You can hide from
the rest of the world
BUT
You can't hide from yourself

Deal with it

I have become
A master at hiding
Smiling just enough

Yet, looking closely
The eyes never lie
The pain; hurt, sadness
All there to see

When the world is
Upside down
I  graciously help others

My undevided attention
Intently listening to
Their problems

So, I don't have to
Share my feelings

Have  you ever noticed
When somebody asks you
"How are you "
they really don't want
To know the TRUTH

Hiding in plain sight

We have become
a society of disconnect
Interactive  on-Line
without physical contact

Walking down the pale blue corridor
Framed doors line the sides, knowing what lies behind
Each door has two buttons, one light, enter or exit

Old victorian furniture, flickering candle light
seems to light the walls, the last door on the left
open waiting my arrival

A lump forms in my throat, my eyes water uncontrollably,
trembling as I gasp for a normal breath
Family look and talk to me ,here nor do I see them

At first, I only dare to see the flowers on the gray casket
my heart races
The bangs on top of her forhead every hair in place
Catholic cross, collar lace, her body out of context
to her personality and soul for those living in the world of their make-believe

They made her into what they needed her to be
to absolve them from any wrongdoing,
her family never understood her
They paid their final respects with hidden emotions of
guilt and shame

I reminisced  of a childhood adventure
implicated
concluded with a smile
Strange what I chose to remember
In the mist of my sorrow

Overwhelming  bewilderment
places left unseen ,words left unsaid  
Funerals are for the living not the dead
through moments like these
one finds inner strength
Tribute to MOM

People say Dogs  are our Children
Let’s explore that notion

We live in the TIME
of the rainbow
Where if you feel IT,
Or think IT
Makes IT SO!
Let’s see what we know!

Both Children and Dogs need you
when they are very small
Dogs don’t wear diapers
Children are not taught how to crawl
By the time children learn to dress
Both Children and Dogs need you less

Children talk incessantly
but don’t always listen
Dogs listen as long as you need
Go for a walk,
the Dog chooses the speed

A Dog will lick your tears
A Dog can sense your fears
Dogs don’t say a word
But their feelings are still heard

When Dogs growl and bark
Their emotions quickly turn dark
Dogs tell you where they stand
Don’t listen, they can bite your hand
Children don’t bite you
Their words do
Both cut just as deep
Into your memory,
these events seep

People aren’t allergic
to their children

If Dogs were our Children ,
When meeting other People
First
they sniff each other’s butts
Friend or foe
That’s all they need to know

People use toilets
Dogs use the floor
There’s an exception
to every rule;
Yes, dogs too
can go to school

Children won’t eat
things they don’t like
Dogs eat everything,
Than throws it up
late at night

Children come
when asked
Dogs run wild
in soft green grass

Dogs have Fur
From head to tail
Children’s unruly hair
can seem like hell

Children don’t get fleas
They get Head lice
from daycare schools
That do as they please
From clueless busy parents,  
Who don’t think twice
Bringing their infected
children to school
Against the Golden rule
Every household,
With a head full of lice
Will tell you
the nightmare
is not nice.

Dogs get stickers
in their feet
Children get
ouches and boo-boos
A cartoon Band-Aid treat

Children kiss you
with love  and grace
Dogs will lick your face

While both Dogs and Children
cuddle all night long
They both fall asleep
with a nursery song

Both Dogs and Children
hog the covers and the bed
No matter how much
Pushing, pulling,
or pleading is said
It’s no longer your bed

In the morning, you wake
Move slowly for heaven’s sake
When children fall into a deep sleep
Waking them  is like
Raising the dead
A dog’s foot and paw
pushing against your head.
Smile with loving contentment
as you slowly slip out of bed.
Children and Dogs need to be fed

Children have their own rooms
Dogs sleep everywhere
there is nothing worse than
Bad Dog Breath and slobber
A dog will alert you
when there’s a robber

Children leave home
when they’re grown  
Dogs are loyal until
the day they die
Dogs do not cry
or tell Lies

Both Children and Dogs
will show emotion
in their eyes
Dogs don’t hold grudges
Or refuse to forgive
Dogs live and let live

Children can’t easily discern
between good and bad.
Children are trusting pray
Now that is SAD
Dogs know instantly
predator or prey

While Dogs and Children
have their merits
Not all People are Children People
However
Only some People are Dog People

The Fugacious hurricane came and went
Useless helpless frustration spent.
The power of prayer Was in the air
Swirling Destruction everywhere

I know better than to worry
Life is always in a hurry
Florida’s Milton hurricane
Had my emotions insane

