“The wall!  The wall is coming down!” O glad night, that you could see this day O bright heart, that you could speak these words The wall;  the knife that separates Badge of the divided self… O hated wall you cannot speak but if you could You would say  “NO!” with cold guarded breath  …

                                                                       Worries Candle Oral presentation  I used to believe myself a strong person in high school. I was very outspoken. I…

I just returned from a time capsule journey to visit my brother at Forest Grove, in the Cariboo District of BC. Nothing has changed at his place over the past umpteen years. Not the wood stove and heater; nor the water buckets; nor the tilted outdoor toilet. Jack and I reviewed tales and experiences almost…

I believe humor which results in the state of mind referred to as “happiness” can be a coping tool for those who suffer from mental health instability. I’ve often wondered how people with huge challenges in life – such as cerebral palsy – can smile so often? Smiling and humorous remarks can be reciprocal in…

The other day I listened to a very articulate member of the Sikh Religious Faith make the statement on TV that “religion should not enter the bedroom” – in reference to the attitude a number of religious faiths have toward homosexuality. As a Sikh he explained that he had no problem with the concept of a civil gay marriage. Therein lies the…

Lately I’ve been hearing remarks such as: we  as human beings are the ugliest species on the planet. By “ugly” I think they mean selfish and uncaring for others. I believe all human beings were given a huge helping of the “selfish” gene in order to survive.  My father-in-law used to philosophize that “Survival” followed by “The procreation of species” were dominant traits in the human psyche.…

Today (May 24th) is Schizophrenia Awareness Day and to commemorate it some of us are going to wear purple- LOOK FOR THE PURPLE SHIRTS. PURPLE-SHIRT CLAD PEOPLE CARE! Why doesn’t  schizophrenia hale Higher on the compassion scale? Their pain is not that obvious Their symptoms do not lobby us. Psychotic symptoms don’t include Blood that’s oozing from a wound…

Prompt: today, as befits the final poem of NaPoWriMo, I challenge you to write a poem of farewell. What will I feel After you have gone When the show is over And I am alone With my reflections I’ve  enjoyed our Conversations My soul has been Enriched Filled  to overflowing By your presence Even as you Go out the…

Today’s prompt: to find a news article, and to write a poem using words from the article. [From article in Prince George Citizen. P. 8. April 28th] Post -traumatic stress disorder, A highly-stigmatized condition, Suicides involving soldiers, Of the Afghanistan mission.   They are taught to hide the pain, Told to soldier on, A counsellor had taught him, How…

Prompt: to write a poem from a featured photograph http://www.reenhead.com/baseball.JPG A youthful ball-player named Brett From Langley BC was beget He joined the Blue Jays Hitting balls quite a ways Much to Boston Red Sox’s  regret!