Public Posts Stanwood, WA Stanwood, WA (zoom)

Rain in June.
It's cold today.
Too early to put
your umbrella away.

Tomorrow, the first
day of Summer,
with a forecast of rain.
A disappointment. Bummer.

Buy me a drink,
you owe one to me.
I'll tell you a story,
of what was meant to be.

It started long ago,
when I was quite young.
I was incarcerated,
but did not succumb.

A sentence to prison
of one year for me.
Solitary confinement,
until I couldn't see.

I had never been
in this place, I said,
for all practical purposes,
my life was now dead.

I struggled for years,
to overcome this part
of my life which
took away love and hurt.

I am much stronger,
it's in my eyes,
for I have powerful friends,
who now realize.

The criminal injustice,
which took me away
and now I look
towards a better day.

An ember glowed,
throughout the night.
A smallish glow,
not very bright.

When morning
light came,
the glow was
now a small flame.

More wind and fuel,
added to the fire,
which became
a funeral pyre.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Have you seen the bird in the Milky Way? Beyond the man in the Moon, the night sky is filled with stories, and cultures throughout history have projected some of their most enduring legends onto the stars and dust above. Generations of people see these celestial icons, hear their associated stories, and pass them down. Pictured here is not only a segment of the central band of our Milky Way galaxy, but, according to folklore of several native peoples of Uruguay, the outline of a great bird called Ñandú. Furthermore, Ñandú's footprint is associated with the Southern Cross asterism. In the foreground, in silhouette, is a statue of María Micaela Guyunusa, an indigenous woman of the Charrúa people who lived in the 1800s and endures as a symbol of colonial resistance. The composite image was taken in mid-April in Cabo Polonio, Uruguay, with the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

Photo by Fefo Bouvier; Line Drawing: Alfonso Rosso

Splashes of water
over polished stone,
a relaxing noise,
for I was alone.

The riches of smells
of fresh delight,
a reality of
pure delight.

Laughter roared,
I stepped into the room,
carrying old memories
of insipid gloom.

What's the plan,
was said to me?
Are we to fight
or will we flee?

If you still believe
in what you do,
then we must fight,
for us and for you.

Fight we did,
bending but no break.
We enjoyed victory,
until the end take.

Crazy were the days,
and the nighttime too,
when you no longer know,
whys, wherefores or who.

What words to use,
which words to say,
makes me understand
why you ran away.

How cold is my heart,
when you aren't near.
I am losing your love,
is my biggest fear.

Must this disease
take you and your love,
what kind of justice is this,
benevolent God?

Robben Island, South Africa The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. Robben Island, South Africa

Emmanuel Wabwire on Unsplash

Were you awake,
when I passed by?
Were you as surprised,
as, was I?

A new beginning
or an old tale,
for those wanting
a return to intellectual jail.

Take away freedom,
books to ban.
Suppress the citizens,
with Anarchy the plan.

Quiet it was
before the dawn.
The only noise
was my yawn.

Why do I rise,
so early in the morn?
Was that the time
when I was born?

From the first day, I saw you,
until the day I died,
I knew I wanted you
to always be by my side.