The Shadow of Age (A Poem on Aging)

The Shadow of Age
(A poem on Aging)


Forgetfulness, drowsy
Are my days—?
(Not all, but many)
Heart, like a burning tower
Mind, a labyrinth of voices
I feel like I’m made of:
Rust and red-iron—.

It’s hard to sleep these
Nights—!
The dark comes on like
A funeral—.

I really don’t care to
Remember—
Dreams anymore,
Too many avenues
(Vast, unending dreams):
It’s all fantasy
In indelible mist—.

Forgetfulness, drowsy
Are my days—?
(Not all, but many)
It comes with age…!


#1550/ 11-27-06

Note: there is a verbal magic in poetry—when one uses rhyme; I, like James Joyce, am often haunted with childish jingles (I have two of his original books of poetry, and they are of this substance: verbal magic; but I also like, now that I’m next to 60, a more personal approach. Let me explain: in old age, we must turn the chimes a tinge though—turn them to a more personal touch of reality, and not hide—and not hide I say, to get the full effect of aging; thus, comes “The Shadow of Age.” A poet should be able to convey the same sort of impression, by much the same method, as the childish jingle presents to the ear of who wishes to hear such a clink; to the older reader the aging often times the click can be in a more personal approach—as I wish it to be here. In my book “Spell of he Andes,” I use this childish jingle to present the impression I want, likewise, in this new poem, the impression is equally dubbed. We grow old and we don’t often feel right about it; but it is right, and let no one think, it does not come with creaks in the back—they are earned, and there is wisdom in those creaks, wisdom that says, or may say: never again. That is the glory of age, not to float around in too much fantasy—and in most cases I’m happy to forget much of what I’ve heard throughout the day; it is a blessing.

Babylon in Prophecy: Road to Armageddon

Babylon in Prophecy: Road to Armageddon

Saddam tried to rebuild Ancient Babylon, before that he tried to rule the land with an iron hand. There are reasons for all this, just as there are reasons beyond the front-page news, why we are still there, Americans. Historically, and geographically, this is a strategic point in the world. The Euphrates River is about 150-miles from Babylon, and Iraq is becoming a important piece of the New World Order, puzzle to Armageddon. (You may want to reflect in the Bible (Isa. Ch. 13; Jer Chap 50 and Rev. Chap 18.) Hang on I will get to the point in a minute.
Any great power having a base near the Persian Gulf would be in command of all the Far East as well as the Middle East; in essence, the whole world. So why are we there? And why do China, Iran, Syria, Russia, Jordan, and the rest of those clowns worry about the USA being there—for just that reason. If I were they, I’d worry also; you say, “What is there for them to worry about?” Just like Burma now worries about invasion by the US, so does all the countries I just mentioned, we now have easy access, should we want to use it.
Jordan is playing a game in all this right now, and biblically, Jordan was Moab and Edom, of the Old Testament; we shall see more changes coming about. President Bush is on his way while I am writing this article to Jordan.
Elam, in the Old Testament (In my graduate studies, I took up Old Testament studies at a Theological University, and found this to be interesting) Elam is what now is called Iran, which is of course by the Persian Gulf. The prophecy foretells Elam will become a powerful country, as it is now almost with nuclear power. (See Jer. 49). We can see Iraq fading somewhat and Iran at present enjoying its new power role to be in world events.

During the latter days, we will see the Antichrist build his city called Tyre, in two parts, one on land, and the other at sea. (Ezek. 26)

