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Poetical Journal © by Bob Casey
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Mission: To provide poetical and thoughtful comments on life
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Starting year four!
VOLUME IV ISSUE 1 - Sunday, February 27, 2005
CONTENT
• Welcome & HTML Version
• Opening Comments from Bob: Three, Starting Four
• Two Poems: Call to the Source and Tombstone: 1914 – 2005
• My New Book – Wisdom from the Journey
• Vignette: Foot-in-mouth and Many Good Things by Bob
• Guest Vignette: Harry and the Grave by Sharon Howell
• Update on M-Ging
• Recommendations
• Quotable Quotes
• A Bit of Humor
• January Surprise Contest Calendar Winners
• PJ Forum
• Reminder: If you are filtering?
• PJ Demographics – All 50 states and 66 countries
• PJ Online
• PJ Policies
• Subscription information
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Welcome
Welcome to this third anniversary issue and the start of year four. I am pleased to have you as a reader. If you enjoy the PJ, please encourage others to subscribe. There are 66 countries who have subscribers. If your country is not listed in the demographic section at the end, please let me know so I can update the list. Thanks much!
If somehow you received this newsletter without personally subscribing, please accept my apologies. Information on how to unsubscribe appears at the end of the newsletter.
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The next issue will come out on Sunday, March 27, 2005.
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Opening Comments from Bob - Three, Starting Four
First, thank you for being a subscriber. I trust you will enjoy this anniversary issue as the Poetical Journal (PJ) starts its fourth year of publication. Even though some of you have read this trivia before, I thought it might be worth repeating. On February 10, 2002, the inaugural issue of the newsletter was emailed to slightly over 50 people, all family, friends or close acquaintances. From that first mailing about 31 decided to give the fledgling e-zine a try, especially since it was free. Word of mouth added a few more subscribers. The second issue was sent on February 24 to 78 subscribers. This anniversary issue was emailed to just less than 15,000. The peak subscription list reached just over 20,000. However, during 2004 I lost over 5,000 subscribers. Of the 5000+, less than 400 were unsubscribes, an extremely low rate for an online newsletter. The remaining 4600+ were lost to changes in addresses and filtering by providers such as AOL and EarthLink. The early editions, which were bimonthly, averaged two printed pages. Today's PJ runs eight. My second book, Wisdom from the Journey, is a composite of newsletter issues from years one and two. The newsletter mission has always been To provide poetical and thoughtful comments on life. As I stated in my first and second anniversary introductions, I also “try to share my joy for life…provide a brief respite … pique your curiosity and occasionally touch your conscience.” The fact that so many of you are busy and yet continue to subscribe and read this publication is an honor and responsibility. I will continue in year four to strive to offer you a quality publication that is worthy of your time.
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| A Call to the Source
Come silence, give me rest.
Let me feel the breath moving
Through my lungs
And enjoy the sensations
And tranquility that it brings.
In the quiet moments between thoughts
Speak the soundless words
That soothe
Causing turmoil to cease
And peace to prevail.
Comments: Those into meditation and quiet prayer should understand this poem well. This poem came to me after watching a magnificent DVD, Yoga Unveiled: Its Evolution and Essence, on the history of yoga and the use of yoga and meditation in modern medicine. (Please see my recommendation below regarding this outstanding production.)
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| Tombstone: 1914 – 2005
The dash, a lifetime it represents,
from the first breath and cry
to the last gasp of saying good-bye.
It includes all of that which memories make
And all the actions that one partakes.
Whether the years upon this land
Are short or long
The mere dash symbolizes,
Though once here,
That you are gone.
Comments: I recently attended a funeral of a friend. The minister used the symbolism of the dash to represent my friend's life. I took the concept and turned it into this brief poem. I don't believe I will ever again view the tombstone dash the same.
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| My New Book: Wisdom from the Journey
Wisdom from the Journey can be ordered through most book stores including Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com. It is a compilation of the "best" of the Poetical Journal including opening comments, poems, vignettes, guest vignettes, and recommendations. The book would make a great gift. Check out the following to read more and obtain ordering information. (If you order through my web site, you will save a bit, and if you so wish, I will sign the copy.). For information, please click here.
