Public Posts Stanwood, WA Stanwood, WA (zoom)

When you free wheel your words
like you did, in your verse,
you leave room for failure
and for the adverse
reaction of others like you
who have little talent,
knowing not what to do.

My mind is dry,
it thirsts for words.
I hear a sigh,
Isn't that absurd?
Your mind won't
quench this thirst
but you can try
something else first.
Try fertilizing your brain
with words abstract
and you will miss the train
as that is a matter of fact.

I can't say I loved it
when, this morning
you said to me,
"Who are you,
where do you live?"
This was the first morning
you didn't know what to do.
Did not know anything about
dressing your self.

My first Christmas way from home,
was in San Diego. I was in the US Navy,
having just turned 20 years old.
I do not recall the specifics, but
I probably "messed" (ate) on board ship,
with my new friends and then to San Diego.
Taking a water taxi ride to the foot of Broadway.
Seeing a movie. I'm sure I called my
family back at the old residence.

Far across a path,
this wide,
there was room for me,
by your side.
The troubles we've had,
these past years,
makes our bond stronger,
when we're near,
to each other, within sight,
allowing us to support,
ourselves, in the darkest night.
Stay strong my darling,
you'll always be,
alongside of me, on the
long path to eternity.

Rip out my heart,
from this aging chest.
Removing all the love,
left in this frail shell,
of living a life
in Dementia's miserable Hell.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

This picture was supposed to feature a comet. Specifically, a series of images of the brightest comet of 2021 were being captured: Comet Leonard. But the universe had other plans. Within a fraction of a second, a meteor so bright it could be called a fireball streaked through just below the comet. And the meteor's flash was even more green than the comet's coma. The cause of the meteor's green was likely magnesium evaporating from the meteor's pebble-sized core, while the cause of the comet's green was likely diatomic carbon recently ejected from the comet's city-sized nucleus. The images were taken 10 days ago over the Sacramento River and Mt. Lassen in California, USA. The fireball was on the leading edge of this year's Geminid Meteor Shower -- which peaked a few days later. Comet Leonard is now fading after reaching naked-eye visibility last week -- but now is moving into southern skies. Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator

Photo by Cory Poole

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 - 1864) - was an American novelist, born in Salem, Massachusetts.  His first novel, "Fanshawe" was published in 1828. He published several short stories in periodicals, which he collected in 1837 as "Twice-Told Tales".  "The Scarlet Letter" was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. This quote is from his Novel, "Fanshawe".

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

It is not a coincidence that planets line up. That's because all of the planets orbit the Sun in (nearly) a single sheet called the plane of the ecliptic. When viewed from inside that plane -- as Earth dwellers are likely to do -- the planets all appear confined to a single band. It is a coincidence, though, when three of the brightest planets all appear in nearly the same direction. Such a coincidence was captured earlier this month. Featured above (right to left), Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter were all imaged together in a line just after sunset, from the San Fermo Hills, Bergamo, Italy. Joining the alignment are Earth's Moon, and the position of the more distant Uranus. Bands of clouds streak across the sky toward the setting Sun. As Comet Leonard fades, this planetary alignment -- absent the Moon -- should persist for the rest of the month. Discovery + Outreach: Graduate student research position open for APOD

Photo by Antonio Finazzi

The water was high.
Cold to the feet.
My hip boots
had sprung a leak.
Early morning hours,
at Ocean Shores,
the Smelt were running,
so get you to work.
Gather the silvery, Smelt,
be on your way,
going home to clean
your large catch and
get your feet warm.

A slight puff of air,
a glow in the gloom,
as a gas lantern,
brightened the room.
Shadows growing longer,
flickered with dance,
in the old days,
a prelude to romance.
Soft music playing
a relaxing tune,
sounding the music,
"Shine on, harvest Moon>"

How strong the urge,
to just cut and run.
I can't do that now,
for you are my Sun.