Predicted to be in the path way
Evacuation at all costs, they say
Phone numbers on your body pray
To notify next to kin if you stay

Predicted a category five house ******
It turned out to be category 3 pretender
15 to 17 ‘ water surge and flooding
Was mild mostly an accumulation of mud

by the grace of God, it grew in size
20 miles north  October surprise
A much wider hurricane appeared
Relief for some Florida’s shift of fears

That’s not to say some were worse for wear
Most Lost power, High winds House, tares
My grandson felt underwhelmed
No Gas he had to stay prayed at the helm

Extreme Wind and Rain Power out
Craziest worry turned to relief doubt
Was this as bad as it will get
Guesstimates It all fell short

All the media hype predictions fizzled
The hurricane rain turned to drizzle
The aftermath clean up will take awhile
People emerged tears grateful smile

Inspired song
Dust in the wind
by Kansas

The faces we show
in the work field,
 Our business or to
our Boss,and customers
The faces we show
at church,
when we ask for
forgiveness and pray
The faces we show
our friends,
Even those differ
with each person

All predicated  
by the walls we so
carefully construct
strategically hiding
who we really are

The faces we show
a loved one
When we
Let down
the walls

The faces we show
to the innocent children
are the most honest  
depending upon
the age of the youth

The inner me is in
direct contrast
to who I am
The only time
we show
our true face
Is when we
look in the mirror

Do we know
who is looking
back at us
Do we like
what we see
Is it you?
is it me?
Push away

We are all
masters in  disguise
Hiding in plain sight

The inner me
is in direct
contrast to
who I am

What I see
in the mirror
I think
HECK NO
Who is that
old lady
looking back
at me

My faces
have deceived
Even Me!

When I was  a child
we dressed up
for Easter Sunday
I wore white gloves and  tights
a flower dress and
white Mary Jane shoes
With white double lace ankle socks
To top off our outfit
an Easter Hat
We were allowed
to decorate it
to match our dress
We sang
“ I wore an Easter Bonnet
With pretty flowers on it”
In fact
The whole congregation
wore a sea of
brilliant colored hats
Flowers tulle and lace
it was our
Sunday Best
My mother wore a mantilla
(A lace covering over her head with a pearl straight pin )
A sterling silver and real pearl rosary and
Her glove collection was something to behold
Today Easter Sunday
Now
no gloves
No Stockings lace
No Easter Bonnets
not one
In fact it could’ve
been people at Walmart
or going to the park
in jeans T-shirts  thongs
nothing special
It saddened me
Times are changing
And not necessarily
for the better
Happy Easter
God Bless

A lasting tribute of
A heartfelt goodbye

Every year the Academy
shows the obituaries of
all those who passed
that corresponding year

Not to impugn upon
Other Actors work,
But there are some
that are above
The rest.

Upper echelon
Royal Crest

My penchant  
for these
Two great
Performers

Gene Hackman
Donald Sutherland
The best
I could find

A legend in thier time.
Certainly
in the hearts of minds
of my generation

Inspired song
My Generation
By The Who 1965

BLT Webster’s Word of the day challenge
March 31, 2025 penchant
Refers to a strong liking for something or a strong tendency to behave in a certain way it’s usually used with  “for”

We stand at the edge of time A precipice
We are the only generation
That is completely different than
Any previous generations

Our expansion of knowledge
In this generation and the things
That knowledge has made possible
Has literally put history on the fast track
Propelling us into the future

The Bible tells us the last generation
We’ll see a great increase of knowledge
Look at every previous generation
This generation has seen an exponential
Increase in knowledge that is unique

Daniel 12:4 oh, Daniel shut up the words,
And steal the book even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro and
Knowledge shall increase KJV

From the time of Christ, until, 1750
Knowledge increased increased slowly
From 1750 to 1908 knowledge doubled
From 1900 to 1950 knowledge doubled

Now the expansion of knowledge,
The Things we know are accelerating at
A Faster rate, Buy an iPhone, it’s already obsolete they build a newer model

The same is true with the computer
The Internet, all new inventions
AI is a perfect example as AI rises
Man, obsolete idle without a purpose

A self learning computer will completely
double its knowledge every 18 months
Very soon it will be smarter than man
Will the computer see man as the threat?

What are we Transitioning evolving into?
Will we still be human or cyborg hybrid?
Just because we can create something
Ethically morally, responsibly should we?

Prosthetics implants new heart, Hips knees
Regenerating skin tissue, IVF, embryo
Computer chip to enhance the brain
At what point did we cross that line?

