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Poems and Thoughts by Frank Maurer

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Current Events

Contemplation opus 42

I contemplate the Russian destruction of Ukraine with tragic amazement.
How can the whole world allow such savagery to occur?
Ah, the blackmail of that possible nuclear retort.

Have we really come to this?
That we can obliterate a nation bit by bit
And no finger is lifted to oppose the oppressor directly,
Because of the fear held that the entire world
Will be terminated in a Nuclear Winter.

When will North Korea begin to truly spread its wings?

USA! opus 43

This is a country which is butchering (harvesting?) its young.
USA!   USA!   USA!
This is a country which is held hostage by the gun industry.
USA!   USA!   USA!
This is a country which may never be able to make the humane choice.
USA!   USA!   USA!
This is a country which, if the guns don't destroy it,
The thoughtless inability to stop the creeping CO2
and methane and flooding will.

USA!    Usa?    usa??

Have a thoughtful Thanksgiving.

News Flash!! opus 44

News flash!! (NPR) "Species of bird which are more specialized
Will be more vulnerable to extinction, resulting from climate change."

Duuh! Compare a specialized warbler to a generalized crow or jay!
So this is why the 'generalized' human,
With its opposable thumb, super brain, and upright posture,
Can cause the imbalance of our Earth's climate,
And, if lucky, might be able to repair it?!

(Written on the anniversary of Darwin's publishing his
'On the Origin of Species', 24 November 1859.)

Our Second Amendment opus 46

"A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Now we interpret an 18th century document
To fit our 20 and 21st century desires.
Do we adhere to the Collective Rights Theory,
Or cling to the Individual Rights of our egotistic culture?
Was this written to protect the State or the Nation,
Or to be used to wantonly murder fellow citizens?
"We" have made one choice through Supreme Court decisions,
When the larger population favors another.

"Things smell rotten in the State of Denmark."
Where are we now, and where on earth will we ever go?

Just What are We all About? opus 93

I am listening to NPR and their continual reporting
Of the Russian atrocities committed on the defiant Ukrainians.
It is sickening how we, Homo sapiens, treat each other.
We continually manifest the output of our reptilian brain:
The 'us and the them' with a coin flip as to how 'the them' is treated.
On the one hand we react with tremendous evilness.

The Turks on the Armenians;
The English on the Scots and other Celts;
The French on the Breton population;
The Germans and Austrians on the Jews;
The US whites on the African black slaves;
A. Lincoln on the severing of the Western lands
So as to cripple its Native Peoples
With the 'gifting' of the 40 acres and a mule.

On the other hand, the total opposite manifests:

William Penn peacefully negotiating and paying for the first PA territories;
The great female Russian ruler, Catherine, abolishing slavery;
The Germans and the Dutch, harboring Jewish families;
All those involved in the 'Underground RailRoad';
The brave pilots delivering supplies during the AirLift to Berlin;
Martin Luther King continually braving racist threats;
Susan B. Anthony and the other women on a fast to create the vote for women.
Such violence contrasted with such compassion.

Wouldn't it be so simple to create true peace,
As our cousins, the Bonobos, have evolved to do,
By abolishing aggression, culminating with a gentle act of intercourse.?

AI (Artificial Intelligence) opus 108

What sort of warped mind
Would fake the countenance and words of the Pope?
Or fake those of presidents or film stars?
Will AI be utilized to rewrite our 'holy' scriptures?
(Hmmm--substituting one set of myths for another?)
Will there be a time when counterfeit news
Won't be discerned from what actually occurred
So that populations will be manipulated like a circus elephant?

What of our science reporting--
Completely constructed from AI--
(Many papers now submitted, are already based on this horrible flaw.)

And students--from high school to university--
Will their degrees be as fake as their 'research'?
Will our society ultimately be just a house of cards
And collapse around us in a heap of confused rubble?

Will missiles be so supersonic
That only AI might be able to intercept?--
Decisions required to be made so fast--way beyond human ken.
Regarding this; one voice has cried out:
'May such systems at least be programmed
With compassion and understanding
To result in a more 'human' outcome.'

There are of course, positive uses for AI;
In medicine, engineering, bioscience, various devices, and possibly even art.
But is the tradeoff otherwise worth these AI 'advances'?.

Atomic energy was once viewed as a 'saveall' for the world,
But, as is now occurring with nuclear-armed Russia over Ukraine,
Will the world be held helplessly as a hostage
To the possible outcome of our own creation?

