracell batteries, coca cola, Sony and cigarettes.
We buy, hook, line and sinker
like bottom feeders most things and ideas
that our champions of politics and industry sell us
paying little mind to the consequences of our actions.
Or to those adversely affected by our conspicuous assumption.
McDonalds doesn’t tell us when we order our Big Mac that someone,
somewhere is starving because of our need or desire to have a couple of beef patties
or some crispy chicken.
We’re oblivious while sipping on our coke,
water with some syrup in it that elsewhere people would fight to the death for water.
Madison Avenue,
Bay and Fleet streets don’t want us to live in reality,
they’d prefer us to buy, and we do, the picture book life,
THEY sell us.
What is progress?
It is often said that a team is only as strong as its weakest member.
So, we then are exceptionally weak.
What good is progress if we are leaving so many behind?
What good is progress if it is blind?
Will it change?
Will we change?
Only if You and I demand it –
But we don’t because we are too busy watching quote, reality TV.
Our progress is just as real as the reality shows we watch –
crafted to stupefy and placate.

SDM

31

Who are you,
And where did you come from,
Never mind,
I’m grateful that you are here,
So then,
What are you thinking right now?
Don’t put up the road block;
Answer the questions you don’t want to ask,
None of us do,
How did we come to know each other?
Surprise,
How does it feel?
Does it have a taste;
A specific colour,
Perhaps a sound,
What is it that you see,
How does it feel to know love,
Not just understand it, but truly
KNOW…
The way your skin feels,
The smell of your hair,
Incredible tasting lips,
The sweet resonance of your voice,
The way your smile at 6 am with no sleep can still,
As the bard might say,
Ascend the brightest heaven of invention,
My love,
My one true love,
So very clear to me,
To you,
To all that see us,
Your greatest and lasting gift to me is my sober smile,
Genuine and true,
Inspired by you.
I was born to love you,
You and only you,
I have always loved you,
Knowing all the greatness there is in you,
I see it,
You,
My 31.

SDM

Hegemony

Do I see?
Do you?
Are we past the point of no return?
Does it really truly exist anymore –
The point of no return?
The question:
Why war?
That question must be answered absolutely and without fail.
We need not ask why peace as our survival instinct answers that one –
But why war?
So I can drive my S.U.V. or heat my home?
Why now?
Lots of questions that should be asked,
but aren’t!
I do not believe that we should appease,
as we’ve done before,
but what is it that we’re truly afraid of?
Saddam?
His weapons?
Would he wreak terror and destruction?
Or is he just trying to change the balance of power?
Is the United States practicing brinkmanship on this one –
Painting a picture,
of oil when in fact they’re afraid at the highest levels of something far more significant – like the erosion of hegemonic control…

Curious?

SDM

Dare

A human without a dream is like a car without gas,
nice to look at but not very much use.
Moreover, the dream itself is not enough,
it is the steady and studied pursuit of a dream that makes a mark on the human soul.
After all, a dream need not be logical as the mind might desire,
no, instead, a dream is the soul manifested in words,
at least in part.
Show me a human without a dream
and I will show you a human settling for the status quo.

Reach for the stars and the universe is yours,
reach for a blade of grass and the earth is all you will ever know.
Dare to dream!
Dare to pursue those dreams,
in so doing,
you will discover completely the full and wonderful life you deserve.
Dare to LIVE!

SDM

Sum

Cogito ergo sum –
Perhaps for some its this and nothing more
but where’s the validation of such thought?
Is it alone enough
or does that thought require that additional step –
the expression of that thought?
I write,
therefore I am
and I express all that I feel,
but then I’m left to beg the question
is all that I feel real?
Or do I record it merely to record?
Oh so many questions that Cogito ergo sum could not afford –
ME!
Thoughts are merely constructs that afford us internal dialogue
yet the external manifestation is where our thoughts become more tangible.
So is it merely enough to think?

Would the same be true for Monkeys or Dolphins?
Or do they lack self –

Could they not be aware of their existence?

Thought –
Fantastic, enough for Descartes, his validation –
writing is mine!

SDM

Networked Fear

Ominous –
Looming –
Impending War –
Are you frightened?

Has CNN
or NBC
or CBC
or BBC convinced you of the need to go to war –
To shatter a nation already in shambles –
Incidentally one of the wealthiest Oil nations in the world.
Did I mention with a leader (whom no one really chose except for the United States),
sounds eerily familiar,
especially to the people who elected Gore
and ended up with Bush.

