hope is the ember
that fuels change….
no matter how small
the glow
never give up hope
Peace out !
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
Official Website
hope is the ember
that fuels change….
no matter how small
the glow
never give up hope
Peace out !
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
the music of the spheres
reverberates
between
my ears
fragmented gibberish
nonsensical tones
that patiently haunt
for interpretation
peace out
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
more simple times
something yearned for
quiet nights
less hectic days
craved until exasperated
where is the silence ~
tomorrow
another chance
to meet expectation
peace out
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
thunder sounds
and lightning flashes
tornado watch
hard rain fills
the gutters
only the comfort
of home feels safe
pray for times
less restless
peace out
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
In the Still of the Night
nature’s sounds
flow through
the bedroom window
while the words
for Summer Breeze
spill from my lips …..
….. yawn
thank you The Five Satins
Seals & Crofts
peace out
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
midnight and crickets
are chirping
sounds
of katydids and cicadas
mixed
with clatter
from raccoon
upon bird feeder
another
sleepless night
I write
away the noise ~ going
on and on
inside and outside
my head
peace out
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~

as I walk alone this time
about the historic
Shockhoe Bottom area
right near the 17th Street
Farmers’ Market
the big clock just ahead
on the Main Street Station
sparked in my head
the memory of
Our time
the Time
We
spent
together
when you took the time
to meet me
for the day in Richmond
yes ~ so I could fully
immerse myself
visually
in the spirit
of Poe
at his museum
see ~ I’m this artist
enthralled
with imagery
used in a way
to tell the tale …..
….. the story
of an experience
captured in time
by a photo
taken with
a Smartphone camera
to be further
embellished
with the dance
of poetic words ~
~ little did I know then
back in that time
how much more
significant
this kind of process
which preserves
moments in time
would become
especially with you
after I found out
you had been
diagnosed with MS ~
~ how these images
with words
over-time
have been inspired
by your struggle
and would
later become useful
in fulfilling art’s
greatest calling
to serve the greater good
provide inspiration
where something
is changed for the better
a story to be told
and then shared
throughout the streets
as here in Richmond
until life’s ills
like MS
are no more
and its place in time
will be forgotten …..
…. but not ~ Our time
my dear sweet muse
Image & Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~

