I pledge allegiance to the Earth
And all its sacred parts,
Its water, land, and living things
And all its human hearts.
I pledge allegiance to all life
And promise I shall care
To love and share all its gifts
With people everywhere.
Anonymous
EVENING DUSK
Walking downtown at dusk
in the pedestrian silence,
except for the monotonous beat and hum
of a traffic signal.
Across the street
there are old restored buildings,
looking empty inside,
though maybe full
of crafted clay mannequins
from an enterprising sculptor.
Occasional real passers by
stare at their hand held devices
or listen to perfected music
on their headphones.
Have these devices
in the shadows
like a stealthy thief
stolen our imagination,
our capacity to hum or whistle
our own song,
experience surrounding nature,
the feeling of the wind, or
the colors of the sunset?
Are they like Poe’s Raven
knocking at the chamber
of your heart,
seeking admittance?
Don’t admit them.
Be aware!
RICHARD EVAN MACKAY
HOME IS WHERE MY BEING IS
Oh, you’re a holiday
Oh, you’re a holiday
Now it’s my turn to say
and I say, “You’re a holiday.”
—————— the Bee Gees
Holiday inns and ways
to escape
the core of my being
the life in my days.
There’s dialogue with others.
There’s hope midst despair.
There’s love in my living
Not getting stuck in repair.
So, I’m singing my song
Painting my poem
There’s love in my living
when I am being home.
RICHARD EVAN MACKAY
VAN GOGH’S THOUGHTFUL SPOT
The plaque explained that Van Gogh would go daily and sit by a fountain in the middle of town, his Thoughtful Spot, to sketch people as they walked by.
I looked back at his paintings around the room with new appreciation. He had the ability to paint like Rembrandt, but that was not the art that poured from his soul.
Each day he sat in his Thoughtful Spot watching people, sketched hands, and dreamed. Then he returned to his studio and chose to fill the canvas with extravagant beauty.
All writers need a Thoughtful Spot to sit, ponder, and soak in the world around us. Where’s yours?
HEART FULL
Someone I cared for
gone now away
colors my day
when I feel this way.
Somebody I knew,
together we walked,
together we grew (old)
together we talked.
Now, there’s this pain
I won’t see her again.
Thinking today,
She’s gone, now, away.
Feeling her faults
was easy to do,
yet I saw her good
and my heart understood.
Where did she go?
Someone may know,
(God only knows)
but she’s not here
except in my heart.
Here in my heart.
RICHARD EVAN MACKAY
EARTH SPIRIT
EARTH SPIRIT
Let the Earth
join with my spirit.
Let the wind
bring forth my joy.
As I move forward,
feeling the sun
as I am walking
now through my day.
Let the Earth
Be as my mother,
bringing forth
an array of life
so very supportive.
Let the earth in
abundance of water,
and greenness of trees,
the air filling
my spirit and lungs
through this day,
as I am walking
through my life today.
RICHARD EVAN MACKAY
Earthday Reusables
EARTHDAY REUSABLES
What if somebody
opened a market called
EARTHDAY REUSABLES,
and people brought in
different crafted items
from their everyday throwaways.
They could say,
“I made one small step
for the environment,
and created
something practical, and
something of beauty.”
RICHARD EVAN MACKAY
