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Poems and Thoughts by Frank Maurer

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Law

The Bumblebee; a California Fish? opus 127

Under certain circumstances, a California court
Has ruled bees can legally be considered fish 'under specific circumstances'.
So, does the bumblebee, for instance, a terrestrial invertebrate,
Fall within the definition of fish (Endangered Species Act 2062)?
The Act itself protects "native species or subspecies
Of bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant."
Invertebrates are conspicuously absent from that list of protected species!
But there is a lucky loophole for insects, mollusks, and other spineless creatures,
Falling under the umbrella term "invertebrate":
The actual act defines a "fish" as a "wild fish, mollusk,
Crustacean, INVERTEBRATE, amphibian or part, spawn, or ovum therefrom.
So, this expansion of the definition of fish to include invertebrates,
Allows them for greater protection from the Fish and Game Commission,
And just in time for several species of endangered bumblebee!

No wonder the 'law' can do almost anything!
It is just those germane, ferreted-out words and phrases.

Proper Treatment of the Vanquished opus 199

For centuries--and even millennia--
Humans, being territorial, consistently, as groups,
Would continually steal land areas from others.
The motives would be as a result of coveted space,
Resources, historical motives, greed, or philosophy.

The consequence of a takeover is how the conquerors
Treat the vanquished--are they 'equals'
Or are they 'lesser' in the eyes of the 'masters'.

Across our world there are examples of both results.
The Romans would conquer and then offer property and citizenship
To those who served their new nation;
Opposite examples are myriad and easy to recall throughout history,
Including our US revolution where the colonists had had enough.

When a conquered group is strictly held down
And treated unjustly, with no power to resist peacefully,
The only way to attempt for freedom or equal conditions,
Is to retaliate with violence and aggression.
When such a group does rack seemingly unjust destruction,
One who judges, must always keep in mind,
As to how the rebelling group was treated previously.
For humans, as several other fellow creatures might behave,
There exists a tipping point, beyond which existence is impossible.

As enlightened fellow humans, we who understand,
Must always recognize and work to alleviate
Such situations on our planet, resulting in justice
And an attempt to lessen unnecessary potential pending human disasters.

A Tribute to Sandra Day O'Connor opus 231

Sandra Day O'Connor died today at 93.
She was the first woman on the US Supreme Court (1981).
She was a role model for an ever-increasing
Number of young women entering the law.
She championed women, generally, towards greater rights.
She encouraged a mood of tolerance and moderation on the Court.
Her influence on society will remain for many years;
However, with the now conservative Court,
Much of what she attempted to mediate there
Is sadly now, at present, lost in this new intolerant era.

The Enlightenment of a Man opus 279

Benjamin Franklin, with all his several flaws,
Was and still is one of this country's greatest citizens.
While defending himself in a hearing, but remaining silent,
Meeting in the CockPit, a former room
Where Henry VIII conducted his cock fights,
Franklin realized he and his country were being falsely accused.
Thus, he entered that room with its (English) British officials
As a loyal officer of the Crown and English,
Then exiting in enlightened retaliation
As a 'newborn' citizen of America.

If one is alert--certain words and thoughts swirling around us--
We sometimes are 'miraculously' able
To completely convert our very core of thinking.

    (This was inspired after seeing a Ken Burns
     film on Benjamin Franklin.)

Damming the Damning opus 286

I lived with an African Gray parrot for several years
And was witness to its incredible ability to imitate.
The Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in England has had to isolate parrots
Which, within public earshot, started imitating risqué vocabulary.
The decision was eventually made to remove these individuals
Back to the major flock, where it was anticipated,
That the eight offenders would again utter
'Normal' African Gray vocalizations--
Amusing, if the vocabulary had switched in the reverse order!

Another tale I have heard involved a murder case.
The Gray had witnessed the killing of its human companion ('owner').
It imitated the voice and words spoken during the murder.
The prosecution attempted to use the parrot as a witness,
But because the parrot 'was an animal',
The judge overruled the employment of the bird to nail the murderer!

Of course you have heard of groups attempting
To classify chimpanzees as sentient beings,
Who would be treated on a human level.
Perhaps someday, African Gray parrots
Might be included within the human domain!
(Chimps still are also on the waiting list.)

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.

Oh, Dear Southern Alabama opus 310

Our Southern states maintain their infectious friendly cuisine and manners.
Sadly, they hold onto 19th century-thinking concerning several subjects.
Specifically, here, is the question, when is a human, really a human?
The Alabama Supreme Court has now ruled
That a frozen embryo (a fertilized egg) is a child!
Since when could we ever freeze a child?
Since when is a frozen, unattached embryo, (an 'extra uterine child'),
And not within a female uterus, ever be considered a human child?
One of the repercussions, of course, is that 'childless parents'
May no longer be enabled to have a child!
Blind religious edicts lead to human tragedy,
When juxtaposed with the present, technological world.