We’re hearing about drones and no fly zones,
seeing controlled and contrived images
as approved by the very real censors of Iraqi’s,
just like you or I digging trenches outside their homes,
on their streets –
Can you imagine that?

And I don’t mean city workers –
I mean can you imagine digging a trench in Toronto,
Ottawa or
Montreal,
New York,
Los Angeles or
Washington.

Trenches!
We’re hearing again,
about blanket bombers from another war –
Sorry conflict, not so long ago –

What do you think the Vietnamese are thinking of the B – 52’s active use again?
We’re hearing of B2B’s and I don’t mean business to business –
F – 117’s, Apaches and lest we forget batteries of Patriots –
Untold (literally untold for the cost of War is never as neat as Balance Sheets and Profit Loss statements)
Billions will be spent fighting to depose one man –
One man and a few of his cronies, is anyone else afraid,
what happens when the dog scratches –
your bound to come up with fleas –
Believe me – No amount of duct tape is going to keep a determined flea out!

These are but a few thoughts on a senseless war which could be but one mans blood –

SDM

Dreams

In pursuing our dreams there are many that will stand in our way.
Simply another obstacle to pass through as we chronicle through this life.
It is at these times, when opposed, that we must recognize and utilize support systems we have in place to overcome the challenge (s).
Through love’s guidance, the heart and soul of our relationship,
doubtless we will emerge triumphant –
having defined success on our own, understanding that the pursuit of our dream
is every bit as important and positive as the dream itself.
Each day, with love in our hearts and minds we take one step closer to the pinnacle,
one step closer to God, in trying to fulfill our passions desire –
You, one, strong, courageous, enthusiastic and bounding,
reach deep with in, find your battle cry and respond to your detractors –
Personal success is defined by you
despite obvious attempts by others to “help” you –
Where do you want to go today?
And, how may I help?

SDM

PS. I'd like to welcome my Stepfather and Mother back to Canada after a year in Malawi. They will be here for a month or so and then back again. I'm proud of them for what they are trying to accomplish together. WELCOME HOME!

Change Regime

Like school children,
literally,
grown men and women,
sitting in their seat of power,
passing their circle circle dot dot –
Have you got your small pox shot?
The pressing matter under the well appointed dome,
rather than an impending war or soldiers of your own nation who will surely die at your whim, Oh those damn French at it again –
Chirac and Veto –
Why not just throw a Parade for Saddam –
But this is not the issue today, we leave the Veto for another play –
Yet once, at a time in a different place a French man told us;
The pen is mightier than the sword to which I do agree, so following on Voltaire’s great thought the power and imagery of words is plain to see.

At the seat of power,
Democrat and Republican alike are preparing for an intervention –
Regime change –
to ease Iraqi’s plight –
So with power mighty,
not just on a whim what is the importance –
Where did this tale begin –
Words.

Under the dome,
the political elite are clamoring at the gates trying to ward off democracies defeat –
What is it their concerned with:
The names of food they’ll eat.
Not death,
not discomfort
nor even regime change on the plate.
This week is the changing of foods name –
Rather than French Fires or Toast
reminiscent of ages past the new propaganda is Fries of Freedom as well as Toast –
Oh sure of this CNN does boast –
Well, while their at it,
concerning themselves with issues so severe I’m truly curious to see,
can anybody tell me will kissing now too be free?

SDM

Duped

I’m distracted today, my mind running in two different directions –
very different in fact,
polar opposites,
so incredible as I struggle with the inner turmoil
attached to the stumbling almost stuttering display of love,
as so clearly I do,
she stands before me,
witty,
intelligent,
chalk full of wisdom,
loving and beautiful,
oh so beautiful
as to have your incredible beauty betrayed
by a lack of appropriate words to describe your inherently and wonderful;
elegance and grace –
You see –

Stuttering and stumbling.
So of course,
I have this cherubic appeal running through my mind –
Conversely:

Shatter!

My mind intrigued is adversely affected by what is currently happening –

Lies, everywhere!
Blatant lies,
full of the spirit of capitalism,
the true spirit;
Create the consumer,
determine the worth,
fight for the market share,
Ah the beauty of choice.

I remember 12 years ago this month,
sitting in a restaurant writing about the same fate I write of now,
an impending war; and for what,
so that Jed Clampett and his like can have a new home in Beverly Hills.
And the majority in sitting back and doing nothing to prevent a war
so obviously about the new imperialism –
the economics of Sport Utility Vehicles and presidential palaces
show just how hill billy we all really are;

Duped!
Don’t forget that the White House is a Presidential Palace as well!

