In Search of: WISDOM

Down past the corner
At the very end of the bar
Was a man all alone
With eyes on the stars

He sat by himself
Sipping porter by the pint
Not minding the music
Hardly ever showing a plaint

Would he tell me a story
Shall he give me the time
Will he mind if I ask
Of the steps he has climbed

Surely there is a story
He must have lived a book
The lines on his face
Required a second look

I approached him quite slowly
With respect not held light
He pretended not to notice
But smiled to be polite

Before I could sit down
In the stool next to his
He began speaking softly
Words flowing with a hiss

You come seeking wisdom
I could see it right away
The providence is clear
You, at this time, on this day

Listen very carefully
You will hear this only once
This is your moment
To gather in this providential bunce

I stopped him rather quickly
With a wave of my hand
Signaling him to pause
This humble sage of a man

Your knowledge is great
This I do not doubt
That fact that you'd share
Gives me a feeling of clout

But don't mistake my mission
For the reason is clear
I am indeed on a journey
It's the reason I'm here

The quest I am on
Brings me to you on this day
A question for you
I must ask in this way

In your storied experiences
Have you the words to explain
Can you alleviate my quandary
Will it ease my great pain

Tell me your troubles
I will indeed do my best
To give you the knowledge
Prepare you for life's test

I appreciate your kindness
Your time I surely value
When the time comes to pay
I will give you what you are due

Here is my question
The solution that I seek
Which way is the bathroom
I really need to take a leak

-b2

Did you ever wonder

Has it ever occurred
to you
that this is exactly
how it was
supposed to be

Did you ever wonder
Huh, did you

Has it ever crossed
your mind
that every action
you have taken
led you right here

Did you ever wonder
Huh, did you

Will it ever be
like this
ever again
could it ever be
just like this

Did you ever wonder
Huh, did you

Have you always thought
this way
all the time
that your journey
is picking up speed

Did you ever wonder
Huh, did you

Does it make sense
that you
would be here
in this place
with this thought

Could you even imagine
Well, can you

-b2

Today

Today will be different
Everything changes
right here
and now

Today is the day

I'm going to put
plans into action

take names
kick tail

Today is the day

My 'T's will be
powerfully crossed
my 'I's will be
dotted with a smile

Today
my microwave popcorn
won't have un-popped kernels 

at the bottom of the bag

Hesitation will be
tossed aside
replaced with a sense 

of urgency

Contemplation will 

step aside
for the arrival
of methodical execution

Today
I will re-invent myself
recycle the
biodegradable mold

Today
long term sustainability
will be realized
on a universal scale

Today
I will be first to act
watch your back
be ready for a counterattack

There will be no need
to retract
stretch the facts
kneel to prevent a sack

Today
will be different
today
things are gonna change

Listening will be
active
words will be
well thought

Intentions will be
clear
methods will be
proven

Faith will be
constant
then questioned
tested, lost, then regained
again
stronger than before

Fear will be
respected
but will not under any circumstances
get in the way of expressing
love, compassion, truth

Feelings will be
considered
others will be
recognized

Glory will be
shared
blame will be
kept selfishly

Selflessness will be
rampant
egos will go
dormant

Learning will become
paramount
teaching will remain
heroic

Eye contact will be
encouraged
accepted
returned

Handshakes
hugs
high-fives
will become
commonplace

Touching some one's heart will be
allowed
Opening your own will be
mandatory

Leaders will
follow
students will
step up to the plate

Today is the day
Yesterday is gone
tomorrow never comes

It doesn't matter if you
feel ready
or not
it's here

Today we
fight back
Today we will
come face to face
with our destiny

Today

-b2

'dream big, act swiftly....'

lean in

some of the best
things in life
are never planned
thought of,
or even imagined

they can't be
scheduled or managed
and don't
ever play by
the rules

lean in
you said
I have something
to say
to you

lean in
there's a curve
ahead and we've
got to be
ready for
anything

turns out
you were right
much effort
has to be made
and given

lean in
there's work
to be done
plans to be made,
scheduled and
imagined

lean in
they are depending
on us
you and me
have to
try


-b2

Learning to run.....again.

however brief
there was a time
there is a time now
moreover bereft

moving swiftly
may not be my legacy
standing still does not
come to mind often

whatever occasion
I can put a foot out
following it with
another, well...

