Wednesday, April 6, 2016

School Safety Solutions


Bulletproof School Safety Protective Gear
From "Bullet Blocker" http://www.bulletblocker.com/bulletproof-school-safety-protection.html


"School Safety Solutions"

school shopping in the fall wasn't the same
of course, the prices were higher
that was a given

but everyone was pleased, surprised even
with the selection
colors and styles
logos from favorite teams
brand names, almost cool

the jackets came in denim, leather, and fleece!
a few girls complained the skirts were too long
mothers appreciated the extra protection
fathers, the extra coverage

there were other options, too
"school safety solutions"
book bags, backpacks, three ringed
bullet-proof binders

no one brought up helmets
perhaps those would be on
the required list
next year




(A poem in response to SB 174, a half-baked piece of Alaskan legislation to allow guns to be carried on campuses. Get your bullet proof gear here: http://www.bulletblocker.com/bullet-proof-clothing.html )


Tuesday, April 5, 2016

About The Trump, Or Crash the Fish Fry --- A poem by Sarah Palin (Sort Of)


[The following is "found" poetry from Sarah Palin's Speech in Wisconsin April 4th, 2016]

 About The Trump, Or Crash the Fish Fry --- A poem by Sarah Palin (Sort Of)

I’m walking dead, and cold
green and gold, green and gold
paraphernalia everywhere, my dad’s cave
three core issues, all the guys running
the political class betray us
so much an expression of will, an ATM for their wallets
competition is so good


And they’re really shaken right now

don’t know what to do about the Trump

train, about the momentum, the movement
They don’t know what to do 
they’re shaken, and this awesome awakening and shifting and sifting
exposing this rabid bite, hang on to their gravy
it’s a very healthy cleansing of the body

heal the body, save our nation. 

See, the connected crony capitalists, profit suffer profit suffer
profit
push
reckless cost
 treasure America’s daughters in uniform. 

three issues. 

First
immigrants, more and more
the border, of course, every single day. 
with Washington so destabilized
 the middle class crowding at the scale. 
kicked away
the ladder stability, a disaster
for we the people
big things
they like to let their chosen one, or chosen ones get away with betrayals

inducing and seducing them with gift baskets
teddy bears and soccer balls
inviting more. 


Second
trade the loss of our modern civilization for shame
politicians, the greatest manufacturing known to man. 
right under our noses
political incompetence, corruption nonsensical 
laugh all the way to the bank 

the art of the deal. 
Cheating
how our middle class disappears.
Cheating, scare people. talking about threats

we lose the American

most exceptional Politicians create a warped and dangerous road
trade, fundamentally transform America
into something we don’t recognize
kids grandkids they’ll never know
God creates us in order to work

thank God not someone who understands Ronald Reagan
Reagan saved the hog
Reagan saved that. He saved Japanese motorcycles to combat
the semiconductor
Shoot the establishment
start a new movement – #NeverReagan.

Third
number one priority 
only one candidate piece-meal together some reckless nation-building scheme
it’s our military that keeps us free
peace-loving, generous Americans, are the infidels and must die well,

only Trump talks rationally about listening
as president and hiring the best of the best to work
with those who share the Islamic threat with strong, strong engaged extremists
unleash terror here.
And laugh at, friends. 

common sense stuff
campaigns that only
You deserve
It’s funny but not really.

Mr. Trump’s personally responsible for policies that actually cost American lives
and trillions of dollars.
Gen. George Patton said it best “Politicians are the lowest form of life on Earth.”
He said save our nation.
Remember the end of the line here.
save the nation.
And it’s going to take love
we love our own families.
So, yes, Be civil. Donald J. Trump, and crash your fish fry platform
It will save our sovereignty.



Monday, April 4, 2016

Coup Counts --- for Chief Joe Medicine Crow

a single yellow feather 
beneath his Army helmet
a Crow behind Nazi lines 
counted coup on the enemy
sent hooves of fifty German horses
pounding off into the night

one hundred and three winters wise

a great uncle, White Man Runs Him, who witnessed the chaos 
people bathing in the Little Big Horn
then the cry of battle 
women and children fleeing north
the camp beset with terror
history books forever distorted 

they would stand for no more
the last of the great chiefs
made and killed, made and killed

now we are told again
the last of the great Chiefs are dead
as if the battle is finally over
and coup no longer counts

but let Chief Medicine Crow
take his long walk
let his words live
and know there is a young
Crow warrior somewhere
perhaps a great nephew 
who will sneak into our enemy's camp
and steal their horses

teach us all again
what it means to be a chief




Sunday, April 3, 2016

Again, Make America Great

My son hears a man yelling
And turns to me, only a
Kid, and he asks in
Earnest, is that Donald Trump?

And I laugh, but later
My heart hurts.
Every child in our country, being 
Raised hearing that tone
Is learning it's okay to yell,
Cajole, cuss, dismiss, bully
And call names.

Gentle discourse
Respect for others 
Erudite, articulate, and
Asking for forgiveness 
This I try to teach my son

And yet, we have
Given a voice to fear
Allowed yelling to replace
Intelligence and suddenly I see
No longer are we great. 

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Chains on the Tree Of Life


long ago we broke the links
connecting us to everything 
found freedom in chains
conscience in captivity
man, beast, food --- confined
control created confidence
future fitted for shackles

today we repair the links
connecting us to everything 
captivity in conscience
confidence created control
confined --- man, beast, food
fitted for future shackles
freedom found in chains








[Day#2 National Poetry Month]



Friday, April 1, 2016

Crocodile Killing Walrus

 (Photo of Yup'ik Carving of Palraiyuk)

I believed the photo 

a crocodile on an Alaskan beach
a hundred walrus hauled out
crowded in fear
the soft belly of one
flayed, contents spilled
foreign track to us in the sand
reptilian, new and ancient 
all at once

I believed because I heard 
the stories
saw the artifacts
painted creatures on kayaks
carved heads of monsters
crocodile, alligator, sinister
something not of this land
by a people of this land

they were not fools
10,000 years ago
this beast swam
while mammoth walked the shores

today, I was the fool 

I believed

but only because I wanted
what we all want 
the monsters 
to some times not
be only human



(Togiak Wildlife April Fools photo of Croc dining on a walrus!) 




Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Fly On --- a poem in memory of Alaskan pilot Seth Fairbanks

 Fly On


go today
touch your tundra tires
to a gravel bar
dip your wings to the wolves
a bear, a moose, the caribou
fly perfect circles,
in the midnight sun
fear nothing
be restless, only with stillness
like the Kuskokwim,
always in motion
always churning, turning
humor twisted
lips uplifted flaps
in a perpetual grin

fly on

remind us how to soar
how flight without
the pilot
is life without love
an existence not meant
for man
allow the rhythm of
the cub's hum
to become the drum
within us
our hearts, now in two
renewed
until one day we
will fly too

fly on

[By Don Rearden for Seth Fairbanks and the Fairbanks family. August 11, 2015]