"The Man with a Hoe"
"The Man with a Hoe" by Edwin Markham, 1899, was written as a verbal response to an earlier painting by a French painter, Jean-Francois Millet, in 1863. Both painting and poem have been "moving testimonies to what the too prevalent Inhumanity of humanity can cause.
Ever since first reading Markham's poem, fifty/sixty years ago, I've frequently conjured up the image of modern man caught in his current escapades of being inhuman to his fellow humans. I think of war, of slavery, oppression, and hunger. I see the sophistication of methods to kill, to oppress, to enslave. Markham saw these too a hundred years ago and wrote his compelling commentary about what inhumanity of humanity can cause.
I urge everyone interested to pull up on your devise "The Man with a Hoe" and determine for yourself the image Markham leaves you with.
Ronald C. Downie
Monday, July 29, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Universal Themes
Universal Themes
A pillar of our nation, John Adams, in 1776 feared that the newly formed Continental Congress' decisions would be dictated "by noise, not sense ; by meanness, not greatness ; by ignorance , not learning ; by contracted hearts , not large souls."
His conclusion is, as appropriate today, as it was then: "There must be decency and respect and veneration introduced for persons of authority of every rank or we are undone. In a popular government, this is the only way."
Where are the thinkers of today who see our country's demise due to our elected leaders lack of sense, lack of greatness, and lack of education ?
Where is their desire for decency, respect, and veneration ? We seem to be led by very unpopular representatives who are unresponsive to the new century's desires and demands. Or, do they just reflect the sour attitude of we who elect them ? We must do our job better.
Ronald C. Downie
A pillar of our nation, John Adams, in 1776 feared that the newly formed Continental Congress' decisions would be dictated "by noise, not sense ; by meanness, not greatness ; by ignorance , not learning ; by contracted hearts , not large souls."
His conclusion is, as appropriate today, as it was then: "There must be decency and respect and veneration introduced for persons of authority of every rank or we are undone. In a popular government, this is the only way."
Where are the thinkers of today who see our country's demise due to our elected leaders lack of sense, lack of greatness, and lack of education ?
Where is their desire for decency, respect, and veneration ? We seem to be led by very unpopular representatives who are unresponsive to the new century's desires and demands. Or, do they just reflect the sour attitude of we who elect them ? We must do our job better.
Ronald C. Downie
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Beyond The Senses
Beyond The Senses
Clambering for acceptance,
Mediocrity cast, bogged down,
Not understanding why I am
So serious while the World
Wallers in its superficiality.
Is my life a drama or a dirge ?
Can I accept universal song ?
May I see nirvana in the arts ?
Will I, the painter's eye, perceive ?
Is this me or is it a mirror of me ?
Ankles swelled, strong hands shriveled,
Eyes sight hindered clouded with tears,
More gum, not white what's left in tact,
Like Spanish Moss grey, less head hair,
Dropped chest rests like a flat tire,
Hobbling's more from a pain in my ass.
No longer pungent are tasteful smells.
Where did my fine feeling fingers fly ?
Horizons, once sharp, bleed as if misty.
Guttural rumblings mute my Earth's Song,
Flavors of a bountiful table have escaped.
Post-eternity looms as an indomitable spirit.
Value an acceptance of yourself
Within the boundaries that society
Permits you of being the roll model.
Be yourself, not that method actor,
Slipping on and off center stage.
With issues grapple, high goals climb.
Ronald C. Downie
Clambering for acceptance,
Mediocrity cast, bogged down,
Not understanding why I am
So serious while the World
Wallers in its superficiality.
Is my life a drama or a dirge ?
Can I accept universal song ?
May I see nirvana in the arts ?
Will I, the painter's eye, perceive ?
Is this me or is it a mirror of me ?
Ankles swelled, strong hands shriveled,
Eyes sight hindered clouded with tears,
More gum, not white what's left in tact,
Like Spanish Moss grey, less head hair,
Dropped chest rests like a flat tire,
Hobbling's more from a pain in my ass.
No longer pungent are tasteful smells.
Where did my fine feeling fingers fly ?
Horizons, once sharp, bleed as if misty.
Guttural rumblings mute my Earth's Song,
Flavors of a bountiful table have escaped.
Post-eternity looms as an indomitable spirit.
Value an acceptance of yourself
Within the boundaries that society
Permits you of being the roll model.
Be yourself, not that method actor,
Slipping on and off center stage.
With issues grapple, high goals climb.
Ronald C. Downie
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Fiddle And Fife
Fiddle and Fife
The notes of music of this common life
Are written for both fiddle and the fife;
Heard as lilting strings for light dancing feet,
Leading marchers down middle of the street.
We experience the first more today.
Give thank goodness for the fine bands who play
Music to sweeten a quite common day;
For parades only, in step, marchers sway.
June's gone, awaiting real Independence Day.
Shortly, summer will bring a sunshine's ray
To ward off the thunder and drenching rains,
So burgers can cook over hot coal flames.
We are those people of this little town
Settled here, none of us, of much renown
Who go about their business day to day,
Many loved dance, some marched away.
A town is built of sticks, mortar and stone ;
People created of sinew, blood and bone.
Neighborhoods spring from proud owners who hope ;
The family, it's strength, finds ways to cope.
You may find a farmer born, and raised here
Caring for the fields and flocks, fencing deer.
Some tell us how Pottstown's really doing,
Walking dogs, picking flowers, stove stewing.