All in the name of New Improved Better
We have the capacity to make children, outside of the womb. A perfect child.
Who decides, rights to our body humanity

Oblivious people, If we take a stand
We’re scapegoats, toes over the ledge
speak out, they’ll push us off. scary times
Eugenics, downsize eliminate people



Inspired song
Star track (The original series, 1966–1969)
Opening and closing music
“ to boldly go where no man
has gone before”

Pro found
           Saying the
                        quiet part
                                           out loud
                              Living in
            this world
proud

(I had never taught before )
I admit I was excited and nervous

My first night teaching
Was basically housekeeping
Passing out packets explaining
The rules, I was basically preaching

I looked at the sea of eager faces and said “I’m going to give you all an “A”
right now. Everybody in this classroom has an “A”in the class.!”
All the students cheered loudly
A Student asked “ what’s the catch?
I smiled and said
“It’s up to you to keep it”
The class exploded with nervous laughter

The same Student raised her hand
(an eager ******, I thought Good)
Great, my first real question
“ isn’t it time for our break?”
I was not told anything about a break
I didn’t wanna make a mistake

So I began to ad lib. the conversation
Does everybody believe
we should take a break?
Every hand went up
Yes, said a student. All the other students nodded their head in agreement.

And when are we
supposed to have our break?
Again, all the hands went up
Student said
“ about now for 15 minutes”

OK we’re all on the same page
so nobody should be late returning
Let’s take our break now.

As an adult instructor
One must exude confidence
Be Sure of all explanations and answers
And At times to finesse
The situation from escalating

While working on an
Emergency medical hotline,
If we didn’t know the answers

we had a pack phrase “
“I’m going to do a little research to make sure  I’m giving you the most up to date accurate information”.
OR
Let me check into that and I’ll get back to you.(give a call back time)
Make sure you call back
You’re only as good as your word.

To reiterate
It’s OK to not know the answer,
Never say “I don’t know the answer”
Never let them see you sweat
Fake it, until you make it
If at all plausible ad lib.

My last poem
“ start at the beginning and shine “
Suggests with read first post
I proceeded to go to the first poems
of some of my favorite poets
However they had so many poems
I was unable to get to the beginning
Hense False Start

So now my friends
I need to know
the names of the poem(s)
You want me to read

I can look them up by name
if I tap on the poem list
it has an A through Z
And most popular options

so let’s try it again
Please leave me the name of the poem
You wish me to read
Let’s start by letting to know
Each other
My first poems is
“His Mistress “

Brothers and Sisters are we
standing proud of our heritage tree
Deep rooted values are held so dear
Our family bond that kept us near

One by one we married or moved away
Yet still remain close to this very day
we have all grown in our love
Our Parents and Peter keep watch from up above

As we start to reach old age
will look back on life and love as our gauge
Smile knowing for better or worse
A Bowen giving up, now that would be a first

Sitting back in our rocking chair
Jessie and I will both be there
Life passes by in the blink od an eye
Proud to be a Bowen until the day we die

Getting to know my poet friends
Is more then just the means to an end

I’m learning to navagate this site
What each catagory mean in its own right

Clues to poets you can find
If you only take the time

Since many have no bio to  reveal
Through their poems learned crumbs one can feel

Also who have they chosen as the poet’s they like
Following the clues is like riding a bike

Favorites is a good place to start
These clues are more then a stab in the dark

You can read poetry that has touched them in some special way
While also reading what a new voice has to say

It’s a win win if you ask me
Because I’m rather an open book you see

There are many times when I too hide in plane sight
Those are poems for another night


Inspired song
1) Watch the detectives by Elvis Costello
YouTube

New Year s Eve parties
We “dressed to the nines “
Fancy frilly Dresses
Hair updos, nails, lashes
Dress to impress.
but it’s all for fun.
Ready to ring in the new year
with those we hold Dear.
Remembering
those who are no longer here.

As we count down
the seconds until midnight
A sparkler for delight
Holding our loved one tight
Fireworks,Noice makers
popping streamers Watch them fly high into the sky.strategically position
In the middle of the dance floor,
Five, four, three, two, one…
“Happy NewYear” The crowd cheers
The bells begins to ring,
Well wishes, Cheek Kisses
Collectively, We all begin to Sing.  

Should old acquaintances be forgot
And never brought to mind

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and Auld Lang Syne

For Auld Lang Syne ,my dear
For Auld Lang Syne

We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For Auld Lang Syne…

There’s actually more lyrics to this, but nobody ever sings them?

Have you ever wondered
What this song means?
After a few drinks,
it doesn’t really matter
A hill of beans!