The House opus 196

(1220 Hours)There once was a House with many members.
This House had a leader. The House was divided in thought.
There came a great disagreement.
One side was even divided within itself.

A very necessary government decision had to be made,
But there were not enough votes within that one side;
That side was barely in power in the House.
The leader refused to use votes from the other side.
If he did, his side threatened to replace him.
The leader tried to make decisions using only his side's votes.
Nothing worked because the vote did not reach the necessary majority.
In desperation, the leader attempted to include the other side.

(1810 Hours) News Flash! The leader saw the light
And successfully included the other side in a vote--
Perhaps to his own detriment,
Gaining 45 days to allay the government shutdown.
There remains some humanity and wisdom in our ever-dividing society!
But now the question. Must this all be repeated soon again?

{The answer now is yes because the leader
Was instantly voted out--seemingly betraying his comrades.
The split and great gulf is now more hopeless than ever.}

Gaza opus 219

At present 12,000 taken / gone.
Many, now unknown.
Taken by whom?
So many--
Does it really matter?
How many innocents must be sacrificed
From any side
To justify the end?

An Atomic Tragedy opus 226

No atomic blast has yet occurred,
But we witness slow, deliberate Ukraine destruction in spite.
How could this murder and mayhem tenaciously obtain,
When no atomic blast has even been ignited?
Fear, blackmail, bullying, unfair advantage, holding hostage,
And no one dares to counter
For fear of horrible reprisal--
Basically, any direct counteraction,
Undoubtedly, could lead to world-wide devastation.
Paralyzed to counter directly,
For fear of direct self-ruin,
Allows the annihilation, murder, and mutilation
To uncontrollably continue.

An Email to a Jewish Friend opus 238

I just can't talk about all this horror.
It might have been predicted,
Which really makes it even more tragic
And just terrible for both sides.
It is tearing our country apart,
Including the challenge to the
Traditional 'free speech' in our places of learning--
Even your Harvard is crumbling.

I am overwhelmed with pain.

F.

Two Types of Blackmail opus 240

Two types of blackmail are holding at present the modern world at bay--
One needed solution is how to counter the slaughter of the Ukranians
Where if pressed too hard, there is the constant fear of nuclear retaliation.
The second needed solution is how to counter the slaughter of Palestinians
When there is the continual religious guilt and pain, knowing that at one time,
The aggressor was once the victim of slaughter of its own.
With more love, compassion, and understanding from all,
This totality of basic cruelty might be mercifully obliterated and resolved.

6 January 2024 opus 258

Today, the 6th of January is three years from the time,
When we all watched in real time, the invasion of our Capitol.
Today, in spite of the actual empirical evidence,
There are many, potentially destroying our democracy,
By actually denying that such a disruption ever occurred--
"It was only a group of enthusiastic tourists visiting their Capitol ."
Are we on the verge of a crumbling and destroyed democracy,
Where lies become the final truth?
Are we actually in this adumbration of a terrible future?

Lies are always, historically, uncovered and found out.

Replications opus 260

Is there a differentiation between
The confining, inescapable borders of Gaza,
Or the cattle car walls, transporting people
To their potential demise?
See how the protagonists shift, but a similar model
Often appears in our contentious human history.
There are only so many models of historical outcomes
Which can be replicated by this 'intelligent' human animal!

(2 to 12 to 21 to 22K at present.)

Alexei Navalny opus 302

Such a waste of an incredible mind.
Such a devotion to freedom and democracy.
Such patriotism for a lost cause country.
What could have been obtained, if he were in charge?
A country with such a past
Of tragedy, drama, color, and history.
Oh, Russia, what have you lost
By your leaders murdering such a being?
We will never know,
But there is always anticipation
That such a miracle might ever occur again.

The New Palestinian Nation--A Proposal opus 309

Is it a good idea--wise--to create a new Palestinian Nation,
Divided between two territories--Gaza and the West Bank?
I am suggesting that the two areas be combined to one,
Total acreage would be the same, but a question--
To which general area would the combined Nation be established?
My thought, without profound research, is possibly that
The West Bank area should be 'transferred' to Gaza
So that Palestine would border Egypt, having a substantial seacoast.
This would cause a great uprooting of the established Israeli population,
But Israel did cause the centuries-old uprooting of the Palestinian people in '48.
This would establish a strong nation, having a connection with the world.
One way or another, this potential challenge could be faced.
So much was formerly taken from the Palestians
And if the Jews could have carved out a new Israel-Nation,
The Palestinians might be given the equivalent for THEIR new nation.

