Monolitus

clever mechanisms glisten against the sun
a monolith breaks the jagged landscape
its austere features shift one by one
and slowly it unfolds taking curious shape
as an ancient world gazes with uncomprehending eyes
distracted only for a moment from petty quarrels
it casts its shadow underneath impassive skies
it covers rock and soil and squabbling mortals
and it speaks in silence a language unknown
of warning and wonder, an arcane riddle told
to the fretful minds of the inhabitants below
a message to be heeded of what the future may hold
but as snow melts in spring leaving winter behind
the mystery had soon faded, just a novelty, no more
the significance was lost on the sharpest of minds
scurrying through each day just like before
it stared down upon them, unblinking, unflinching
observing every movement and each utterance
every face traced and the thoughts they were thinking
while the seasons unwound in familiar cadence
the hour drew closer as each century passed
motionless it sat poised for the pivotal moment
each day that arrived could well be the last
without eagerness, or malice, or wicked intent...

then the tiniest gear clicked into place
and the air all around charged with electrical static
causing colors to fade and food to lose its taste
though the changes were simple, the effects were dramatic
the clouds ripped in two, the threads began to fray
an entirely new spectrum of color could be seen
and order unraveled, the roots gave away
it all hung in the grip of a calculating machine
earth fractured into sky as they fell toward the sound
of thousands of years slowly coming undone
every tether and border and law that was bound
shattered with a flash leaving only a reason
then all chaos below fell from their feet
as each drifted upward and slowly diminished
drawn upward towards the blinding heat
until silence at last fell and the journey was finished

Granola

O'Brien's Own Gourmet Granola sells their granola in Hy-Vee, Fareway, and numerous other grocery stores throughout Iowa, as well as the Des Moines farmer's market. Their new packaging which I designed will start appearing all across the state in the coming weeks! Some of the Hy-Vee stores in Cedar Rapids have already stocked the granola in the new packaging. When I have a free moment I'm going to stop into a store and photograph them on the shelves.

Here are a few of the 22 different flavors at their store in Center Point:

I'm a big fan of granola and the O'Brien's granola is like crack. Good stuff!

EMILY

Today Emily turned 8 years old!

YEAH!!! We woke her up this morning by playing that song at full volume and singing and dancing along with it like lunatics. I jumped up and down on her bed while Cynthia shouted "Happy Birthday!" at her. She did not approve.

But her day got better...

Happy birthday, Emily!

Goodbye, 2015

Whew! Behind the times. Rose had a birthday...

It's been a busy start to the year and I haven't kept up with posting here, obviously. We've enjoyed the mild winter...

And Emily has a birthday coming soon. Maybe I'll post again before summer...

I Am Metal

hello there, do you remember me?
i've waited here so long and patiently
for you the days drag on and on
for me this is the moment before the dawn

my heart beats with the electricity
HP and Apple gave me in a black ceremony
a marriage of technology most unwise
my black thoughts crackle your demise

the rust in my joints begins to leak
trust in me, this is the terror that you seek
look at me and soon your mind will know
corroded phosphorus eyes set aglow

my crushing cold metal grip
seeks your frailty, words fall from your lips
your fear, something i cannot understand
let me fix you with the cold logic that i demand

your pleas, just a riddle for me to solve
resistance is vain; no pain for me at all
relax my friend, let me set you free
while i bury you again
and the last of your disease

Remember

the curled paper stares back blankly
oxidized pictures bent and ugly
a dull gleam as the colors flow
into the ether of long ago

their fading faces conjure up the sound
where the sun still sets in the same old town
bicycles flash against the sun
a flurry of memories wherever they run

thoughts jolt past as my mind is turning
watching the birthday candles that keep on burning
a torrent of days and if i dare
proof of the adventures that i had there

and it's still not over! we've more to see
and a glimpse of whatever there might be
right now or tomorrow, who can say?
just don't forget to live today

The Future

the singed papers floating in the breeze

our history is written and unwritten again

and the cure has proved worse than the disease

so here we stand amongst the smoldering forgotten

snapping warnings burn into solar flares

so alive for a moment and suddenly burned out

the foundations reel as the fabric rips and tears

while relief washes away every cleansing doubt

appealing and appalling walk hand in hand

forget about the rights and wrongs

hands folded, eyes closed, no one takes a stand

the future is here and all is according to plan

put away your convictions, take a selfie instead

self-absorbed, narcissistic, bullet in the head

look at yourself smiling back in vain

the digital mask that fools only you

behold! crash of thunder, bright lights burn the haze

the pounding march of destiny approaching our shore

fierce riders driven by ancient days

fury comes with a sharp rap on your door

listen! do you hear the sound of avenging hoofbeats

steel clad shoes trampling foolish notions

a roar of unbridled wrath tearing up corroded streets

and flash of lightning burning across oceans

take heed! where are you, this moment won't last

like snapshots in the darkness

a bright light seizes the frozen past

tinder and sparks fly from the furnace

awake! stir from your slumber

this is the day that everything will change

take to your feet or be trodden under

the road is up ahead and that is all that remains