The Romance of Oz

 Chaos disguised as order, From the 4 seas, to the western border. Students scream freedom, Peasants used as fodder. Jade emperor nudges heaven "They are defying your will" But heaven didn't bother "Today, my will is to make the new emperor pay the bill".

      Friend, I've recently been acquainted with you and somewhat been hearing about your routines. From my limited interaction with you, I can tell that you are a humble man with limited ulterior motives. You simply want a humble life filled with the small joys and the pleasure of fatherhood and being a good husband. Yet, you feel as if your vice blinds you and keeps you in a stranglehold, in which you are a part of a vicious cycle. I am writing this as a way to convince you of your own power as well as the limited power of your fears.      As a rule of thumb, when I face difficulty, fear, terror, pain, anger, etc in life, I immediately stop and take a step back. I take deep breaths and try to compose myself while looking at the big picture and looking for opportunities for a safe counterattack. If you've ever played chess before you'll know that acting on impulse and making a series of quick and thoughtless decisions/actions leads to inevitable disaster. ...

A single drop of water feeds the little honey bee Hungry, cold and wet, he beings his search After wandering into the garden of plum blossoms,  He is full, warm, dry. He also makes friends with a butterfly Warming their wings together, the sunlight caresses their tired bodies Next to the blossoms is a garden of poppies A sea of red touched by a gentle wind The little honey bee bids farewell to his friend He gazes at the sea of purple and red Sky made of turquoise, the ground made of jade Soon daylight will fade The honey bee dances to find a bed Suddenly the butterfly calls out to the bee Him, the butterfly and some honey The sun sets smiling at these three.  

      Although the church played a significant role in the west, and the mosque/islam in Middle East and North Africa, the far east seems to have escaped the overreaching dogma of the "only truth". Why does the individual forego any resemblance of critical thinking when faced with a certain set of beliefs by the moral authority he subscribes to?      When accepting something as the "truth", especially within the metaphysical we close out minds to the endless possibilities. The thought is so engraved in our system that we refuse any constructive argument.The person who tells you to have faith and believe without listing a certain set of realistic basis for it, is an enemy of critical thinking and human scientific/spiritual advancement. Understanding is a human beings natural wish and desire, and wanting to understand is one of the ultimate pillars of human nature. Thus we must try to understand our, and others', faith and belief systems if we want to navigat...

Surely the sun will rise again Warm follows cold My elation brings some faith Twisting thoughts of pain into glory Patience is a true friend Awaiting me with the smile of heaven The silver phoenix sheds the ashes of misery from his coat.

Heroes of young and old, Washed away by the river None will stand alone The wheel will turn and deliver  Another set of heroes Only to be washed away by the river

When I saw the fields I shrieked in fear, I couldn't understand why the end wasn't near It happened so I could be here? Is this a lie or a truth I don't want to hear? Imagine all that was held dear Shattered like a mirror.

Hard outer shell Within found confusion Slowly searching for air Emotions dried numb Looking for meaning in jazz

Another day comes It always does after a storm After a stormy night at the sea The gulls point to the shore Between myself and the sand 1000 unanswered prayers Foams of the water dig out each wish The wind sweeps them over the land The sails tell me to go ashore "I just want to witness not to be a part" "My true love has always been the storm" "I know beauty always awaits on the other side of it" Back to another storm I go.

Even on this day, My pen slowly sings to me A soft, quick love song.