My Valentine for Char

Charlotta be my Valentine
you mean the world to me.

Although we met and started late
our love was ment to be.

The gods smiled at Oktoberfest
the rest was up to fate

Before we met I walked alone
no one to share my days

My children were without a mom
they watched my heathen ways

Without a flinch you took us on
more pain than most have known

You tamed us all with patient love
we would have vexed a stone

together we will soar above
a life thats plain, you'll see

Charlotta be my Valentine
you mean the world to me

An original poem by me

This poem is mine

and mine alone

the words belong to me.

It has a kind of sing-song rhyme

it won't be carved in stone.

Don't judge it harsh

don't laugh too hard

I did it on my own.

"I stand here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen was a quick read; and I could relate to it. This short narrative is a monologue by a mother, who has raised her family through rough times. She seems to be talking through her guilt; for not being a better mother for her oldest daughter, Emily. I can relate to her guilt, it seems like the oldest child has to set or live with the learning curve of their parents. In the end, the mother realizes her daughter will be okay in spite of her mistakes, misfortunes, and short-comings, and I guess this is the message...people, our kids, can and do bounce back from their parents screw ups.

I read "The Metamorphosis" by Frank Kafka,(translated by John Siscoe). I have heard people talk about Kafka and I was curious. The story was kind of a sci-fi /tragedy, about a young man who wakes up one day to find he has turned into an insect. The author does not try to explain how or why this happened, and that probably make it a better read. The story becomes like a case study in human relations, family loyalties, and self interest's. How does a family adjust to a son and brother who spouts extra legs, losses the power of speech and hangs out on the ceiling? I think Kafka's style is similar to much of John Steinbeck's work, (you know, the story ends in a worse case scenario for the main character and responsibilities to jobs and social norms trump personal needs). I am not going to go out of my way to read more works by Kafka, but I'm not sorry I spent the time reading this one.

Why President Obama's speech moved me.

In the last eight years, our country has been under attack from Islamic radicals, massive hurricanes, and unscrupulous leaders. Leaders more concerned with settling personal grievances, and assuring that America's wealth remained concentrated in the hands of the wealthy and away from the riff-raff in the middle class, than they were with the welfare of of our nation. As a nation we could and did do something about our leaders, This is why I think we are the greatest country on earth. Because we can peacefully make changes in the men who lead us.

When I listen to, and read the words of President Obama's speech I was overcome with emotion. Is it possible, can it be real, do we finally have a leader who understands the issues that keep every-day Americans awake at night? I dare to hope.

I know that "No Child Left Behind" was a back handed attack on teachers unions and had little to do with insuring all of America's children had an adequate education. Our schools have failed our children by forcing teachers to "teach to the test". I believe the speed and effectiveness of the federal response to hurricane Katrina had more to do with the affluence, and color of it's victims than with our ability to react. At the same time, I saw people from all over America do whatever they could to help; put up strangers in their homes, drive to the gulf and volunteer their time and labor, and open their wallets to give hard earned money to complete strangers. This is my idea of patriotism.

I am sure much of this speech was standard boiler plate, but I can still hope our new president spoke from his heart and will work to bring many of the changes (service, education, diplomacy, health care,etc.) into our national reality.

President Obama sworn in.

It seem like it took forever to get here but Bush is gone and a new page in our country's history has been turned. In a way I feel bad for Pres. Obama, he has a huge mess to clean up. this is like the old joke about trying to remember what you are here to do, when your up to your ass in alligators. At any rate God bless him and our nation as we try to move forward.

rekremer

This is my new blog site for LIT 150.
My E.D. style poem must have been better than I thought...the class voted it the best one (by one vote) and I won a textbook from Prof. Hepworth. I had already purchased one($101)so I gave it to a young lady; who, I hope needed the money worse than me.