Recently, I have been interested in learning more about the life and career of Ronald Reagan. He was a political outsider who came into office as the United States was reeling from the consequences of bad policy under Jimmy Carter. As I was reading through some of his famous speeches and quotes, one line inContinue reading “Righteous Fire: A Haiku Series”
Tag Archives: poems
The Cycle of Civilization: A Haiku Series
Demons rise and spreadChaos reigns and grace does fallHard times breed strong men Strong men face the tideEvil devours our childrenDarkness rolling in Sharpened by hardshipThe brave cut through endless strifeStrong men make good times Good times bring bountyLight spreads to banish the darkHope fills us once more Progress follows strengthYet progress dulls traditionGood timesContinue reading “The Cycle of Civilization: A Haiku Series”
Friends Forged In Fire: A Haiku Series
In 1853, Matthew Perry led four ships into Tokyo Bay to establish formal ties between the United States and Japan for the first time. Others had tried before, but none were successful. Perry’s mission was to secure safe harbor for shipwrecked Americans and gain permission for U.S. ships to refuel and resupply at Japanese ports.Continue reading “Friends Forged In Fire: A Haiku Series”
Heroes From History: David Humphreys
David Humphreys was an American officer, diplomat, and poet during the revolutionary period. He was born in Derby, Connecticut on July 10, 1752. Before the war of 1776, Humphreys went to Yale College and was one of the founders of a literary society known as the Connecticut Wits along with Joel Barlow, whom Humphreys wouldContinue reading “Heroes From History: David Humphreys”
Narrow Is the Way
This is an ABAB poem I wrote in rumination on the meaning of Matthew 7:13-14. The passage speaks of the importance of taking the more difficult road in life, for the easy path is the one many take, and it leads them to into ruin. It reminded me of how we must stress our bodiesContinue reading “Narrow Is the Way”
Keepers of the Flame
“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” ― Gustav Mahler A poem inspired by these words, the tides of history, and the importance of conserving our traditions to the maintenance of civilization. Traditions pass from ear to earA fateful guide to the lost soulAn eternal binding we find most dearAContinue reading “Keepers of the Flame”
The Gift of Giving
What is it to give a gift?The power to shape soulsAn ancient art to elate and upliftA force to make us whole We give to others to receiveThe greatest gift of allTo know in our hearts and to believeThere is no greater call Through this act we do ascendAnd rise up to our greatest selvesWhenContinue reading “The Gift of Giving”
Through Feast and Famine, We Give Thanks
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this year, and it has given me the opportunity to ruminate further on the spirit of Thanksgiving. This is a holiday rich with tradition and history, even though it may often be overlooked by many as a mere family gathering every November. This prompted me to produce another ABABContinue reading “Through Feast and Famine, We Give Thanks”
The Hammer of Man: A Haiku Series
October is host to the anniversary of the Battle of Tours, a less impactful, but no highly symbolic skirmish in human history. Also referred to as the Battle of Poitiers, was a skirmish fought between the Frankish Carolingians and the Umayyad Caliphate on October 10, 732. The exact location of the skirmish is unknown, takingContinue reading “The Hammer of Man: A Haiku Series”
Fateful Flight of the Stars and Stripes
This weekend was the 244th anniversary of the first time the American Flag was flown in battle. On September 3, 1777 the red, white, and blue banner with thirteen stars and thirteen stripes was first flown during the Battle of Cooch’s Bride in Delaware. Under the command of General William Maxwell, Continental forces raised theContinue reading “Fateful Flight of the Stars and Stripes”
The Pensive Warrior 