10 JANUARY 1961

I watched the grey car fade from sight.

How could I know by fall of night,

That life could never be the same?

Could never more be just a game?

My best friends gone for ever more,

Two sisters I’d grown to adore . . .

 

“They’ve gone to God.” my mother said.

I sat there mute; just shook my head.

“They’re dead?” I gasped as truth sank in,

My father’s nod . . . let life begin. . .

Alone! Bereft! My girls departed!

I’m eight years old – and broken hearted. . .

 

Five decades past, this very day,

Two angels joined with Christ to stay.

I know they’re safe in his embrace,

Until, once more, we’re face to face.

But still I dream about them now,

At fifty eight, I wonder how . . .

                                           

                              Composed   10 / 01 / 2011

 

 

DOLPHIN SLAUGHTER

TAIJI – JAPAN

In a small cove in the coastal town of Taiji, Japan, some extremely heroic fishermen slaughter dolphins EVERY DAY.

They brave all types of weather to encircle a pod of these extremely dangerous creatures of no intelligence whatsoever. After all, don’t we all know that the only use dolphins have is as foodstuff?

Oh, these fearless fishermen also capture dolphins (in the most humane ways, naturally) and sell them to dolphinariums and ‘Sea Parks’ and zoos, where the lucky creatures can enjoy the rest of their lives in cozy enclosures and be fed fresh fish whenever they want it.

In return, to show their gratitude for all this human kindness, they get to be trained to jump through hoops, balance balls on their noses, flick water at the audience – oh, gosh! They must have SO much fun!!

I shouldn’t think they can remember the mother they lost to the Taiji fishermen, do you? They are too busy doing tricks for human entertainment.

There is an organisation watching the goings-on in Taiji:

You can read about them on:

 http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/sea-shepherd-news.html

 

THE BALLAD OF LUCY JORDAN

A song with deep meaning and a most poignant conclusion:

 

THE BALLAD OF LUCY JORDAN – Marianne Faithfull

                                   *

The morning sun touched lightly on the eyes of Lucy Jordan

In a white suburban bedroom in a white suburban town

As she lay there ‘neath the covers dreaming of a thousand lovers

Till the world turned to orange and the room went spinning round.

                                          *

At the age of thirty-seven she realised she’d never

Ride through Paris in a sports car with the warm wind in her hair.

So she let the phone keep ringing and she sat there softly singing

Little nursery rhymes she’d memorised in her daddy’s easy chair.

                                           *

Her husband, he’s off to work and the kids are off to school,

And there are, oh, so many ways for her to spend the day.

She could clean the house for hours or rearrange the flowers

Or run naked through the shady street screaming all the way.

                                          *

At the age of thirty-seven she realised she’d never

Ride through Paris in a sports car with the warm wind in her hair

So she let the phone keep ringing and she sat there softly singing

Little nursery rhymes she’d memorised in her daddy’s easy chair.

                                          *

The evening sun touched gently on the eyes of Lucy Jordan

On the roof top where she climbed when all the laughter grew too loud.

And she bowed and curtsied to the man who reached and offered her his hand,

And he led her down to the long white car that waited past the crowd.

                                         *

At the age of thirty-seven she knew she’d found forever

As she rode along through Paris with the warm wind in her hair…

GREGORIAN MINDLESSNESS

Today is the first day of October.

I got up this morning and my watch told me it was 31 September.

Putting it right, I cursed Gregory once more for coming up with such a ridiculously complex calendar system.

The earth orbits the sun once every 365.22 days, which I realise is not the easiest figure to divide into nice comfortable compartments.

But can someone tell me why we can’t invent a new system of twelve months of 30 days each, with a thirteenth month – perhaps halfway through the year – between June and July?

This interim month could be 5 days long, with a 6-day one each leap year to make up the extra day.

Or this excess could be added on to December, making the Christmas holiday 5 or 6 days longer!

Any objections to the Wright Calendar?

 

THINK ABOUT THIS:

Here are five choices, from which you can choose only one:

1. Happily married.

2. Many good friends.

3. Rich.

4. Happily single.

5. Right with God.

Comments welcome.

 

ANIMAL WELFARE

When God created man, he made him a steward of all living creatures, all over the world.

If we profess to be spiritual or religious in any way, then we have an obligation to ensure that animals, both wild and domesticated, are properly cared for.

If we become aware of animal abuse, it is our God-given duty to do what we can to protect them.

We have caused the extinction of countless species, hunted vast herds to near extinction, used a vast range of animals in medical and cosmetic experimentation, subjected them to a lifetime of imprisonment in zoos, marine parks, and cages in our own homes. We have demonstrated our human prowess in such diabolical events as bullfights, rodeos, and indiscriminate slaughter for trophies.

But now it is time to take stock.

Before we create further disasters like the Gulf of Mexico oilspill, or the rape of the Brazilian rainforest, let us please raise our voices against further decimation of our animal kingdom.

Have the courage to make your voice heard. If you belong to a social network such as Facebook, there are numerous causes you can join to make your impact.

Voice YOUR concerns about the coming demise of tigers, pandas, abuse of coral reefs, or whatever is damaging our environment today.

MAKE YOURSELF HEARD!

 

CRY FOR THE CHILDREN

In terms of legislation drafted in 1899 - at a time when Humanity had no concept of the effects of radiation in the body – world powers are not breaking International Law by the use of depleted uranium in their weaponry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium

But as events in Iraq have proven, the incidence of spiralling birth-defects as a result of the use of depleted uranium weapons is horrifying. It has become the yardstick of how low we, as supposed stewards of this planet, have sunk in our never-ending quest for more effective killing machines.

Have a look at the photographs in this link below: 

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=1777

 . . . now tell me how you imagine these children will cope with life in the twenty-first century . . .

It makes me want to cry.