Science has been developed to yield a life more 'disease free',
As well as a life with reduced mindless toil.
Here, science has allowed human couples, unable to conceive,
To be able to have a possible and healthy pregnancy.
This certainly is a clash of modern technology and continual archaic thinking.

Our Marijuana Dogs opus 313

As most states did, Ohio declared the use of marijuana illegal.
As most states did, they trained police dogs to sniff out the stuff.
As many states have, recreational marijuana use is now legal.
What to do with these steno-olfactory, well trained dogs?
The attempt to retrain these dogs with a very exaggerated specific sense,
Proved to be too difficult--were they too habituated like their human counterparts?
At any rate, the only fate for these dogs is complete retirement,
Just as we retire our protective military and police dogs.
Thankfully, there are human activists who attempt to maintain
A just end for the lives of these canine coworkers (do they have a choice?).
Yet another example of the ever-closer coevolution of humans
With our wolf-descendent-dog companions.

Lady Justice opus 323

Lady Justice stands before us, blindfolded,
And holding up her scales of Rightful Balance.
So, to give a verdict, how does she judge:

The taking of territory and killing to maintain a presence
Occurring, perhaps for the thousands of years of human history;

The raping of the other's women and girls to humiliate and anger;

To conquer in the name of a religion which is always 'right and true';

To initiate genocide to rid the undesirable other;

To maintain schools and centers of propaganda to influence minds;

To block commerce in order to starve the other into submission;

To threaten with deadly weapons to cause inaction of the 'rightful other';

And on to whatever action of injustice the human mind might concoct.

Our Two Critical Compromises opus 333

In order to muster strength enough to counter British rule,
Conflicting opinions of the worth of African humans, transferred to the New World,
Were compromised in our Constitution in Article 1, section 2,
Valuing the 'voting population' worth of slaves.
This decision has plagued our nation to this day.

Additionally, in order to maintain the individual autonomy of each state,
Versus the need to create a strong, legitimate nation,
A balance had to be decided to allow the demands and will of both needs--State versus Federal.
For this nation, the two outcomes of these two compromises,
Has now and ever shall be the continual give and take,
Determining the ultimate outcome of this experiment in democracy,
Manifesting the final result in our human 'pursuit of happiness'.

(The Texas--Federal border conflict is a present-day example of such.)
(The Florida education laws are a present-day example of the former point.)

Why are Men Deciding These Things? opus 334

New abortion anti woman laws--
Politicians versus medical doctors.
What are we doing to ourselves?
To abandon good science
For antiquated religious myths?
In spite of all empirical edification,
We are returning to our reptilian brain.

Condemned to a Possible Death Sentence? opus 335

I was listening today to Public Radio featuring
A narrative about a woman who was
Wrongfully convicted unjustly to a death sentence
For a crime she did not commit.
After 17 years of solitary confinement,
And pro bono help from volunteer attorneys,
She was absolved of the crime and released
To a new world of a lost family and a totally new start.

I was also condemned to isolation and possible death,
While I was living in Turkiye on my new teaching job.
Suddenly, I was coughing up blood and feeling very weak.
I had been travelling, and had to make it back to Turkiye.
Tuberculosis, probably from my childhood,
Reared its head and condemned me to several months of isolation
And several overlapping medications to stabilize my condition.
I was condemned and isolated in my little apartment,
Where my coworkers were wary of visiting because of the disease.
Just as the condemned woman kept herself busy,
I practiced several arts to occupy my mind and remain somewhat sane.

I had learned about the intentional language, Esperanto,
While travelling through Bulgaria.
I purchased a 12-Step 'Teach Yourself Esperanto' and 'went to town'.
After a few weeks, I ordered various literature materials
And started reading. The language is so learner-compatible,
That I read half a page, before resorting to a dictionary!

My 'cello was my musical companion, upon which I practiced
Each day to the point of evening exhaustion!
During this time, I also started composing
A flute and 'cello 12-Tone System duet.
At that time I wrote a couple of scientific articles,
Along with many letters to colleagues and friends.

Without these diversions, I would have been totally lost.
As with confinement, isolation of any kind must be contended with.
The gregarious behavior of humans is a very powerful need
And must always be pursued in all conditions.
To be completely isolated, is to gradually destroy all humanity in a person.

Creating a Conservation Easement opus 348

These properties, as an entity, will be donated to the U of WYO with an easement. This is the result of many years of work to accrue all parcels and lots along with much personal remuneration, to enhance the State of Wyoming and its wildlife, situated in an agricultural setting. The Little Medicine Bow River is a tremendous asset for the project property.