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| Vignette: Foot-in-mouth and Many Good Things
Writing a newsletter that goes out world-wide can be a lot of fun, but there are times that the editor's face becomes rather red. The most recent occurrence happened last month when I announced the addition of a new country, Bangladesh, to the demographic list. The subscriber was Tultul. I welcomed "him" in the opening section of the January newsletter. Well, the "him" turned out to be a highly educated "her" who good naturedly corrected me the next day. Language and the use of idiom can also cause problems. A subscriber in England e-mailed me following one issue. In my reponse, I told her of a workshop I participated in at Oxford University a few years back. She wrote back wanting to know which shop I had visited in Oxford and what work I had done. I explained that in the American idiom the term "workshop" referred to a seven-day conference I attended. Occasionally, I will receive e-mails from individuals who want to know what happened to their poetry contest entries. I try to explain that they have me mixed up with some other organization, which shall remain nameless in this article. The most fun though is corresponding with individuals from throughout this beautiful world. I have corresponded with a diverse group from translators to doctors to teachers to students to scientists to poets, just to name a few. There is even one entertainer on the list. While some write only one email, others write more often. Regular readers of the PJ Forum will recognize those names. One of my favorite experiences is meeting a subscriber who comes up at a book signing and introduces him or herself followed by a pleasant chat. In short, thank you for blessing my life.
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| Guest Vignette
Harry and the Grave by Sharon Howell
Sharon Howell, this month's guest writer, was born in Amarillo, Texas. “Being from a serviceman's family, we were on the move every 3 years. It gave me a chance to see very interesting ways of life in different parts of the country. My father retired in Florida, and that's where I am at present. I have a son and daughter who are my world. For relaxation I enjoy writing or drawing. Escaping into the land of fantasy is always a plus in taking my mind off the everyday grind.”
You may contact Sharon at sharonlrhowell@yahoo.com.
.........Digging graves is not for everyone and my friend Harry was one such person. It was a job to be had when there weren't many jobs waiting and besides, Harry's wife was expecting their second child in May.
.........Harry reminded me of Don Knots in “Mr. Chicken”. He jumped at noises and his eyes got big when the owl hooted.
.........Anyway, we clocked in for our shift and gathered our shovels, picks and a couple of old lanterns, and went to a family plot that needed a new grave dug. It had been raining the night before, so the dirt was easier to work with. After two or three hours, we sat down for a break and to eat a bite. Soon, Harry decided to get back to work while I finished my cigarette. It wasn't three minutes before his shovel hit something hard.
.........“What did you hit?”
.........“Don’t know Jake, but I think you'd better get down here!”
.........Getting up, I tossed the rest of my smoke away, making my way to the edge of the open grave and jumped in. Harry tried to show me where his shovel had struck something, but his lantern was shaking so much I couldn't make anything out. Squatting down, I carefully ran my hand over the area and said, “Don’t know what you hit, but it wasn't another coffin." Then I felt a knobby thing sticking out that became white as the dirt fell away. It was the root of a nearby oak tree.
.........Smiling to myself, I glanced back at Harry, who had backed into the far side of the grave. “You know, there use to be an old cemetery here about a hundred years or so ago. Harry, it looks like you done hit somebody's big toe.”
.........He threw down shovel and lantern and was doing his best to get out of there. I know I shouldn't have done it, but the temptation had been just toooo great. It took about forty-five minutes for me to calm him down. He cursed me out all the way back to the time clock. Can't say I blame him.
If you have a vignette you would like to submit on any theme that fits the tenor of the PJ, please email it to
vignette@poeticaljourneys.com
Not only would I enjoy reading it, but if agreeable with you and space permitting, printing it in a future issue. The vignette should be written in paragraph form and relate a personal story or event. Ideally, it should not exceed fifteen lines.
