Painted Lady

A fiery temptress she is,

swirling with passionate streaks.

Heat and pressure at the surface

eats human spacecraft for breakfast.

At least one managed a few photos,

of a barren and uncertain landscape.

So much study has been accomplished from afar;

Temperatures and pressures at higher altitudes

would support more life forms.

That will be the target of the next probes.

Will she allow this new violation of her privacy?

Similar in size to Earth,

she is yet so different that our home.

Her uniqueness is novel and alluring;

we humans are bound to keep trying

to pierce her veil of mystery,

endure her harshness to attain

some amazing reward –

payback for decades of wooing.

Sure hope she is worth all the struggle!

These neighbor worlds to Earth seem

more trouble than they are worth.

Perhaps the ultimate reward lies elsewhere,

in the asteroid belt or even the Kuiper belt.

Time (and much effort) will tell.

Venus, meanwhile, still sings her siren song.

Ceres and Vesta (virgin real estate)

Twin glimmers in a telescope,

they twinkle a mystery at us:

‘What are we? What are we made of?’

So people just have to take a look.

A few hundred million later,

the DAWN mission orbits and scans one,

then fires up an ion engine to

head over to the other, and orbit that -

for years.

Data and images sent back to Earth show

a round, crater filled ball, typical at first.

Then one shows off a white glare –

What is that? Water ice? Carbon Dioxide?

Many photos are taken, and suppositions made.

A salt deposit, it is theorized.

Impossible to be sure.

To some, it is more proof of

an alien presence –

see, that is their base!

As in most other instances,

the only way to know for sure

is to send people to have a look.

Like always, the refrain sounds:

“Maybe someday, maybe someday.”

Meanwhile many other worlds entice

with just enough details to lure us out.

At least the DAWN mission took Ceres

seriously, and rewarded us with information.

War God

God of War,

symbol of action,

passion, activity, allure.

Promising so much,

delivering a bitter chill.

Irradiated, carved, scoured,

desiccated, dried, exhumed,

exhausted.

Lures innocent Earth-dwellers

so far, for so long, and for what?

To disappoint with what it really is:

Barren, dry, destitute.

“Want to live here?

You will have to bring everything,

and live underground like rodents.

Is it worth it to you?

Honestly?”

“Just orbit and run some robots around

my skin.

Cheaper,

safer,

and just as informative.”

“Save the rest of those tax dollars

for where they are really needed.

To clean up your mess at home.”

“Tidy up your own backyard,

before you clutter up mine.”

Mars has spoken,

better obey that God of War,

lest it get angry or something.

Irritating Presence

How irritable old man Moon must be,

since all he wanted to do was cruise

around the Earth and mind his own.

Not anymore, no way.

Pinpricked and prodded by lots of probes,

scraped and sampled and irradiated too.

No peace any more since human gnats

began to gnaw at his innards and outtards.

Poor old Mr Moon will never be the same,

with colonies and outposts dotting his surface

like so much human acne.

Too bad he doesn’t have arms to deal with it all.

However there are a lot of micrometeors

that impact the surface. Hmmmm.

Maybe if “he” threw up a bunch of rocky debris…

Perhaps it is time for some volcanic action to erupt?

Watch out, humans – the old man may be about to get even!

Of Geese and Humans

Mother goose kept a wary eye on me,

as her goslings waddled around nearby.

I passed and snapped a photo,

she stretched her neck,

and flapped her lips,

on “yellow alert” to the intruder;

I headed on down the trail.

A human boy was fishing along the bank of the lake.

His father, too, eyed me a bit warily, pivoted some,

darted glances my way just in case.

Also on “yellow alert” as a stranger walked

past his progeny.

Just in case.

But he said some nonchalant, vaguely insulting

remark, like ‘it’s just some vagrant.

Nothing to worry about -

I’ll keep you safe.’

Mother Goose was probably honking much the same thing...

Of course I knew in my heart,

I was no threat to goose or human.

I got what I was after,

snapshots of some wildflowers,

taken along a tiny lake in eastern

Polk county on a luscious day in May.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVJdRKmMPE4

Stream of Life

Sometimes it floods over banks,

drops sticks and logs and sand;

streaks side grounds with dark silt,

new fertilizer for bright spring growth.

