Blades of grass are Samurai to the arbor Shoguns
Invaders attack with sheer number or powerful force
But the shogun still stands
As Grass samurai sacrifice their lives everyday.
Day 5 – Blades of grass (nature)
Day 4 – Banana meets Strawberry (Enigma)
One day, a banana met a strawberry in a fruit bowl. They talked about their interests and goals. They went off to the counter and the banana started to peel. The strawberry was impressed of the big tall banana. So, they both took a dip in the yogurt bowl and swam around. “Oh, banana,” said strawberry, “you are so great. I want to blend with you.”
“I want to blend with you.” said an excited banana. The banana caress strawberry’s seeded exterior which started a spiral in the yogurt bowl. They began to swirl and swirl.
“Oh, Strawberry!”
“Oh, Banana!”
The swirling was intense. They blended so hard they started to merge. Then, banana felt something. Then, strawberry felt something.
“Oh my god! Oh my god! Don’t stop!”
The feeling was getting stronger and stronger. “I can’t believe it!” Screamed strawberry, “This is incredible!”
The feeling was reaching its apex.
Their emotions heighten. Their senses peaking.
Lost themselves in the feeling, banana and strawberry started to speak:
I’m gonna!   I’m gonna!
WE’RE GONNA!
SMOOTHIE!
Day 3 – Elegy to My 20sÂ
My 20s
I miss you so
I miss the long night of having fun
And the short cash to pay dues.
No children to be responsible for
But put away childish things
Because they call me an adult.
What?
To Overindulge on all vices as a pick me up
But loss friends because they couldn’t give it up
Crying like a baby for losing family
And reevaluate places I go for safety
Understanding that love and relationships work different.
By losing people personally and in business.
Graduating with degrees and military accomplishments.
But realizing that I am glad that I survive all of it.
Rest in peace
NaPoWriMo Early Bird Prompt: Haibun – Host Duty
I wrote a Haibun with the NaPoWriMo early bird Prompt. It is on my first open mic Host Duty at Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged in Sacramento, CA:
On March 30, 2017:
I went to Luna’s cafe to be a spectator or performer for the open mic night. But I was bestowed an uncommon opportunity: I became the host of Joe Montoya’s poetry unplugged. Unbelievable. I have a café packed with a great audience, a half – filled list of eager performers and poet wanting to get on stage, and no feature to showcase their work.
I was definitely going to work some magic in this room tonight. But, I pulled it off and it worked out. So, attending Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged for a year and 9 months,  I have worked every open mic show role. I have performed on that stages as an amateur, a feature (Duo and Solo), and now a host. So let’s see what is next? Owner?
Opportunity
New host rises from the crowd
New journey begins
National Museum of American Indians
Due to the Standing Rock incident with the Dakota Access Pipeline, I figured this will be a great blog post for today.
Cheshire and I embarked to the National Museum of American Indians. It was an remarkable place filled with relic of modern and ancient Native American that were living in New York State and around the world. I was intrigued by a essay from a Native American woman named Inshata-Theumba:
When the Indian, being a man and not a child, or merely an animal, as some of the would-be civilizers have turned him. fight for his property, liberty, and life, they call him a savage. When the first settlers in this country fought for their property, liberty, and lives, they were heroes. When the Indian in fighting this great nation win a battle it is called a massacre; when this great nation in fighting the Indian wins, it is called a victory.
This statement just goes to show you, the victors write the stories of their fallen enemies. It did not take long for this statement to resurface.
Energy Transfer Partner wanted to build the Dakota Access Pipe Line from Bakken oil patch that links transmission route to the East Coast and Gulf Coast. But the pipeline will be threatening water quality and scared site of the Standing Rock Sioux.
Protestor started to arrive to interfere with the workers’ access point. This event  did lead to an riot with the Morton county Sheriff using tear gas and water hoses. This was another action United States has continue to mistreat Native Americans.
But a victory has arose. On December 4th, Army Corp of Engineering has denied Energy Transfer Partner request to build pipeline through Missouri River until a full environmental impact statement is completed. So operation has halted, but the war still continues. Protestors are leading divestment campaign against financial institutions like Well Fargo.
Protestors are concerned that president-elect Donald Trump and the government will intervene and assist with finishing the pipeline. This event will definitely be in the history books.
For more information:
39’s Last words
I turned 40 in December. Hooray, 22 years as an adult. Â Since, this is my new decade mark, my 39 year old self left me an audio recording. He encourage me that I need to push forward and take care of some loopholes that he wasn’t able to complete.
Here are a few ideas:
- Take risks.
- Artists have problems
- Enjoy your 40s
- Travel more.
- Make Christmas enjoyable
- Eat better
- Do not conform
- Expand on poetry
Take Risk
I have never thought that my age would play a big role to my insecurity. But, I have become aware of repeated financial and economical disasters that have drop me back to square two. Plus, Living with a Loner’s mentality has let me accept solitude than a relationship. I need to take more changes with my life because playing it safe is not giving me satisfaction .
Artists have problems
Many friends and associates have problems greater than mine. But I am surprise Why? I never assumed what problems are really out there.  My childhood had flaws.  Hell, my unique name still bothers me. But, people faced some harsh decisions. I have admiration for them.
