A.G.E's Joint

 Father's Day. My kids took care of me last week. The ribs were good, and the bourbon was better.  My own father has been gone for a while. Not perfect, but he did his best under trying circumstances. As I have gotten older, I'm not as hateful toward chores. But I still don't like general grocery shopping.  As I put this together, I think about my fictional family, the Morrises, and wonder how Emily and Charlie would surprise their Mommy and Daddy on this day? Maybe I'll work that up. 

A Writercize challenge. I haven't done one in over a year. And this one is a little out of my comfort zone, since it asks me to write an journalistic opinion column on how I feel about various police actions in the last few months. Michael Brown Eric Garner Tamir Rice And a number of other incidents that should cause great concern. Is a White life greater than a Black one? On the surface, you would think so. In each of these situations, we had White officers causing the deaths of Black men. But, I think that statement is a straw-man argument. One that diverts the attention from a deeper problem. A problem larger than the Police and larger than the people they deal with. It is a problem with power used without respect, which is the definition of tyranny. Disrespect breeds more disrespect. Soon, conflict happens. On the world stage, we have conflict over the world where side A wishes the utter annihilation of side B. And if you aren't 100% for A, then you mu...

The road runs along it's path Ending at the car park Runners ramble along the ruins Of the old paper mill. Slapping sounds of spawn Working their way along the bank Fluid flowing to carry them To the fisherman wading there. Squirrel stares down at me Sitting on my bench Taking in the promenade Of humanity healing their souls.