Ronald C. Downie.
The notes of music of this common life
Are written for both fiddle and the fife;
Heard as lilting strings for light dancing feet,
Leading marchers down middle of the street.
We experience the first more today.
Give thank goodness for the fine bands who play
Music to sweeten a quite common day;
For parades only, in step, marchers sway.
June's gone, awaiting real Independence Day.
Shortly, summer will bring a sunshine's ray
To ward off the thunder and drenching rains,
So burgers can cook over hot coal flames.
We are those people of this little town
Settled here, none of us, of much renown
Who go about their business day to day,
Many loved dance, some marched away.
A town is built of sticks, mortar and stone ;
People created of sinew, blood and bone.
Neighborhoods spring from proud owners who hope ;
The family, it's strength, finds ways to cope.
You may find a farmer born, and raised here
Caring for the fields and flocks, fencing deer.
Some tell us how Pottstown's really doing,
Walking dogs, picking flowers, stove stewing.
Ronald C. Downie.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Lashed Together
Lashed Together
When rolling swells from humanity's wake
Rocks life's boats, tethered safely at ready.
Sailors seek rising tides for sailing's sake
As Moon mass draws up sea waters steady:
They look to stars and charts to map the way
Off shoals, between buoys marking channels.
Seeking guidance demands society's say
About normal living, choosing panels:
Panels representing will of people
Who, when lashed together, become stronger,
As bricks and mortar raise up a steeple
To tower cities with shadows longer.
Bundling sticks together will give them strength,
But, bundling thoughts takes wisdom its full length.
Ronald C. Downie
When rolling swells from humanity's wake
Rocks life's boats, tethered safely at ready.
Sailors seek rising tides for sailing's sake
As Moon mass draws up sea waters steady:
They look to stars and charts to map the way
Off shoals, between buoys marking channels.
Seeking guidance demands society's say
About normal living, choosing panels:
Panels representing will of people
Who, when lashed together, become stronger,
As bricks and mortar raise up a steeple
To tower cities with shadows longer.
Bundling sticks together will give them strength,
But, bundling thoughts takes wisdom its full length.
Ronald C. Downie
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Measuring Richness
Measuring Richness
"A country is never as poor as when it seems filled with riches", Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, verbally
expressed this to his Chinese followers in the 6th Century, BC. How many centuries have passed since he observed this condition in China ? I am amazed that I, in this 21st Century, can think similar thoughts about our own country, the USA.
Of our 330 million citizens how many are really rich ? Statistics show the top 10% of our population have 70% of the country's wealth and this discrepancy is growing ever wider. Wealth, though, is not only calculated in currency but it is also represented by what Adam Smith stated in his book, "The Wealth Of Nations". He talked of "the dignity of the sovereign,"- activities that are to be financed by fair and clear taxation, and of the creation and maintenance of public works that contributes to commerce and education for all.
How would Smith grade our union today ? How would you rate your federal representative in keeping "the dignity of the sovereign", the compact legislators have with their constituents ? I believe the public is correct when they judge Congress as inept, only 10% give Congress a positive rating.
I believe our legislators, in fervently chasing reelection rather than their elected duties, have broken their pledge to the citizens of our country and they must be relieved of their elected positions. You, the public, are vested with a tremendous power, that of voting one into office or out of office.
The wealth of our nation rests in your vote !
Ronald C. Downie
"A country is never as poor as when it seems filled with riches", Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, verbally
expressed this to his Chinese followers in the 6th Century, BC. How many centuries have passed since he observed this condition in China ? I am amazed that I, in this 21st Century, can think similar thoughts about our own country, the USA.
Of our 330 million citizens how many are really rich ? Statistics show the top 10% of our population have 70% of the country's wealth and this discrepancy is growing ever wider. Wealth, though, is not only calculated in currency but it is also represented by what Adam Smith stated in his book, "The Wealth Of Nations". He talked of "the dignity of the sovereign,"- activities that are to be financed by fair and clear taxation, and of the creation and maintenance of public works that contributes to commerce and education for all.
How would Smith grade our union today ? How would you rate your federal representative in keeping "the dignity of the sovereign", the compact legislators have with their constituents ? I believe the public is correct when they judge Congress as inept, only 10% give Congress a positive rating.
I believe our legislators, in fervently chasing reelection rather than their elected duties, have broken their pledge to the citizens of our country and they must be relieved of their elected positions. You, the public, are vested with a tremendous power, that of voting one into office or out of office.
The wealth of our nation rests in your vote !
Ronald C. Downie
Shackled Two Millennium
Shackled Two Millennium
Tribal God seekers understood
Gospels desired a certain style :
In a robe, tall, slender, beaded,
Long locks curling, wearing sandals,
Their messiah gained a human form.
Now, image is twenty-one centuries old
And still held onto by man. Religion
Imprisons it's believers into a rigid faith,
When disallowed to dream, man stagnates -
Wrapped in the Bible - he is shackled to Christ.
Ronald C. Downie
Tribal God seekers understood
Gospels desired a certain style :
In a robe, tall, slender, beaded,
Long locks curling, wearing sandals,
Their messiah gained a human form.
Now, image is twenty-one centuries old
And still held onto by man. Religion
Imprisons it's believers into a rigid faith,
When disallowed to dream, man stagnates -
Wrapped in the Bible - he is shackled to Christ.
Ronald C. Downie
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