I read books again and again,
the characters comfort me
as we grow close over time
their actions predictable
their thoughts always positive
their attitude unbeatable

I read books again and again,
I'm not afraid to say
that I love these people
imprinted on the page,
My time is spent
choosing to continue our journey
a decision they can not make themselves

For my friends in these words
they do not know me or know of me
that I observe them
commenting on their world
which I myself will never get to live in,
Even so with them as my vessel
I do try my best
by reading my books again and again.

Checking on my progress, I’m halfway home
Still enough pages to let my mind roam
I can bounce around, the subject won’t matter
Read between the lines, I’m as mad as a hatter
Oh well, this one will take up another page
I’m taking a break from my regular rage

How to find inspiration?
Google says;
-Try new routines.
-Expose yourself to new environments.
-Start engaging in activities to stimulate your brain.
(EA, Connecting with people, Connecting with nature, Brain Teasers Magazine 1937.)

I say,
Google is a robot.
Trying it’s best to understand,
Lofty human ideals,
When it was programmed to be down to earth.
The real secret sauce of poetry,
Journaling, noveling, shortstorying,
Is living.
I like new books,
Under new skies,
Trying to adapt to a new life.
You may like storm clouds rolling over mountain tops,
Or a crowded dance floor playing Spanish house music,
Neil likes punk rock.
When you’re out for inspiration,
The best place to go,
Is a place you know,
Or a place you’ve never been.

a girl with books
wobbling as she tries to balance them
she cant be older than seven

A boy in the adult mystery section
repeating to himself
"I need a boys book not a girls book"

A mother with her two children
following her like ducklings
leaving havoc as they pass

A girl and her mom
reading aloud
in the middle of the cooking isle

In the debate between dubbing and subbing
I side with subs to savor the original
mellifluous French, Tamil, Korean, Italian...
Reading the subtitles assists the deaf
and hard of hearing although voiceovers
benefit the blind and vision impaired.
Historically dubbing was employed
by fascist governments to advance
the nationalist agenda. In our own time
the tendency to consider dubbers dumb
implies reading’s the indispensable skill.
My wife reads her mail while watching movies
so she prefers dubs. I admire her mastery
of two idioms simultaneously
but my limited bandwidth favors subs.

It started when I was seven,
Wasn't much of a fan of books.
Ignoring everything in class,
Lucky for me,
My teacher refused to call it a lost cause.
She got me reading,
Now I'm here.

Threads
in my mind
weaves mazes,
and I find
you there–
Among all the words and phrases,
And the many works I’ve read–
Holding all the strings in hand.
Connected to everything, everywhere.
When I close my eyes at night,
in each journal that I write,
in the sky and land,

And at the end of every poem–
You're there