Invaders, Conquerors, and 'Gentle' Expansionists opus 312

Introduction: I was born in and have travelled through or lived in
Many areas of the world where aggression was used to occupy.
Areas are taken over by another, generally,
Because of politics, history, religion, or for natural resources.
The means and methods of these conquests
Will usually determine the ultimate outcome.
These are the basic thoughts I have when I ponder this human trait.

Now, we are living through the present Gaza-Israeli War
With all its complications to sort out for proper comprehension.
Going back to historical examples, we have the Gauls,
Gengis Kong, and Alexander, among others,
Who basically invaded and conquered outright,
Often leaving military to continually oversee the vanquished population.
The Romans had a different approach: they conquered, then offered citizenship--
'Join the military, serve Rome, and retire with rank and property.'
This method of conquest incorporated the losers into the system, with all its benefits.
William Penn, a Quaker, 'created' Pennsylvania by negotiation, bargaining,
And thus demonstrated that two 'opposing' groups could actually survive together.

Then, there is the other side of the coin, those using blatant invasion and force alone.
A tiny example is the Scottish attempt (1695) to create a trading post in Darien, (Panama).
Today, we hear of the dense, miles-long jungle through which migrants now must encounter.
The Scots lasted a few years, politically alone, with no backup
From possible forces (England, Germany, Netherlands),
Which could have aided a forceful establishment in Darien--
The native people felt threatened and thus destroyed the whole project.
A second attempt was finalized with an attack by the Spanish!
Another--England desired a foothold in Ireland and carved out Northern Ireland;
The brutal takeover was so severe, augmented with tremendous religious difference
That only hundreds of years later was the continual smoldering hatred softened.

No group can knowingly take over another, to be occupied territory,
Without expecting violence and continual hatred, unless there is
Gentle and negotiated preparation for a population's entry.
Israel, where I have lived for a while is today manifesting
The horror of rebellion, because of a lack of proper planning.
With only a surrogate US/British/UN force for backing,
The State was created by placing the 'conquered' population
Into segregated camps, where they just simply languished.
(I remember my grade school weekly newsreels clearly depicting these scenes.)
By not properly preparing the existing population and surrounding Muslim countries,
It was only inevitable that continual hatred and violence would endure.
Demanding, for good reason perhaps, a one-religion state,
Plunked into the middle of an 'adversary' religious milieu,
Could one have not, without good introductory 'PR', expected anything else?
(While touring around Jerusalem (1970's) with a fellow professor,
He showed me many neighborhoods, explaining that it was his opinion
That the black segregated Jews in ghettos, the division of
Orthodox and Reformed Jews, and the Arab-Israelis with lesser status,
Juxtaposed with the arrogance of the European Jews
Towards those other non-European believers of the same faith,
All, he felt, would be the possible internal reasons
Why Israel might fail as an experiment.)

Religion-wise, look at the cleverness of the ever-spreading Catholic Church.
They 'conquered' (sometimes with an army) many areas
With their brand of a pathway to god,
But as they infiltrated, they merely renamed the native religious ceremonies,
Saying that they were basically the same (as they might have been!),
But the acceptance of the new names would include those conquered
In the greater power now available to them with this new religion.
To remain a conqueror with unwavering, complete purist dogma, often leads to downfall--
A successful conquering group must always compromise in order to reign,
Even if it results in a new reality for both groups--the conquered and the conquerors.

Our relations with world events opus 330

Dear Arthur,
We have known each other, off and on, for many years.
When I was talking with you about insects in the diet,
You became flustered and suggested we only email each other.
(My research determines that at least grasshoppers are acceptable.)
I replied that I would not have such a relationship and we must wait.
We had a pause and then the Gaza crisis occured.
I am heartbroken that this is happening.
As a Jew, I am quite sure you constantly have lived a defensive life.
(You have told me several incidences of such in your life.)
I have therefore stopped communicating to lessen your anguish.
Whenever all this is resolved, we might continue.
I am sure my interpretation of history and events are different from yours--
You have already countered me on such.
No matter what our opinions or interpretations are,
You and I will not change any of the unfolding terrible events.
But, better, to argue or avoid the subject in silence--
Both would be painful and therefore silence is best at present.
There may come a time when this might change.
In the meantime, we must, each in our own way,
Simply suffer during this horrible man-made catastrophe.