No Conformity
I tried to conform to what society has foretold my generation for so long. Get good grade, graduate college, get a Job, work fatefully, get married, have a family, get a house, pay your taxes and insurance, and enjoy retirement. None of these action happen smoothly.
But I went down an alternate route:
I went to the military then community college and university(which took 7 years to graduate), I work retail and warehouse jobs to rent, I work fatefully until jobs fired me several times, I have never been married but I have kids from two lovely women, never own a house, and have been punish by taxes and insurance increases.
I have spent most of my life with this concept that does not work for me. Even when I saw different avenues, I was reminded that I should follow the traditional way. If you research several accomplished people, you will find out that they didn’t follow the concept. So why are we still telling people that traditional works?
Live better
Do ever think that this could be your final year? I have started to become more aware of my mortality. I don’t want to die but I have no control to the decision. So do you feel satisfied? Is your work done? Or do you fear nothing is finished or ready? I have read and listen to many philosophers discuss the end game. We all know it is coming yet we still view it as a distance future. Well, this is not true. So what are you not doing that should be done?
Overall
My life reflection has good and bad events but some those events were necessary for the next one to happen.  Living with notion gives me lukewarm feelings but humans are so active to search for the negative that the positive never feels incredible. I have family and friends that view me as a young adult still growing up or gritty veteran. In short, my 40s are new shoes for me. So, I better get comfortable in them because I will be in them for awhile.
Another one bites the dust
Leaving Stockton
When you think of a sandwich shop, what names come to mind? Subway, Togo’s, Firehouse, Mr. Pickles, or Domino’s? Yes, people! I did say Domino’s. They are selling hot sandwiches as well as pizza. But what about Quiznos? Quiznos was the first sandwich shop to use a pizza oven to toast your bread, meat, and cheese before subway stole the idea by using a microwave. I look at Subway’s microwave as an abomination to the legendary word, “Toasted”. But they have made the process standard in the sandwich Industry.
No Competition
Well, It seems Quiznos is permanently left Stockton on September 18, 2015. After several attempts and multiple location closure, they have finally given up trying to establish shops here in Stockton. Is it due to Subway overcrowding the Stockton area like  McDonald’s or has the demographic become sheep to Subway’s influence? I am not sure but it has been difficult for them to establish a stable location here in Stockton. The famous Quiznos location on Pacific Avenue was terrific real estate to uphold. It was better than a lot of Subway locations, but the lease or customer base was not working, so they close it down. Too bad. I am going to miss the Chicken Carbonara or the Ultimate Club.
The Holidays (for Loners & Soldiers)
Soldier’s Mentality
I considered myself lucky. The soldier life has taught me about camaraderie and  appreciate my collection of friends and loved ones. Yet, even I have fallen victim to solitude for the holidays. The lonely feeling still remains, even though, the trainings and battles are behind me. So, I still carry a soldier’s mentality for the holidays: 1) Appreciate it with loved ones and family. and/or 2) Create new traditions while being solo. These ideas helped me survive those lonely hard times during the holiday.
Continue reading “The Holidays (for Loners & Soldiers)”
25 days to be 39
As I awaken from my slumber, what is my first thought that come to mind? Damn, it’s almost here. I am month away from my birthday. The feeling of new year is exciting. So I always remind myself to reflect this year and prepare for a new one.
Accomplished
I am very thankful for many endeavors over the years and the people that I have shared them with. I have regrets on certain events but I push forward to better myself in today’s way ward society. I enjoy poetry and Deejaying but I know I can do more. Some people never think of leaving a piece of their legacy. It doesn’t have be glamorous. It just has to be precious to you and others.
Mortality
Do ever think that this could be your final year? I have started to become more aware of my mortality. I don’t want to die but I have no control to the decision. So do you feel satisfied? Is your work done? Or do you fear nothing is finished or ready? I have read and listen to many philosophers discuss the end game. We all know it is coming yet we still view it as a distance future. Well, this is not true. So what are you not doing that should be done?
Big 40
So I turn the big 4-0 in December. It never occurred to me that I would make it this far in life. I still have fears and I still have dreams. I hear too many people screaming I am too old. Why? Maybe, you should work on acting younger. We assume that the external needs are important. But we also have personal needs to be met.
I have children and I need to project a better image of a father. So my milestones are unique steps I built but my journey doesn’t stop at 40.
My Interview
I was excited to have an interview done on me. I like to thank Izzy Lala for doing an interview on me and my poetry pieces. It was an amazing experience to see me from someone else’s point of view. Plus, I started to understand the image that I projected publicly. The statement of being a tone setter is interesting since I, primarily, sign up as the first poet that starts the show.
My roots with poetry are premature. I have been rapping since I was 10 years old. So, alot of my poems were turned into rap lyrics immediately. Some people say that Rapping is not poetry. I question the remark because evolution is a recurring event. So, when poets view new or strange styles of poetry, they need to understand the importance is still the words. I thought about how I would define my own. I always assumed poetry was similar to a painting or music. I made it for someone to check it out and they created their own interpretation. But reading Austin Kleon’s book, Show Your Work, states my work can’t tell stories itself.
My poetry is my work.
Check out Izzy Lala interview of me:
Res Wonderland 