truths once held to be self-evident
that all people were created equal
had been endowed by their creator
with certain inalienable rights
among which were life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
at least that was the aspiration
though it was always more complex
the people constructing common vision
beyond the who and where and when
of origins, tribes, races, creeds
enthalpy of nation-building
mortar that held together
a people rich in their diversity
this experiment of possibilities
sustainable only in the choice
commitment to the narrative
that shared destiny, the journey
which lost, deliberately abandoned
opens entropy's door, a disintegration
into those disparate parts or worse
setting each against the other
the energy that once had built
now tearing, shreds, spins apart
become the power-brokers' choice
divide and rule the order of the day
carving out empires of self-interest
we the people expendable, entirely
Mar 12
Mar 12, 2026 at 4:26 AM UTC
at least there was some honesty
when they chose to change its name
the Department of Defence no longer
now labelled the Department of War
though perhaps they should add
'and Political Assassination'
to ensure that the name
is matched to the deeds
and while they're on a roll
what of those many other
teams, groups, departments
hiding behind titles, acronyms
carefully designed to obfuscate
cabals of mayhem and secrecy
doing their master's bidding
the bloodied fist of politics
its velvet glove discarded
when might's deemed right
ends always justifying means
what names should be given
and who gets to choose
to hold responsibility
Mar 12
Mar 12, 2026 at 4:22 AM UTC
perhaps a certain naivety
the power of positive thinking
deeply desired, longed-for hope
responding to the horrors spread
across centuries of human history
our proven track record for conflict
of war upon war upon war upon war
the choice made for a different path
one of treaties, institutions and laws
places, spaces, opportunities for all
gathered about a shared humanity
which might hold back the flood
resist the tidal ebbs and flows
of tribes, nations and empires
colonialism of land, resources
and for a while they worked
or gave the semblance of
so we bought into them
carried by the dream
yet it only stretched
as far as those with vision
would do the work, pay the cost
carry the peoples with them
build, create a reality
or at least try
new leaders arose
wrapped in power's hubris
the arrogance and ambition of
despot, dictator and demagogue
and of regular pragmatic politicians
who do the calculus of confrontation
the cost benefit analysis of slaughter
justification reasoned and considered
of decisions made in secure bunkers
firing up the propaganda machines
mobilize masses on the streets
wrapped in nationalism's flag
drums beat, the pipes skirl
old rhythms stir the blood
turbocharge social media
emergency laws enacted
overriding the constitution
sidelining the law, the courts
masked forces cruising streets
police, the military, vigilantes too
'them' facing a predatory violence
falling in love with war once more
god siding with the big battalions
so they claim, might deemed right
cranks up the production of death
drones, missiles, bombs, the web
and thus the helter-skelter slips
sliding towards the abyss
when will it be too late
to heed the prophets' words
turn spears into pruning hooks
and swords into ploughshares
even dare to love enemies
to learn war no more
when will it be
to late
Jan 13
Jan 13, 2026 at 2:30 AM UTC
easy to ridicule
yet we spotted the signs
considered the implications
discussed, drew our conclusions
might have left it there, a morsel
filed with accumulated wisdom
passing down the generations
with all that has gone before
yet this required action, urgency
and campfire stories would not do
neither traders nor yet messengers
must see ourselves the truth of it
so off across the plains
following the sky-wonders
mountains, rivers, deserts
joy of the quest, dangers too
seeking, searching, inquiring
traits of rare trust these days
rest places beyond number
the blessings of hospitality
generosity to strangers
journey westward still
with but one false step
who wouldn't seek a prince
in royal courts and palaces
arrived eventually, Bethlehem
under that still watchful star
poor the workers' quarter
a simple temporary home
living space, a work bench
parents, child in whose eyes
reside the depths, the heights
of being, of existence, of ......
