Why Poetry?

Why Poetry?


It always brings me back to my youth
Tasting an apple for the very first time
Smelling the fresh air of the summer wind
As your friend gives you an underdog on the swing set at recess
I loved those days, it always felt like summer
The first ride in the car going down to Florida
For summer vacation
Capturing memories and dreams on paper
Why poetry? Because it has everything that real life
lacks. Absolute freedom like you couldn’t imagine
A child is poetry
Because poetry is open-minded and confused
My poetry is confused by me sometimes
Both children and poems are vulnerable

Sadness and joy
Laughter and anger
Greed and envy

Unlimited feelings and emotions become adjectives
In poetry
Thoughts stray constantly
Without boundaries
There’s too much structure
In America sometimes
Not enough innocence
Why poetry? Everyone has something to say
Our souls must roam free.
Throughout human history as our relatives
Have had to face the shocking and alarming fact
That we have no clue who we are
Or where
We are à going
In this maze called life!
The people of “power”
The ones in command?
You know?
The religious
The political
The educational establishment?
They have tried to sooth us
By giving us order, rules, and a set of laws
Instructing us and shaping our minds
To accept their view of reality
What about my view of reality?
That is “why poetry” for me
I still want to hug a bag full of sweets
And run around wild chasing fireflies
Once again I return to my youth
Helping my dad out in the garage
Or baseball games with the neighborhood kids
At the lot across the street
I take steps forwards
And sleepwalk backwards
To the small days of early life
Why poetry? I want to think for myself
I question authority
and the rules it provides
Poetry is not structure
We must keep talking
And let loose the power of our mind's eye
Put ourselves into a state of open-mindedness
Allow room for chaos and confusion
Weren’t things better when we were young and confused?
I want to live dangerously
And yet remain calm, clear and observant
I’m no fool, I see what goes on all around me
So I write because its how I feel
That is “why poetry” for me.

Today's opinion of the USA

What does America mean?


Duty calls
Brother dies
Diversity celebrated
Riots in the street
History and variety
Faults too
I believe in its greatness, however
Vote and be informed
Or misinformed
Equal rights for all
Opinions everywhere
Fly our flags
Burning the flags
Sing the anthem
Mock one another
Full of pride!
Gay pride parades ruined
By hate crimes
Car bombs during a nice picnic
Let’s appreciate its great beauty and
Throw a pop can out the window
Men and women are equal
According to the law
But there’s domestic violence
everywhere
Stand up and march
Someone’s going to spit on you
So many natural splendors in the USA,
Religious beliefs, and
Economic opportunities
We’re uniquely free
To rob a liquor store
Or shoot someone in the face
Guns are legal after all
We’ve come here from so many places,
Terrorists living among us
So many spaces,
Visit the ghettos
And survive a night
Gang initiations on the streets
Yet we live so well together
We can enjoy being ourselves
Smoking crack,
Vandalizing neighborhoods,
Go skydiving,
Make pancakes for breakfast
We’re not always perfect
But we’re definitely free
We are many people but
As Americans
We are one
One kingdom of exceptional philosophy and culture,
Matchless politics yet a divided house
The economy is in the toilet
Social values are corrupted by Hollywood
Beliefs are taking God out of text books
Institutions that desensitize us
These distinguish us from others?
Our way of life
We are perhaps the only source of hope left in the world
It’s sad really
And the clock is ticking
It’s our spirits and our souls that can keep us alive
Familiarize yourself to this way of life
Love this country above all others
Being American requires more than merely living
In this country
Or speaking English,
Or obeying the law,
Or even holding a job!
Sure, that’s a very good start!
Where’s the compassion, the balance,
Or the gardening? Not enough
But we cannot stray too far from the lines
Of values
Hate must not take over
The outside cannot destroy us
Or we are doomed
And if we weaken, let down our guard
And lose our freedoms,
Then it will only be because
We did it to ourselves…
God Bless America!

Ball employees ride for cure

Ball employees ride for cure
By Christopher Noe

The MS Tour de Farms took place on Saturday June 13th and Sunday June 14th in Dekalb County near the NIU campus. This fundraiser bike ride is devoted to finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. There were four of us from Ball Horticultural in West Chicago at this extraordinary occasion; Pat Senne, Brenda Kehm, Denielle DuChaine, and myself, Chris Noe. After several months of training, we each rode close to 75 miles over a two day period. The first day of this event was a cold and rainy one. The severe downpour, without a doubt, made the course extra challenging, yet we still rode on. Day two was a much different experience. The clear blue skies and the warmer air made the intense labor of day one worth it. We peddled through lovely scenery of rolling hills and gorgeous farmlands in Northern Illinois. Riding our bikes during an event like this on both days requires will, fortitude, and selflessness. With the wind blowing in the final stretch to the finish, there were people cheering, cowbells ringing and bubbles blowing; it was thrilling. Seeing the few people with MS, in wheelchairs, clapping their hands for us at the end of the ride brought tears to my eyes and certainly made it all worthwhile. I would like to extend a sincere appreciation for those of you who financially supported us to reach our goals this year. We can’t wait to do it again next June!

