People as a Meatball

December 21, 2024

I am using both the picture and idea of another

Then, applying my math skills to analyze

Imagine

Taking all nearly 8.2 billion people on Earth

And grind them into one meatball

How big would it be?

Figure 3 cubic feet per person

Times 8.2 billion

That would be 24.6 billion cubic feet

The volume of a sphere is (4/3)(Pi)(radius)^3

So, the radius of this sphere would be 3870 feet

Central Park, in NYC is .5 miles by 2.5 miles

This meatball would fit

Perhaps hanging over a bit if perfectly round

But, a definite fit if squished just a bit

Think of it as snug

Then, don't think of it ever again

Sometimes a Mirror is Just a Mirror

December 19, 2024

To Julie,

At least something, maybe not someone, notices all of the hard work.

Woman in the Theatre

December 18, 2024

A cheeky lass

East End by the accent

Lived for the theatre

Devoured cinema

Endured live performances

Preferred the avant garde

Experienced them all

With only four of her senses

Thought of vision

As too "Bourgeois" for these venues

So she sits

Or leans

Or, better yet,

Gracefully makes her presence known to all

Gracefully encountering all

Her admission ticket would permit

Dressed for the occasion

Hair, makeup, et-al

Ironically requiring others

To use their sense of sight

Whilst she remains aloof

To such pedestrian activities

Her review of the evening's production

Always includes the words

"Spectacular" and "Meaningful"

But never the word,

"Visionary"

For obvious reasons

The Woman in Theatre

Mimicking her end of

"The Creation of Adam"

By some painter

Whose name she cannot ever spell correctly,

Awaiting her ascension

For duties performed,

Still waits

Receiving no encore

Nor "Playbill" recognition

For any performance

Past, present, or future

To Run

December 17, 2024

Once, when I wore a younger man's clothes (thanks, Billy Joel)

I ran

I ran instead of walking

Instead of driving

I ran because I could

I lost weight

I gained speed

And strength

And stamina

I ran because I heard the whisper in my ear

That I could soar

On gossamer wings

I would not set records

Except those that held myself accountable

I ran to release

I ran to escape

I ran think

Then I stopped

I had been nearly 30 years

Since I ran

Two nights ago

I got the urge

It was more of a brisk walk

It was more of an endured pain

I had cramps, aches, and shortness of breath

Death laughed at me

Not because it was my time

But, because he enjoyed my self-inflicted misery

Tomorrow, when I am healed,

I will run again

A little farther

A little further

Toward a goal

Known only to three people

Namely me, myself, and I

If Death wishes to join me

I hope he can keep up

I am old

But, he is older

I like my odds

Accismus

December 15, 2024

Gerald accepted the invitation to Heather’s wedding.

He didn’t want to, but he told himself, in doing so, he could be a gracious man,

His time with Heather was brief and passionate. He told her of his dreams. She wanted to be part of them all. Their future was assured.

Then came Frank.

Within a mere month, all that Gerald was, was not enough. Frank had more. Frank was better in every way. Frank was the man Gerald was not.

And Frank took Heather to be his bride.

“Perhaps it was for the best,” Gerald reminded himself. “I will find another.” “There are other fish in the sea.”

His friends knew these were all lies. Gerald put on a brave face, but was dying inside. It was only a matter of time before something had to give.

No one knew what was going to give, but smart money knew when and where it would give.

In the days leading up to the wedding, Gerald purchased a new suit and browsed the bridal registry. He purchased that espresso machine for the pair. He used to watch Heather delight in hearing the sounds and smelling the aroma emanating from the expensive device. It was to be their Sunday morning start of the day. It was now to be shared by another.

On the day of the wedding, Frank checked himself in the mirror and began the short walk to the chapel. He donated his wedding deposit instead of retrieving it. The minister could use the money he told himself. The minister could use the money. He purchased some paint and spruced up the quaint building for today’s ceremony.

At least Gerald could take it as a tax deduction, the minister told him.

Gerald entered the chapel cautiously, wondering how things could have been. His car could have been draped with the chotskies of the event. Usually, he kept his car showroom perfect. Today, he would have let that lapse.

