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The Sound of Silence
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I Am God.”
Do you know what silence sounds like?
Did you know that music is a series of sounds separated by silence?
In this busy world, it is almost impossible to hear the sound of silence.
However, I treasure it above all else.
Imagine a magical, serene time totally void of any sound on your ears.
One’s mind completely relaxes, and one can visualize waves breaking on a distant, sandy shore – without sound.
From deep within our mind, a new, pure thought emerges in this blessed silence.
It would have never arrived in its present form because of the noise, clutter, give and take of everyday life. Instead, it would have arrived all covered in bandages from injuries caused by the extraneous, outside world. It would be confused, lacking clarity, and without peace.
The idea is to intentionally become more aware of the Sound of Silence.
God bless your journey!
Anniversary of U.S.S. Arizona
After standing on the decks of the memorial for the U.S.S. Arizona,
I wrote this poem to honor our fallen comrades on the
50th Anniversary of that day, December 7, 1991.
It is included in my book, Autumn Leaves.
We came to pay you tribute,
O’er encrusted decks we stood.
And because you are deserving,
We rendered as we could.
Oil seeps up to surface light,
Rainbowed tears of those below,
Doomed forever to silence
Those many long years ago.
“Forget me not,” you whisper.
“Perish the thought,” say I.
“Though you sleep beneath the sea,
Your memory shall not die!”
“Remember Pearl! Remember Pearl!”
Soon became our national cry.
Our country rose in anger
On a vengeance trail to fly.
We shed our tears; we shed our blood.
War took an awesome toll.
Still we fought on to victory
While you topped our “Honor Roll.”
So rest in peace, fellow comrades,
The victory has been won.
We’ll not forget the price you paid
Seven December, Nineteen Forty-One.
Note: Oil still seeps out of the hull of the U.S.S. Arizona, creating rainbows on the water above it.
U.S.S. ARIZONA
After standing on the decks of the memorial for the U.S.S. Arizona,
I wrote this poem to honor our fallen comrades on the
50th Anniversary of that day, December 7, 1991.
It is included in my book, Autumn Leaves.
We came to pay you tribute,
O’er encrusted decks we stood.
And because you are deserving,
We rendered as we could.
Oil seeps up to surface light,
Rainbowed tears of those below,
Doomed forever to silence
Those many long years ago.
“Forget me not,” you whisper.
“Perish the thought,” say I.
“Though you sleep beneath the sea,
Your memory shall not die!”
“Remember Pearl! Remember Pearl!”
Soon became our national cry.
Our country rose in anger
On a vengeance trail to fly.
We shed our tears; we shed our blood.
War took an awesome toll.
Still we fought on to victory
While you topped our “Honor Roll.”
So rest in peace, fellow comrades,
The victory has been won.
We’ll not forget the price you paid
Seven December, Nineteen Forty-One.
Note: Oil still seeps out of the hull of the U.S.S. Arizona, creating rainbows on the water above it.
Thoughts
This poem comes from Autumn Leaves:
Thoughts locked in transparent time warp
Struggle and search for an outlet.
Agonizing effort to render expression,
Lapse into gnawing, frustrated silence.
Moments earlier, a single thought
Crystallizes into unfragmented clarity,
Sinks back into an abyss of grey matter,
Suffocated by wandering mind clutter.
Multicolored patterns ebb and flow,
Aimlessly, without purpose or reason,
Fluttering a boat on silent wings
Into a gulf stream of infinity.
Because it’s gone, it’s lost,
Never again to be recalled
Or formed into the uttered word,
But, did it ever really matter?
Silent Tribute
This poem comes from Autumn Leaves:
Shrouded mist,
Bagpipe dirge,
Mournful notes
Oe’r heath and verge.
Spirit departs,
Yet not alone,
Presence felt
Although it’s gone.
Last note falls
Like a gentle kiss,
Wafting through
Thickened mist.
Note wears thin,
No longer heard.
Break not this silence
With spoken word.