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| Update on M-Ging
Last month's opening essay on M-Ging (moaning and groaning) generated some interesting feedback. As you may remember, I was going to try to reduce my complaining. Every time I complained generated $1 to charity. As you might guess, a favorite charity received some extra money. Initially, I had to define what was officially M-Ging, e.g. "Did comments about the current political situation count?" Once that was resolved, the contest began. The first day, I lost my temper (just mildly) and generated $7 for charity. Day 2 dropped to $2 and day 3, $1 – then for four days, zero dollars. I won't go any further but summarize by saying that the little contest caused me to think much more before I spoke. That was and is GOOD! In the PJ Forum below, you will see that some readers also joined me in going "cold turkey" against this common malady.
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| Recommendations |
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1) Yoga Unveiled: Its Evolution and Essence – If you have an interest in yoga, its history, and impact on health, then you will enjoy the beautifully produced DVD Yoga Unveiled. It comes in 2 discs, the first focuses on the history and development of yoga and the second on the impact of yoga and meditation on modern health therapies. Filmmaker Gita Desai produced the film. Magnificent it is! To learn more, go to
http://www.yogaunveiled.com
2) As always, I encourage you to visit my web site at
http://www.poeticaljourneys.com
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| Quotable Quotes
"Swallow the stars until you are one with the universe, with all-pervading universal life" – Soen Nakagawa (1907-1984, Japanese spiritual leader and author)
"A monk was asked, What do you do there in the monastery? He replied, We fall and get up, we fall and get up, we fall and get up. – St. Benedict (Late 5th and 6th centuries monk upon whom the Benedictine Order is founded)
"Eternity is not something that begins after you are dead. It is going on all the time. We are in it now." – Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935, Gilman was named the sixth most influential woman of the twentieth century in a poll commissioned by the Siena Research Institute.)
A Bit of Humor
Research supports that humor has a beneficial effect on our body. I hope you have a smile when done.
Two hunters were driving through the country to go bear hunting. They came upon a fork in the road where a sign read "BEAR LEFT" so they went home.
Compliments of http://www.ahajokes.com
Surprise Calendar Contest Winners in January
Thank you to all who entered. Regrettably, not everyone could win though I found two more calendars stashed away so five were awarded instead of three. The winners were Desiree from Glasgow, Scotland; Jeanine from Ohio; Josie from Ohio; Lindsay from Ohio; and Gloria from Texas. Congratulations!
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PJ Forum
Below are samplings of comments received this month. If you have comments, recommendations, or suggestions for the PJ, please email them to comments@poeticaljourneys.com
"I got your gift today, just wonderful!!!!!!!!!!! Out of my imagination!!!!!!!!!!!!!...." – Tultul (Ed.: Tultul was a calendar winner. She also shared a favorite poem.)
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"I enjoyed your publication, especially the M-G essay. Yes, I too have tended to be an M-G. I like to think of myself as a 'critic,' as that gives one an excuse. As a former English teacher, among other things I did before I retired, it was, after all, a part of my profession to help young writers weed out deficiencies, or correct 'bad' behavior. But a very little criticism goes a very long way. So, over the years I’ve worked hard at trying to be less critical (except in political matters, where I think as a nation we are sometimes too uncritical---but that's another story).." – Jack from Ohio (Ed.: Jack was referencing the opening essay in the January issue.)
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"I just finished reading the PJ, and I want to be part of the M-G reduction process… We will either improve our attitudes or give to a worthwhile cause – sounds like a win / win to me!!!! I also really enjoyed the short calendar poem." – John (Ed.: Glad to have you join the process!)
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"…thanks for your thoughts this month. It sure is easy to be an M-Ger.... We have a new puppy in the house, and I'm finding that we have done more laughing since she arrived … I think it helps the M-G process too!!!" – Josie (Ed.: Sounds like you are having a good time with the new addition to the family.)