Be as well as is possible.  Frank.

Can Revolution be Justified? opus 337

Revolutions by 'imprisoned populations' against powerful powers
Have occurred throughout history.
Our own U.S. revolution erupted when the once devoted population,
Had been taxed, countered, and had their freedoms slowly removed.
The French followed, revolting against their haughty Royalty.
Many such revolutions have erupted with similar motivations--
Haiti in 1804 being another, which freaked out President T. Jefferson!

Now we have the eruption of Hamas in Gaza,
Revolting, once again, because of a controlled population
Which basically has been held in an 'open air prison' since 1948.
What they did on 7 October 2023, was an horrid act,
But nonetheless a revolt, poorly, ideally, representing 'their people',
Screaming out once again that enough is enough.

The world, in the past, could have guided events,
So that the Palestians, who forcibly lost all their land,
Could have maintained dignity by possessing their own Nation-State
In a Two State Solution, created at that time,
So that these 'losers' at least maintained some dignity
With their own continuing, prideful legacy.
In this light, and compared to the origins of many other world revolutions,
Is it really so mysterious as to why this horror actually erupted?

Any Compensation for Palestinian Lands? opus 356

Much before the creation of Israel in 1948,
Palestine endured great turmoil
With continual internal harassment,
From those anticipating, at last, a Jewish State--
Even to the point of poisoning drinking wells
To remove both human and animal from their homes.
The oppressed side calls it Nakba which it seems
Will never be forgotten, thus perpetuating
The present great unrest.

Perhaps if established today, in the light of justice,
Might there not be from the start,
A logically created two state solution--
Each side maintaining its national dignity and pride?
How simple and straightforward a conclusion
For the equality and autonomy of both--
And how, so much strife might thus be avoided,
Both in Palestine and for the concerned world at large.

The Wisdom of the Inexperienced opus 358

I was talking with my ophthalmologist about world affairs
In the few extra minutes we are allowed in our pressured medical world.
He said it was, "Too bad that our (USA) students
Should be demonstrating about Gaza."
His thought took me back to my Vietnam-demonstrating days.
The country was then in turmoil, some of my family even disowning me,
But we finally stopped the brutal, horrible, unnecessary war,
And now we are friendly and trading-allies!

Today, the Palestinian situation of injustice has commenced long enough,
And a just Two State Solution is what must obtain.
Religion, guilt and fervor entwined us in this--mess.
For my whole life I have endured and anguished with these conflicting peoples.
Uncomfortable as it may be, are once again our students correct?
Students are lacking in much experience and knowledge,
But there is a childlike, youthful innocence towards what is right.
Thinking human animals often create uncomfortable situations,
But youth, where and when they are allowed to speak,
Often show what is the right and just path.
They are the ones, when contemplating the implications of their future lives,
Who resist their stagnant elders, mired in their indecision,
And cry out, "We do not want to inherit the world you are presenting us!"
Unlike their tired elders, youth are full of energy
And that energy often is directed towards a better life
Which they wish to pursue into their unknown futures.

Mohammed of Gaza opus 363

His name is Mohammed.
He lives in Gaza.
At 14 he was exploring
The ruins of his home
And came across a canister.
Resulting from the powerful explosion,
He has no left arm
Nor any right-hand fingers.
(His brother helps him to urinate.)
Saved by four doctors,
He may still die--
There is no medical backup.

Ten percent of all bombs
Remain dangerously unexploded.
It will take 40 years in the future
To clear all unexploded explosives.
During that period many inquisitive children
Will continue to die.

Is Our World Losing its Finest Democratic Republic? opus 381

Its Supreme Court is now destroying long-term precedents.
A candidate is running again, despite his crimes and untruths.
A party of the House is following that candidate, gobbling all.
Basic human freedoms, including power over women's bodies,
Are slowly eroding to nothing.

Unheard of power is now allowed for the presidency.
"No man is above the Law."
I recollect the history of Russia and Germany,
Including so many small powers throughout history.
Will the logic of the people utilizing their pending vote
Block at least a part of this potential huge shift in law and history?
Four months remain. . . . .

