DONNY APPLEVIRUS
John Chapman traveled far and wide
planting seeds. Apple seeds.
John Chapman changed the native land.
Planted apple trees.
This is something travelers do—
spread new seeds. Plant new stock.
Itinerants might not stay long.
Their footprint does.
A virus travels free today.
Some get sick. Some pass on.
Warnings flash from every screen
for all to heed.
But power struggles reign today.
Choose your name. Cast your vote.
Donald stages circuses
across the land.
Crowds sit close-- no masks, just hats…
Shouting cheers. Shouting jeers.
And when he leaves, the virus spikes.
More sick. More dead.
Like Johnny Appleseed, he plants
virus here, virus there.
Seeds his base, case after case.
His legacy.
AWOL FROM THE PANDEMIC
What day is it? Who cares? Sun’s out!
Shut-ins are fleeing their coops,
flocking to Lake Chabot, and the path
that follows the shore’s lazy loops.
A man in a face mask totes poles, net and pail.
Bikers with bells swerve past guys on the trail.
Homebound parents and kids need a break,
so call this P.E.!
Today, school’s at the lake.
All sorts of joggers, some fleet and some puffing
work out for fitness, or shaving off stuffing.
Dog walkers everywhere tug dogs on leashes.
(We’re short-leashed too. COVID-19’s capricious.)
Picnics prohibited. Potties are locked.
Charcoal grills covered. Rental boats docked.
Yet families trudge up the trail
with their strollers.
Hikers are young people, middles, and oldsters.
Nod as they pass—no one pauses to talk.
Everyone’s cautious when risking this walk.
Shelter, but break for essentials like these:
striding through tunnels of green,
sun on the water, trees on the hills…
Just pause panic mode—and breathe clean!
THE FIRST YEAR OF COVIDDec. 2019: The World Health Organization says that amysterious pneumonia is sickening dozens in China.
Wuhan was not our problem.
We were busy—
shopping, planning, seeing friends,
going to work and coming home tired,
looking forward to the weekend…
Suddenly, a switch flipped.
Warning lights flashed.
Normal became dangerous—
avoid friends,
suspect strangers,
postpone family gatherings.
Lurking in ambush was an invisible killer:
COVID 19, SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus.
Dr. Fauci tried to help:
Wash your hands.
Mask your face.
Stay home. Stay safe.
That was March, 2020.
Now it’s October, 2020.
The virus, our leader said, was just another flu.It will disappear in April, like magic.
It didn’t.
Over 200,000 have died, and the toll rises daily.
You get it, you get over it, he said.
Don’t let it dominate you.
Dominate?
Is this an arm-wrestling contest?
If we act macho, will COVID slink away?
Have you ever played Peek-a-Boo with a baby?
Cover his eyes. You disappear.
Uncover—Peek-a-Boo! You’re back!
We have a leader who is telling us:
Cover your eyes. Stop testing so much.Then COVID cases will go down.We will dominate.Send kids to schoolOpen bars, gyms, restaurants, stores.Ditch the masks.Feed the economy.Cover your eyes.See? Like magic, COVID disappears.
Peek-a-Boo!
But people keep on getting sick.
Not quite recovering.
Many die. Too many.
As the world watches,
a 74 year old toddler tries to bully COVID,
rips off his mask on a balcony overlooking cameras,
plans more rallies,
phones in to Fox to blame and gloat,
strategizes that if we shut our eyes, we win.
But we lose.
Lose jobs. Lose shelter. Lose lives.
The White House is the new Wuhan.
There’s dynamite behind every door.
Our leader is the super-spreader.
Our country is the loser.
Joan Beebe, left, with fellow contributor Michael Robinson
A Rose
A rose has beauty
And sending it to someone
Has a message so caring.
A thank you for friendship,
and always there
What more could one ask.
So I leave with a prayer.
And may blessings pour down
That we will share the roads of life
And remember the rose that will
Help us through strife.
