Before we send human beings
to fly around the moon,
travel into deep space,
test the ship’s navigation systems
with 4 live humans on board,
“pave the way for lunar habitation
and people exploring the resources of Mars”,
how about we put money into
saving THIS stunningly beautiful planet
with the thin layer of ozone that supports
ALL LIFE?
how about we stop dumping plastic into the oceans,
stop destroying the life-sustaining rainforest,
put an end to poaching and senseless killing of ourselves?
That seems more important to me.
cfblack, 4-1-26
Archive for the ‘hard times’ Category
Life does not promise you peace
January 24, 2026This picture. Inspired this poem.
Life does not promise to bring you peace,
it is not what you expect, or prepare for,
You do not control your Destiny,
You only control your own reaction
to all that is hurled at you.
Even the planets were created
by bits and pieces of rock, in space,
bombarding into each other,
until the masses they created
pulled together by gravity,
pulled them toward the center
and created a sphere,
When life throws rocks at you,
you can react
with anger, fear, sadness,
or Love,
a love so powerful that nothing tears it down,
and you remain centered,
calm
secure
at peace.
“Where there is hatred, sow love,
where there is injury, pardon,
where despair, sow hope,
where there is sadness, joy,”1
“When they poison your lives,
sweeten their souls,
Become ye a center of attraction,
Think ye at all times of rendering some service
to every member of the human race,
Be ye sincerely
KIND.” 2
1 prayer of St. Francis of Assissi
2 quote from the Baha’i writings
Morning comes
January 6, 2026Morning comes,
with its glint of light,
with its “begin again”, ever hopeful,
sense the powers within you,
behind you,
what brought you here,
what takes you forward,
Night is darkest before the dawn,
a buzzing tension in the air,
then light appears,
in all its glory.
Be a candle, be a light,
in total darkness, be a tiny flame.
It means everything.
cfblack, 1-6-26
my vote
October 27, 2025Everybody wants to know, how will I vote?
Democrats write me, Republicans too,
they send surveys I am afraid to answer.
Is this survey for real, or are they trolling?
Every mailing I get, it asks for money.
I grew up being told, my vote is my business.
I vote as a citizen, make my choices in private,
vote on issues that mean the most to me.
It’s none of your business how I plan to vote.
If elections were honest and votes were legit,
you’ll know after I vote, who I voted for.
And no, I have no money for your campaign,
because, have you bought groceries lately?
have you tried to buy steak? LOL LOL.
Lucky to buy hamburger. Hot dogs, maybe.
Maybe a can of soup with too much salt.
Have you looked at what a house costs to rent??
No, I can’t send $$ to your campaign,
you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.
Save your money and don’t ask for mine.
Call me on the phone, ask me, how was my day?
What are the issues you’re dealing with?
How can I brighten your day today?
I will vote while I still can, and hope that it counts.
But my vote is my business,
I hope for change.
cfblack, 10-27-25
Cheese and crackers
October 26, 2025My Dutch grandma served cheese and crackers,
chocolate candy with vanilla creme,
green and white mints, melted in your mouth,
She lived through the Great depression,
sat at her foot pedal sewing machine,
revised used clothes from someone else
to fit her own children,
went to church on Sunday,
and always had a smile.
Told us of times Grandpa couldn’t find work
and “had to go work for the WPA”,
They built sidewalks and did other jobs
after the first world war,
She loved hosting friends and family,
the adults talked for what seemed like hours,
until she winked and said with a smile,
“Let’s have a little lunch.”
Children then ran into the kitchen,
were treated like Kings and Queens,
climbed up on chairs awaiting them,
felt the love in their family,
watched her pour the magic bubbly,
ate cheese and crackers, and candy.
This is where we heard stories,
learned some family history,
but what I most remember
is my Grandma’s cheery laughter,
always happily hosting,
sharing what they had.
cfblack, 10-26-25
Life before the Internet
May 27, 2025Before the internet
we used telephones,
not in our hands, but on kitchen wall.
We had to take turns, we had to be home,
and all we could do was talk.
I can even remember a “party line”
we shared with other households,
Before making a call, we picked up the phone
to see if our neighbor was on the line.
If they were, we had to wait
until they finished theirs.
It’s hard to even imagine today
the life we had back then.
More contemplation, more time alone,
no random AI listening,
None of that. NONE of that.
More personal time, more privacy,
Unless we were talking on a phone at home,
we were talking face-to-face.
No texting, no zooming, no Instagram or “X”,
no FaceBook, or Snapchat, no TicTok
or Messenger,
no teenagers worried what their friends thought
of their latest video.
No 24/7 bullying,
when we went home, it stopped.
— Last night I mentioned something,
never googled it, or searched.
Today it appeared on FaceBook
while scrolling messages.
Men now have AI girlfriends — they never disagree,
Women have AI boyfriends — “they always listen to me.”
We need face-to-face conversation, holding each other’s hand,
Sharing difficult topics and trying to understand,
I have no patience for texting, and I like my time alone,
So please excuse my slow response and not answering my phone.
cfblack 5-27-25
LAST DAY
April 28, 2025Last day.
Printing final exams to be taken in person
at desks made in the 1970s,
Phones and laptops put away,
they suffer withdrawal until test is done.
Some never did assignments,
their grades dropped out of sight,
now ask, “What can I do?”
I ask the same question, what can I do
to spark your interest
to learn,
to read,
to write your own thoughts, in your own voice,
which is SO NEEDED today,
but remains hidden behind AI, ChatGPT,
and copying your friend’s paper.
cfblack, 4-28-25
3 days of grandkids
March 18, 20143 days of grandkids make me aware of the preciousness of a child’s heart, the freshness of youth, and how much energy it takes to keep up with them. Sad when they leave.
Doctor Grandma 