Tag: Inspiration

He Shall Return

On By Jerry BrothertonIn flash, Short Stories10 Comments

My king is gone and my heart quakes at his memory. Men have forgotten what it was to have him in their depths. We are stone and no longer feel our hearts beating in our breasts. There is no one we could call to be a leader of men. Without guidance we are little more than animals. We squabble and fight; turning on our brothers because they do not have the same veneer. We kill each other for scraps of nothing. We are consumed by hate and blackness. The true courage of men has failed.

But hear me all you Heaven and Earth. Rejoice… for as long as there is but one left that keeps kindness in his heart, he will come again. His return will begin in the small deeds of man… in forgotten things and insignificant actions. Kindness will spark the kindling of Love and it will spread like wildfire through the souls of men.

We called it the Seventies

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Poetry, Rhyming18 Comments

In front of you I can now stand

To proclaim that I was there

And how this old, fat, balding man

Knew that in love and lust all was fair

 

Never sure if I’d make it through those days

It took too many things to tell me I was alive

Without you I would’ve wasted away

I depended on you just to survive

 

I searched and tried to find my own way

Struggled so hard just to reach the door

I survived those years, but sad to say

A lot of brain cells were left on bar room floors

 

Too many tears that were my fault

Too many hurts that I never meant to be

Through too many unwritten assaults

You still remained there beside me

Keep it Simple

On By Jerry BrothertonIn flash, Short Stories25 Comments

Mrs. Backyard Poet was watching some movie the other day. I couldn’t tell you what the name of the movie was or anything else about it, except the closing theme song. It was simply the words ‘you can do anything’ repeated over and over again for what seemed like a thousand times. I was so irritated with it that I got up and left the room. But now, many days later, those words are still stuck in my head. Proving the analogy ‘keep it simple stupid’ is still the best practice and it reminded me of how our lives can be defined by just a few lines or even a few words.

Of all the eloquent speeches and writings of Martin Luther King, Jr. most people can sum him up with the simple phrase “I have a Dream”. Very few of us remember much more. What about Abraham Lincoln? If asked what words from ‘Abe’ do you remember, a vast majority would say “Four score and seven years ago” When we hear, “Elementary my dear Watson”, we immediately think of Sherlock Holmes even though it was never said by that character. Who can tell me the person responsible for, “What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone? How else can we put ourselves in harmonious relation with the great verities and consolations of the infinite and eternal? And I avow my faith that we are marching towards better days. Humanity will be cast down. We are going on swinging bravely forward along the grand high road and already behind the distant mountains is the promise of the sun.” Hardly anyone; but what about, “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give” then we instantly think of Winston Churchill.

Because it’s simple and easy to remember.

Not yet convinced…let me give you a few simple words and see who comes to your mind. Disclaimer…some are not actual quotes from the person accredited for saying them.

“Let’s make America great again”

“Read my lips, no new taxes”

“I am not a crook”

“Walk softly and carry a big stick”

“We are bigger than Jesus”

“Play it again Sam”

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

“You get a car, you get a car, and you get a car”

Even when talking about our neighbors we shorten them to a few words. ‘He’s the bald guy that has the poodles’ or ‘the woman that drives the red minivan’ or ‘the couple with all the kids’. I can remember my father telling an acquaintance about me once.,“You know…the one that lives in the city. He’s married to Deb”. Thing is, everyone knew who he was talking about.

So I’ve been thinking, as us old people often do, about how I would like for my epitaph to read.

Father, Husband, Son, Poet…Friend.

Simple.

How do you want to be remembered?

Where did You Go?

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, Poetry8 Comments

Oh sweet poem

In my dreams

How all the world did love you

They knew your wisdom 

They saw your beauty

They felt your inspiration

They sang songs from your rhythms

When they spoke of greatness they shouted your name

And they smiled…for you brought them such peace and joy

 

But I awoke to find you had abandoned me

Left me alone to stare into the abyss

Of another hollow page

 

Dear Son; Don’t Panic

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Non Fiction, Short Stories4 Comments

I know how frustrating life can be at times. The world is all too quickly closing in on you and the doorway back to your sanity is getting farther and farther away. Growing smaller until it appears you’ll never fit back through it. The weight on your shoulders is so heavy it’s grinding you to the ground. It’s like you’re constantly swimming against the waves and every time you get near the surface you get dragged under by the current again and again and again… a seemingly never ending cycle.

Trust me; I’ve been on that treadmill where it seemed you’re always chasing the elusive breakeven point. No matter how hard you work it never seems to get any closer.

Then one day an old surfer friend of mine taught me a valuable lesson. He told me, “When the big wave hits and pulls you down don’t struggle against it. Just relax and let the buoyancy float you back to the surface.”

Isn’t that how life works? When the big waves come crashing down drowning you in the oceans of despair and pulling you farther into the icy depths of depression, sometimes you just have to stop struggling and relax. Stop panicking, take a deep breath, and slowly dissect your situation into those things that can be controlled and those that can’t. Then concentrate all your efforts on those things that you can change.

Figure out what it is that you NEED. Not what you WANT. Not what it would be NICE TO HAVE, but what you REALLY NEED. Then decide the best way to handle them and move on. If it’s something you don’t need, get rid of it.

In hopes that you can forgo the harsh realities I had to learn from firsthand experience, I would like to share with you a few lessons I’ve stubbornly learned throughout the years.

First, you must understand that the world is not fair. You’re not owed anything. No fairy godmother will appear and wave her wand to turn your pumpkin into a coach. Hard work done smartly is still the only key to success. Besides, a pumpkin will go a long way to fill empty stomachs. Better than any coach ever would.

There are many people who are more than willing to help if you just ask. No one in this world can succeed without help from someone and there is no shame in asking. But remember, just as there are times in your life you have to say NO, it is also ok for other people to say NO to you. That’s alright; everything is not always about you.

Secondly, you are not perfect. No one on this earth is. Accept other people’s imperfection and they will accept yours. There are always going to be certain people that will not love or appreciate you no matter what you do. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and it makes no difference if you agree with it or not, respect it. Don’t try to change them and don’t try to change yourself for them. Just let them go. On the other hand, there are those that will always love and appreciate you no matter what you do. Surround yourself with them. Reflect their love and appreciation back to them. They are all you need. Embrace them. A sincere smile is always worth more than words.

Your life belongs to you. You’re responsible for it. Stop blaming everyone else for your problems. Others can help guide you but never do anything that you don’t think is right just because someone else thinks it might be right for you. They won’t have to live with the results, you will. Always remember, there is nothing more important than honesty, integrity, values, love and forgiveness. These are not just words; they are a way of life.

Sometimes people will say things they don’t mean and other times they will do things they said they wouldn’t. Accidents happen and bad things can happen to good people. You are not God; you do not have all the answers. Get over it. Anger and resentment can build a very strong fort around your heart. Only forgiveness and kindness will tear it down. Admit it when you’re wrong and learn from those mistakes.

Life is not always about work. Just like you need sleep to refresh your mind and body, you need relaxation to refuel your spirit. Be thankful and take comfort in the simple things. Remember, no matter how horrible your life is or at least how horrible you think it is there are millions of people that would gladly trade places with you.

Finally, things are never as bad in reality as your imagination can make you believe. If you keep your head and don’t panic, you will eventually float to the top.