An Autumn Pleasure
Taking a ride through mountains is a joyful relaxation never experienced before. The mountains are majestic and the thousands of trees now show fantastic colors of their leaves -- gold, red, brown with a little green here and there. Taking curves in the road at times takes you between mountain tops that is such picturesque beauty of fall colors.
At times like this, all concerns and worries seem to fade away and you are living in this world of nature giving us a time of happiness and thankfulness.
SURVIVAL
Life is a long fight for survival, or so it seems.
I know there are so many confusions and health issues
and families can be part of this and cause us to feel
real pain.
Our thoughts become a source of sadness and longing.
Yet, we keep a glimmer of hope within ourselves.
We pray, talk to friends and browse through old
pictures. Suddenly our thoughts turn to the future
and the feelings of hope and faith begin to shape
Our mind instead of relentless depression.
The opportunities and gifts have been so many as we
remember the joy and happiness some have brought.
So we begin to change ourselves and look forward
to sharing time and talents in special ways with
those around me.
We finally experience peacefulness within our soul.
Hearts That Are Broken
Sadness may fill a heart with longing --
Longing for the sound of a baby's laughter
Or the sweet chirping of a bird outside your window.
Sounds of nature bring a pleasant relief to a
Heart that is feeling so alone.
One's heart is so entwined within our emotions
And we need to let the purity of nature
Fill us with a joy as we immerse ourselves in the
Gifts of nature's beauty
Then our heart will know the peace that comes
With becoming a part of nature's delight.
A Free Spirit
I watch the birds flying free in the sky
And I think to myself I want to fly with them.
They are free to wander wherever they might,
And their freedom stirs a longing in me --
To join them in their journey and they know the way.
As I keep watching those birds in their flight,
My longing increases and my spirit joins them in
Their canopy of song filling the air with their joy.
Charles J. March III is an asexual, neurodivergent Navy hospital corpsman veteran who is currently trying to live an eclectic life with an interesting array of recovering creatures in Orange County, CA.
His various works have appeared in or are forthcoming from Evergreen Review, Atlas Obscura, Litro, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, Lalitamba, 3:AM Magazine, Ink Sweat & Tears, Fleas on the Dog, Queen Mob’s Teahouse, The Recusant, Taco Bell Quarterly, Storm Cellar, Harbinger Asylum, Madness Muse Press, Maudlin House, Misery Tourism, BlazeVOX, Blood Tree Literature (prize), Bareknuckle Poet, Anti-Heroin Chic, The Beatnik Cowboy, Points in Case, Expat Press, Stinkwaves, Young Ravens Literary Review, The Writing Disorder, Literary Orphans, Otoliths, Oddball Magazine, et al. Links to his pieces can be found on LinkedIn and SoundCloud.
Hello distinguished discerning reader and world-class audience of all walks of live. It affords me much pleasure and am privileged as always to pen-down, besides type-write to your heart-yearning and soul-seeking readiness to grasp as well absorb what’s largely centered on certain realities of life in Ghana coupled with unfolding current trends on the continent of Africa general. This Art-Blog titled ‘My TREE’ is a unique abbreviation else acronym you will most definitely fathom as you keep reading toward the tail-end completion. Of course, in the study of Agriculture or Science as a subject, one will learn that Tree has it branches and parts which makes it withstand some climatic conditions or natural occurrences of events. That means each part, function well to sustain the other, thus roots, leaves plus others known to you.
Well, in life it always good and essential to reconnect with your root or origin where you started or gained some basic skills or know-how in ensuring one’s success or progress on daily basis. In fact, as an Artist growing up on the suburban street of Amanful West in Takoradi seemingly heart and soul of the Western Region, Ghana in West Africa. Well, to share the Slogan, Mantra or Motto Best come West is a mere notion or just a statement to entice those novice ordinary people across the length and breadth of Ghana. Maybe, just a means to win their minds to come and stay in this part of the country where nothing seems to work better for the average youth with some exceptional artistic talents, when it comes to music, movie or poetry just to mention but a few. However, on flashback about Amanful West its influences of both the negative and positive is like the Dry-Cell battery which functions to make difference and work on the light-bulb. Child-hood days come with the nostalgic feelings indeed! Now, again to dwell on the TREE – then, it’s like climbing to pluck a ripe Mango, Coconut or Orange whether at someone’s backyard garden or the newly constructed building site with permit to start a foundation of the multi-purpose mansion. Believe you me, the ups and downs of life in general is like hurdles in this race associated or related to humanity.