It is our wish to have a stable working ranch, protecting its wildlife in perpetuity. We wish to use one of the existing lots (Lot 46 seems most appropriate--topography, its juxtaposition to the larger sections, etc.) as the 'building envelope' for the ranching family, and to keep all sectioned areas as one working entity.

Because of the status of Sage Grouse in the State, let alone the nation itself, we wish them to be totally protected. Because of the Black Footed Ferret on the northern neighboring ranch, we wish they also be protected, and that all other wildlife be legally hunted, if need be, respecting all Wyoming laws.

If peripheral fences are upgraded, they should be wildlife friendly. Internal fences should be temporary.

All geographic features should be left in place to maintain the aesthetic beauty of the ranch.

We wish to work with the WSGLT and the University of WYO to achieve the most suitable result.

Thank you for considering this application to be part of your conservation efforts.

The Scottish Bank opus 349

Every time I go into a bank, I remember an experience in Scotland.
When Scotland was forced (1770) to join England--the new 'Britain'--
They were allowed to maintain their healthcare,
Educational system, and print their own currency.
The English were always very 'particular' about receiving Scottish notes
And often shamed people who used them in England.
A father, sending his child off to school in England
Was meticulous to make sure all the accompanying notes
Were English to avoid embarrassment and delays.

On that 'note', I shall continue to relate my tale.
In a small town in Scotland,
I needed to exchange my Traveler's Checks for notes.
Britain uses both notes, theoretically, as completely equivalent.
As the teller was counting out my 'pound-refund',
I watched carefully if she would mix the notes--English and Scottish.
Sure enough, the mixed pile built up and at that point,
I called out loudly, "No, please, I want only Scottish notes!"
Banking progress ceased for a moment and my surrounding patrons
Immediately understood that this 'foreigner'
Understood their historic humiliation.
There were smiles and nods in my direction, conveying their gratitude!
I left the bank, fulfilled that I had made
A small positive mark on an oppressed people.

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.

An Eye for an Eye opus 378

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
Or is it 30,000 eyes for an eye
And 30,000 teeth for a tooth?
War crimes pronounced on both sides.
The question emerges after so many eons
Of human history and warfare--
What on earth is true justice
For our century today?

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. . . . .

6 June 1944 opus 383

So many gave their lives on that fateful day
In many various ways to stop the Nazi oppression.
I was a young child of three on that day,
My father being in the very midst of it all.
He, because of his educational background--
Physiologist and engineer--
Was absconded to work in secret
On high altitude breathing equipment.
Our planes, limited by freezing O2 masks,
Were pummelled by the high flying Germans.
First, he designed a mask with a double layer over the face
Which, when warmed by the cheeks,
Would allow continued flow of life giving O2.
Then he tested them in chambers and in the B-17s.
This effort was the beginning towards his early death,
For he carried a rheumatic fever, wounded heart from childhood--
He lasted until only 57 years of age, in spite of medical intervention.
Third, the government instructed that he form a production company
To produce for the war, all sizes of needed masks and goggles.
This he did with a 'partner' who was later revealed as dishonest.
So much confusion and turmoil for him at the war's conclusion.
I remember several trips to Cape Cod to visit a French-Canadian attorney,
Hired to protect my father, innocent on all counts.
While they worked on the case,
I met a glorious sand and beach grass habitat!
I never completely understood everything until years later.
I do remember the eight white plaster head models,
Placed under the cellar workbench,
Used to model for the many face variations, sized for a proper mask fit.
One thing I learned was that my father's beautiful coin collection,
Which he often showed us children, needed to be sold.
If he were still alive, what a joy to discuss with him today
All the wonderful coin sagas I now myself have learned.
So many memories like this linger in my 'historical mind'.

Dear Women opus 385

Have you completely thought through the implications of how you will vote?
Remedying the Climate Crisis--how it will affect your children.
Maintaining our world treaties, thus stability for your child's future.
Women's health--how the wrong choice will jeopardize
Your sisters' and your daughters' and your fellow women's lives.
Please use your feminine intuition in making this most important choice!

I speak as a humble man.

To live by the Sword opus 392

If one lives by the sword---
If one speaks in a tone of violence---
If one encourages use of weapons---
If one frivolously calls demeaning names---
If one denies facts and truths---
If one uses the religious for personal gain---
If one uses curtailment of women's health for political gain---
If one aspires to govern with absolute power---
If one proposes to dismantle a democratic government---

Will our free lifestyle with a democratic way of life
Metamorphose, by definition, to a state of hemorrhage and desiccation?
Aura is created around and by one.

