National Poetry Month

Confirmation bias.
Illusory correlation.
Are you guilty?
Do you see what you want to see,
Or do you do you see what might truly be?
Do you look for the negative?
Shoot the messenger pointing out the positive?
Do you lay in wait for the next man to stumble,
then profess that you are oh so humble?
I wonder if you were judged by your own measure,
would God see you with pleasure?
And when you find out you were wrong,
Do you post that, just as strong?
Or are you so caught up in your own bigotry
That you think, “Oh no not me!
I’m the good guy.
It’s not I.”
Have you embraced a victim mentality?
Are you sharing that with your mini-me?
It’s difficult to see
When you deny God’s love for ALL humanity.
The media is smoke and mirrors telling us how to believe.
Blow out the smoke, wipe down the mirror. Seek out truth beyond what you now conceive.

—Lee Stewart

I have lived in Bakersfield for five years.  I am currently working on a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and have applied for the Masters Degree program at CSUB. I self-published a book of poems called InkSpots and wrote a screenplay.  Lately, however, most of my writing has been academic in nature.

 

The cobbler in the basement.
his ghost flickers in and out of my imagination.
A cobbler shop once existed in what we called our basement.
Gone long before we moved in.

i heard him some nights
rustling among the attic’s blankets, lamps and boxes,
perhaps looking for his tools among
stored and forgotten items.
what dreams and secrets did he learn watching
me, my brother, my sister?

must be he followed me to california.
may be ghosts get cold.

some nights fresh-worked leather’s scent
pulls my dreams back to boyhood.
his soft steps cross the room,
this specter from my past.

—Terry Redman

My card says, “Mystery Fan, Bibliophile, Writer, Raconteur.” I have published in non-fiction, fiction and poetry. Reading or viewing TV have always been a part of my life, tending toward suspense, character-driven fiction, biographies, mysteries and biographical non-fiction. Add seasonal NFL games and the Warriors to complete the menu. Currently I enjoy writing creative blank verse poetry.

You carried me today.
Never known to me what form of life
Shall walk through my door
And bid me out from behind
These four walls.
To take my place among the stars
And look and see what has never
Been seen before.
I cannot return,
For who can unsee
Such indescribable captivations.
I shall never speak again
That you may be heard, clearly
As you carry me, today.

—Lily Hobbs, 10/22/15

Recently retired, Lily is a late-blooming independent writer, just getting her feet wet. As a member of the Writers of Kern in Bakersfield, California, she’s getting the support, encouragement and guidance needed. In addition to her love of non-fiction and all things Spiritual – both reading and writing – she discovered a love for poetry through an interview with Mary Oliver by On Being Studios. For the first time in her life, Lily began hearing life in poetic lyrics and occasionally tries her hand at it.  Find out more about Lily at www.justonething.site.

(Doctors Day was March 30th.)

White Coats

Duty first before self
Often her/his needs neglected
Counts on honesty and integrity
True to self and to the world around
Outstanding perfectionist
Relationships are sacred to Humanity

DOCTORS are committed to making life-long human relationships.

If and when you are fortunate to have experienced such a relationship,
please pause and appreciate it.

Sudha Reddy is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. She is a life-long seeker and learner whose parents taught her true happiness is in helping and sharing. Her life purpose is to decrease suffering in the world, in every possible way. Writing is one of her many activities for staying healthy.

Dressed in red and black

Anita Hill took the stage

Humble amid the thunder

Of full-house applause.

“We are not bystanders anymore,”

She said,

Urging us to act

Like we are brave

And smart

And know a thing or two

About crushing

Inequality

Injustice

Urging us to use our voices

“Break the culture of silence.”

Insist

Act

Use our votes

Stand up

Speak up

Reimagine equality.

—Annis Cassells

 

Annis Cassells is a writer, poet, life coach, and teacher.  She divides her time between Bakersfield, California and Coos Bay, Oregon. She has been a member of Writers of Kern for more than a dozen years.