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Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821 – 1881), sometimes transliterated as Dostoyevsky, was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist. He is regarded by many literary critics as one of the greatest novelists in all of world literature, as many of his works are considered highly influential masterpieces. His most acclaimed novels include Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons (1872), and The Brothers Karamazov.

Out for a daily hike,
coming down a dusty trail.
Had hiked to the tree line.
Successfully, I didn't fail.

Walking through the meadow,
I saw a fallen log,
from windstorms, they fell,
across a swampy bog.

Cattails a plenty,
with blackbirds, three.
I was watching them,
as they were watching me.

Bullfrogs, perched upon,
Lilypad's, at least two.
Why did my thoughts,
immediately turn to you?

There is a place,
of broken hearts,
which lives,
within us all.

We must address that,
at some point, in time,
or it will take its toll

When walls of memories,
have penned you in,
the walls marked with sorrow,
how did it begin?

Memories are happy events,
when looking back in life,
but can turn terrible when,
loaded with too much strife.

We must move forward,
as you cannot stand still.
If you don't take any action,
no one ever will.

Through a dark cloud,
shone the rising sun.
A start, to a late summer day,
not a surprise to anyone.

There is always something,
to be thankful for, during this life.
One to have been fortunate,
to have had a lovely wife.

I recall her brown eyes,
and her bright smile, missing
but most of all I miss,
her sweet lips kissing,
me on my neck.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Why does Saturn appear so big? It doesn't -- what is pictured are foreground clouds on Earth crossing in front of the Moon. The Moon shows a slight crescent phase with most of its surface visible by reflected Earthlight, known as Da Vinci glow. The Sun directly illuminates the brightly lit lunar crescent from the bottom, which means that the Sun must be below the horizon and so the image was taken before sunrise. This double take-inducing picture was captured on 2019 December 24, two days before the Moon slid in front of the Sun to create a solar eclipse. In the foreground, lights from small Guatemalan towns are visible behind the huge volcano Pacaya. Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995)

Photo by Francisco Sojuel

Photo shared by Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American

"Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has expressed his intention, if elected to a second term, to use the U.S. armed forces to suppress domestic protests. The New York Times reports that Trump’s allies are marshaling legal arguments to justify using National Guard or active-duty military troops for crowd control." More at The Conversation ➜

"She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by—
And never knew."

Sheldon Allan “Shel” Silverstein (1930 - 1999) was an American poet, cartoonist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter, and children books author. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages and his books have sold over 20 million copies. Among his most memorable books are: "Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974), The Missing Piece (1976). After the 1970's, Silverstein continue releasing memorable children’s titles, among them A Light in the Attic (1981), and The Missing Piece Meets the Big O (1981).

“Masks”  tells the story of two wandering souls who never find each other because of their failure to show themselves as they truly were. Source: from Silverstein's book of poems called Everything On It. A collection of poems  published posthumously by Harper and Row Publishers in 2011.

Floundering,
in a sea,
of unfulfilled reason,
searching for Thee.