May trip...Day Five

May 30th 2009

Last breakfast at the Dari Barr. Biscuits and Gravy of course!We were driving on I57 heading north when I pulled off the road to drive into the town of Benton where we came upon an old Bed and Breakfast where George Harrison of the Beatles once stayed. There's even a little museum inside dedicated to the Beatles. We drove to Whittington and found Burton's Cafe which is home of the Famous White Pie! Wow that was worth it! It's also near Rend Lake which reminds me of Lake Geneva with all the boats out there. A pit stop in Mt Vernon to get a photo op with the Uniroyal Gal at Stan The Tire Man store. Weird but interesting. We stopped in Tuscola and had an ice cream soda at this Candy/Soda Fountain kitchen called Fleshor's. The service and the desserts were very yummy! Then home. That's it!

May Trip...Day Four

May 29th 2009

Off we drove to Cach River, located in Belknap. This is near Vienna. We traveled deep into the woods and parked the car. The can of bug spray was heavily used. We hiked about a half a mile or so when we came to a bridge. It was a truss bridge that crossed the Cache river and part of Muddy river. An amazing area awaited us just around the corner. A floating boardwalk took us into the middle of Heron pond. It was like being in the middle of a Louisiana Bayou. Plenty of Tupelo and Cypress trees filled this interesting and beautiful wetland. After the mosquitos and deer spotting on our way out of the woods, we decided to travel another 3 miles in the car to the Cache River Basin Winery and did some tasting and bought another bottle of wine. It was a white wine called Niagara and it tasted very pleasant. More wine tasting was necessary so we went to Shawnee Winery in nearby Vienna. More tasting and another purchase. Razzle Dazzle was our poison...a raspberry flavored sweet wine. On to Metropolis, home of Superman. Statue, murals, and giftshop and museum. This is the only city in the country named METROPOLIS and dedicated to Superman. Illinois' oldest state park is called Fort Massac. It features a replica of the fort built in 1794. It is one of five former French forts in the Illinois park system. Kincaid mounds were our next stop. This was a sizable prehistoric Native American settlement, dating back nearly 1,000 years. However, 4 miles of gravel road to get there was a little annoying. Final stop was the General Store in Bay City where I got a bottle of coke and a moon pie. Oh yeah! That's it for day four!

May Trip...Day Three

May 28th 2009

Oatmeal, eggs and toast for breakfast. Yoga. Good day. Drove to Garden of the Gods which was about 25 miles away from the cabin. Amazing cliffs, bluffs and rock formations all over. We saw lizards and turtles. Had bologna sandwiches in the hot humid sun. Saw a rock shaped like a penis. It started raining after awhile, so we took off. I figured it was just a passing storm so we went hiking at Rim Rock where we took shelter at an ox cave. More bluffs and cool rock formations. It rained for an hour. We managed alright. My leg was hurting a little but I was okay. It was a great time! We were a little tired and feeling peckish. We stopped in Golconda at the Dari Bar for beef and noodles, corn bread strawberry pie with ice cream and cool whip. Very delicious! Back to the cabin for R & R.

May Trip...Day Two

May 27, 2009 (My Birthday)

We began the day with a little yoga on the deck. The sun had just popped out for a visit. above the clouds and through the tree line. The air was a little warm and yet cool as well. Birds were chirping. I forgot to mention that I saw an owl outside the backdoor. He kept diving his head down eating bugs in the grass. After yoga we had oatmeal for breakfast with bananas. I had coffee again. While we ate I had Beastie Boys playing in the background (To the Five Burroughs). Denny gave me a birthday card and a 3 musketeers bar (my favorite). Then we drove to Golconda and visited the Buel House and a log cabin. Near the Marina there were about20 Hawks (blackhawks, i think) that flocked along the shore. Denny took a lot of cool photos of the spectacle. As we headed down the byway we got inspired at San Damiano Jesus Shrine.
Very peaceful. We briefly passed through Rosiclare and grabbed a Mountain Dew before stopping in Elizabethtown where Denny's dad lived for awhile. We saw E Town Restaurant and the Rose Hotel which was built in 1812. This town has a lot of riverboat history. After that we tried looking for Tower Rock, There were so many trees destroyed by recent storms and it involved strenuous climbing, so we passed. We ate lunch in the car. Ham and cheese (hers got wet...the ice pack leaked. it was my fault). Apples, chex mix and chocolate covered mini marshmallows.

Cave In Rock state park was next. This has a river pirates history. Later we stopped in Equality at the Ohio River Visitor Center. Picked up some postcards, filled them out and mailed them inside the smallest and friendliest post office i have ever been to. While cruising good ole highway 13 just south of Muddy, a State Trooper pulled us over for speeding. I got lucky and only received a warning for going 9 miles over. In Harrisburg, I got gas and a frisco burger at hardee's. Then we made our way to Glendale where we sampled wine at Hogg Hollow Winery. We sampled a lot of sweet wines and good conversation with a guy named Steve.We bought a bottle and finished it that evening. Not before we stopped at The Chocolate Factory in Dixon Springs. Yummy! Then onward to our cabin. We cooked brats on the grill with corn and pork n beans. We also watched the turtles in the pond poking their heads out of the water. We watched 30 Rock on the only station that came in on the terrible tv we had. Then sleep. End of Day Two.