A Regrettable Decision? opus 405

{I do not write this as a criticism, but rather as just a future question,
given the difficult and often tragic situation in which Israel
continually finds itself.}

At the present time a never before phenomenon is occurring--
With the horrors of Gaza, many Israeli Jews are deciding to leave their country.
Since 1948, continual conflict, death, and constant disorder has obtained.
By adding a group's theology into the sea
Of an 'antagonist's' territory it seems no rest will result.
Will historians of the future be studying the question:
Was the creation of the State of Israel
Possibly be one of the most regrettable decisions (for all)
Made by basically compassionate thinkers?
In one hundred years what might be the majority opinion?

Friday Night! (An 83-year-old's Perspective) opus 409

A long day today with chores and calls.
Just finished shopping in town--all on electricity (plug-in hybrid!).
Now I am back home and spacing out.
Thinking about what Friday nights used to be--rushing here and there--
For pleasure or some sort of entertainment.
Now, at 83 this month (!), I am content to relax and think:
Of my children and grandchildren and our future--
Just picked up a book 'The Heat Will Kill You First' (Goodell).
My house is 82 degrees at 1800 Hours and AC is not on.
Ready tonight to do a letter or two--
More fundraising for my Quail Ridge Student Endowment.
Small tortoises ready to be brought back into the living room--
Raccoons out there at night!
Two hens guided into their little coop for protection.
TV news coming on--Kamala--a Boudican Celtic Queen!
Mail to sift through, sending out small donations here and there.
Had squid for lunch--perhaps now just an egg with a sip of Sake?
I am moderately content--wish for more family contact.
Oh, I just received in the mail a 'Sitting Liberty' 1860, 50 cent piece,
Retrieved from the famous SS Republic shipwreck (1865)--
I am enamoured with the history of our coins.
I used to put a tooth under my pillow, anticipating a dollar.
'Dollar' comes from our first using money from the Netherlands
Before our own mints produced 'homegrown' coins!
(Dutch 'Daalder' comes from the original German 'Thaler'.)

So much for thoughts--see how an experienced old man's mind works?

Several Modern Sources for Instant Death opus 432

We are living now in a world where the unknown moment of instant death
Is completely possible, leading to nervousness, fear, weariness,
And sometimes just plain defiance.

Russia has continually bombed the Ukrainian people;
They never know where the unjust explosives will land.
But in spite of all this, the brave people have become weary but defiant.

Israel is retaliating from a cruel Hamas attack,
But now the innocent Gaza population is herded and bombed; herded and bombed--
To the extreme that the 'eye for an eye' has reached an unequal tipping point.

Now, suddenly, in Lebanon 37 are dead and thousands maimed from pager
explosions.
Two children near the pagers are amongst the dead.
Israel has admitted (at least to the US) that they are behind this
possible war crime.
After a second day of random explosions, the Lebanese population is in turmoil.

How can we all stand by, helplessly, and witness such heinous acts?
The 21st century began with such positiveness and now look at us.

A Gaza-Israeli Progress Report opus 492

The last hospital in Gaza has been taken over and closed by Israeli troops.
Accusations claim that even the head doctor works with Hezbollah.
Will continued bombardments solve anything?--
Walls eventually stop no one and continual bombardments
Result in about the same--someone will always hold on in hiding.
True negotiations are desperately needed
And compromise of some sort must manifest--
Otherwise no 'progress' will ever see the light of day.
I wrote before, that 'an eye for 3000 eyes' is becoming questionable,
But now we must ask is 'an eye for 45,000 eyes' at all just?
Our violence is way outdoing, even our pugnacious relatives, the chimpanzee!

A New Gaza Playa Report? opus 523

'Someone' has proposed that the ruins of Gaza should be cleared,
The indigenous population be removed elsewhere,
And the enclave be opened to international pleasure.
Might this violate a few international rules of law and ethics?
Not so sure, but the proposal is out there in the ether!

CLT--Cross Laminated Timber May Rejuvenate Use of Wood opus 653

In this new age of climate change--or crisis,
Wooden houses would seem to be the last choice for construction.
However, there is a new method of using wood,
Which has superior fire performance, is lightweight, and very strong.
Incidentally, its superiority is also demonstrated with
Acoustic, seismic, and thermal performances.
Because it can be prefabricated to precise dimensions,
It is fast and easy to install, with almost no onsite waste.
With its design, flexibility, and low environmental impact,
CLT is becoming an advantageous alternative
To the usual materials such as concrete or steel,
Particularly in commercial and multifamily construction.
Panels are first formed with bonded multilayers
Of kiln-dried boards stacked in alternating directions.
The panels are pressed into solid, straight rectangles,
Consisting of an odd number of layers (3 to 7)
And are prefinished before shipping.
This preliminary work even includes window and door openings!
With everything cut to size, the finished panels
Are incredibly stiff, strong, and stable,
Being able to handle load transfer on all sides.
Lower grade wood (appearance) and recycled wood
Can now be freely utilized.
With careful harvesting, languishing timber industries
Might now be stimulated to go back into production.
Our climate crisis is stimulating thought in new directions!