inserting in the mouth
became a past-time
twas' past time
in due time

running from
running to
still beats running
options in the queue

not sure where
always know when
gotta get to there
need to do it now

so I run
often and awkwardly
like it hasn't been done
in years

because it hasn't
been done
in years
I run

-b2

I wanna....I'm gonna.....I did.

there's a well guarded spot
in my thought-box
where our journeys are kept

all of it is there
all of it.
I don't go there often
but when I do

giggling out loud
is one thing
snorting to yourself
well that's another

we wanted
we were
we did

the boys don't always admit
that life doesn't suck
sometimes I think
that they don't even admit it
to themselves

but demeanor loses its power
when the bulls are released
in said china shoppe

there will be breakage
there may even be some blood
que sera

they want
they will
it is

it's always the banality
of each and every moment
that fuels my fire

boredom
isn't even a word
let alone an option

if you don't know
who the loudest person
in the room is...

well
I is he
now let's go
for a walk
and whisper.

I wanna
I'm gonna
I did

To write...

to write
oh to write, even if it's not right
to write
when the time is right and money is tight
oh to write

the leads are all broken
the page corners are torn
the hum of productivity has made way for
the dreaded blue screen of death

but all is not lost
oh no, all is not lost
for there is hope, there is always hope
and there is a sky waiting to inspire

to write
oh to write, even if it's not right
to write
when the time is right and money is tight
oh to write

There's a story there somewhere, I can feel it

Never even noticed 

the meter running 

backwards

Was too busy 

gathering up manna 

from the lawn

Didn't occur to me 

that the birds 

were barely speaking

But once they stopped

so did I

but not for long

There's a story there 

some where

I can feel it

-b2

own it......(revisited)

get it
hit it
live it
breath it

own it
wear it
out
share it

we all have
something
that eats us
from the inside

we have
a fire that burns
bright within
the belly

there's never
enough time
to fulfill the needs
of the spirit

there's never
too much passion
for dreams
to be real

get it
hit it
live it
breath it

own it
wear it
out
share it

I once thought
life was a race
now I think
I know better

The real winners
don't run faster
but know when
to halt

Stopping time
in it's tracks
is an art
in itself

Finding the perfect
spot to jump
back in
with a splash

get it
hit it
live it
breath it

own it
wear it
out
share it

dare to dream
dream to dare
everyone's out
to get their share

of peace
of love
of peaceful love
and just enough
to fill the voids

we can't avoid
these thoughts
of grandeur
but maybe, just maybe

we can mark a path
for those who wander
help them along
and get "there" together

get it
hit it
live it
breath it

own it
wear it
out
share it

-b2

inspired by an earlier pontification, also titled "own it"

empower this hour

empower this hour
make it count,
right here
right now

make it work
to your advantage
help it help you
help someone else

empower
this hour
it's the only
one you've got

for a new one
is on the way
appreciate it
for what it is

your only hope

empower
this hour
give it
all you got

let it know
who's boss,
even if it's not
you or me

or even them

empower
this hour
allow it
to breathe

time spent
in quiet thought
is still time
well spent

listen more
than you talk
read more
than you write

empower
this hour
go ahead
I'll wait


-b2

that's what I'm talking about....

yeah

that's what I'm talking about

the last cup of coffee 

fills your cup to the rim
waking up early

hitting it hard at the gym

yeah

that's what I'm talking about

feeling it on Friday

sinking every shot
knowing Who to thank for everything ya' got

yeah

that's what I'm talking about

chasing the dream

and blazing a path
it all adds up

you do the math

waking up thankful

falling asleep at peace
knowing you're on a roll 

that just won't cease

yeah

that's what I'm talking about

hugs out the door

kisses on the way back in
they're always glad you're home however far you've been

lessons to be learned

challenges we overcome

many as a family

all alone for only some

yeah

that's what I'm talking about

listening more than you speak

hearing all that's said
knowing what's important

clear by where you head

focus on the now

plan for what's comes after
there will be time for tears

but now there's only laughter

yeah

that's what I'm talking about


-b2

the bend

'When do we get to the fun part', I heard my son say.
'When does hard stuff end, when will the road start to bend'
'When do we get to the fun part, when can I run and play.'