Auld Lang Syne means,
Old or long since, Old Times

It invokes feelings of nostalgia, especially to memories of good times spent.
Should old acquaintances, be forgot, and never brought to mind

Serves as a reminder to cherish those fond memories that We’ve already had,
Which makes the song
A perfect New Years Eve song.

This song was written centuries ago. A Scottish poem, updated by Robert Burns, in 1788, Who gave a new modern version from the original poem. by author Alan Ramsey.
Please share with me
How do you Ring  
in the new year.

I


Careered  


            Along


                    The


                       Narrow


                               Roads


                                        I

              ­                            Never


                                           Considered

                          What


                                          I’m  


                                   Doing


                                              I

                                                   Just


                                                Considered

                                The


                         ­     Inertia


                               Of


                              The


                        ­      FALL




Inspired song

Free Falling
By Tom Petty 1989

Please excuse me I am not one to rant and rave
I need to vent some frustrations I crave
My patients are ****** beyond belief
This sites’ flaws are a thief
I have have lost parts of poems two completed ones as well
Written on the cuff
It’s a nightmare a living hell
The perfect poem lost in time

This is a unfortunate  crime
I hope you all learn from my pain
Write it out so your original remains
Lost the  sentence are easy to fix
But disrupts the flow creating a new feel mix
That’s not always a good thing first the curser drops Down
Several lines then the fun begins its happening now
Making corrections hard to manage
I know this site is free is it just me
I have know poets to leave in the past
Pleaset tell me these problems will not last
Or I fear more poets will be a thing of the past
I love the people on this sight
But posting is a constant fight

Valentine’s Day has it’s roots
in an ancient pagan festival

The Lupercalia Festival
Ancient Romans celebrated Lupercalia Day  
A fertility festival on February 15

St. Valentine, the Catholic Church established
February 14 asValentine’s Day

To separate the church from pagan rituals
Dedicated to the Roman, god of agriculture  
For The founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus,
it was celebrated with animal sacrifices,

The ritual; Men gently slapping women
With crop fields and raw dead goat, hide strips
dipped in blood, which is thought to help fertility

(Hence the Blood Red color was a major contributing factor to the ritual)

Medieval beliefs
lovers recited verse of prose to each other
on Valentine’s Day,  

some believed birds chose their mate on that day

  The poet Geoffrey Chaucer linked Saint Valentine with romantic love in the Middle Ages
with his poem The parliament of the fouls


Saint Valentine was a Catholic priest
in Rome in the third century.

He was known for performing secret marriages
for young couples, which was against
the emperor’s orders.

He was executed for defying the emperor’s
band on marriage and for trying to convince
the emperor to accept Christianity

Medieval celebrations
Valentine’s Day is celebrated by
exchanging cards, flowers, and gifts.
It’s a day to recognize the ties
that link people whether couples
friends or family member.

Valentine’s Day
Has its roots in an ancient pagan festival
In the 1300s it officially became a holiday associated with love

Cupid has roots in Greek mythology
You may be struck by Cupid‘s arrow
according to the ubiquitous cherub.
Origins can be traced back to 700 B.C.
An ancient Greek hero.

The Greek god of love was depleted as a handsome young man and had power
to make people fall in love overtime.

He was adopted by the Roman’s
and became known as a cherub, his image changing to the little boy with the bow and arrow because of his love inspired powers

He became linked to Valentine’s Day
by the turn of the century.

Big Business Commercialized the holiday.
A profitable venture evolved over time.
They preyed on the human heart

The tradition of giving Valentine’s Day
Flowers dates back to the 17th century

Not until the 1840s
Did we get the First mass produced
Valentine’s Day cards

Nearly 250,000,000 roses are grown
In preparation for Valentine’s Day each year. Millions of flowers are grown around the world and shipped to the US specifically for February 14.

They come from Ecuador Kenya in Columbia.
While RED is the traditional symbol of love
Other colors ; deep pink, purple and white, symbolize, happiness, royalty, and sympathy

Americans spend a lot on LOVE
America spend nearly 26 billion on Valentine’s gifts  In 2023 people spend on the average
Of $193 for Valentine’s Day

Americans send 145 million on
Valentine’s Day cards each year
Booklets were created to
Help people write Valentines

People spend millions of dollars
on gifts for their pets

in fact around 27.6 million American households gave Valentine’s Day presents to their pets in 2020
more than 17.1 million spent for gifts were for cats

American household spend estimated $751.million
on gifts for their pets on Valentine’s Day
That number grows every year..