Alien Enemies Act of 1798 -- 'Operation Aurora' (Trump) opus 456

In 1798 the new United States was facing
A possible 'Quasi-War' with France;
An irony, as they were the ones who bailed us out,
During the revolution with Britain!
On 6 February 1778 during the Revolutionary War
The US and France signed the Treaty of Alliance,
Which set up a military alliance between the two
And aided the Americans and their cause against the British.
But in 1793 a war between England and France commenced,
Causing John Jay to negotiate a trade treaty with Britain,
Increasing trade between the two and averted war again with Britain.
However, France saw it as a violation of their 1778 treaty with the US,
Jay now giving preferential treatment to Britain!
Also the US refused to continue paying the Revolutionary French debt.
In 1796, France started to harass US merchant ships,
Which also sparked the creation of the US Navy.
France tried to bribe the US delegation attempting peaceful negotiations,
In the so called XYZ Affair, which created anti French chaos at home
And the creation of the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts intended to keep
Foreigners (French!) living in the US from influencing American opinions.
It was Napoleon in 1799 who stopped the French hostilities with the US
And in 1800 a treaty was signed ending the undeclared war.

Much more history ensued, but this is the Treaty,
Desired to be used by the 'new', incoming US administration of 2025.
The questions now to use this in the present day
Require answers from our present conservative Supreme Court:

--Are we at war--a point which is in the Treaty;

--What can we do legally with immigrants with several stati;

--Using this Treaty, are actions subject to abuse in peacetime;

--Are immigrants part of an 'invasion' or 'predatory incursion';

--When can the president act without a congressional vote
  (The Constitution gives only the Congress, the power to declare war);

--Could noncitizens be treated as prisoners of war;

--Could the president proclaim a rhetorical invasion;

--Could there be a non-literal reading of the Act--
  To invoke the unlawful migration and cross-border narcotics trafficking;

--Is there any way in which this Act could be used outside of war?

There are many other questions which must be answered.
I await somewhat in trepidation to witness what will unfold.

A Scottish Influence opus 457

Early America fought a Revolution against Britain--England and Scotland.
To address the royalty of England, one said, 'Your Majesty',
Yielding the power to the royal figure,
While addressing Scottish royalty, one said, 'My Liege',
Reminding the royal that the power was to serve and protect the subject.
This latter tradition derived from the clan system,
Where the chief was responsible for his people.
Whether or not it was conscience in the Founders' minds,
The final decision to have a President or a King,
Most likely was a result of the Scottish mindset and influence,
Where the President was to serve the people,
And not have power over them--
Yes, to serve the country and its people,
Through the ultimate power--that of the Constitution.
Even in these tumultuous times, most desire this tradition to maintain.

Attempted Robbery opus 463

We all have seen reenactments of various robberies--
Banks, stagecoaches, in an alley, during war.
But have you actually been a part of and felt what it was like?
Around August 1973, I was on home leave from my African teaching job.
I was half way home in Rio de Janeiro for a stop over,
Spending an evening at the theatre, then walking back to the hotel,
where Pierre, my first born, (three months) and his mother were waiting.
I decided to take a short cut behind the main thoroughfare.
Walking in a lighted, but narrower area between buildings and the river,
I was commencing to pass by two 'guys' leaning against the railing.
As I passed, they suddenly confronted me with a small, silver pistol.
We spoke different languages, but I knew what they were demanding.
I was larger than they, so I talked, holding out my arms to appear large--
Just like Konrad Lorenze (an ethologist) had done, confronting a barracuda,
To ward off the giant fish while scuba diving--
And it seemed to work as they impatiently waved me on.
After saying 'Obrigado' I moved away, but decided on a strategy;
In case they tried to shoot me in the back,
I ran with a premeditated zigzag to avoid a clear shot.
No shot occurred and I was most relieved as I rounded a right corner.

Was I afraid? As I remember 50 years later,
I was seized with adrenalin and tenseness, but not with fear.
It passed through me as an extreme event in life
And not a pending tragedy with possible wounding or death.
No matter what, it still remains vividly in my memory.

A Health Nut, Falling? opus 469

So, we are soon, to perhaps again, have a Kennedy in government,
Chosen to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services,
But so different from his family history. His concept of medicine is bizarre.
An opponent of vaccines, wrongly accusing them of unhealth.
In the past, Benjamin Franklin lost a beloved son,
When he decided not to innoculate the boy for smallpox.
He lamented that decision for the rest of his life.

How many will needlessly die, following this intended appointment folly?
After many deaths, will humanity once again right itself?
Why are we, admittedly a restless species, so ready
To be so dismissive of our moderately sane medical legacy?

Our Future? opus 504

Oh, those of you who switched your votes,
Do you really know what you have unleashed?
Will we now be once again flooded continually with misinformation?
Check out the purchase of Greenland with all its new duties?
The declaration that Canada is the 51st State and all those duties?
Future steps to make women a non-reproductive entity?
Destroying the FBI which, with all its faults, does maintain the law?
Abolishing the Department of Education, which was an attempt
At more equal access to learning opportunities?
Reduction of food and fuel prices--both now reneged upon?
And god knows what else will obtain in this murky future.
Well, you voted for whatever, and we must now
All live with the consequences.

