Ideas (Haiku)

Ideas are cheap

They are a dime a dozen

Follow-through is dear.

When Heaven Met Earth (not mine)

The preacher’s old truck rattled down the dusty lane, sunlight spilling over fields so green they seemed to hum with life. Rows of corn stood tall and proud, their leaves whispering in the summer breeze. Beyond them, a red barn gleamed like a jewel, and the air was thick with the scent of clover and fresh-turned soil.

He slowed to a stop at the fence line, leaning out the window to take it all in. The place was immaculate—every fence post straight, every row planted with a craftsman’s precision. It was, he thought, the most beautiful farm he had ever seen.

The farmer, broad-shouldered and sun-browned, was mending a gate nearby. He tipped his hat as the preacher called out, “Brother, God sure has blessed you with a beautiful farm.”

The farmer paused, resting his hands on the worn wood. His eyes swept over the land—over the fields he had plowed before dawn, the weeds he had pulled in the heat, the storms he had braced against. A slow smile tugged at his lips.

“Yes, He has,” the farmer said, voice warm with sincerity. “And I’m grateful every day.”

Then he leaned on the gate, his gaze steady and a touch wry. “But,” he added, “you should have seen this place when He had it all to Himself.”

The preacher chuckled, but the farmer’s words lingered in the air like the scent of rain before a storm—a reminder that blessings often bloom where human hands meet divine grace.

Character Sketch of General MacKenzie in And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Born December 24, 1873, in London, England into a military family.  His father was a general officer in the King’s army.  He was raised mostly by his mother, but his father had a big influence on young John.  He was educated in private schools and was accepted into Sandhurst, the primary military school in England at the time.

His father saw action in the Zulu War, Anglo-Boer Wars, and the Anglo-Egyptian War.  Young John was greatly influenced by the military.  He had an inborn respect for honor and authority.

He graduated and began his military career at a time when the Boxer Rebellion in China required intervention.  He went on to serve in WWI, in France.

He married Leslie Smith when she was 22 and he was 40.  They lived a happy life together.  He adored her, and she loved him.  Then, a certain Arthur Richmond, Aide de Camp to General MacKenzie, entered their life.  Slowly, subtly, Leslie and Arhtur began a romantic relationship that they kept secret.

The general was not aware of the liaison between Leslie and Arthur until he mistakenly received a letter from Leslie to Arthur, which had been put in the wrong envelope.  It devastated him, although he never let on that he knew.

At an opportune moment, he sent Arthur Richmond on a reconnaissance mission from which he did not return alive.  The general was not accused of malfeasance in this affair and life went on.  He did, however, feel a certain satisfaction in having his wife’s paramour removed.  There was a certain guilt that followed him around, almost like a faithful dog that would not leave his side.  

He never quite felt the same about Leslie, yet they grew older together, each seemingly in love with the other.  She contracted pneumonia and died several years later.

He dealt with the two big blows to his psyche, the betrayals of his wife and his trusted officer, by returning to the relief of morphine. He was wounded in battle, and morphine was used to ease the pain.  At first, it was on occasions, like anniversaries and birthdays, when he was reminded of their relationship.  Then it became habitual and, although he wasn’t completely under the influence of the drug, he used it more frequently whenever he had a bout of melancholy.

The effect of the drug is to cause the user to seem slightly intoxicated.  At this time, he has impaired impulse control, some dependence, and experiences mood changes.  The mood changes are from grief and anxiety to a more peaceful place.  He is not a chronic user but getting close to being so. He assures his supply by bringing it with him as part of his toiletries.

He received an invitation to Soldier Island in the guise of a reunion of former colleagues.  He didn’t get out much since his retirement, his life centered around the Benton Club where he lived.  The idea of a reunion appealed to him, so he made the necessary arrangements to attend.

 

Our Daily Bread (Haiku)

As we travel the road of daily life, alongside others who seem better, worse, or the same, remember--

There isn't a  "them"

We are in this together

There's only an "us"

Determination (Seek and Ye Shall Find- Haiku)

Not seeking comfort,

Seeking full range of motion.

That means, discomfort.

The day then arrives,

When discomfort goes away,

And you move with ease.

Getting to that point,

Required to get to that state,

Determination.