SDM

Infamy

As we live out our lives,
for the past six years,
each of us has taken away something,
it has rested inside the pit our our souls,
deep in our hearts,
and waited with pursed lips on the tip of our tongue,
none of us daring to say a word.

As we live out our lies,
for the past six years,
I think of the sixty years before,
and the things that should have been said,
but weren't and wonder,
whether if said,
six years ago may not have happened.

Of course speculation and conjecture will get us nowhere,
the only thing that will is dialogue,
profound and true,
revealing through pursed lips,
the things that shake the core of our being,
the things that haunt our recent past,
and the past of long ago.

Today,
as you reflect,
think deeply,
ponder your actions,
the actions of those around you,
the actions of your representatives,
the actions of corporations,
the actions of politicians,
the actions of fanatics,
wonder how the world can be this way,
ponder how it must and can change,
that is the only way to honour both the recent and distant past,
the memory of those who gave up everything,
and so much more than we EVER will.

Today,
cast doubt upon your soul,
to reveal,
a brighter tomorrow through meaningful thought.

SDM

Perspective

The complexities of the human mind are so staggering as to arouse contempt for any meaningful advancement. Technical knowledge and human ingenuity forever intertwined, yet, we collectively allow a group of mostly wealthy white men to decide the fate of not only humanity but of the animals, plants, oceans and earth and I’m left asking, no searching, for some logical or rational reason that we educated people are such fools.

Wake up – History is today from tomorrows perspective which means one man, one woman, one child can shape history.

Should we sit idly by and let Saddam Hussein, George Bush, North Korea and Great Britain decide history without taking into account the will of the people who empower them in the first place. Wake up, history is ours, we can grab it, shape it, we can create it today but only when our minds are the only things exploding – with the brilliance of innocence generating peace from our collective desires.

We have the power,
Will we use it?
Wake up!

SDM

Sunbathing Love

Sitting in the sun,
With your little bikini,
A blanket and a spray bottle,
Soaking in the sun,
SPRITZ, SPRITZ, SPRITZ,
Calling for the rays to kiss you as I do,
Your hair bright and vibrant,
Blowing in the gentle breeze,
Every once in a while putting it behind your ear,
From behind your glasses,
Your eyes barely perceptible,
Yet still powerful when you glance at me;

On your blanket perfectly placed,
Your form reminding me of Matisse,
Glowing as you study,
I am overjoyed in your company,
Even in the wonderful silence of nature;
SPRITZ, SPRITZ, SPRITZ,
As the mist refreshes you,
I too am refreshed,
By your presence,
By your love;
So beautiful in the sun,
My radiant queen!

SDM

Humanity

I hear the echo of voices in my head of men and women whose proven character demonstrates the strength, wisdom and knowledge far greater than my own. Each in the pursuit of a better world for all sacrificed selflessly aiming to lead by example. They waged an intellectual war as skillfully as warriors and some paid the ultimate price for their conviction. Of course I am speaking of those that pursued nobly the equality of man, woman and child. Through their blood, sweat and tears strides of universal proportions were made. Yet, true equality eludes us, eludes our minds because it is not in our hearts. The account of those lost to the vicious cruelty of weaker humans has never been given its due. In their names we must carve the brilliant teachings as permanent engravings on each and every one of our hearts. Embracing their noble spirits and the principles of justice we many find the courage and strength to finally make good on their noble strides; The full equality of humanity!

SDM

The Estate of Love

My soul is the estate of our love,
A grand palace of emotional delight,
Ripe with Chandeliers of kisses,
And stately rooms of each touch we share,
Exquisite details,
Never to be seen again,
A pleasure beyond compare,
An honour,
My soul is the estate of our love,
No matter where we are…

SDM

The Great Generation & Our Future

After the last true world war, when men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice to free the world from tyranny and oppression. My grandfather and yours witness to a force of destruction that few of us can truly comprehend. As the dust began to settle a broodish statesman spoke of a spectre hanging over eastern Europe, that of the Iron Curtain that was about to fall.

As this war, which few of us can truly comprehend soldiers on into needless and senseless death I am struck and dumbfounded by the spectre currently haunting our reality and worse that no one cares to or can see.

When Nobel created TNT he blasted his way into our consciousness and left a legacy of both destructive power and ultimate hope. Today however I believe his powder keg is rising the temperature of the middle east; What comes next might well decide the fate of our species.

