Article Archives by Subject:  Art

03-11-2012

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The Eagle's Eye
Subject: Then An Eagle

This inspirational poem by my good friend Brian Faulkner, shows what freedom means to those with the spirit to recognize and appreciate it, and is a rallying cry to continue the battle for individualism and liberty. I hope you enjoy it and draw strength from these powerful words.

    Then An Eagle   by Brian Royce Faulkner

    A strange bird sang in the top of a tree;
    I listened, as though it were singing to me.
    He sang of the sky and the winds that are free,
    And I thought of my home as he sang to me.

    I thought of this land of good brave men
    Who carved man's rights with a sharp bold pen
    And buffeted kings right backward again.

    I thought of the coals in those seeing eyes
    That sparked men around them to fight and rise
    And stand up with pride under widening skies.

    I thought of man's energy, surging, spread out,
    Its fiery inventiveness never in doubt---
    Tracks, bridges, highways flung brightly about!

    I thought of vast oceans of gold corn and wheat
    Waltzing the plains with their man-toil complete---
    Sign of long-planning, and happy to be it.

    I thought of men walking and driving, alone,
    No master to whip them, no guilt to atone,
    No guide but the light of purpose---their own.

    I thought of the women, full free now to sing,
    "My life is all mine (Yay!) to do anything!"
    How lightly their steps went a-conquering!

    Then the strange bird flew from the top of the tree;
    I watched it, as though it were flying from me.
    He flew out of sight with the winds that are free,
    And I thought of my home as he flew from me.

    I thought of the bastards who'd broken with truth,
    Who'd thrown away honesty, courage and youth,
    Who'd sold out their souls for a damned polling booth.

    I thought of the altruists, covered with gore,
    Who hated man's living, his death wanted more,
    Who yearned to see all men hungry and poor.

    I thought of the men who just didn't care,
    Too busily pragmatic to doubt or to dare,
    But followed a groove to I-don't-know-where.

    I thought of the teachers, professors, in school,
    Who slighted our forefathers---food for a fool;
    Who conned, de-constructed, and felt they were cool.

    I thought of the force for which evilmen lust
    (While asking for patience, and love, and trust),
    All the while plotting a country gone bust.

    I thought of my life, my work and my right,
    My days full of gladness, my great love at night---
    A long line of hardness and honor and light.

    Then an eagle flew down to the top of the tree
    And looked with a bold eye, fearless and free.
    Right into my soul he went looking at me,
    And I knew I would fight all the powers that be
    For my home of the brave and my land of the free!

Eagle: © 2006 C. Jeffery Small

09-14-2011

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Fun in the Sun
Bora Bora
Subject: Back on the Clock....

I would like to tell you that my long absence from these pages was due to something dramatic, such as a tragic illness, or involvement in acts of international intrigue, or possibly even an important work assignment which exhausted all of my time. But alas, the truth is that I was merely screwing around — albeit in a really nice part of the world!

It was my great fortune to fly down to Tahiti, where I helped a friend leisurely sail his 60 foot catamaran through French Polynesia, then across the Pacific to the very remote Suwarrow Atoll, and from there, further west to the Vava'u island group in the Kingdom of Tonga. But all of that is a story for another day.

In the meantime, while I checked out of all manner of contact with the civilized (and I use that word very loosely) world for six weeks, I left all of you in charge of things and you seem to have done a credible job of management, as I found just about everything — with the exception of Muammar Gaddafi — still reasonably intact.

And by the way, very nice job on your handling of the spot price of gold while I was gone. Excellent work!

But whoa, what happened regarding the federal debt ceiling? I thought we had agreed that we were not going to raise that sucker any further? Seriously folks, I'm running out of space on the right for any more digits!

So it appears that there is much to be done, and soon I will be back to my old crotchity self, railing against lies, injustice and the unconstitutional way. But before I jump back in, I want to share my positive review of an excellent new novel, Hunter, written by Robert Bidinotto, that I had the opportunity to read during my travels, and which I highly recommend.

Click on the book image above to see the full review.


And no, you haven't heard the last of me! :-)