Thoughts from sleep

I had been dreaming last night and when I woke up feeling  inspired to write this haiku.

Dreaming Youth

Moonlight pours down on

A swan’s white, virgin feathers

Gliding on a lake.

What is love?

I’ve been thinking deeply lately. I have several friends who are in relationships; one of them I recall is very serious, and they seem to be “in love” so to speak. I look at them and can’t help but believe it’s true. So my thoughts came to be this; isn’t it terrifying? In ancient literature we read about people killing, fighting, and dying for love. It’s a force that we try to describe in poetry, but it’s impossible. How can we as human beings describe something so powerful that it alters our own behavior. It’s like trying to describe what God looks like. However, I’ve also come to realize that love affects people in different ways and that there are different types of love. So the poem that I’ve put up for this week is about faltering about whether chosing to have love in your life is the best decision. Please give constructive criticisms.

Talks of a Troubled Heart

A bountiful joy is lead to despair

There’s a crescendo of hard pressure

That’s causing my heart to become weak and fair

Something that’s making me feel so unsure

Yet as it’s easier to accept as it is to breath

The idea of letting love capture and destroy your doubts

Of letting it slip into your soul and intertwine and weave

Allowing your mind to go in and out in labor-less bouts

Still, the fear of letting go; of losing yourself

To a force where there’s no guarantee of control

It could ravish you or utterly put you in weak health

There’s the chance of salvation or being in hell’s hole

With either decision; any choice I choose

There’s something; a part of me that I’ll lose.

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Blogging Ethics?

My lengthy absence is beyond inexcusable. However, I am back once more but not with a poem this time. I’ve been doing some research on Blogging Code of Ethics and found an example on Jonathan Dube’s cyberjouranalist.net website. I’ve decided to post them on my own blog because I want to do my best to maintain a good reputation within the blogosphere. So, do you agree? Do you think bloggers should have a code of ethics. Please post, I’m curious to know you opinions. Please keep you posts clean of foul language. Thank you, I promise to post a poem next time.

A BLOGGERS’ CODE OF ETHICS

 

Be Honest and Fair
Bloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Bloggers should:
• Never plagiarize.
• Identify and link to sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability.
• Make certain that Weblog entries, quotations, headlines, photos and all other content do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
• Never distort the content of photos without disclosing what has been changed. Image enhancement is only acceptable for technical clarity. Label montages and photo illustrations.
• Never publish information they know is inaccurate — and if publishing questionable information, make it clear it’s in doubt.
• Distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information. Even advocacy writing and commentary should not misrepresent fact or context.
• Distinguish factual information and commentary from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

Minimize Harm
Ethical bloggers treat sources and subjects as human beings deserving of respect.
Bloggers should:
• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by Weblog content. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
• Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
• Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of information is not a license for arrogance.
• Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
• Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects, victims of sex crimes and criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.

Be Accountable
Bloggers should:
• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
• Explain each Weblog’s mission and invite dialogue with the public over its content and the bloggers’ conduct.
• Disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, activities and personal agendas.
• Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence content. When exceptions are made, disclose them fully to readers.
• Be wary of sources offering information for favors. When accepting such information, disclose the favors.
• Expose unethical practices of other bloggers.
• Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

These code of ethics came from Jonathan Dube of Cyberjournalist.net

Back Again!

My sincerest apologies, it’s been far too long since my last post. The real world can keep busy at times. However, I’m back once more with TWO new posts for you to dive into. The first one is the second chapter to my story and the second is a haiku. I’ll do better to keep up with my posts.

 

Thunder

 

            The mud splashed up as Eliot and Rachel tromped through the woods. “Damn it,

these shoes were expensive.” Eliot swore.

            “We can always get them cleaned.” Rachel suggested timidly.

            “No, its no use.” Eliot had a temper; for the most part it was well managed.

However, there were times when it seared to the surface. A vice that Rachel learned to

accept; just as Eliot learned to accept  Rachel’s naïve qualities. She was sheltered; a

pastor’s daughter. He tried to be patient with her “abstinence”. They were opposites who

thought they were in love.

            “I hope that the cabin has heating.” Rachel said.

            “It has a fireplace.” Eliot answered. “I remember it being very nice.” Rachel

grinned at the thought.

            “It sounds very romantic.” Thunder crashed down, shaking the trees. Rachel

screamed and dropped the flashlight she was holding. It bounced on top of a jagged

boulder breaking it open. “I’m sorry,” she said guiltily aware of her clumsiness.

            “It’s…it’s alright,” he said calmly. “Let’s just keep going.” The forest began to

thicken as they continued on their way. High trees cut strange shapes into the sky.

Everything seemed ominous in the night; even the beautiful oaks and pines. Eliot was

trying to keep them close to the road using it as his map. However, the darkness plays

tricks on the mind and eyes. The young couple became lost in the woods on this

thunderous evening. It’s at this point in the story where the trouble begins.