It resonated with me like the vibe of a thousand Gregorian chants.
Over and over it played, in my head, on my mind, in the air above my chi.
So I had to ask myself in quite the interrogative way,
'When DO we get to the fun part, when do we run and play?'

It stuck with me even as I moved on throughout my gotta-go day.
Pushing, reaching, making things click; often enough to make a grown man sick.
Balance the priorities, spin all the plates, fit in some fun there has to be a way.

Several days later, while sweating and stressing, it came in a flash.
Why fret and run all day long when a destination has not even been picked.
There has to be answers along this journey of lessons that last our whole lives.
There must be a way to even the strain, minimize the pain, all without hives.

Can it be this simple, there has to be a catch.
All I have to do is make time to let it all go.
Be still, meditate, pray. Throw off the lock, undo the latch.

When all is silent and there us a complete lack of focus,
The path becomes clearer, the true priorities come into view.

I'm not a preacher or a mystic, this is no hocus-pocus.

Zero out in order to allow yourself the chance to really zero in.
Unplug, log off, do whatever it takes to keep all wolves at bay.
Be with yourself, without any motive, and find out where you've been.

When do we get to the fun part? You may already know.
But you must take the time to ask yourself the question.
Giving the answer a chance to come when it is so.

When does the hard stuff end, could it be just around the bend?

What if this is the fun part, and we forgot to run and to play.
If I don't show my boys the way, what  kind of message does it send........
....around the bend.

-b2

The Process......

Join me now as the process begins its journey towards the penultimate destination.
Now would be a good time to bury all misconceptions you my still be harboring and get down to making the magic happen.
Don't kid yourself into thinking that showing signs of fear and self doubt will be tolerated at any level.
Feel free to amortize emotions using a sliding scale, denote any subordinate variances on the exit survey found in the arm rest storage compartment.
Morphemic images continue to cloud judgments while inconveniences rule the airwaves.
Conflicting transparencies fall flat to the floor with passion often reserved for collegiate humor.

-b2

'dream big, act swiftly....'

b2publishing - social networking disorder edition

the meaning of strife.....

I embarked on a journey that took me far from my home.
Many moons I was away in search of a noble path.
Climbing rock and crossing treacherous river beds,
I continued on with blistered feet and bleeding hands.

Nothing could stop me from reaching my goal.
No one could reach me as I plodded onward into the abyss.
Days passed and my mind was lost in constant hallucinations.
Finally the destination that had called me came into view.

Just beyond a gnarly aging tree older than time,
In a dark cave lit only by the whites of my bulging eyes.
Deep in a corner sat the wisest of the wise,
Mentor, muse, guru, and saint all wrapped up into one.
Slowly his dark squinty eyes peered at me below
The ragged brim of his filthy rotting sampan.
His right cheek winced several times as he
Struggled painfully to speak his ancient truth.

I knelt before him, more to hear his faint whisper,
Than out of some pathetic attempt at respect.
He stamped his foot twice on the dusty cave floor.
Then breathed into my ear the words I was born to hear...............


"sauerkraut is your destiny......."



-b2

The Wedge

A cold autumn fog rolls into the plateau just after church on Sunday
Low clouds tumble over the tree tops like smoke from a hidden chimney.
Needles and leaves rain down in a never ending shower of fall colors and smells.
The gutters need attention, as does the lawn, but I have other things in mind.
The logs lay before me in a heap. Tangled and twisted, the gnarlier the better.
Scattered behind me the tools of my trade wait patiently knowing that each will have their turn.
The maul is chosen first, it's long handle showing the wounds of seasons past.
With a scared blade that reveals in it's bluntness, proud of every scar it has earned.
Anticipation is relieved as my first swing is released.
I dip into a deep squat just prior to the deep throated 'chunk' of connection.
Missing the vein is moot as the power of follow through overcomes the wood's will to remain whole.
Chips fly as logs fall and the maul continues on not caring that the job is done.
Working the handle to and fro the stubborn tool reluctantly releases its grip from the base log.
Not wanting to lose on ounce of momentum I reconsider the usual plan.
The base log stands before me, its pitted grimace mocking my intentions.
The first whack is denied the soothing sound of splintering oak and barely forms a crack.
Sweat begins to form on the tip of my tested resolve.
A new grip is created while a wider stance is chosen.
The blade faces up its eyes surely closed in regrettable shame.
For now the hammer must come down for the wedge is making an early debut.
-b2
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