The sun has lost its domain,

snow birds shroud its light.

A handful of starlings quiver

on bare branches tiny in fixed feathers

they could fit in the palm of a hand.

Their fragile song suspended in frozen breath

sings for the reach of an outstretched hand

clinging to a red-tailed kite above fields

of sunflower faces or wildflowers in full bloom.

Warriors know,
to God they need to pray
if they’re to face
the battles of the day.

So before they go,
out into the field
courage in their armor
they know to wield.

Warriors prepare,
for the fight ahead
by wearing their helmet
upon their head.

They carefully suit up,
so to stand firm
on the truths in the Bible
that they have learned.

Warriors know,
God’s armor a must
for it’s God’s power . . .
not their own they trust!

~~~~

Ephesians 6:11

“Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2018
Deborah Ann Belka

Care less about what others think
Own up to your awesomeness
Nourish your hopes and dreams
Find light, even if it is obscured
Improvise, if necessary
Dance, celebrating the true you
Encourage others who live in darkness
Never give into negative criticism
Calm is always the best choice
Enjoy life by living in your happiness

Everyone owns it, but sometimes it slips out of grip. The truth is even if you feel insecure, looking and acting confident will not only make you feel better, but others will perceive you in that positive way. Walk with your head up, chin up, and notice what and who is around, i.e., be aware of your surroundings. In doing so, you will appear strong to others. The more you practice this, the more confident you’ll feel, which will cause a ripple effect of positive…

Col. Melvin Garten

Wednesday, July 04, 2018

Media’s self-importance never dies

An Associated Press photographer died. He was the fellow who took the picture of a fully armed paramilitary immigration enforcement officer taking a screaming child of six by force who was hiding with an adult in a closet, as the Clinton administration had no compunction about separating a Legal Immigrant from his family on American soil.

The Associated Press ran a 749-word obituary on the photographer, Alan Diaz. It was an interesting story — AP hired him after he took the SWAT team-crying kid photo.

But the story was a bit much, and a reminder of the media’s overblown sense of importance. The word iconic appeared four times.

Which brings me to a story I read about Melvin Garten, a real hero. His death brought no AP obituary because he never got a byline:

Toby Harnden, the Times of London…

This current political climate
is akin to living with a loaded
gun in your mouth every day.
You wonder if pulling the trigger
would lead a fresh pair of lungs.
Instead you put pen to paper.

Your heart bathe in ink.
Your arteries pumping hard
to avoid toxicity.
You grow nostalgic for the
days of civility and a
modicum of common sense.

You look for a staircase to climb
that is not featured on the next
Netflix’s sensation.
You try and contemplate how
not to make a murderer
Marveling at the bias nature
of it all.

You wonder when common ground
got swallowed by quicksand.
The true enemy of the state
a dichotomy of anger and hate.
An aching obsession with self.

This asylum of our own making.
We forget we have the tools
to disassemble it.
It’s begins with kindness and
a willingness to listen.
Words not laced with…