Tariffs--A Remedy for All Things? opus 511

We are told that tariffs will fill our coffers.
The truth is that tariffs are paid for by the receiving country;
Definitely not the country sending the product.
Any funds received by the 'tariffing' country
Are paid for by the citizens, who contribute
To the increased price of each item.
Prices will go up to cover the tariff and the tariff 'income'
Will go, in addition, into the treasury of the tariffer.
Will those citizens learn they are paying for this new 'tax'?
One more deception for what is really, actually occurring.

A New Country Called California! opus 512

Since I have come to California in 1978,
I have seen two attempts to divide the state
Into two or three separate and independent states.
Now there is a new initiative,
Signature collecting starting 23 January 2025,
That proposes a vote on whether or not California
Should become a free and independent country!
(This has also occurred in the history of this state.)
Perhaps some fear for the possible future of California,
Being part of an ever-more conservative world.
This is, of course, serious business for the state;
But to add a touch of humor to this pending vote,
I am wondering if the new national anthem
Will be officially sung in English or in Spanish?
Might it also mention that this territory is being
Now turned back to its original "European' owners?

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!

The Dog That Went Too Far--An Allegory opus 527

Our farm needed a replacement watchdog.
We viewed a homeless, nice looking German Shepherd cross.
We all knew German Shepherds had their reputations,
But we voted and made the choice to give him a chance.
We needed a guard dog, the position high in our farm bureaucracy.
All seemed to go well, but there were glimpses
Of the possible predatory instincts of our nominee.
True enough, one night we returned to find a large open pen
Of communal rabbits had all been thoughtlessly slaughtered.
With discussion, some said to shoot the dog on the spot,
While others said that it should be banished or removed from the farm.
Our rules and governance of the once stable farm
Had been completely crippled and almost destroyed,
Because so many innocent rabbits had been needlessly slaughtered.
We needed to decide quickly so that no more such acts would occur.
Being a humaine group, a nice isolated home was negotiated and found,
And our farm managed to recoup and continue thriving.
Even by running our farm in a procedural way,
We were misled by the initial behavior of this dog.
Our lesson learned was to be more prudent and careful
In making decisions, concerning such an important station,
Supporting the hierarchy of our democratically run farm society.

Playing Chess with Tariffs opus 563

Well, at this moment, we have tariffs flying in and out--
A frantic display of minimal planning wielded by outrageous power.
In the latest round (4th?). electronics are spared the tariff-tax,
While our farmers and their products are left in the fray.
Interesting that our leaders spare electronics,
While leaving farm products and food on the shelf (or not)
To languish for our population--
Are we really able to ingest electronics?
Our addiction to the latter, may starve us with neglect of the farmers!

Chlorinated Chickens! opus 564

Did you know that butchered US chickens are bathed in a chlorine solution?
This procedure is done to hygienically cleanse the bodies of possible Salmonella.
The EU and Britain have conducted surveys and found 80% reject such US chickens.
Concerning food poisoning, statistics show it is seven times more likely
To get ill from food in the US than in the UK.
The European agricultural centers emphasize that disinfecting poultry
Is a way, chemically, to mask food safety in the US.
Basically, Europe relies on 'pre-harvesting' interventions with living animals,
Including vaccination and various types of feed additives,
While the US focuses on chemicals and other methods
To eliminate pathogens once the animal has been slaughtered.
Such different approaches, preparing one of our most popular and common foods!

Assault on Democracy? opus 567

So many drastic changes (executive orders) in fewer than 100 days,
Which already concerns and brings fear to much of the population.
In fewer than four years, which will now unfold,
What chaos and disorder might be then fixed in our government
And in the general cosmopolitan population?

On Ornaments and Clothing, with Easter in Mind opus 568

Humans (Homo sapiens) are a naked ape with a flattened face.
This is the result of neoteny, an adult form, maintaining juvenile characters.
Humans have no natural pigments as with Mandrills.
We know that Neanderthals utilized some forms of decoration,
But humans have gone all out for bodily adornment--
Painted faces, use of feathers, jewelry, and regal robes.
It is Easter today, and outstanding clothing, including garish hats,
Are in great prominence during this one day of holiday time.
As one commentator stated, "To catch the eye of god" (and man and woman).
Human bodily decoration, be it jewels or cloth, are always prominent.
The garment industry makes millions and causes great waste,
As our decorations go out of fashion. Many garments just go to the dump.
One example is the killing of egrets for their plumes--
Almost to the complete decimation of that species.
(That is one reason why the Audubon Society was created, by women,
In order to raise awareness and create laws to save birds.)
We, as a 'decorating species', must now consider:
Fewer changes of clothing, purchasing good used garments,
Not always following mindless trends, and recycling clothing responsibility.
Read Thoreau's 'On Walden' focusing on 'On Clothing'.
I say no more.

