When did they cut the tongues from our heads?
When did they make us blind?
Why don’t we speak our mind?
The world is crumbling before our eyes,
While we love, while we hide,
While we dream, while we scheme,
No one stands, no one fights,
We’ve given away our rights.

I agree with you, and you write well of this observable phenomenon and essential truth.

Why indeed?

I will never understand it either... and here I have gotten to be fifty.

I am no wiser, just sadder and more confused for having lived so long: disappointed.

In any case, this is a good poem. I think we are writing well, both of us; I have nothing else to do, since I find myself surrounded by flood waters and cannot go outside (I hope I don't run out of rice, but I probably will!). So I have been writing a lot.

Thank you for asking these questions, and for asking them in such a good work of art; even if nobody ever answers, we still must ask these questions.

Respect and solidarity,

+Stevie

I agree we are in some trouble but not in the same manner as most. I think we are in trouble because we no longer build anything here to speak of. We import, import, import. We are no longer an independent nation. Steel, plastics, everything, is coming from other countries. Steel alone is our biggest import from both Russia and China. Consider this. China rolls its steel. I looked at an add for Chevy trucks and to my dismay found a slogan "American Revolution" at the top. Next to the truck sat 3 rolls of Chinese steel. This is where our country is in trouble. Standing on our own has become completely foreign to us.

As for the poem...

Completely refreshing style you have. You messages (too include this one - as I've read several of your works now, are poignant, well thought out, and well conveyed messages). You have true talent and it engages me completely. This was a powerful piece in a tiny package. Well done! I'll keep reading if you keep writing! Your talent is unquestionable. I encourage you to keep sharing!

Your poetic friend,

Kevin

Thanks guys!

Steven: Flood waters? Where are you at? I never watch the news so I don't keep track, but it definately sounds annoying. I hope you don't run out of rice either.

The flood waters didn't get me, but they got others, and there were mudslides and other horrors.

I'm in "Old Towne" Orange, California. I'm on the flat land, in the Santa Ana Valley, in an old house built to withstand a certain level of flooding. But those who live on the hillsides elsewhere in southern California have had nightmares, some of them buried even in the ruins of their homes. Around here it's just floods, and it's only in my cellar.

You're quite right to not watch the news. It's an unhappy habit. Our friend Kevin is a wonderful man, but he's a... Republican. God bless him.

I was married to one of those once. I'm listening to Steppenwolf right now; can you believe that? Can you dig it?

I'm an unusual man--well, obviously!--in that I at the same time believe in God but find life to be absurd.

I guess I'm a classical Lutheran existentialist. f**k, I don't know...

I'll tell you what, though: I'm sure as hell not a Republican.

Peace.

P. S.: Thanks for reminding me: I have run out of rice. God, I'm sick of rice! Maybe I'll fire up the 1965 Chrysler and go out hunting for apples. Apples are good, along with multigrain baguettes.

Or maybe I'll just slide into another depression and OD on Valium again! Life is a great adventure!

Nah... I think I'll go get some apples. It's not raining, and I think I can avoid flooded intersections. Maybe if I got out of my Noah's Ark here I would feel better, even if I freeze me arse off in the adventure.

So ist das Leben!

You're writing well, by the way. I think this website is getting better. God, it's been pretty much two years of trouble. I must be loyal. I even came back from the dead.

So, instead of rice get noodles or something. Steppenwolf, what do you mean can I believe it, they're a great group! Of course I can dig it, I grew up listening to that stuff.
I was just listening to classic rock myself. Asta, and good luck with those apples.

The storm will be arriving tomorrow and appears to promise severe thunderstorms, potential for tornados, hail, etc. Haven't seen tornado warmings since the week before Thanksgiving. We got 50 inches of rain this year! Once we got 10" in 3 hours. I can't say I'm looking forward to tomorrow. It's always kind of a stressful time when the weather gets in. My mother lives in Rancho Cucamonga and said you received 25" over the past 2 weeks. California isn't use to that. Not much to talk about if it were here. But the ground absorbs rain well here. In CA it's like turning on a garden hose on a concrete slab. The desert ground doesn't absorb the rain well at all. Good luck +Goofball!

Many - Still love the poem. You are a breath of fresh air here!

Kevo

Kevin, you know I love you. There isn't a better man alive, I swear to God.

I'm just having a nervous breakdown, that's all.

If you get your forum straightened out to where they stop ranting about how gay I am--when I'm (duh!) not--I might come back, if I live.

I trust in God and Steppenwolf, as all else slips away out of my grasp...

Haven't seen any sort of ranting at all in a couple of weeks. You are most welcome there. You still have your page, your title, etc. I am optimistic about the site either way. You are still present at the Homepage. I am also glad to continue moderating here. This is a great forum to be a part of. I just like to share! My book is almost done. It has been a real chore, as you well know. I've just about got it. You are a great friend. All of my publishings have been a result of your support, help, encouragement. Thank you, my friend.

Isn't Mandy amazing? She really has great talent. Her writes are like a cool drink of water! It's great to see her here sharing with us.

Big K

Yeah, she IS amazing.

So are you, Super K.

Hell, Kevin, I'm nothing; you're always so damned nice to me...

I'm gonna start crying and make a F**KING ass of myself.

I guess I'd better go to the store and get some apples.

I hope I can write some more sonnets tonight too.

Hey, please keep praying for Silke, would you? We need a miracle. She'll only be twenty-five on the 14th, on Friday. I need her. Can't live without her. Just can't.

I am a amazing. Just kidding, at least you guys aren't dealing with snow, and now we're up for freezing rain and apparently have flood advisories as well.

I deal with 50" rain, tornadoes, baseball size hail, 100 deg + 100% humidity summers, ice storms, and single digit to 70 deg. temp swings in the winter, One day it might be 30 deg, the next 70, the next 30 deg and so on. It could be 65 in the morning and 25 in the afternoon. Very bizarre weather I deal with here. We are an hour Southeast of Dallas, TX.

+Goofball is in Orange, Ca. It's in Southern Ca near the coast.

Where are you at?

Kevo

I think that you win.
I'm in Wisconsin. Although last night I was in Illinois and first there was rain, then fog, and this morning snow! What is up with the weather lately.

beautiful stars here in York, crispy ground and a blown fuse!

When it comes to rainfall we here in the UK use fathoms a s the unit of measure!!!

Send us some wellies please; we always seem to get what you guys pass on to us.

It only has a practice where you are!

Keep safe, Bill.

You win with the rainfall Bill. I'll take the prize (if noone debates) for tornadoes and hail down here in the "Greatest Country in the United States!

I think Mandy sweeps the cold weather category in Wisconsin although a couple years ago I was elk hunting and it was 20 below (infact the whole week the high temp was zero degrees!).

+Goofball got a bit wet but as far as weather he's still a +Lucky little you know what!

Kevo

Right now we're hitting to belows over here. But next week it could be sixty again, it's totally crazy! In October we had a week where it was in the high 70s and then the following week it was like in the thirties and forties. Trust me rymer, right now you don't want our weather. If that's what a wellie is...

Hi Mandy,

A wellie is UK slang for a wellington boot or gallosh; the rubber jobs that keep your legs dry up to the knee (unless of course you let water in the tops, when they keep your legs wet)!

Take care!

Ah Ha! Well, we could send you those then.