The organist played the song perfectly as the bride entered back lit by the late morning sun. Heather looked radiant in the gown Gerald paid for. She never brought up the subject during the breakup. She assumed it would be a topic for later.

The small congregation seated themselves for the vows and exchange of rings.

Only,

Both events did occur, but not with the bride, but the bride’s maid. Frank met Dolores last night at the rehearsal dinner and the rest is history. The name on the marriage license was Dolores, so the minister already knew. Perhaps he needed a new roof for his silence.

So much is possible with a tax deduction.

Heather began crying. Frank and Dolores finished their ceremony and departed as man and wife.

There was an awkward silence in which Gerald had the opportunity to act. He could save the day. He could step up. He could be the hero.

Only,

Gerald decided otherwise. Being closest to the door, he departed without interference. He waved goodbye to the new couple and began his walk back to his apartment. He understood the collected eyes of EVERYONE in town were on him now. He would suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune for a while. Then, things would settle down. Heather would tire of the gossip and move to parts unknown. There would be future scandals to shake the foundations of the town.

Today would pass.

Gerald decided this was to be as he unholstered is Beretta 92FS, removing the magazine, and then removing the 15 rounds of hollow point 9mm ammunition. For the brass inscribed with the names of the minister, Frank, Heather, and himself, Gerald pulled the bullets, cast the powder to the winds, and collected the brass as the useless garbage they became.

He never discovered the taste of sour grapes after all.

Deference

December 14, 2024

I have nearly $10000 on this match

My skills versus her skills

My rating is almost 900

Her rating exceeds 2000

She is giving me 5 to 1 odds

I will tread lightly today

Very lightly

I am White: e4

That Face

December 13, 2024 (possibly 1894)

That Face

Intentionally B&W

No back story

No footnotes for clarity

Just a face

Is she grinning?

Will she smile?

Does she know more than we do?

Does she want to know?

Do you want to know what she knows?

That Face knows something

That Face won't tell

But she does tell

If you can read a tell

If you can put the pieces together

That Face says it all

All you have to do is listen

To the sound of a silence

That only That Face can silently scream

THIS mirror sees things in a different way

December 12, 2024

You don't, but it does

From every line on your face

To every crack in your skin

THIS mirror sees it all

Don't try hiding those cellulite thighs

Don't keep a brave face after hearing devastating news

Don't bother with the lies that let you sleep at night

THIS mirror sees through it all

Pop a pimple; you won't look better

That skin creme can't make you younger

That affair shouldn't add spice to your life

THIS mirror could tell you the truth, if only you would listen

There is a fine line between what we want to know

Between what we want to hear

Between what we want to see

And the reality of what the actual truth is

THIS mirror plays no favorites

THIS mirror pulls no punches

THIS mirror offers no quarter

Nor asks for one in return

THIS mirror is not for the faint of heart

No disguise is so good so as not to penetrate

No ruse is so bold so as not to discredit

No lie is told so often so as not to believe

THIS mirror is what everybody needs

But few actually want

Behold the majesty of ugly truth

Behold the power of THIS mirror

Rarely viewed as the villain

Until, of course, the victims

realize it really is

Time gives us an opportunity

try everything

once

Time gives us the chance to

succeed

as often as we want

So, how is Time the villain?

Time is insidious

Gradually eroding

Our body

Our mind

Our hopes and dreams

Time permits a young mind

To explore the infinite

Before realizing he does not have the infinite

Time displays a myriad of choices

Then slowly closes each of them

Before we know they were even possible

Time is the giver of what we do not take

Time is the choice we do not choose

Time is the laughter we hear when we fail

So we hope to warn others

About what Time did to us

But they fail to listen as we failed to listen

Time then gives up on us

As we gave up on it

Once becomes once more

Not with the old man

But with his grandson

All we can do is watch the inevitable

Since Time cannot fail

That is its sole weakness

Time can never evolve

Ironically captured in its own loop

Time repeats ad infinitum

Garnering no accolades in the process

We, on the other hand

Achieve and fail

remembering both

Time presents as an ally

Pitied by the wiser mind

Feared by the man on the cusp of life

We can beat Time at its own game

Or die trying

I like my odds in this fight