Compassionate Leadership opus 574

There was a leader of a certain country,
Who treated most of his fellow leaders in a demeaning manner.
A certain pope of Italy died and world leaders attended his funeral.
As the leader of that certain country entered with his wife,
The whole gathering remained absolutely silent.
Whereas, as the leader governing previously to that certain leader,
Who was compassionate and caring for his people and his fellow leaders,
Entered and received a loud welcome from those fellow leaders.
A compassionate leader will always be greeted and perceived positively,
Even if not every one of his attempts at governing was always successful.

Distribution of Energy opus 575

The 'need' for Modern Civilization's energy-hunger,
Greatly compromises the state of our planet:
Masses of wires or pipelines;
Air pollution or radiation dangers;
Dams or huge diversions of waterways;
Disruptive construction (ie 'walls'),
Destroying wildlife habitats and corridors.

Now, to ever-more quickly solve questions using AI,
Additional masses of energy are sucked into the system
To divert electrons from basic human needs
To frantically decide
How to continue moving one way or another!

Mass Deportation and the Cost to Society opus 598

Mass deportation is being attempted, but there is a new (?) recognition
That farm workers, as well as hotel and restaurant laborers and meat packers are vital.
The decision to spare these 'personnel' goes back and forth.
When one looks at just immigrants, let alone illegal immigrants,
Their economic contributions goes into the trillions of dollars--
To completely remove this group or groups of people, depending on their length of stay,
Would be an absolute economic loss to our economy.
The only way to replace these workers is through the recruitment of more immigrants!
Are our leaders so filled with their deportation goals
That they are paying no attention to the effects of their efforts on the economy?
Also the cost for increased law enforcement and for deportation camps,
Could total 80% of all of the federal law enforcement budget.
What could save all this is a year-round 'farm worker visa'.
This would prevent the negative consequences and future illegal immigration.
Why was this relatively simple solution not implemented long ago?

Are We Witnessing the Downfall of a Great Democracy? opus 616

So many 'props' for so many are being kicked out from under.
Our democracy, our parks, our research, our meds, our schools,
Our information sources, our relationships with each other.
Such phenomena have rarely been witnessed before.
As an old elder, there are feelings streaming through my bones.

A Radioactive Wasp Nest? opus 619

A radioactive wasp nest was discovered
In a South Carolina site which formerly made parts for nuclear bombs.
There are routine radiation checks and the nest was found
Near where tanks of liquid nuclear waste is stored.
The radiation level was 10 times allowed by federal regulations.
The nest was sprayed with insecticide and disposed of.
No leak appeared from the waste tanks.
The nest seemed to be radioactive from residual radioactivity.
There is yet no conclusion from where the actual radioactivity came.
Of course, there is the possibility of another such contaminated nest,
If there is a positive leak somewhere.
Some wasps use dirt and others use other materials to construct their nests.
It therefore may be crucial to know the type of wasp nest. (Yes, absolutely!)
There may be no public danger, as wasps fly near their nests.
It is assumed that the wasps' radioactive level would have been lower than the nest.
This is a wrinkle in the radioactive 'danger story'.

Radioactive Rhinoceroses? opus 622

The poaching of elephants and rhinos is done by those who have no reverence
For earth's ancient creatures--only for monetary ivory and 'aphrodisiac--horns'.

Yet another plan to cease this horrible murder--
Insertion of a radioactive chip, placed into the rhino's horn.
With this insertion, horns may be detected and origins traced.
It appears the radioactivity will not harm the bearer.
So much effort, just to attempt the survival
Of an incredible and ancient elder of the mammalian world.
But, another aspect of this whole situation,
Is that, there must be more of an effort
To involve the local citizenry to feel a part of things,
Thus having a stake in the preservation of these creatures.
Local care and efforts towards preservation
Is the only way this horror will ultimately be averted.

Do Voters Choose Their Politicians OR Do the Politicians Choose Their Voters? opus 626

The simple thought is that, of course, voters choose their candidates.
In a perfect world, that is what ideally occurs.
But there is a device, disparagingly named Gerrymandering*--
The politicians' manipulation of voting boundaries,
Resulting in the reverse--the politicians' determining their voters.
See what Texas Republicans are now doing
To create five new Representatives in Congress;
And realize the reaction of California--using the same opposing manipulation.
And then multiply another Gerrymandered state, and then another.
We are no longer governing for the good of the people,
But spending all our energy to simply gain power,
With little time to govern wisely for the people.
A tragedy, indeed: A manifestation of insatiable human territorial greed.

(* Gerrymandering was named after Elbridge Gerry (pronounced originally with a hard G),
Massachusetts governor in 1812, who signed a bill, creating a partisan district in the Boston area,
in the shape of a mythical salamander, thus creating the portmanteau 'Gerry-mander'.)