A Cancer Progress Report opus 654

I do not talk a lot about my leukemia and skin cancers.
They have dominated my efforts to prolong my life,
But there is so much in my life on which to concentrate,
I guess I just wanted to communicate on the worldly wonders of life
Which surround us each and every day.
By continuing to study on every one of those days,
I have learned and shared the history of the Neanderthal,
Delved into the fascinating science of meteorites,
Tektites, and many impactiles.
One of the latter types is the beautiful Libyan Desert Glass.
By writing my 'Poems and Thoughts' about my life history
And my present reactions to world events and politics,
The writing has kept my mind very active,
And later, will be a gift to my family to read after I am physically gone.
I still run my 37 acre farm, both mentally
And (with help) to some extent, physically.
My conservation work in California as well as in Wyoming
Has allowed me to help the planet in a small way,
But also to be able to continue to reach out to fellow people.
All these activities have kept my mind active and young!
I am 84 and am ready to pass into the next stage of life.
I am unafraid for myself, but am concerned how the world will be managed.

A Sad Gerrymandering Flood opus 666

I was born in the state, Massachusetts,
Where the ignobile activity, Gerrymandering,
Was created to gain political power.
I am not at all proud of this anti democratic project.
We see now that states which have formerly striven
For fair and balanced internal political power,
Are now seduced to Gerrymander in order to tip national power,
Thus losing the aforementioned balance within each state.
This now opens a rush towards unfair, unbalanced, 'undemocracy'
In a once-society working towards representation for each and all.

An Irony of War opus 667

Israel bombed Gaza to beyond recognition.
It then bargained towards peace that all hostages, dead or alive,
Must be immediately returned to finalize the agreement.
Now there is a delay to return bodies because
Many of those bodies are buried under bombed debris.
This delay is causing Israel in anger to slow movement of food aid into Gaza.
How ironic that Israel's very bombing is why the bodies' returns are delayed.
Is it just that Israel delays food aid to Gaza,
Actually resulting from their own former actions?

The Monarch opus 671

There has never been a monarch who ruled with manure--
Not verbally nor physically. Until now.
This one has learned to fly a jet,
Which jettisones liquid faeces upon his people--
Not knowing whether or not one of his cabinet is in the crowd!
Or perhaps a 'supporter' or two?
Disgust now reigns in his kingdom.

Natalie Corona, Died While on Duty. 1996-2019 opus 680

What a shocking, needless death which struck us all.
While on a routine call for a car collision in Davis, California,
She was suddenly shot multiple times by an intruding murderer.
This terrible, tortured man then committed suicide.
Natalie was following in her Sheriff-father's footsteps,
To maintain peace and order wherever she would be.
She was only 22 years old: A playful, fun-loving young woman.
She had been patrolling solo for only two brief weeks.
She had become what she had always wanted.
At her graduation and swearing in ceremony
From the Sacramento Police Academy,
Her Sheriff-father had pinned the badge on his daughter, Natalie.
There were many at her memorial candlelight vigil--
It was said, "She was the best of us."
A 'Blue Lives Matter' flag was placed where she had fallen.
Such an absolutely needless death of an aspiring young person,
Being endowed with incredible foresight.
She leaves her parents and three younger sisters behind,
As well as the rest of us who continually ask, "Why?"

An Op vs a Hoop opus 689

The question of fairness comes up with trans girls playing on a girls' team.
This pertains to any sport where these 'invaders' have attempted to join in.
Size and strength seem to be the issues at hand.
Society will most likely work out these issues over time.

So now I turn to basketball, where the issue might not be gender,
But rather height.  New players are chosen more and more frequently,
For their ability, but also for their height.
I, personally, as a non-basketball fan, raise the question--
Is it fair for a team to have a seven foot-nine player (like Oliver Rioux),
When the basket hoop is a relatively mere ten feet above the floor?
How might one equate these two phenomena for fairness?
Perhaps at least for the present, there might be 
A player height regulation for the latter example,
Or there must be a rethinking concerning the height of the hoop.

