Author Archives: Dave

The Midwatch Lieutenant Fallon goes over the logas I assume the midnight watch.He heads for his rack in officer’s country.I’ll be here until oh four hundred. The ship is cruising at 15 knotsin calm waters west of Pearlon the same … Continue reading →

Excuses We waste a lot of time making excuses.The Bible is full of them. Some are goodlike Moses saying, correctly, he is not eloquent.The Lord enlists brother Aaron to speakfor him, and that is enough to do the job.But most … Continue reading →

[tanka] lost mojoon the Red Linea sweet faceno opportunityfor me

For the Love of Flight Precision tree swallowsblack silhouettesagainst the dishwater cloud bankrise like a school of fishhigh above the wetlandsturning this wayrising twistingturning that waytwisting fallingheave upward once againand curve for a landingin a giant big leaf maplejust for … Continue reading →

To the Young Ravens The young ravens in the nest are nearly grown.They are dull black with patches of gray and white.They flex their wing muscles intermittently,but they know not yet what the wings are for. Their pink, fish-like mouths … Continue reading →

Cultivating Stillness A shallow mind is never still.A compulsive needfor constant stimulationensures a stateof constant agitation. By understanding and cultivating stillness,a deep mindis heavy enough to master itself.Stillness is the master of agitation. For the shallow mind,the world is heavy;it … Continue reading →

The Logic of Athletics He challenged the ice in canyons silvergreen.He challenged the heat, one hundred plus, to chasethe best of men. He challenged the raving rain,thunderously applauding. The gladness of the racewas always there, but those who saw his … Continue reading →

[tanka] she is the windshe cares for nothing…he is the grass;he cannot movewithout her

Layoffs Coming Next Week Everyone knows.Layoffs are coming and rumor has itnext week is the big reveal.The managers assure usthe best people will keep their jobs,that retention will be based on merit. The old timers have heard this before.Don’t believe … Continue reading →

Shock and Awe Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to … Continue reading →

The Hills of the Central Coast Under a raspberry haze, row after rowof the smooth-sanded hills of the Coast Rangecompress into a flat two-dimensional view.Except for the accidental live oak hereand there, bare grassland is all I see.Telescoped ridgelines are … Continue reading →

Oneonta Hills Dad was a ham radio hobbyistearning his first license at 14.It was a happy time for me when Dad drove upthe winding dirt roadinto the Oneonta Hills in his ’51 Ford V8where he did his radio checksfrom the … Continue reading →

[tanka] double-clickingthe Events folderour first kissremembering your touchand the tilt of your face