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"What, not moan and groan in the dead of winter! That's impossible isn't it? Well, maybe I'll give this a try with the money incentive to help me out..... though I may be headed towards bankruptcy court. I'll donate my money to church, which should make Pastor John happy. By the way we went out to dinner last night and the food was very good and the service great (How am I doing?), but I was accompanied by a person with major M-Gitis and that really ticked me off....Whoops, I just lost a buck with those last few words?....Maybe you better not call me until Spring gets here. I won't have anything to say!" – One of Your Sisters (Ed.: I have three wonderful sisters with whom I talk regularly. Pastor John has started a new building project upon hearing her promise – just kidding!)
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"Have you made it through a day without complaining yet? I'm going to try that tomorrow." – Mavis (Ed.: Believe it or not, "yes.")
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"Mon ami, I liked the metaphors in 'moaning and groaning'. Beloved Alison accuses me of being likewise at times. And reading your piece brought to mind an analogy precisely in context: I complained about the holes in my shoes - until I saw a man who had no feet." – Jerry of Victoria, Australia (Ed.: An issue would not be complete without a comment from my friend Jerry.)
If You Are Filtering
Like you, I receive many unwanted e-mails. However, sometimes e-mails I want to receive are filtered for a variety of reasons. May I suggest that you place (white list) the following in your address book or approved senders list: poetjournal@poeticaljourneys.com This process will increase the chance of you receiving your issue.
Reader Demographics
Geographically, subscribers reside in all U.S. states. Subscribers also live in Albania, Argentina, Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, & Western Australia), Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, & Quebec), Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, England, Estonia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad - W.I., Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
If your state, province, or country is not mentioned, please let me know.
PJ Online
To read or copy back issues of the PJ, go to http://www.poeticaljourneys.com and click on the Poetical Journal icon in the left frame.
The next issue will be out on Sunday, March 27, 2005.
Until next time - joy and peace,
Bob
PJ Policies
Guest Poetry: Often readers send me a poem stating they would like it included in the PJ. Many of the poems are well-written. Even though I enjoy reading them, at this time I do not include guest poetry as part of this newsletter. Instead, I suggest that they submit them for inclusion in the Guest Poet section of my web site. A number have chosen to do so. However, time limitations and quality govern the number that will be accepted.
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Guest Vignettes: On occasion, I publish guest vignettes submitted by one of my readers. If a guest vignette is submitted and selected, the author understands that there is no remuneration provided; the vignette will be included in the e-mailed and web site versions; and will remain posted until I choose to remove it from the site. In all cases, the guest vignette remains the property of the guest author who has given permission for its usage as described in sentences one and two.
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Privacy: I take it very seriously. Your name will never be sold to a third party nor will we disclose at any time your subscription information.
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Unsolicited Mailing: The PJ is never sent unless requested. If you believe you received the PJ unsolicited, please notify me. I will unsubscribe you.
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Reproduction and Forwarding: While the material is copyrighted, you have permission to forward all or part of this newsletter. You may also quote from it. Out of common courtesy (We will forget all the legal jargon and requirements.), I would appreciate at least a mention or a footnote. -- Much appreciated!
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Recommendations: All recommendations are personal ones offered for your information. I receive no remuneration of any kind from the sources or individuals being recommended – other than when I recommend purchasing my books. Actually, many are never aware of their listing. One may ask, "Why do you provide recommendations for specific establishments or locations, especially since many of your readers are worldwide and may never be able to use the information?" The key word is "may." When I travel, I plan much of the itinerary myself. This planning includes reading and listening to recommendations from professional and personal sources. My wish is that any suggestions provided will assist some readers as they make their plans. (Incidentally, I have already received feedback that readers use them.)
Subscription: To unsubscribe click on your individualized unsubscribe e-mail at the end of this newsletter. (Not appropriate for this web page.) Or send a BLANK e-mail (Be sure not to write anything in the subject or body) to
leave-poetjournal@pro.netatlantic.com
If you are not already a subscriber, to subscribe go to
http://www.poeticaljourneys.com/subscription.htm.
Bob Casey
Poetical Journeys
P.O. Box 319
Fredericktown, OH 43019
bob@poeticaljourneys.com
http://www.poeticaljourneys.com
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