A Tragedy Caused by a Loose Wire opus 701

We have all received some item or another,
Transported by one of those huge container 'barges'.
They have evolved to become so very large
That the complexity of such vessels 
Results in a myriad  of elaborate wiring.

Now to 'Dolly', one of those container ships
As long as the Eiffel Tower is high.
After loading in the Baltimore harbor, it commenced
Towards the very long Francis Key Scott bridge and open sea.
The ship soon became out of control, heading towards the bridge.
It careened straight into one of its support columns,
Basically destroying the whole collapsing structure
And killing six workers repairing potholes during the night hours.

After weeks of sleuthing, a tiny error was miraculously discovered.
One wire, among thousands, was found to be loose inside a fuse box.
The reason it became disconnected was because
An identification tag, wrapped around that wire,
Had been attached too close to the control box door,
Gradually causing tension which had dislodged the wire
And thus the control mechanisms of the ship.
This is why a pilot will walk around hisser plane before takeoff,
Has confidence in the mechanics' ability to find any error,
And, in the cockpit, always going through a long and complex checklist.
We are building ever bigger-- but should there be 
A logical limit to size-producing  disasters? 
I was a pilot myself and always was aware 
Of the inspection-part of my every flight, no matter how short!

Seeking One Who Has Gone opus 705

She has been violently taken from us in her school.
So cruel, so uncaring, so unknowing whom it would affect.
Where does one go to find, even a part of her?
Where does one go to witness once again her youthful accomplishments?
Where does one go to partake and inhale her sweet scent?
Of course the room she rested in, and studied in,
And dreamed of what she might eventually become--
Her castle, her music room, her sleeping chamber.
So many youths have been taken from us all,
By mostly young males, restless, confused,
And spiteful of their lack of accomplishment and success.
Are they allowed to slip past, because of a misinterpretation
Of the Second Amendment, originally written 
To no longer be victims of a possible king?
Have we lost the intent after three centuries of ever modified interpretation
Towards the attempt to maintain freedom--whose ever that is.

Our Huge New Battleships opus 725

Recently, I listened to our second-term president
Propose yet another scheme for our future..
This time it was that we needed twelve huge new battleships,
Two being completed by 2030, the end of this decade.
I was amused, but disappointed, we must have yet more war machines.
Soon thereafter, I was listening to a retired naval officer discuss this plan.
He expounded that the US has not completed the ships already in the making,
Because this country no longer has up-to-date shipyards.
He said there was no budget for such monstrous ships.
He also firmly stated that such large vessels were sitting targets for our times.
We needed, instead, more efficient but smaller ships,
Which could agilely maneuver and separate a large target to many.
He concluded, "They will never be built."

In that vein, now, a portion of the White House has been destroyed,
For a huge new ballroom to fulfill the president's delight,
Will it ever be completed for that magnificent ball event?
Responsible dreams and proposals are one thing,
But plans made in the air to fulfill an ego, are yet another.

The 6th--A Day of Shame opus 732

No matter how one considers it,
The violent entrance of the Capitol
Of a nation attempting to do general good,
Does not breed feelings of companionship.
To demand a cryptic reason for such,
Only adds to the weakening of such a nation.

Demise of a Mother-Poet. opus 739

Do we assassinate our poets, so unthinkingly?
And, even more sinisterly, 
Do we eliminate in a second, a mother of three?
If ONE knew the status of ONE'S potential victim,
Would that ONE go through with such a final act?
As a native once said, "Walk in their moccasins."
(Also, must ONE really now deflect investigation to her widow?)
Such a needless loss of a fellow citizen.
We shall remember you, Renee Nicole Good.

Is This Another Form of Genocide? opus 743

As of today, 720,000 recipients (480,000 children) dependent on US AID,
Have died from the sudden lack of food and medication.
Can one man really decide to determine the fate of so many?
Myriads  are crying out.
When such a system is created, is it criminal to suddenly withdraw
Such a backup system, upon which so many are dependant,
With no possible alternative to which one might rely for their survival?
Other projected stats determine many possible outcomes:
The Lancet (June 2025) estimated that the loss of US AID programs
Might result in over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030.
(This includes about 4.5 million children under 5.)
Projections (2025) indicate such cuts would result
In an additional 166,000 malaria deaths,
Plus a daily loss of 1,500 babies being born HIV-positive,
Due to the halt of maternal medications.
Might this action be defined as the creation 
Of a political holocaust of our time? 
In spite of these projections, Secretary of State, Mario Rubio,
Asserts in his Congressional testimony 
That "no one has died" from these aid cuts!
Just how far can the truth be pulled? 