Yet Another School Shooting opus 640

School shootings are becoming regular affairs.
For a twisted mind, killing children 
Has a similar lustful draw as to that of pornography.
Those in Congress who refuse to vote against guns of any sort,
Do so, simply, for fear of the gun industry
As well as for losing votes from constituents
Who interpret the Second Amendment 
Far from what the original writers would have allowed,
With a State Armory to hold state (not private) weapons.
We are frozen in a tragic, deadly deadlock.

'Daddy' opus 644

My, there he is, sitting in his own egocentric self portrait.
Civil War hat and black shirt, with burning Chicago painted behind him--
One of his many cities, he was as president,
Benevolently to nurture, guide, and care for, as all before him.
'I love the smell of deportation in the morning ...'

I remember we voted in a president; lowering food prices;
And one who would not touch our vital Medicare;
One who aspired to earn a Nobel Peace Prize.
In reality, just what have we unleashed upon ourselves,
And all of the world around us?

Solitary Confinement opus 648

California prisoners protested to eliminate solitary confinement.
This, for a human, is the worst punishment of all.
As in a family where purposeful isolation is employed,
The punishment results in anger and rebellion.
Humans should not be ignored nor isolated.
It results in nothing good.
Try to compromise, understand, and talk things out.
So many family rifts would be lessened to nothing.
An international example is the Palestinians 
Being robbed of their lands and originally isolated in prison camps--
Now, isolated in an open air prison with limited rights,
Along with warring persecution, all in the name of religious history.
Equal treatment would have lessened the problem to nothing.

Deportation opus 649

If only the politicians long ago had together worked out a legal system
To allow 'foreign' workers to apply annually
For a work permit which could have led to citizenship.
None of this deportation problem would have ever occurred.
The hatred we see now would have melted
Into a reality where people would have been working side by side
With no illegality nor heartbreak of severed families.

I am heart broken.

A Possible Fate opus 650

S***, I M** N** B* A*** T* S**** A* I A***** H*** B*****...
Is this the fate of our future?
Remember the bravery of our forefathers and mothers.
I wish, still, to live in the land of the Free.
May 17 September 2025 not be a date in infamy!

I rest my case. Frank.

Final Statement Made on Wyoming Deed Restrictions opus 665

'And in conclusion, it is with great joy and expectation That Family Welborn and Family Maurer (Grantors) Pass on this worthy Wyoming conservation project To accomplish its conclusion with the best of effort and ability, Incorporating honorable Human Trust.'

(This concludes a 20 year effort to further conservation-open space.)

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?"

The Fallacy of Pardoning Turkeys opus 702

This is a reconstruction of a letter I wrote years ago 
To President Obama concerning the pardoning of turkeys.

Dear Sir, (or whichever president you now may be).

I am a biologist (Ph.D.) and a small farmer,
Raising many fowl for forty years.
The custom of 'pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey'
Is a terrible disservice to our farming traditions.

FIRST, the turkey has done NOTHING for which to be pardoned.
Its 'crime' was to be selectively bred to have an extra large breast, 
Rendering it defenceless to survive more than a year or two.

SECOND, google the survival of 'pardoned' turkeys 
And realize they do not live for years, 
Retired on a 'retirement farm' in luxury, but rather,
Their weight is so excessive, they eventually cannot walk
And their legs collapse under the unusual weight.
This is just a falsehood to comfort children and squeamish adults.

THIRD, for children considering this action seriously,
They do not receive necessary and accurate information,
Concerning of what food is, and the reality
Of the necessary transfer of energy of all life,
One kind or another, to maintain the earthly food chain.
Some become vegetarians to avoid the problem,
But most relish meat and do not understand what 'food' really is.
We are biologically omnivores, consuming both plants and animals.
Consider our similar molar tooth structure, compared with bears and pigs--
We clearly evolved to have a wide diet as that of the above mentioned animals. 

Please might we stop this horrible misconception,
Pardoning a selectively reconstructed creature which would have never lived,
Except for the agricultural human desire to produce a larger bird,
Much like we have 'created' cows producing abnormally large amounts of milk,
And chickens which, unnaturally, lay an egg a day,
Not the normal twelve, to create a 'family'.

Please stop this artificial misconception about our food chain,
And absolutely cease creating the illusion that humans 
Could ever have the right, pardoning innocent creatures.

Danish Postal System Gone After 400 plus Years opus 712

After more than 400 years, the Danish Government Postal System has ended.
The utilization of this system has dropped 90% in the last few years.
Now one must mail things from a private store--no longer a post box.
Electronic communications have starved the old-fashioned system.
Now holiday and birthday greetings will mostly be compulsively electronic.
(By the way, any unused stamps can be returned for face value.)

