If you want to see a conspiracy, one will show itself in your eyes, or you are just being paranoid.

I am getting to think that conspiracy theories are the modern version of classic myths. We see things we don't understand and assign dark motives to them. In ancient times it was *THUNDER* The Gods are angry, we must make a sacrifice today it's Clinton killed Vince Foster or Bush is run by the Saudis. The truth is less clear, more human, and less easy to ascribe all inclusive theory. What bothers me is I see very smart people who would never make such assumptions on matters of technology, like utter the little fairies in my PDA aren't happy, see no problems assigning similar theories to politics out of hand.

I mentioned it to a friend there is a story here to tell here, one that is eating at me to figure out a good way to tell it. Because it's an aliment that is all too common today.


Further thoughts: Joseph Campbell said in the Power of Myth series on PBS that we lack modern myths, maybe he just wasn't looking in the right place.

I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I write and I understand. — Chinese proverb

From Nebraska Center for Writing

Still getting back into the posting rhythm so I completely spaced poetry Wednesday, for shame. A day late, better than never I suppose.

On the Porch
As I lie roofed in, screened in,
From the pattering rain,
The summer rain—
As I lie
Snug and dry,
And hear the birds complain:

Oh, billow on billow,
Oh, roar on roar,
Over me wash
The seas of war.
Over me—down—down—
Lunges and plunges
The huge gun with its one blind eye,
The armored train,
And, swooping out of the sky,
The aeroplane.
Down—down—
The army proudly swinging
Under gay flags,
The glorious dead heaped up like rags,
A church with bronze bells ringing,
A city all towers,
Gardens of lovers and flowers,
The round world swinging
In the light of the sun:
All broken, undone,
All down—under
Black surges of thunder …

Oh, billow on billow
Oh, roar on roar,
Over me wash
The seas of war …

As I lie roofed in, screened in,
From the pattering rain,
The summer rain—
As I lie
Snug and dry,
And hear the birds complain. - Harriet Monroe

Monsoons have been in full force the last few days, this is a small prayer towards their continued success, we need the rain.

Dancing Waters
Springs waters dance down
mountains into river beds
delighted to be released
from ice and snow.

Dancing waters refresh my soul
relieving anxious stress
of dangerous drought.

Spring waters dance down
mountains into waterfalls,
gushing out like broken fire hydrants

Hopeful prayers fill my soul:
that it will be enough
to quench summer's thirst. - Marilyn MacDonald McWilliams, Mountain Gazette 103