Artistic futility from last night's news watching

As an observer of news and a student I was saddened and distressed by the tragic events in Blacksburg a day ago. At that time I started writing. What follows below was written before more details became known and is not in any way a comment on the new developments.

33
By Aaron J Coyner

Not just another Monday
Sadly a tragic day
So many things to think about
But not a lot to say

Hearts and minds on Blacksburg
Stunned silence, disbelief
Mourning people from around the world
Offer prayers of relief

We stand here all as students
Though a great distance away
Praying for a spirit
To guide you through this tragic day

We say goodbye to kindred spirits
Some with lives like what we see
We’ll remember the scenes, the shadows
And the tragic 33

In a city where politicians scored political points through caring...

It surprised me a little to learn a couple weeks ago that the city of Houston was trying to acquire the land currently occupied by The Center Serving Those With Mental Retardation (hereafter "The Center"). One would think in this time of political correctness and protected classes, a non-profit center serving an important cause would be able to go about its daily routine without bizarre government intervention, but I guess that's only if the center's not on a valuable piece of land.

Back in the 1960's, The Center signed a 99-year lease on its property for $1 a year, an agreement which previous mayoral administrations have abided by. However, it was apparently discovered that the city charter limits such deals to terms of 30 years. As a result, Mayor Bill White has declared the lease invalid. While he claims to be working to reach a solution that all parties can agree to, many of us view this as a heartless attempt at a money grab. If the Center weren't on a 25 million dollar plot of land would it be worth the political condemnation to evict the mentally challenged? The city is looking for a market value lease on the property which there's no way the Center could afford given the nature of its work and non-profit status.

The city of Houston has been struggling with finances and has faced challenges with other recently implemented revenue-generating programs. However, one must ask if there's a point where human decency and caring (the same qualities that led the same mayor to welcome half of New Orleans in their time of need) are allowed to overshadow short term financial gain?

In my book this is such a point.... but what do I know?

Happy Upside Day

After a somewhat prolonged wait, I can now find great joy in the fact that my friends in Upside have finally released their new album. While a full review will occur at a more coherent time and place, I had to take a moment from my hectic disaster at work to breathe and instruct the readership to check out Jim Beam and the American Dream.

We now end this shameless promotion and return you to your day.

A futile artistic effort to pass the time

This is the latest addition to the writings list Cryptic Conversations About a Waking Dream. Comments and criticisms are as always appreciated.

Brake Lines and Bottle Rockets
By Aaron J Coyner

The world is quiet now
I whisper to stay sane
Everything seems crazy now
We need strength to sustain
Our quest to understand
A need to rearrange
An attempt to find ourselves
Through never ending change

The world’s all a drama
And we are just the cast
Even in the present acts
We change from what was past
But change for its own sake
Will never even last
Because life in this mixed up world
Comes at us all too fast

Life is about choices
And changes that we make
Some lead to car wrecks
Like someone cut the brakes
And some guide us to virtue
For our own sanity’s sake
But when we achieve happiness
Through whatever twists of fate
Fireworks illuminate the sky
As the joyous celebrate

Because life is about the future
Not what was but what could be
If we change for honest reasons
To achieve the dreams we see
Misguided changes falter
In this crazy world they cannot last
Try as we might to slow it down
Life still comes all too fast