Aside, crystal clear some acts, I’ve unforgettable and indelible marks on one’s membrane. It’s quite compelling, the decision to write and share this article-blog came as a bolt from the blues whilst seated in the broadcasting studio of Radio Maxx 105.1 FM, thus monitoring by listening through discerning ears in the morning around 7am as Sir Philip K. Ampofo, Anchors Joy 99.7 FM – Super Morning Show – SMS, thus precisely on 16th October, 2020. Indeed, staring at him reveals extreme professionalism in the main-stream broadcast media as his cadence on microphone eloquently delivers to the hearing organs of listeners. Indeed, that very faithful day it’s divine bliss moment as I witnessed and contributed airing messages to the Dawn Devotional Program – DDP dubbed Maxx Morning Bells – MMB hosted by Pastor Alexander N. Sackey, also the Programs Manager #PM of Radio Maxx 105.1 FM, the Founder and Leader of Royal Impact International Ministries –RIIM in Takoradi, Western Region of Ghana. Since this article-blog brings to bear the virtual and actual, direct and indirect, involvement and engagement as in contribution on the programs of Radio Maxx 105.1 FM then let me take you on a memory-lane ride in relation to how My TREE of passion for the sweet orange kept growing. It’s about a decade plus ago, when walking up and down the hills as in the steep-slope of Bankyease where it’s first located, thus early days in the Western broadcasting industry. Special sincere thanks to one of my numerous fathers in faith Reverend Nyameyekese Wirekuwho discovered and believed the talent in me, thus made me introduce his program dubbed Power Word Of Jesus broadcast. Initially, he scripted the introduction for me on paper in order to inform listeners very well, Thus, it reads “Good Evening listeners, Welcome to Power Word of Jesus Broadcast with Reverend Nyameyekese Wireku”.
That’s immediately after the signature-tune we recorded has been played by Pastor Alexander N. Sackey via the broadcasting computer close by the console. Graciously, it’s all new blissful experience for me! This went on so many months and with time I mastered courage as well matured in the broadcasting process. In fact, then being a rededicated and committed believer in the Christendom. When years passed and there’s changed of its broadcast locale to the top-floor of Ajumakoman Printing Press, close to ICGC-King’s Temple, off the Takoradi to Sekondi road, Western Region of Ghana. It’s another refreshing moment with a thankful heart when presenter-broadcaster Sir Kwadwo A. Boakye #KAB interviewed me on his program in relation to Spoken-Word poetry and the internationally recognized awards won. With this, I say Thank You to the man KAB for short. Lo, I remember reading listeners message-submission on such an interactive weekend show. Indeed, it’s quite memorable! Factually, there are several and series of programs as well as activities with multiple radio stations in Ghana as whole but this article-blog is primarily, aside particularly centered on the Orange Broadcasting Brand #OBB as I prefer to address it i.e. (Radio Maxx 105.1 FM).
