A Dark cloud rolls
Across the evening sky
As smooth as a pillow
But as mighty as the Giant 'Phy'

A few drops at first
Nothing to worry about
But as a low distant rumble is heard
Created there is "a shadow of doubt"

And suddenly, "BOOM!" shouts thunder
"FLASH!" says lightning
It sounds as though
The Gods are fighting

And down below
In fields of green lush
Nature is awaking
In this torrent rush

"Hallelujah" shouts the flowers
As they open up to the rain
"Hooray" shouts the bushes
As they are covered in a haze

"At last" says the trees
"We were tired of waiting"
"Haaaaaah" says the grass
As though just awaking

And a boy alone
On the outside varendha with a book
Calls to his mother saying
*"This is nature at its best, come on and have a look"

We dream up the impossible
But it's not impossible if it already happened in our dreams.

When slapped by raving rants
Or flamed with insults.
When slurred by sarcastic sneers.
I know your blood will boil,
And someone will say,
“Are you going to stand for that?”

Ignore that person.
Calm yourself.
Smile (if face to face)
Or take up Poker Mode.
Show annoyance and the enemy has scored.
Do not respond with anger.

If appropriate, try to reason with him, her or them.
Should they not reason, say no more.
Turn it into a joke whenever you can,
Even belittling yourself in an ironic way.

Never retaliate in kind.
Never feed the flamers and trolls,
Either online or in real life.

I see around me arguments go on
And on and on and on…
When will the listen?
Don’t feed the trolls!
How many times must folk be told?
When under attack
That old cliché applies:
Silence is Golden
(And so Powerful).

Paul Butters

Was so afraid to love again
from times that I've been hurt

somehow I knew that the next time
would surely be the worst



she fought her way past all the guards
and blasted through the walls

she stripped away my foolish pride
and then she changed it all



and by the time she finished up
I was a different man

I'm 6 weeks sober, in good shape
but don't know who I am



I gave up all my secrets, too
she kept her mystery

and in disgust, she turned away
from my dark history



she pointed out what I did wrong
and left me in the night

when I had given up my past
and started doing things "right"