words
captured on paper
bound together
words
capturing memories
found together
words
capturing dreams
drowned together
words
capturing whispers
sound together
words
visiting Martin Luther King January 18, 2011
Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.
~ Martin Luther King
Although Dr. King was thinking about the irrational and ignorant hatred between races, there are other things that can apply to this quote.
I’m thinking about yesterday’s blog about long-term relationships. Sometimes a sense of ‘being wronged’ or ‘deserving more’ creeps into the relationship, and if it is unchecked then hatred takes the reins. When the relationship feels lop-sided, when one is feeling held back or impeded by the weaknesses or inclinations of the other, then a sense of injustice brews hatred. When a couple has hatred simmering amid their love, all that is beautiful and unique in their relationship is lost. I like that phrase ‘vital unity.’ Couples desperately need to have a vital unity to face child-rearing, long-term commitment, and the stresses of modern life.
When hatred creeps in, there is no finding joy in each other and the relationship. Objectivity is gone, and the relationship erodes.
Dr. King knew what he was talking about.
making it last January 17, 2011
I was just thinking about how in the first blush of love we adore everything about our partner. All his idiosyncrasies are adorable. All his dreams can be accommodated.
As the relationship ages, we are challenged by everyday responsibilities, financial stress, child-rearing challenges, and over-exposure. The idiosyncrasies feel like personal torture. What if his dreams take him away from you? What if the children play you so well that you are constantly divided until the house feels like it’s at war. What then?
What makes the diffference to getting through those irritations and challenges and going the distance?
Cheers to the couples that make it through incredible challenges. This week a friend of mine celebrates her 25th anniversary to a man she adores. They have weathered 4 children, the arrival of 3 more who needed a family, an accident that led to parapalegia and the ensuing financial challenges. They have raised 7 fantastic kids to be honest and respectful individuals; they have built successful businesses. I am constantly impressed by them.
Happy Anniversary, my friends. I hope you enjoy 50 more together.
people faces January 14, 2011
I was just flipping through a book of writing from when I was in grade eleven and came across this poem. It’s pretty typical 16 year old fare, but there are some big ideas here. Worth sharing, I think.
.
Somewhere
Beyond the traffic and the city sounds
We exist in separate universes.
Pain in the hopelessness
Of the situation stirs, then quietens.
I want to blurt carelessly,
but contain myself
to casual renderings of brief words.
.
I was quiet,
I tried not scream.
I went as far as I could,
but I had to hold back something.
I almost gave everything
but you were holding back, and
I couldn’t give everything if you weren’t.
.
Nothing was comfortable.
We decided everything was my fault.
It wasn’t.
We share the guilt.
We should have tried to work it out.
But we didn’t and we walked away
Without pain.
.
Understand me?
Our peoople faces were still on
When we should have scraped them off.
.
.
(c) Shawn Bird 2011. Original draft written 1981.
(***4A)
winter wind January 13, 2011
Snow dances off my roof
wind weaves white ribbons of light
and holds aloft crystaline
lace doilies.
The theory of invocation January 12, 2011
Some people suggest that because Rotary is an organization that does not discriminate by sex, race, business or faith, that invocations are not appropriate. I support the idea that an invocation to a particular deity is inappropriate, but that the concept of invoking thankfulness or thoughtfulness is always appropriate.
As such, within my blog you will find a wide variety of short prose pieces or poems that are meant to provoke a tone of contemplation in the members. Because my particular club is mainly Christian, I chose to completely avoid what is the norm for us, and therefore I provide options that are completely secular. Eventually I may be adding quotes from a variety of faiths as well.
I hope Rotarians find these neutral invocations useful and I make them freely available for use within Rotary. I know that they are one of the most popular reasons people come to my site. When you use one of my invocations, please acknowledge my authorship when you present it to your club. I’d also be delighted if you’d log into the comment beneath the invocation you share to tell me the name and location of your club and when you used it (or plan to). i.e. “Rotary Club of Salmon Arm (Shuswap) District 5060 BC Canada. January 5, 2011.”
With thanks.
sex education January 11, 2011
At a ProD today they were laughing about this conversation between a student and a young teacher (who was one of my students once upon a time!)
A class was all busily working on an assignment but “Johnny” still hadn’t taken out his work to even begin. The teacher asked him to get to work.
Johnny replied, “Just a sec!”
The exasperated teacher exclaimed, “Johnny! I’ve already given you LOTS OF SECS!”
.
.
By noon, the entire school was laughing about it, and the teacher was thoroughly red-faced. 😉
wealth & dreams invocation January 10, 2011
For the wealth of abundant food to fuel our dreams
For the wealth of prosperity to empower our dreams
For the wealth of good friends to shoulder our dreams
For the wealth of joy when we bring our dreams to pass.
Let us be thankful today.
© Shawn Bird 2011. Free use within Rotary.
Available for free use within Rotary; however, please indicate in the comment section below that you have used it at your club (date and name).something brilliant January 9, 2011
I’m waiting
for inspiration
A brilliant thought
One that will change the world
But I keep being distracted
By Monty Python
and the Meaning of Life.
Hmmm.
Isn’t LIFE
the meaning?
Shawn L. Bird 
A poem by Wendy Phillips January 20, 2011
Tags: Fishtailing, poetry, UBC Creative Writing, Wendy Phillips
I like this poem because it captures something that I see often. Suddenly the communication options open when people master a new medium. Finding new media opens up an audience they would not have reached otherwise. I often set up a “Poet-tree” in my class. It fills a wall. A trunk and branches are on the wall. Students can take green leaves and leave a poem on a wall. It’s a non-credit thing, and some years it gets very little interest, but other years it is a hot-bed of creative communication. Students from other classes will come in to read the poems, because hearts are bare on the wall, and voyeurs watch developments with avid interest.
A young man who has poetry in his arsenal has a powerful tool to capture the hearts of the ladies he admires! If he can set his poetry to music, he has even more power. The ladies will be virtually powerless from his charm!
Yes Kyle, poetry is good for something. In Grace Awakening Ben takes full advantage of the fact! 😉
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