The Human Urge to Move opus 754

Humans have always been migrants.
Review the human emigration from Africa,
Following migrations throughout the remaining world.
It appears that a portion of the human genome,
Fires the human mind to start moving and exploring.
This successful species-population-movement
Has been adaptive for exploiting new ranges,
While reducing intraspecific competition.

The world is now basically exploited, so is there evidence
That humans still have this insatiable drive?
Of course there is tourism, but what about the 'Marco Polos'?
Consider bicyclists who bike for months or years at a time,
Relying on a small, simple, self-powered (by a human) device.
The challenge is invigorating, difficult, and empowering.

Samer Abouhamed (2026) biked 46,000 miles across six continents;
Liam Gorner (2023), age 17, rode over 20,000 miles from 
Alaska to Argentina in two years;
Also Lael Wilcox holds a 2008 speed record;
And Thomas Stevens (1884), the first person
To ride a bicycle around the world,
Leaving San Francisco on a precarious 'high-wheeler'.

The challenge for new worldly territory, one way or another,
Will probably always be in the human spirit and genome!
Of course, I have said nothing concerning space travel.

Five-Year-Old MN Child Used to Lure Parent opus 757

So the story goes and reports expound,
Federal immigration agents used a five-year-old boy 
Liam Conejo Ramos, as 'bait', to lure a family member
Out of their home during an arrest in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.
The ICE agents approached Liam and his father
In their driveway, upon returning from preschool.
By one account, the child was used to lure out his mother.
The father told the mother not to open the door.
The scared mother thus did not take custody and is blamed.
Both the child and the father were transported for detention in Texas.
This sad story contains several conflicting claims.

However, as a biologist, I am reminded of other such historical incidents.
During the whaling period of our country and the world,
Whalers would use a similar tactic on another mammal.
They would harpoon the calf and wait for the mother
To get within range to easily kill her as well.
Female and often male mammals defend their young,
And predators in the know will use this behavior,
Starting with a tidbit and ending up with a complete meal.
It appears that both humans and cetaceans react similarly,
Much to the potential detriment of both generations.
Such, as judged by humans, is one of the cruelties
In the struggle for survival and political advantage.

Alex Jeffery Pretti (1988 - 2026) opus 758

When a law officer decides, often quickly,
Whom they might be eliminating in a second;
Does it even go through their heads as to who they may be eliminating,
As opposed to whom they might be sparing the final 'Coup de Grace'?
Alex was only 37 years old, a nurse at a VA hospital.
Did he ever suspect he would die at the hands 
Of another fellow Federal Agency?
A Boy Scout, an honor graduate of Preble High School,
And, musically, a talented vocalist in the Green Bay Choir.
He cared for veterans; he enjoyed mountain biking. 
And was committed to humanitarian efforts.
He was helping a woman who had been pushed to the ground.
He held no weapon and was shot while pinned to that very ground.
The Administration is in disarray and modifying its verbal tactics.
Perhaps they now realize that US citizens have experienced enough,
And even some of the Administration's followers now realize
Exactly the total harm they have allowed.

The Winter of Our Discontent opus 759

I have experienced much in fourscore and four years.
I saw neighborhood children beating on pans in 1945.
I heard radio reports featuring jet sounds over Korea.
I watched TV documentation of the downfall of McCarthy.
I remember a school newsreel, showing Jains sweeping as they walked--
I recall, then, researching the all-encompassing Jain 'Golden Rule'.
I also recall, from those same newsreels, the Palistinian prison camps. 
I experienced my graduate schooling, interrupted by the Vietnam War.
Because of that war, I was guided into Pacifism--
I could not partake in an unjust conflict and kill others.
We are all experiencing an unknown future, molded by the Climate Crisis.
Thus we all are an integral part of the Sixth Extinction.
And recently we have democratically voted in 
A government, the truth from which, most of us are now unsure.
"We are going to deport all immigrant criminals",
When the reality is, that even innocent citizens of color are nabbed.