 

An Ancient Ghost

It’s deep in my skin

The shadow of your presence

That haunts my dark  heart

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Looking at past stories.

 

 I wrote a short story about a year ago and looking through it I’ve decided to post a chapter a week. It’s a bit of a horror story about a honeymoon that’s made a turn for the worst. Now the order of this story is a little odd; a person gave me the idea to write each chapter of the story on a note card and then scramble the notecards and present that story in the new order. So please comment on what you think and I’ll try to post about once a week. Here’s chapter one of my story entitled “Til Death Do Us Part”.

 

Ch. 1: Lightning

 

            A violent storm decided to burden the forests of the Olympic Peninsula. It was

nighttime; however there was no chance of sleep for any of the creatures living in a three

mile radius of that area. The ground was drenched with its grass pulling itself from its roots

leaving a pool of mud. A desolate black road stretched across the Peninsula . However, in

the distance, a navy blue pick-up truck approaches. Inside, Eliot Lewis is driving his new

bride Rachel to a rented log cabin for their honeymoon. They’re young and in love like

any pair of newlyweds. Tonight, though, the storm will test them. There will be

permanent changes.

            “I still can’t believe we did it,” Rachel said. She peered at him shyly through her

thick eyelashes. Rachel had a kind face with large, naïve brown eyes. Sometimes, though,

they flashed strangely. Eliot smiled watching the road and said.

            “Neither can I.” Eliot wasn’t as innocent as Rachel, but he left his wild days

behind in pursuit of true fulfillment.

            “How much further is the drive?” She asked.

            “About twenty minutes, it shouldn’t be long,” he answered. The rain began to

pour down thicker; bouncing off the truck like pebbles. Rachel jumped in her seat at the

sound. At that moment the car started shaking.

            “What’s happening?” Rachel yelled over the screeching of the tires. In a panic,

Eliot swerved the car. He hit the brakes, but the car went sliding into a ditch. The truck

goes in front first, damaging the headlights and causing several hairline cracks in the wind

shield.  Eliot turns off the car and turns to his wife.

            “Are you alright?” Rachel’s eyes were wide with fear.

            “Yes. I’m alright.” Eliot reached under his seat for the emergency kit. “What

should we do?” Rachel asked.

            “Well,” Eliot pulled out his cell phone; no signal. “We’re going to have to walk

the rest of the way. In the morning we’ll call a tow truck to get this thing out of the

ditch.” Rachel stared glumly out the window.

            “It’s cold outside,” she said. Eliot took her hand and kissed it.

            “I’ll keep you warm.” Rachel smiled and nodded her head.

            “Okay.” They grabbed their coats and the emergency kit. Eliot suggested leaving

the luggage because it would be too heavy to carry such a long distance. Despite their

determination there was still anxiety. The storm raged on and lightning flashed on their

frightened faces.

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The influence of the heart.

It’s amazing how people can have such an impact in our lives. Especially those who love us. A brief haiku to illistrate this:

Your Hold on Me.

Your unfailing heart

Pours great life into my soul

As I hold your hand.

Copyright to: lfamily@surfglobal.net /poetofmidnight

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To One of My Favorite Bloggers: Unsungpoet.

It’s heartwenching when someone that you know has suffered pain. I’ve met many different bloggers in this blogsphere; although I don’t know any of them personally, through writing a connection has been made. I’ve been on many blogs who express the same passion I have for poetry and it gives me joy to know that poetry is still alive. One of these bloggers that I’ve come to know, unsungpoet, has suffered an unfortunet event in her life. She’s been very dedicated to her blog as well as visiting my own and I wanted to repay her for it. I wrote a sonnet that’s about losing a loved one and the pain and process that goes along with it. Although I’m mostly dedicating this poem to this blogger I also want this poem to reach out to any one who has had the tragic encounter of death in their life.

To My Dearly Departed Love.

I hold you in my arms: precious, gentle, and kind.

You’re my darling and I love you more than passion could with stand.

I could’ve wallowed in the brook of my tears on the day that you went.

When you were taken to the sky; by heaven’s firm hand.

There’s a deep wound left by Fate’s merciless strife.

At times it’s like there’s a shadow clouding my sight.

I want to see your eyes and find that meaning in my life.

My soul is straining to try to win an endless fight.

Yet I can still sense the smile of your eyes upon me.

The warmth of your heart still comforts the chill on my face.

I can feel a peace settling over and we are finally free.

I will let your body rest and allow our love to ignite and race.

 

I will not let a moment go by and let your memories fade away.

You’ll be alive in my spirit forever; till the end of my days.

 

Copyright to: lfamily@surfglobal.net /poetofmidnight

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