What will ‘W’ have for us tonight?

Call me crazy, but, I almost became a closet republican a few years back.  And then, the elder Bush decided not to pursue the Iraqi forces into Bhagdad.  Such seemingly innocuous reasoning for this shift in political bent.  Ah, but George the senior, was brighter than his son, I assume.  Did he have a master plan once he conquered the Sunni controlled Iraq?  Of course he didn’t or Junior would have leapt on it as if it were some kind of hormonal nectar when he decided to avenge the slanderous assault the late Saddam heaped on his pappy.

Today, some 360 odd billion dollars, more than 3000 body bags and several years into the rush to punish, we find ourselves deeply divided internally, ostracized by countries we have kept afloat by our national largess, and the tunnel keeps snaking out into the darkness and sprouting root tunnels in all directions.

So what is W going to spring on us tonight?  Remember a couple of years ago when he trumpeted the push to cleanse the major leagues of illegal drug use?  Now that was big!  Forgive my tongue-in-cheekiness, but I believe the biggest fish that grand ploy gained was in denying Mr. McGuire from being elected to the hall of fame on his first attempt.  Ooooh.

I believe our President will assail our seemingly paranoid distaste for illegal immigrants.  Oh, I am not exactly pleased that our borders are so porous that as illegals pour in our jobs and mercantile assets pour out.  Something must be done and soon.  A twenty foot tall fence two thousand miles along the Mexican American border?  Why not land mines along our waterways?  No, I don’t think that is the solution.

What about diplomacy?  If W could spell it he could then look it up in the White House’s Funk & Wagnall (had to use that.)  Seriously, we really have to consider this as a legitimate tool.  Sure, it will be painful approaching the French and Russians for help.  Has anyone calculated the cost we will incur and endure in the next ten years or so and still not have a meaningful solution in Iraq?

It will be distasteful to approach the Mexican government to undertake a massive family planning campaign and use it’s considerable natural resources to keep their citizenry at home.  Something, we could do here as well.

Here’s an idea, if someone could convince the Vatican that birth control is a heavenly concept – a veritable immaculate conception as it were, they should be given the peace prize of the millennium.  Let’s face it, it is time for drastic measures.

Photos from the New England coast

Having recently moved to New England from North Texas I find the atmosphere in this area very refreshing. Here is a picture of Battleship Cove under the I195 bridge in Fall River, Mass.

Poetry – Words

A poem from my recent book: Porcina – A Voice from the Shadows. How I look at ‘words’.

Words

Words – their sounds, their meanings, their potential to be a force; intrigue me and I seek to expand the envelope of the spoken sound, from the guttural urge to the flatulent bark; From the silent “o” to the whispered “no!” It will always have a fascination that will keep me searching, Groping, falling, pitching, stumbling, yet continuing to grow. Oh, I love it so! This is when I feel my strength – My calling – my nom de plume.

Excerpt from Mariposas by Manuel Gutierrez Najera

The 19th Century Mexican Poet, Manuel Gutierrez Najera wrote some of the finest poetry, in my opinion, ever written. Attached is an excerpt from his poem, Mariposas (Butterflies) along with my interpretation of that piece. I will introduce more later along with some personal works that can be found in my book: Porcina – A Voice From the Shadows. http://www.trafford.com/4dcgi/

.. Leves saltan del cáliz abierto,
como prófugas almas de rosas
y con gracia gentil se columpian
en sus verdes hamacas de hojas.
Una chispa de luz les da vida
y una gota al caer las ahoga;
aparecen al claro del día,
y ya muertas las halla la sombra.

…Lightly, from an open chalice springing,
like fugitive souls of the roses
gentle and graceful are swinging
in their green hammocks of leaves.
A brief spark of light gives them life
and a droplet upon falling does drown them;
they appear at the first rays of dawn.
And by dusk’s arrival lay dying.

From the poem “Mariposas” by the 19th Century Mexican poet
Manuel Nájera Gutiérrez translated by the author