“That men should pray and fight for their own freedom and yet keep others in slavery is certainly acting a very inconsistent, as well as unjust and perhaps impious, part.” – John Jay, Reference The Life and Times of John Jay, William Jay, editor (New York: J. & S. Harper, 1833), Vol. II, p. 174, to the Rev. Dr. Richard Price on September 27, 1785.
“All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster’s autobiography.” – Federico Fellini, film director, and writer (20 Jan 1920-1993)
Continuing in an effort to put a version of the Samson and Delilah story from the Book of Judges into verse, I present Part VIII. Perhaps, I should have made this shorter?
Samson (VIII) by Michael Romani Amidst un-princely questions of coming kingship Samson, himself, has questions as to his worship Could he dare to dream of two peoples in peace Stopping at nothing until reaching his release Betrothed he was to Taran, daughter of the enemy Daring to embrace this child of the adversary Samson brings his family into dishonor and shame Caused by two enemies who cast dispersion and blame All of this enmity in the name of this love Neither the Jews or Philistines concerned the above Philistine wed to Jew this was surely heresy Such had it been for all their known history And heresy it was for God's people to be sure Putting Samson under the heel of the impure The prince recognized and used this for gain Instead of using it for peace, he uses it in vain Samson seeks God inside the darkness of wood Only hoping in prayer to know God's good Making this forest, his sanctuary and steeple Samson prays to know God's will for His people Seeking in earnest for intervention and sign Samson's heart hurts as he seeks God's design By happenstance it seems, he becomes slayer of lion This Samson, the Nazarite son of Holy Zion Out of the eater, Samson has made something to eat Out of the strong, he has found something sweet And in ritual taking bite of the lion's heart He finds the riddle of love and soon departs Arriving at his pre-wedding party riddles are spoken The riddles and wagers that leave all heart broken On the surface it seemed a contest meant in token Who could have guessed the price of pride broken Sweeter than honey and stronger than a lion The stolen wit from this true son of Zion Pride comes with a price that cannot be had The loss of the cost is by far too, too sad The loss of the stolen riddle had its price Pride taken for folly against wisdom's advice Thirty tunics needed to save sweet Taran's life As the unholy prince seeks to increase strife Through Samson's fists, God's wrath causes fear But despite this Samson holds in hope to persevere Taking the tunics from the dead breaks his vows Defiling his purity, when needed most somehow The unwise prince takes captive Samson's wife Choosing again the downward spiral of strife As the consequence of killing thirty Philistines Samson is condemned to work the killing mines Running away, Samson turns with a start and flees Guided by wolves the finds he cannot appease Using these wolves to set Philistine fields afire These burn as a result of Samson's pride and desire Again and again, Samson's pride has its consequence And his love is sacrificed unsaved by Providence Reduce to a rage of tears, to his knees he is driven Begging the Almighty that he may be forgiven (c) January 20, 2019 Michael Romani All Rights Reserved
Since mankind began, there has been the hero’s journey. A man starts with just his dreams and builds his world or fails. Those with heart prevail. That then is the trick to this tale.
Flying Solo by Michael Romani Long ago and not so faraway Crime ran wild as it does today Vile syndicates offered protection Forcing the weak to live in connection On the streets, a fight for survival Awaits a young man in his arrival Yearning to fly free among the stars But, in that moment, the dreams seem far But, not too far, for certain kind of man That will steal and deal his way if he can These kinds of dreams require the will to survive And to keep at them steady until they arrive Nothing comes easy and nothing is free No excuses will do to keep his dignity Never one to be beaten down to his knees The boy becomes a man with strength as his keys Joyride escapes into the dark of the night Pushing toward freedom with all of his might Full speed ahead into this hard fight Rebelling against the kick-around; never losing sight The soul that will not be conquered too easy Will find its own way to become and be free Clinging tight to the luck of self rolled dice His determined heart does not fall back on advice At least, not the advice that tells him only no And that resistance is futile; it's not when you're solo Alone escaping a world filled with dirt and grime This dreamer would succeed in flying in not time Finding friends and kinship along the way As he lives on to fight yet another day An escape is made with his will to live free There into the arms of like minded company Instincts heard soar and roar like a power chord Remembered self promises cut like a sword Everybody find that they need their somebody And so a band of thieves become his chosen family (c) January 20, 2019 Michael Romani All Rights Reserved
“But the fact being once established, that the press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood, I leave to others to restore it to its strength, by recalling it within the pale of truth.” – Thomas Jefferson (1805)
“The only way human beings can win a war is to prevent it.” – George Marshall, US Army Chief, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Nobel laureate (31 Dec 1880-1959)
Last of the poems inspired by watching that wonderful tale, Paddington 2. Maybe, in some ways, I am still a child at heart. But, I think everyone should watch this movie!
Treasure From A Book by Michael Romani Every train comes to its end Except when we call out to friends Those with true hearts and smiles Are the ones who make it all worthwhile Even those who don't do nothing For no one with nothing to bring It's in that long walk with open mind That legs follow so we often find Willing to risk even last breath Even to the very gates of death To free us from our trouble And willing to do it on the double There's a lesson here to learn It's something important to discern That the greatest sense of legacy Is the love of friends and family The poet writes with tears in his eyes.. (c) January 19, 2019 Michael Romani All Rights Reserved
Truly enjoyed this Paddington 2 movie. It offered lots of food for thought… mostly marmalade as I recall….
Paddington Breaks Out by Michael Romani There is a prison worse than a prison It is the prison of loneliness That is when you know you're missing Those who are special and give you bliss Running through the jungles of despair When there is not more home Believing you've been forgotten by those who care The very worse prison is found in being alone The clockwork gears continue to turn But, even marmalade loses its taste Our friends reach out in their turn Wishing to spring us loose with haste A promised lie is the worse kind of lie Especially, when all you want is home In all the pages where your dreams come true All of good in us is no good without you (c) January 19, 2019 Michael Romani All Rights Reserved
“The defense of one’s self, justly called the primary law of nature, is not, nor can it be abrogated by any regulation of municipal law. This principle of defense is not confined merely to the person; it extends to the liberty and the property of a man … it extends to the person of every one, who is in danger; perhaps, to the liberty of every one, whose liberty is unjustly and forcibly attacked.” – James Wilson (1791)
The court, in all it’s infinite wisdom, did not agree… just saying….
“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” – Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (14 Jan 1875-1965)
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