Armageddon: Coming of the Last Baattle

Armageddon: Coming of the Last Battle

In most everything, one usually can look back after the fact, and say, “Yes I guess there were signs to the present disaster,” thus, there is a chronological list of prophetic events to the Coming battle, we all call Armageddon, in the near-past it has been more legend and lore, in ones theological mind than reality, but I would be hard pressed to believe that now: it is true light for our everyday reality. We are at present entering that very era, and perhaps one-day someone will say, “I heard of that, isn’t it myth?” Like Sodom and Gomorra.
I hear many folks saying, the none believers mostly, “We’ve always had wars,” pertaining to the bible scripture that says, in so many words: in those days there will be wars, and rumors of wars. Let me define that statement a little more to how it was meant to be read (Matt. 24:6): yes, there has been times where there have been wars and rumors of wars, but there has not been widespread wars plus rumors of more wars coming from all parts of the globe likened this era.
This is the era we are living in my friend. We have a number of wars going on now: from Haiti, or the Caribbean area to African Sudan, and a number of other African countries: Chad and there beyond, is unrest and anarchy in Zimbabwe. In South America, we have a number of countries unstable (with growing dictators, and want to be dictators, from Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia to Equator, and Colombia; thank God the people of most of those countries, not all, put such dictators down with their votes, poor Venezuela has now to suffer with its arch demon for a ruler, and Bolivia will perhaps wakeup in time, like Peru did, and), and rumors of unrest, possible wars for the near future.
In Asia and Indonesia, we have Timor, and terrorists in Java, a rocky area indeed. And in Europe we have unrest again in several eastern countries. In the Middle East we have more than unrest and a war just ended in Lebanon (ready to start up at any moment again), and one still going on in Israel, ready to ignite another regional war with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia (rumors again: but remember they have two previous wars); and Iraqi, and we see they are trying to talk to Iran (Iran threatening to blow Israel off the face of the earth once they get the big bomb, which they’ve almost got, making them number #8, in the nuclear field of deadly countries)) and North Korea right behind them, making them number #9), and Syria, in hopes to slow down their supplying the enemy, thus, all three countries are really at war, in a war zone: call it what they will, but that is what it is. So we have one forth of the world’s at war, and perhaps one third in the state of rumors of wars to be.
If this is not global, what is, and this is just the beginning, I haven’t even brought up the fuse burning with Japan over North Korea (but I suppose I will now), or Japan with China, and Taiwan, whom China threatens to war with soon (and we do not have a fleet of ships circling Taiwan for nothing)) thus, we have threatened China to war with them, should they do as they said they’d do; and in time I do believe they will do as they said, why not?)). And India who has threatened to use the big bomb on Pakistan, and in return they have reminded India they now are the 7th (I think) country to have the nuke likewise, and can throw one their way. So you see, the war games are in place. Even some of the Pacific islands are in turmoil over rulership, another provoking war signal.
I must say on the list of Chronological events to Armageddon, this is just one of many. I was going to go through more, but time does not permit, and it would take more space than I’m allowed on this magazine. But the premise of this article is, we are entering the era to Armageddon, right this minute.

"Divine Sunlight" [Two poems: 'Scars and Wings,' & 'Old Jealousy']

"Divine Sunlight"
1
Scars and Wings
I will sleep beneath my scars, and they above me,Somewhere in-between we shall touch:Oh, God, oh, God, who knows our minds And hearts—our thoughts, our damaged brows,Our-sour mouths, troubled stomachs—Where is the sound body? You once gave me—Give it back please, it had wings you see,And now I have only scars…scars, scarsScars to offer Thee.
Oh, God, oh, God, how I love Thee—I would take death tomorrow, to have them back,To wear a crown of victory, on my head.
#1549 11//19/2006 {Written in Lima, Peru, Café EP]
2
Old Jealousy
When I was a kid, I asked my Grandpa, “What is old jealousy?” because once I had heard him mention it, in passing—“You’d not understand, go about your way, and play….” He told me in no kind way. Later on that very same day, I heard he say to my mother, “When I was young, I had not the courage to ask such questions (to grownup), as does your son, and now I’m too old and feeble I suppose, nor the opportunity have I, to accomplish the power to do whatever.” I remembered that clearly now, now that I’m close to sixty, perhaps because I’ve lived a full life, and somehow along the way, I buried all those old jealousy’s, that might pop up in old age.
#1552 11/19/2006 Two poems given by "Divine Sunlight"
Note: Here are two new poems Dennis wrote during lunch at El Parquetito's, Cafe in Miraflores, Lima, Peru, while the sun was upon him. He seems to think deeper at certain places, as in St. Paul, Minnesota, he has selected the Coffee House, in Har Mar Mall, it is not called that, but it is that. A poet needs a place that he feels comfortable in, and quiet. I often just leave him wherever for hours while he does his thing; he reads and writes some five to ten hours a day (between 300 and 3000 words a day, he reads and writes). These two poems, I kind of think they are somewhat divinely inspired, or as he called them, "Divine Sunlight." It can't hurt I suppose. Rosa