Propaganda – 21st March 2026

I am a lie lurking lovingly among the least intellectual.

Inspired by Hitler’s admiration of British propaganda during the First World War and still employed by those waging war these days. Written for last April’s Chimeric Poetry Scavenger Hunt: #12: Write an American Sentence using Alliteration.


Today’s Daily Stoic poem:

The Best Retreat Is In Here, Not Out There

Turn off, tune out and quiet the mind
Nothing else will provide us peace
Tomorrow can be today, you’ll find
Inward is where the noise retreats

The Ape That Asked – 8th February 2025

Always, and again, the ape that asked
Bullied and beaten black and blue
Courting ill-considered conversation
Darkened the done and to do

Each entreaty that elicits anger
You are finished! Flee! Free
To go grumbling and gather
Where the hordes might herald thee

Internal intentions are now impeded
This journey to justice is a joy
Like kids in the kingdom of kindness
Learning to love in lone employ

Matters of meaning in mention
Of nonsense, none now wait
Opponents of order omit opinion
Precise procrastinations prevaricate

Cruel questions quick to quiz
A ready realisation, real and raw
Softer skills seemingly satisfied
Thoughts tumbling through the thaw

Underutilised and upon inspection
A variety of voices victorious
Wild, wandering and wonder won
Youth yearn yonder, rising glorious

This wordplay got out of hand! Inspired by some random alliteration here at the Stoa Letter

Canon – 20th November 2024

I have the words within my pages
My knowledge forms your future texts
Amassed wisdom sung from many sages
Collected comforts to which all connects

This power I pass for you to share
The lessons lived easily explain
To conquer chaos and choose to care
To shrink in size or grow to gain

Your personal action accumulates
Eyes sparkle like dancing diamonds
Mixing the messes of made mistakes
Form the future from many islands

Shared with What Do You See #263 and submitted to an AllPoetry assignment about alliteration.


Today I’m feeling:

OK, once I got going. I slept pretty well and my alarm was a bit of a shock. Exercise and a cold shower jazzed me up all right and once at school, it was fun to back around the students, which gave me some positive vibes.

It was a pretty easy day with one grade 12 class (who were more rowdy than usual but still did my work) and a quick grade 10 class that was excellent. I really like that class, but there are 47 of them, and it’s difficult to take time with some individuals that need help more than others.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Deciding to go to Oasis to pick up some dinner. I think I haven’t been there for more than six months now and the food is as delicious as ever.

The best thing about today was:

Being so happy and relaxed after my last class that I was still chatting with students around the school an hour later.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Something I learned today?

I figured out what I was trying to remember yesterday! It was when I was in the bathroom, drying myself off after a shower. Just recently, I noticed that my right nipple is lower than my left! Maybe it’s always been like this – I’m not sure.

Anyway, I was wondering if it might be connected to the pain I have in my right shoulder. Maybe some muscles in there are not quite working properly.

I have a desire for symmetry!

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I made Baipad and Q get up and walk this morning – just for a couple of minutes. I talked to Q but he couldn’t understand any English but Baipad translated everything quickly and easily. I told her that she should think about getting into translation work.

Later, in my grade 12 class, Men told me that he does translation for mobile games. Maybe a good contact for Baipad for the future.

When crazy Sarah steals my phone!