SDM

Oceans

Sometimes,
When considering the world in which we live,
I shed a tear,
One lone drop works its way down my cheek,
Ever so slowly,
Collecting on the floor,
In a pool of sadness,
A pool of disgust and shame,
At the decisions we’ve made,
Political maneuvering,
By leaders we’ve elected,
Leaders we’ve entrusted,
With the most powerful of duties,
The last 100 years,
The best for our species,
The worst for our species,
With all our fear and hate,
Millions dead;
In some perverse struggle,
Both sides shamed,
Through equally action and inaction,
Progress,
True progress,
Is not marked by technological advance,
It is not our ability to make a more powerful computer chip,
Or to put our species into space,
TRUE PROGRESS,
Perhaps we should call it,
Ultimate progress,
Can only begin,
When we undo the countless errors of our ways,
We can not applaud ourselves,
For our so called advances,
While the planet is still rife with poverty, starvation, illiteracy, greed and aggression,
Our ultimate progress,
The true betterment of our species,
Can only begin when our collective spirit begins to move away from those human plagues,
Ultimate progress can only begin when we strictly call our government and corporations to eradicate these cancers on our psyche.

Ultimate progress means that none get left behind,
And unfortunately,
We’re not even close,
Until that day,
My tears,
Collect in that pool,
Which I pray,
For all our sakes,
Need not become an OCEAN!

SDM

Knife to a Gun Fight

There is a guerilla war underway,
a massive struggle of planetary proportions,
there are quite clearly two sides in this struggle
and unfortunately both believe they are right.
We operate inside the well established rules of international law,
you,
you operate by the rules of a street thug,
a common criminal,
a school yard bully.
This ongoing battle illustrates clearly the newly shaping face of war.
No longer it seems at least at this moment in history,
a convention between two or more states,
it is now a struggle between all well meaning people represented by international instruments which yes must include national militaries and UN Peacekeepers.
The other side of this dynamic uses irrational logic
and those willing to give up their lives to engage in an illegitimate war of terror.
The present looks on you with disgust.
The future will look on you as thieves of the grandest level;
Criminals who steal our most cherished right –
Life!

SDM

STAINS

What do you hope to accomplish,
Instilling fear,
And staining our consciousness with blood,
That of people who have found their duty,
In keeping the peace,
And distributing food,
Selflessly promoting the greater good,
One food stuff,
One bandage at a t time,
You,
From the safety of your cowardly hole,
Proclaim martyrs of those who exact your senseless violence,
When the true martyrs,
Are those whose lives you take,
You lurk in the shadows,
Keeping your face from us,
That you may never be called to task,
For your abhorrent behavior,
You claim pride,
From your hideout,
You claim strength,
From your safe holds,
But, those of rational mind,
Know your crimes against humanity,
And our outrage at your attacks lead us steadfast on our course.

Your pride is shocking,
An assault on our sensibilities,
An assault on our future,
Are you blinded by your own rhetoric,
Stupefied by your ideology,
Caught in your web of lies and deceit,
Its true we are not like you,
Proudly so,
Its true you are cowards,
Terrorists,
Proudly so,
On opposite ends of the spectrum,
You relish death, mayhem and destruction,
We strive for stability,
Trying to correct the inequalities of the past,
We deliver aid,
And you deliver suicide bombers –

Who do you think history will absolve?

SDM

What is...

What is Hope?
Is hope not a powerful human condition which transcends all known information?
Does hope not laugh in the face of adversity?
Or call upon our species for that one more push despite the conclusion of our well documented wisdom?
Does hope not call from within us a force which can only be referred to as an indomitable spirit?
Hope defies logic rationally and yet our desires seem to leave us wanting.
I may hope for a Big Mac, or a Pair of Nike’s, a Phat Farm Jacket, a new Porsche or an old one or perhaps for our favorite politician or sports team to win:
Perhaps it is the misuse of that powerful human condition, the cheapening of an essential spiritual tool which has weakened our societal fabric.
What have we become?
Replacing faith, belief, God and hope with faceless corporations and morally corrupt leaders – BANKRUPT!

SDM

Pursuit of Human

I know the allure of vices,
Their tantalizing effects,
And the draw,
I’ve felt their forces,
And succumb to their ways,
I AM HUMAN,

IMPERFECT,

Attracted to the unknown,
Excited –
I’ve felt the intoxicating effects,
Numbed myself,
Retreated,
But now,
I find myself reaching,
Looking for something more,
That only virtue can deliver,
Love,
Patience,
Compassion,
Strength,
I AM HUMAN IN MY PURSUIT.

SDM