Our postal system, about 200 plus years old, created by Benjamin Franklin,
Is teetering towards the same fate as that of Denmark.
Will I witness this occurring in the short remainder of my life?
Will I no longer be able to march into my Post Office, announcing,
"I am here to buy stamps to support this institution"?
Will I no longer be able to add a turkey feather to my epistle,
Augmenting the mystique of my correspondence?
Historically, the pending passing of an era, which I will always hold dear.

The Good Book--Genesis opus 723

Most of us know the Biblical Genesis story.
Of course, there is a supernatural creator involved,
As would be expected in any religious writing.
I have been studying the Humanist approach to the 'creation'.
A volume was laboriously written with this approach in mind.
It is compiled by A.C. Grayling, a British scholar,
Called simply, The Good Book.
It follows the Biblical format, but from a Humanist point of view.


The 'Books' include:  Genesis, Wisdom, Parables, Concord,
Lamentations, Consolations, Sages, Songs, Histories,
Proverbs, The Lawgiver, Acts, Epistles, and The Good.

Genesis.           Chapter I.

1.  In the garden stands a tree,  In springtime
     it bears flowers; in the autumn, fruit.
2.  In fruit is knowledge, teaching the good gardner
     how to understand the world.
3.  From it he learns how the tree grows
     from seed to sapling, from sapling to maturity
     at last ready to offer more life.
4.  And from maturity to age and sleep,
     whence it returns to the elements of things.
5.  The elements in turn feed new births;
     such is nature's method, and its parallel
     with the course of humankind..

Such is the Humanist approach to life and the world.
Do explore.  You shall be rewarded to a new dimension.
I shall be exploring more from this book occasionally.

We the Nation opus 727

How is it that We the Nation
Can allow one man to compulsively and illegally,
Slowly but steadily, dismantle our democracy,
Even yet on her 250th anniversary?

The Good Book--Book of Wisdom opus 734

This is my second try at the Good Book,
The modern secular bible with a Humanistic approach.
I have had this book sitting near me for several years.
I liked the title, but it took forever to open it.
Now that I have, I am quietly overjoyed.
Speaking of wisdom, as a boy and now as a man,
I was always disturbed by, especially young men,
Who declared that they 'hated school'.
I occasionally, even now, meet grown men saying the same.
School for me was the place 'to find out'.
I have often said to my students, that especially in higher education,
We here, accrue and organize facts and knowledge
In order to add to possible human wisdom.
Rejecting school to me was rejecting exercise for the mind,
As rejecting 'phys ed', as many also did,
Was rejecting the vital need for exercise for the body.
Without these things, we can experience obesity and blank minds.
This book has much to say and I give you a touch now
With Chapter I, accompanied by a few verses,
Simple in the beginning, and waxing with more complexity: 
(Each Chapter of Wisdom is echoingly finalized with this verse 21.)

1.   Give your ears to hear what is said
      and your heart to know what is meant.
2.   Let what is wise rest in the casket of
      your mind, to be the key to your heart.
3.   He whose works exceed his wisdom,
      his wisdom will endure.
4.   But he whose wisdom exceeds his works,
      his wisdom will not endure.
5.   The mighty man is he who
      conquers himself.
6.   The rich man is he who is satisfied
      with what he has.
7.   The honorable man is he who honors others.
8.   But the wise man is he who learns 
      from all men.

21. The question to be asked at the end
      of each day is, 'How long will you
      delay to be wise?'

At the conclusion of perusing (here meaning 
'To read over attentively') the Book of Wisdom,
I understand more in depth the difference
Between knowledge and wisdom.
So now in these trying and difficult times--
'It is time for all of us to do the good that is needed.'  

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? 

First Shakespeare, Now Plato to be Outlawed? opus 746

Just this last summer, the governor of Florida,
Decided to ban Shakespeare for anything that is 'racy or sexual'.
This is to 'protect students from anything untoward'.
Now, we have a beloved, southern university, Texas A and M,
Which is banning Plato's 'Symposium', which explores sexuality and gender.
The Symposium's consideration that there may be, possibly, three sexes--
This, brought about from the University's ban on teaching 'race and gender idiology'. 
Conservatives want to go back to the classics (of which Plato is one!).
This would deviate from the teaching of Eastern philosophy.
The irony is that Plato (as do many conservatives)
Favor rule by strong leaders and only for a 'certain' type of democracy!
Do these people read and understand what they advocate?
Now, some high schools and a US university are banning and censoring!
Are we truly, now, still, actually in a real world of research and truth?
I have lived as an academic and also as a peasant farmer-- 
If this continues, I foresee the demise of our enlightened and very productive nation.

An Omen opus 755

He is upsetting the entire world,
And it is not Jesus nor Mohammed.
We must be on alert for what may come.

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.