Advice (Haiku)

 

The only advice you need

Use your imagination

God gives it to you

Wassup? (Haiku)

 

Not what you have done

Not what you're planning to do 

It's what you're doing

The Unseen (Haiku)

 

If you can't see it

It does not mean it's not there

On land and on sea.

Buried in the ground

Forgotten from time gone by

Sunk in the deep sea.

It is there.

All those ships that sank in the ocean, are sitting there.  We don't see them, don't think about them, but they are there just the same.  The same is true of our actions.  They happened, some we'd like to forget but they are there just the same.

Type Reversion (Haiku)

 

Whenever there's a situation wherein the course of events is not as we anticipated, we revert back to behaviors and expressions that have either been impressed upon us or that we have adopted with some success.  These are not always the most productive.  This Haiku suggests that if this is recognized and behavior is managed, more productive results will ensue.

We revert to type

In aggravated moments.

Can that be altered?

Is it decision?

Or totally reflexive?

Hope for the former.

If it's decision

It can in fact be altered

Become what you want.

Do or Die (Haiku)

Philosophy often shapes human lives despite its inability to be proven or measured. Ideas born from emotion or belief can guide nations, divide communities, or define identity. This haiku sequence reflects on the strange power of subjective thought — and the human vulnerability that allows opinion to become truth.

Ah, philosophy

Entirely subjective

Cannot be disproved

It can be agreed

It is not scientific

Accepted or not

Yet life and death

Have hinged on philosophy

Merely opinion

A human mind flaw

Emotional acceptance

Agree or your out

Love is Blind (Haiku)

A scene that we often see, one would think that animals are not judgmental.  Often a touching sight to see.

A homeless person

With a  dog walking beside.

Can we love like that?

Flops? (Haiku)

 

Not a comedy

Our life as we're living it

Not a tragedy

Often, while it is happening, our lives seem less exciting than stage and screen.  Then, in retrospect, it comes into focus.

A Case of a Relationship Disintegrating

Here is the story... "You are their Eddie." My daughter's words to me one day in the past.  She meant the detested one. She was referring to me and the sisters.  It rang true then, and it still does. 

Yet there are ties to the family, some inexplicable.  A nephew, in their family, assisted my mother and father when they had to dispose of a less than desirable house in a transitioning neighborhood.  Then, that same nephew took a job with the funeral home that we used for my mother's funeral.  He took the job a few days before my mom died and left it a short time after.  He orchestrated the whole affair, the visitation in the rear of the church, the funeral mass, and that her body was interred in Calvary Cemetery as we had planned.  Then there was a niece, who was assisted by us in getting on with her life.

The envy, jealousy, and hatred engendered by the sisters has hardened over time.  Methinks there is no going back on this one.  I am sure that Carola's demise, should it come before mine, will be the end of any contact with them or their families.  It doesn't matter to me.  I recognize the situation for what it is.  Their father had no sons; I was the son he never had.  He extolled me and my accomplishments to them, to the point that it had a detrimental effect on them, especially the other son-in-law.

Then, after his death, their mother descended into grief and then dementia. She moved in with the middle daughter.  In spite of the fact that they had home health care provided, for personal care and health assessments, and that there were six, able adults living in the locality, they felt that we were remiss in helping. Even though we were three hours and 180 miles away.

Maybe we could have done more, maybe we didn't express enough admiration and gratitude.  I know Carola had it on her mind.  Well, we can't go back and I don't see any way forward, that I want to pursue in any case.

Our kids and theirs are not on the best of terms.  Although we've all been affected by it, there are different stories.  Our oldest has been more conscientious about keeping up with them but I think the other two have, more or less, written it off.  C'est la vie.

Words (Haiku)

Words have importance

Like the telescopes in space

They focus our thoughts

Something to ponder when we begot taking our intercourse for granted.  We often add context to the written and the practiced, without realizing we can do the same for the extemporaneous.

It Is Discipline, Ponce (Haiku)

 

Doing what you must.

Doing, not just intending.

The fountain of youth.

Finding what you must.

The next piece of the puzzle

Is clue number two.

Sometimes youthful thinking occurs when we are engaged and involved with what we are doing.  Making that intenntional is a first step.

Some Federal Courtrooms (Haiku)

 

Federal judges

Playing monopoly games?

Get out of jail free!

One opens a back door

One nullifies a murder charge,

Premediated!

An observation of frivolous judges.  Sometimes what's reported makes them sound like they don't take the job seriously.