(7/8/22) [EDIT]

Blackfoot’s “Strikes” album from 1979 is an excellent record. You should buy it and listen to it as soon as possible, but NOT from Google Play, or any other outfit birthed near this day. Heck, get it on vinyl if you can.

In other news, the final polish on my manuscript has been delayed. I won’t say anything about the delayers, other than to tell you this little story:

I once had a boss who was hit in the rear,

drivin’ her car down the road.

When the fool that’d hit her said, “You ain’t hurt,”

she just replied, “Oh, thank you.”

P.S. It’s coming (the beta). I’m actually done. Lesly’s workin’ on some final edits! And I already have three readers lined up!

P.P.S. If you ever encounter a tracker originating from my website, please contact me immediately using the contact form so that I can get rid of it ASAP.

I just saw a bee at this here tree,

which looks more now spectacularly.

Some blossoms have fall’d upon the straw,

but that ain’t chang’d the Truth of it all.

So anyway, have an original poem… And an even more original beautiful creation of God. I love Azaleas and planted the above cutie myself only a few years ago. It’s thanks to my new landscaper that she was unearthed. Weeds had beset her. What a wonderful coming out party!

P.S. My “Second project” (referenced so long ago) is now in its final stages: I’m past 100K words, but still not quite finished. Regrettably, I see no less than a year before it’s out. When I get the final (Alpha) draft down I promise to provide more details. [EDIT (5/26/2021): I just finished it this week. It came in at 113K words, and it is rough… Like I mentioned in today’s post found HERE, I just hope the thing will be in good enough shape by April of next year for me to be able to share real details about it. I’m at least six months away from even thinking about asking a Beta reader to look at it.]

Library books to be shared—

Not purloined, sold. Shame!

(Day 3) For today’s post, I offer a favorite poem of mine from Friedrich Rückert. The text has been sourced from https://gedichte.xbib.de/R%FCckert%2C+Friedrich_gedicht_2.+Die+Burgen.htm . I took the photo, which also represents something of a clue.

Die Burgen

Zu Trümmern sankt ihr unter Schicksalsstreichen,
Doch noch in Trümmern scheint ihr stolz zu stehen,
Verdammend von den Höh’n herabzusehen
Auf eine Welt, die nicht an euch kann reichen.

Ein enger Sinn baut Hütten, die ihm gleichen,
Im Thal, wo nicht der Freiheit Lüfte wehen!
Ihr seht sie baun, seht wieder sie vergehen,
Und ihr steht droben, ewige Todeszeichen.

Niemand erkühnt sich, eure Riesenwälle
Mit des Besitztums Anspruch anzutasten,
Auf euren Schutt zu flicken seine Schwelle.

Ja kaum der Wandrer wagt auf euch zu rasten,
Gleich als entehr’ er alter Kraft Grabstelle
Durch seines Feiglingstrittes nichtige Lasten.

Friedrich Rückert, 1811
Aus der Sammlung Aprilreiseblätter