Candy is the most popular gift to give
The first heart shaped box of chocolates was introduced in 1861

Conversation hearts
got their start as medical lozenges
( sweet tarts with little sayings on them)

But it wasn’t until 1866 that we first got
Sweet messages on conversation hearts

More than 8 billion conversation hearts are given with 45 different sayings included; true love,
hug me, and you Roc. personalized orders began to escalate, sales sword no one could get their hands on convention hearts until 2019  new words of encouragement were added to sweethearts in 2022
Way to go ,crush it , high five

It’s one of the most popular days for proposals
It’s celebrated differently all around the world
Valentine’s Day horror movies
are a growing phenomenal

XO did not always mean hugs and kisses. The Washington Post reported that symbolize the Christian cross in the letters, ended
every love letter with the sign of the cross
XO  meant sealed with a kiss.💋

Love birds are actual birds
Birds are a very significant part of Valentine’s Day

There is an official Valentine’s Day
alternative for singles

International QUIRKY-ALONE  DAY
it is a holiday for single people on the same day
.
The holiday isn’t an anti-Valentine’s Day event, but rather a moment to celebrate
self love and platonic relationships

Quirky Alone Day
has been celebrated globally since 2003.

William Shakespeare inspired the tradition by writing a Billet-doux a letter to Juliet

Inspired by tradition
four states have a city
named valentine

Although this holiday is a hodgepodge
loosely put together with no real tradition
other than rituals it has flowered into
an significant part of society culture

Inspired songs
1)Were have all the flowers gone
By Johnny Rivers
2) Valentine written by Jim Brickman
Song by Martina McBride

In college, I  started golfing
I thought it would help my swing
Course correction I didn’t learn a thing
I gained more bad habits in between

Golf was created within Love, and hate
Many emotions to communicate investigate
Poetic words flow, negate the verse
Continually modifying and rehearse

The most elusive game you’ll ever play
Golf can make or break your day
Transfixed Frustrating, irritating time
Completing a great game is sublime

Learn and grow as you go
You’ll never learn everything to know
My dismay recalling a friend’s worst day
Disaster hit at the first hole sandpit the grid

By hole 5 his game sunk skunk pound sand
On the Golf cart a hotdog in his hand
An Eagle swooped down, taking
The Hotdog and bun from his mouth
The Eagle flew Heading Due south.

Yelling and screaming as if that
Would make the bird give his hotdog back
Lunacy, frustration, humiliation on track
He threw his lunch sack at the Bird
You had to be there The picture was absurd

Washing down a beer tremble in fear
He’d never experienced a big bird so near
The back nine would be better get in gear
Both ***** hit the water in the drink
This is when he should’ve stopped to think

One could see the blood boil in his eyes
What came next was no big surprise
Third ball hit the water in the drink
Throwing his monogram bag,&clubs in a
Blink watched them slowly sink sink sink

That was it. His day was done
Under the Beauty of the setting sun
The golf course Won, took its toll
That Fateful day He lost a bit of his soul

The profanity filled the air
Decorum lost he didn’t care
Golf and stuff Fished out the clubs and bag
Shining with mud The Gold monogram tag
Other golfers ***** filled the leather bag sag

He cut off his nose to spite his face
He never went back there saving grace
Never retrieved his bag it was tainted
The leather colors ran together painted

As to his set up a second gift from Daddy
Son “Next time use a Caddy!”

Inspired song
Bohemian Rhapsody – a golf parity tribute
YouTube By Nigel Tait June 14, 2014

Keep repeating the lie
Until the lie becomes the truth
Rumor mill working on overtime
innuendos media gossip

When every network and
the White House Regurgitate
The exact same thing word for word
Something shady is a foot

Teaching a section on job preparedness
A narcissist student puts down others to make herself feel more superior.
So much so she creates tension in the class

I pulled her aside and said “you need to treat this classroom like it’s your job.”
She said” I know how to act at work”
She landed her dream externship

She lived across the street. walking to work
Externship 14 Business days 80 hours
Management started hearing hellacious gossip but wasn’t sure the source.

A young lady came in for an interview,
my student said”I know her she’s gay.”
The manager heard what she said
“ we have a zero tolerance policy”

Manager: “I am interviewing this candidate, and that cannot be a factor. If I hear anymore on the subject there will be consequences”

My student didn’t hear a word the manager said. shortly after The incident
I received a letter
Management terminated her externship.

They didn’t want her even for FREE.
Her dream job down the drain.
She had a hard time getting a job
that incident, is on her transcript

Perhaps she can get a job with the news
She has a lifetime of gossiping experience
She hasn’t learned a moral lessons yet
If college doesn’t fit, have a back up plan