311. Night Smiles. Night Wiles

Night time. Night lights

Night fears. Night fights

Night air. Night rain

Night love. Night pain

310. Onward Comes the Warrior Bold

Through tears and anger, riddling strife,

We bear the breaking pains of life.

We know not whence the sorrow comes

But onward push though fear is rife.

Onward, forward, mightiest strike,

Nothing breaks the stalwart pike.

And though the battle ever comes

We are warriors, souls alike.

Our hope is heavenward shining bright

Blaziing shadows of the night.

We onward press: our strength soon comes

And leads us to the earnest light.

309. 20 inches

20 inches can be found.

20 inches all around.

20 inches crown to crown.

20 inches upside down.

"20 inches? What?" You said,

The length around my baby's head

308. Barbaric

Bear-baiting is bad.

Cock-fighting is crazy.

Gladiator battles are ancient history.

Public hangings got the noose.

We look back at history and think "those guys were a bunch of crazies. They went to these events for fun? This was their entertainment? We're so much more civilized now."

But are we? I read an article this morning about a new superhero movie coming out next year. The author and interviewees were praising it for being "filthy, comical, hyper-violent fun." The author mourned the fact that this film has taken years to get going because the main character was so "filthy, he's so nasty." So much so that studios have refused to make it before now. But what changed their mind? A short clip featuring only a small portion of the violence described was leaked to the Internet and we, the people, screamed for more. 

This time we can't blame the studios for producing trash. It wasn't them. They tried to stop it. But the voice of the fans called for blood. And like Pontius Pilate, they have the people what they wanted. 

Have we really progessed so little as a society? Why do we wonder that teens and youth are taking up arms and mowing down their peers without a thought? Why are we surprised when a person's response to a policeman's arrival is to shoot and run? Why are we surprised when our children bully at the playground? 

Is it anyone's fault but our own?

We no longer fill arenas to watch slaves fight each other to the death. But we still find entertainment in watching "heroes" with foul mouths destroy henchmen en masse without a care. We laugh as the police are evaded, hindered, and mocked. We cheer when the villain meets his demise.

"But it's not real," we say. "They're just actors."

The morals taught are real. The lessons learned are real. The attitudes accepted are real. Art imitates life, and life imitates art.

Have we truly become more civilized? Or do we just tell ourselves so to make ourselves feel better. 

Or are we still barbaric?

307. Flees the Soul

"Are they gone? Not so," he said.

"For though the body is long dead,

The soul lives on, 'thout fear or dread."

The babe's soul's strong. It withers not

But flutters on, no longer caught

'Tween pain and hope, 'tween cool and hot.

"Is't Heaven or Hell the place we'll go?

Is't neither or both? I do not know.

But all is told at Peter's toe.

306. Tomorrow

Tomorrow is today but it's also yesterday.

Tomorrow is the thing we fear and the hope we pray.

Tomorrow is the dream you think and all the words you say.

Tomorrow is the present, past, and future of today.

305. He Loves All The People

He loves all the people

He loves everyone

He gives us dresses

I love the purple one

He loves all the people

He gave me home

He gave my good food

And now I want some

He loves all the people

For Him I will serve

He taught me about earth

The world has a curve

He loves all the people

His light is not dim

He loves all the people

I'll be just like Him