totality yet totally vulnerable
we, somewhat out of place
our robes, the rich gifts given
gold, frankincense and myrrh
make of them what you will
yet nothing less than best
was due that infant child
but after having seen
been seen, a question
are we wandering fools
ever the **** of the joke
costly, irrelevant and late
or of other significance
Jan 7
Jan 7, 2026 at 3:04 PM UTC
never mind lords-a-leaping
ladies dancing, drummers drumming
and far too much assorted bird-life
nor even those five gold rings
never mind that night
sleeping out beneath the stars
well maybe not so much sleeping
as discovering passion, love even
today it all comes to this
a business deal at the city gate
redeeming the family inheritance
land for sale and with it me
or the land the sweetener
for taking on the widow
to keep the name alive
a responsibility many avoid
trading begins, Boaz and a relative
to one I'm a liability, to be shunned
for the other a prize to be won
they haggle, it's my life yet
and now the deal is done
as witnessed by the elders
paid for, should I be offended
or rejoice, my future secured
doing what needs to be done
what survival here, now requires
a man's imagination and heart
capture, possibilities create
Jan 7
Jan 7, 2026 at 3:02 PM UTC
was something there
a little frisson in a look
or simply compassion
community expectation
of wealthy landowners
enough left at harvest
for those in life's rough
yet one glance too many
for mere duty's sake
a particular welcome
encouragement to stay
glean, gather only here
water in the day, food
almost one of the team
but what next, such risk
foreigner, of a hated tribe
accepted for Naomi's sake
yet a mis-step, all could fall
not, and what might be lost
move quietly in the shadows
slip silenttly through the night
avoiding attention needs care
denoument in the darkness
cloak lifted, slips beneath
tentative touching shocks
a fierce passion roused
arms, and lips, and *****
bodies with souls uniting
till shared hungers sated
presence rests in silence
murmurings intersperse
with possibilities open
for shared becoming
communal niceties
legal requirements
notwithstanding
Jan 7
Jan 7, 2026 at 3:01 PM UTC
far from home
some foreign land
survival's the question
as it has always been
for those on the edge
refugees or just folk
down on their luck
whose world's fallen
into some deep abyss
needing a helping hand
a welcome, acceptance
kindness, consideration
and for Ruth it was there
in the person of Boaz
the laws of the land too
don't gather dropped corn
don't harvest to field's edge
don't double pick the vines
leave them for the poor
so all who are in need
and struggling
to survive
can
Jan 7
Jan 7, 2026 at 2:59 PM UTC
buried deep in the 'begats'
among the many generations
identified more by patriarchy
than relational complexity
lurk interesting women
distubers of the peace
playing by other rules
of survival in a world
of women often used
used up and replaced
superceded, discarded
Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba
Mary and of course Ruth
King David's great-granny
who captured Boaz's heart
through her faithfulness
to mother-in-law Naomi
'where you go, I shall go
where you live, I shall live
your people will be my people
and your God will be my God
where you die, I shall die
and there I shall be buried'
and his ***** in a dalliance
in the fields by moonlight
but a foreigner and worse
despised, detestable of Moab
lower than the lowest of the low
yet loved, honoured, an ancestor
not just for David but Jesus too
stepping outside the acceptable
forcing herself into the history
never an anonymous cipher
named, revered, a 'begat'
Jan 7
Jan 7, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC
with explosions
rolling around the world
lighting up the midnight sky
the old year passes to the new
resolutions made, maybe to keep
photo-montages and quizzes reflect
a year on which the door's now closed
an open book, fresh page for the new
except its already blotted, stained
by all our on-going, persistent stuff
baggage hung still requiring attention
troubles unresolved, dreams unfulfilled
to say nothing of the world's horrors
streaming through our screens
disturbing our tranquility
fears beyond hope
but this eighth day
a child was named
following tradition
Jesus, the Lord saves
and titles were given
Emmanuel, God-with-us
Prince of Peace among others
and the Logos, the Word
became flesh and
dwelt among us
Jan 7
Jan 7, 2026 at 2:51 PM UTC
sackcloth and ashes
not just people, animals too
and fasting, everyone to fast
Nineveh's ruler heard Jonah
and chose his response
which all were to obey
sackcloth and ashes
they'd listened, reacted
shown willingness to change
and God choosing to forgive
offers them another chance
you'd have thought Jonah
would have been pleased
not one bit, not at all
after all his troubles
storms and fish *****
he wanted Nineveh blasted
expunged, wiped from¹ the earth
yet God was merciful, forgave
as Jonah thought he might
so what was the point
the sailors were nice
praying to the gods, even Jonah's
before reluctantly casting him adrift
the fish was nice, obedient to God
Nineveh's rulers were nice also
calling the city to repentance
the story's only nasty: Jonah
31st December 2025
Seventh Day of Christmas
cf. Jonah 3 & 4
Dec 31, 2025
Dec 31, 2025 at 5:18 AM UTC