My Mind

Morning fog creeps in
Whispy and cold as it curls
Fog and confusion

Waves

Past the roiling surf
Unable to swim back in
Trying with all strength

Soon

Red and gold leaves fall
Low bright sun illuminates
Small measure of peace

Honor

There exists great life
In every breath we take
That is bushido

Driving

Foot pushes the pedal down
Engine thrums a little louder
Revving as the speed increases
Music pouring out of the speakers
A reminder of every moment
Good memories and painful
All crashing into each other
A race gone dangerously wrong
Sun sinking so the air whistles
Cooler into open windows
Destination undetermined
Pulled in directions so opposite
That only the driving matters
Just moving until the music decides

Sanctuary

Sleep is a sanctuary
Rarely earned
A respite even brief
Needed desperately
A chance to recharge
To restore the smallest
Measure of self
To combat the travails
Beset upon us daily
To reset the balance
Lost amidst vast expanse
Of life as we know it

Enough

Always today, difficult and emotional
Joyful and tearful alternating
As remembrance occurs in flashes
The events, the little moments
Of that day and it's unfolding
Tears for those lost and for those
That have been lost since
Tears for those left behind and for
Those sent to fight our enemies
Joy for the coming together experienced
Across our land in the days that followed
Rising to the occasion in the way
That we do best, fighting back
But for me, mixed in is remorse
As others sacrificed, some everything
Did I do enough?

Real

Real me, really seen by you
Instead of going away
You asked to see more
To know me better
To allow me to grow
I could be what I was
And not hide any part
Of what I had been
Or wanted to be in life
With you in my life
I was simply...real

I just assumed it had stopped. A faded memory, blurred around the edges and all but gone. I mark myself as a little confused now and and off guard to know it hadn't. I guess ultimately it changes nothing. This was always done for multiple reasons and those reasons continue on in some form.

Resurgence

Why now?
After this passing of time
What catalystic event has occurred?
What has prompted a resurgence?
Information that may never be revealed
Never fully understood or known
Some of the old ways remain open
The old paths still able to be traversed
If needed

My Story

My story is still being written
Each callous on my gnarled hands
Every line and crinkle on my face
Sun weathered and wind battered
Scars that delineate a wound or cut
Fading bruises diminishing to nothing
All a visible chapter for the telling
Contributing words of humor or horror
Happiness and sadness, honesty and lies
Human condition in a microcosm
Contributions have come from many
Some who's part is finished and some
Who have the opportunity to add more
The choice is theirs to make and write
Parts may never be fully told but in the end
Isn't that what makes a good story

SLOC

The military has an acronym that I have always appreciated, SLOC - Sea Lines of Communication. Simply put, you need your seaways open if you are waging a war outside of your continent. You must have the ability to use the seas to transport equipment and material too heavy to airlift. You must keep open any communication available through those seaways. War is always won by logistics and communication. The ability to communicate is vital.