Lest I forget, its broadcast-transmission move to the Adom House, opposite the NIB Bank off the Kofi Annan street, close to the Quarters of Takoradi is also worthy to remember as it helped clients and customers within the city to have easy access to do business with the radio station. Obviously, I had series of visitation to the leaders I have known with the radio station for so many years all as a means to acquire knowledge and techniques in the broadcasting industry. Well, reader in order not to make you feel bored and never make this article-blog verbose then let me hereby unfold the literal meaning of what I described as My TREE. To be specific, precise and concise, the T – stands for Terrific, R – stands for Radio, E – stands for Engagement and next E – stands for Experience. Besides, come to think of it the tree bears sweet taste of Orange and I creatively make the following out of ORANGE, O = Oral, R = Reliable, A = Advertisement, N = Network, G = Gospel, E = Edutainment. But indeed, orange is the brand logo-colour which I believe about 80 percent of world’s population takes in sweet orange. In order not to forget, per different research conducted Radio Maxx 105.1 FM is one of the first private media establishment which commenced broadcast of Voice Of America – VOA programs within its catchment areas of the Western Region, Ghana. Of course, some being quite informative, interactive and educative. Without mincing words, many are those who have climbed, plucked and benefited from the Orange TREE as itprovided energizing vitamins towards ensuring vein-boosting factors in the broadcasting spheres of Western Region of Ghana and beyond. Indeed, the following professionals are worthy to mention in relation to Orange TREE figures: Ina-Thalia Quansah, Kojo Amoako Nzoley (De Nzolipop), Agyekum Gyimah (Mr.Skinny), Nana Quasi Wusu (PM De Finest), Godfrey Ainoo (Champ), Joe Kumi, just to mention a few.
In fact, the current crop of professionals making solid contributions to the Orange TREE is so paramount, namely Dessy Fayden (Maxx Over-Drive –MOD Host), Henry Aggrey – MCClenzy (Maxx House Party – Host), Prince K. Cobbinah – DJ.PKC, Kendrick (MaxxMetroMix – MMM Host), DJAssabir, Gabi Ampiah, Ebenezer Eshun all ably play role as part of the workforce in the Orange Broadcasting Brand #OBB. Just by the way, in time past Radio Maxx 105.1 FM went into management agreement and partnership in relation to beneficial mutuality with different media brand, but it’s now a solid sole broadcaster and still making impact in the urban broadcasting spheres of Ghana.
Well, it must be stated emphatically that over the years Radio Maxx 105.1 FM or the Orange Broadcasting Brand #OBB has tremendously contributed with respect to its social charitable responsibility to the society by organizing annually what’s known as Maxx Orange Kitchen – MOK by means of serving the less- fortunate in terms of street kids and needy people with food of all kinds at various locations with its catchment areas. Lest I forget or in order not to skip the memory some On-Air Personalities such as Maame Esi Senyiwah and Nana Adjoa readily comes on mind as the females I heard multiple times on the airwaves of Radio Maxx 105.1 FM, hitherto. Oh, yes! This TREE has bearded so many fruits and the Orange still significantly outstanding in both local and global broadcasting industries.
Last but not least, with respect to one-on-one conversation with the Founder, Owner and CEO himself Sir Maxwell O. Ahenkorah, an Entrepreneur and multi-businessman – I learnt that 5thNovember every year marks Radio Maxx 105.1 FM anniversary and this year 2020, the Orange Broadcasting Brand #OBB turns Eighteen (18) years. Wow, that’s the required legal age of every individual to be part of a country’s decision-making process even when it comes to voting in an election as this year 2020 also marks the presidential and parliamentary or senate general elections in Ghana and USA respectively. As you’re about to finish reading this My TREE Article-Blog, if you’re a Musician, Journalist, Actor or generally an individual in the Arts industry and would like to do business as in promoting your products, events etc… Better-still, associate and connect with the Management or Leadership of Radio Maxx 105.1 FM in Takoradi, Western Region of Ghana, West : +233 243734791 – However, in case you’re planning a Special African Tour #SAT especially to Ghana and you need radio related engagement or involvement, you’re free to send Email via: ikeboatofficial@gmail.com or ikeonmic@aol.com respectively.
Thank You So Much For Making Time To Read MY TREE.
Nature is our mother. It is our baby crib to where we return every time we feel we need comfort and renewed hope. Hope is that feeling that comes from glimpses into a peaceful, happy and green future and present.