it’s as if I’ve traveled
the shoals off New England
all the way to Virginia
back and forth
tossed and turned
many ~ many times
where boldly
I’ve withstood
the wind and rain
of storms
on the ominous sea
frothed with a riptide
agitated for destruction
not so different
than that floating
lighthouse
101-WAL524
now retired
in Portsmouth ~
~ I’m on
this voyage of light
if not in body
to physically console
surely within mind ….
….. I’ve thought
and brought forth
images with words
filled with positive
and nurturing energy
that are beaming with hope
like the light boat of old
to guide and inspire
my muse
as she has me
while courageously sailing
the life draining
waters of
MS
saturated
with
the never-ending
chronic pain
of Fibromyalgia
Image & Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
A poem written to be in the second book of the series Nature ~ IQ: Let’s, Survive, Not Die! – Adaptive Transitioning.
we’ve heard
the fervent
reactionary words
“Boston Strong”
in response to
that cowardly
terrorist act
on that now infamous day
(side note: such terrorizing
misdeeds
are incapable
of dampening
the ultimate spirit
embedded in humankind
through the act of lending
other human beings
a helping hand
in a time of need ~
~ you don’t knock us down
for long … We the people
bounced back even stronger
after that day
just like 9/11)
yes ….. MARATHON DAY
which started in Hopkinton
then ended unsuspectingly
with the brutal force
of homemade bombs
near the finish line in Boston
I became concerned
for not only the well-being
of my daughter
who worked nearby
but every human
like her and me ….
….. I say
from this perspective
of being human
it’s necessary
to carry forth
the positive energy
of that day
and cry out to the world
these spirited
and heartfelt words …..
if ~
We the people strong ~
the We
is then
humanity strong ~
especially strong …..
if We
the human race
are going to become
prepared enough
to face head on
Nature’s
terroristic
and warmongering
acts of behavior
way beyond the impact
of the Marathon bombers
through drastic
disruptive changes
to its earth system
that will become
extremely altered
from what we now know
and have grown accustom to
here on earth
as normal ~
~ We the people
‘cause of this threat
deceivingly disguised
as some nurturing
mother earth ….
….. mindfully
We
must move beyond
the inference
implied by the THEM
those who claim to know
and insist
now is the time
for the We
to be mainly
mitigation strong
about all this to come ……
I say ~
let’s no longer expend
the precious time
We
have left
until the next
disruptive earth change
cycles through ….
with feeble attempts
to slow down
our over-blown
contributory impingement
on so-called Gaia
that interdependently built
biosphere
regulatory system
exquisitely revealed to us
through the genius
of James Lovelock
with the help of Lynn Margulis
but surely
they’d both say
if We asked ~ that
We
are not even close
to understanding
how it all works
to even begin to think
We
can somehow fix it
or slow the earth’s
destructive march
towards disruptive change ~
~ henceforth
We
must shed the guilt
of this postulated misnomer
from the THEM
who say
THEY
understand
the whole system of Nature
how it acts and reacts
well enough to cast blame
about forthcoming changes
to what’s no more than
our earthly prison
this forcefully gravitated
and restrictively oxygenated
planetary bio-dome
where We
are destined to live
and die
due to
our predisposed beliefs ~
~ I vehemently
and rebelliously repeat
as a living human inmate …..
…. one of
We the people
seemingly held captive
to the despotism of
the earth’s ways
let’s shed this guilt
that sinful skin
off the back
of our archetype
devilish snake
so to rid
our collective mind
once and for all
of the vulnerability
possessed within
such an
inhibitive disposition
then We
will be
more willing
and able to fight
for our freedom …..
….. our right to choose
by becoming
proactive adaptation strong
the intelligently
progressive process
where the elasticity
nurtured within the human
behavioral pattern
of life sustaining
resilience ~
~ a co-evolutionary experience
emergent from
cognitive interaction
that cooperatively perceives
the necessity for
relevant
and timely
transitional adjustments ~
adaptations
within a changing
terrestrial environment
such acts being born
of human inspiration
and novelty ……
…… an intelligent perception
that’s transformational
enough
to preserve
the generational
progression
of
We the people ~
~ symbolically like
the butterfly’s
transmutation
from cocoon
to the magical
moment
of
flight
as with Newton’s
realization of
centrifugal force
and gravity …..
this during
a earth centric
way of belief ~
~ these eureka
type moments
are needed …..
especially
when it comes to
drastically disruptive
earth changes ~
and the sustainable future
of the humankind
please ….
don’t so quickly
count
humanity
out of
the epic race
for survival
whether if earthly
or amongst the stars above
why ~ why do some
bet against us …..
…. haven’t We
adaptively run
the course
many times before
as clearly recorded
in our evolutionary
past …..
….. sure
the complexity of today
with the challenges
the obstacles
may seem
even more
enormous
and overwhelming
than days gone by
admittedly
the road of the present
that We
are on
no doubt appears
long and arduous ~
the terrain
is far less predictable
the potholes ~
dips and valleys
seem bottomless …..
….. full of fire
and brimstone
the hills ahead
look to be
mountains
of heartbreak
with gasping
for air altitude
how can
We
ever
fully
anticipate
what Nature
will conjure up
and is lying in wait
around the next corner
as far as
whatever form
of drastically
disruptive
earth change
be it by climate
or some other form
of natural
or human disaster
even extraterrestrial
invasion ~
why should
We try
what chance
do We
really have
anyhow ….. some say
let us not become overwhelmed
with the perceived magnitude
of these earth changes to come
We must
wholeheartedly try
to envision ourselves
as mentioned before
as the butterfly … transforming
itself from cocoon
all the way to its flight
across the earthly heavens …..
….. to further
enhance our perceptivity
it may be helpful
to see ourselves
as the marathoner
who proactively
prepares
for the environment
to be run in ~ training
to be adaptive
to changing conditions
not only being resilient
in stamina
but transitioning
in pace
resolute in mind
to overcome the setbacks ~
~ determined in stride
to keep moving
progressively forward
intelligently surveying
the surroundings …. staying
alert
and
ready to adjust the approach
no matter
the difficulties suffered
never allowing
discouragement
to take hold
’cause the proper mindset
is retained
that the finish line
won’t be
quickly or easily
obtainable …..
…. the process
of human transformation
to sustain and preserve
the survival of our species
is going to be
more like a marathon
not some 100 meter dash
over in seconds …
….. as We visualize
the metaphor
of this marathon
type racer during the run
on the road for survival
We the people
of the world
must see
the wisdom
of being energized ~
motivated
and in need of ….
the moral support
of the crowd
the world populace
We together
are all runners
all participants
no matter if in body or spirit
all of us rooting
and cheering
each other on to victory
regardless
when and how we finish
such support
empowers
each of us to be
more strong
as humans
through our utilizing
the collective force
of We the people
as
one ~
~ strong
like Boston Strong
We the people strong
humanity strong
one focus
one purpose …..
….. our differences then
with each other
despite our gender
race
nationality
tradition
culture
or way of belief
seem less significant
where our need
to make
everyone like us
fades away
and is left behind
like our footsteps do
in a marathon
this goal for survival
unifies our bodies and minds
our collective spirit
proactively
We
are
adaptation strong
as on Marathon day
We
can then
find ways
to help each other
help ourselves
towards the completion
of this metaphorical race
the human
marathon to survival
with a finish line
that not only encompasses
the earth
but wherever
We
must travel
as a species
to live ~
~ or run on and on ….
if ~
We the people strong ~
the We
is then
humanity strong ~
Let’s Survive, Not Die!
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~

as I stood there
with my muse
both of us looking down
at a head stone
for a man
with the name Goodwin
who was in the Navy
like her father
this was a small
private cemetery
near Deep Creek
where her
mother’s parents
are also laid to rest …..
I in wonderment
read aloud the words
engraved on the face
of the stone ~
‘Fired 1st Shot W. W. I’
how my mind
suddenly
raced back
to when my muse
first told me
the doctor
thought she had MS ….
….. it felt to me
as if a bullet
had entered my chest
~ my
unsuspecting heart
exploded with emotion
the pain shook my body
to the very core
of my soul
as I gasped for air
I quickly recovered
’cause I instantly knew
without hesitation
I had to be strong
for her
one of the strongest
people I’ve ever known
who has been there
for me
through thick and thin ….
….. even though
MS
had taken
the first shot
to bleed away
her strength and health
I vowed to myself
I would not flee
from this assault
thrust upon her
but I would stand steadfast
with her in the field of battle
~ for it is there
we’ll fight the good fight
against this seemingly
merciless foe
defiantly to live
with joy and hope
the best we can
until both of us
have achieved victory
in the eyes of heaven
like the soldier before us
and the grandparents
of my muse
laid to rest ….. beside us
Image & Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~