A tree within the garden casts a shadow that protects us from our stellar parent: the Sun. The Sun is also the source of our energy, he is also the source of our poetry; and poetry, maybe just another part of the natural community.
Today, Covid-19 make us feel like prey, having to think in a new way inside a world built by mother nature. To face this reality, hope is needed more than ever and we will move forward, but not ignore this new “map of life” and new mindset.
Our Nature Writing Contest for 2020/2021 is a new opportunity that we, as organizers, created to reach the rest of the world. Every Contest is a challenge for the authors who participate. This year we prepare new categories to which people are invited to submit work: Nature and Love; Nature and Ecology; Nature and Energy; Nature and Friendship; Nature and Gardens; Nature and Cinema; Nature and Music and Nature and Family. Family is our fundamental asset during these pandemic times.
This year we would like to share with you some inspirational photos and “horizons” and we kindly invite all authors to visit the following places online:
Additionally, we invite all authors to honor one cinema director of their choice in their piece and to write about that director’s view of nature. For example, Woody Allen portrays various aspects of nature – human nature.
You are free to criticize the cinema director’s work in your piece. For example, with Woody Allen, is there actually something called ‘human nature’ that exists and is worth describing in film?
Submissions for the contest open Thursday October 15th.
Rules for the Nature Writing Contest:
1. Participation in this contest is free. 2. Any person from any country can participate as long as they submit work written in English. 3. Each participant can submit a poem of any length and a short story with a maximum of 3000 words. 4. The works must be sent by e-mail to blogsnat@gmail.com along with the author’s name, country, and email address. The subject of the email should be "International Literary Contest 'Nature - 2018-2019'". Single spaced, 12-point Calibri font, work pasted in the body of the email. 5. The participating authors agree to receive e-mail in the future that advertise future literary initiatives. 6. Award-winning finalists are entitled to a digital certificate. 7. All the selected poems will be published in an anthology, which will be available in PDF format for sale for 2.5 € (over PayPal). Award-winning authors are entitled to a free copy. 8. Author rights: authors have their rights over the works published, in order to publish as they want in any other place. The organization of the contest retain total rights over the published works in the context of the Anthology of the Contest or any other anthology or collection of short stories they want to publish in the future or online in the websites of the organizers. 9. Deadline for participation: April 15, 2021 10. Pre-finalists will be announced on 10 May. 11. The final results will be announced on June 28 at http://talesforlove.blogs.sapo.pt and, when possible, at https://synchchaos.com/. 12. The first prize winner of each category will be entitled to a prize: an original work of art (an A4 painting) sent by mail.
We thank you your participation in this literary adventure. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
If you need help with your English or writing skills for your content submission this year we have special external writing help by Shmavon Azatian. Contact: shazzai@yahoo.com
You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own. Michelle Obama
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. — Theodore Roosevelt
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic, global financial instability, worldwide racial injustice and a string of natural disasters has required courage and initiative. And many people – teachers, first responders, parents, essential workers, small business leaders, researchers and medical professionals, and ordinary folks living through disruption – have navigated this season with bravery and resilience.
Where I live, for example, we have unfortunately lost a few independent bookstores, but the community has risen up to preserve many more of them than I believed could survive. And, of course, I honor the caregivers of the sick, the teachers and parents adapting to online instruction, and those who organize mutual aid efforts to work for justice and provide for their neighbors and communities.
This month’s submissions center on efforts that require courage: athletic greatness, romantic love, overcoming trauma, or simply keeping one’s spirits up and enjoying life. An old saying goes that it’s far better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. And others point out that failures and losses of various kinds indicate that we are making efforts towards a goal and therefore have a chance of success.
With this in mind, I introduce October 2020’s theme for Synchronized Chaos Magazine: Brave Souls.
Michael Robinson is coming out with a new book soon, The Moon’s Shadow, a collection of his poetry over the past several years. We will share the link with the Synchronized Chaos family when it becomes available.
And we hope that this month’s issue will enliven and embolden you to navigate the rest of this year with aplomb and grace.