Elms and walnut and sycamores sprout,

while wizened old geezers lean and topple over,

making new homes and food for many creatures.

Emerald wild grasses shoot up and catch the wind.

The river courses along, nonchalant today;

Tomorrow’s rains will make it swell and rage,

next month’s drought will shrink and wither it;

The water still cool and refreshing to human feet.

Some people were kayaking over, or fishing in it...

A creator of life and sometimes dealer of death,

the persistent river keeps on flowing,

even as shore life keeps on growing.

Human hassles and annoyances are rendered

insignificant next to the beauty and splendor

of a wide, strong, resurgent stream in the springtime.

a bit of verse

That Covid is a total ass,

it keeps us all six feet apart;

we sit home and feel harassed,

we chat online, maybe play guitar.

No going out to dinner with friends,

no hanging out at the local club;

no attending church to make amends,

no close contact, no foreign body rubs.

But we can still get out in our yards,

plant seeds, pull weeds and trim the bushes.

Some parks are open, with distancing guards,

we can feel breezes and hike in green rushes.

Someday soon this isolation will all be done,

The Covid-19 beaten, our victory will be sung.

Even in the darkest times

Nature bursts forth in scintillating spring!

Early violas lead the color charge:

Shooting star and Dutchmen’s breeches

push through leaves and show their stuff.

Columbine greens up to astound later,

Lady’s slipper preps to lure and amaze,

white Trilliums triumph in grabbing your gaze.

Anemone and Virginia Bluebells march up,

Bloodroot and wild ginger flash the standard.

Those lowly dandelions and ground ivy pups

populate the ranks with purple and yellow rows.

Solomon’s Seal brings up a splendid rear.

Despite the quarantine’s daily drumbeat of

casualty numbers crawling upward,

we can at least take hope in the annual glory

of Spring’s color feast she lays out before us.

Better times are ahead, she says,

better things lay ahead.

A case for home robot assistants

     Especially in this time of quarantining and social distancing, now is a good time for Americans to embrace personal robots. Robots can be sterilized, yet can act as our companions and assistants. They can act as security helpers, and answer queries for information, linking wirelessly to the Internet. It is a good time for households to consider adding some kind of robot to their collection of electronic devices. It is also time for more American companies to build said robots for use by the general public.

     It is 2020 – well past the time that many early sci-fi writers thought these would be a common household feature. While many intelligent functions have been built into devices themselves, like TVs and microwaves, there is still a role for standalone robots. An entity that can move about in a physical space, and interact with humans and pets, would be a helpful addition to many homes. They could perform some search functions, and many entertainment functions for the family. At the same time, they could incorporate features now included in smart home switches, voice-operated devices, etc. Like the robot in the original Lost in Space show, they could become a valued member of the family. It should not be very difficult to build in a few different ways to deactivate a mobile robot in case of any kind of mishap or problem.

     A final reason for making a mobile robot household companion is it could be a product built here in the USA, and exported. In these days of everything being manufactured elsewhere, it would be heartening to know that a popular consumer device is made here and exported elsewhere. This alone would be a reason for a government-industry partnership to facilitate bringing these mobile assistants to fruition and to market. It is time to do this. Thanks for reading.

We will get thru

Sunlight will grace trail flowers with bright colors,
Blue lakes will dapple an invitation;
Robins, meadowlarks and finches will sing joyful odes,
even the cicadas and tree frogs will get in on the act;
all welcoming normality once again - perhaps by this summer.

We will make it through too.

     See you on the other side.

Viral Overload

They sit around and decide

how many of us they’ll let die.

This outbreak is the other party’s fault,

Easy to smear them with bloody gestalt.

Panic and hysteria is all this thing is,

no real problem to worry about, Liz.

Heat will kill it, all over by April;

No, folks, wrong, sorry, it’ll be August.

Let’s throw money at it, trillions to disappear,

placate money worries, greed replaces fear.

Maybe dollar bills can replace now-rare toilet paper,

one thing accomplished by our great decision maker.

Outsourcing and lean manufacturing lost our capability,

greedy decision-makers share guilt and culpability.

Now America needs help from many other nations,

humbled and reminded of our new national station.

No longer at the top, we sit closer to the bottom;

when it comes to capabilities, we no longer got ‘em.

This Pandemic may teach us to re-prioritize our thinking,

hopefully before our ship of state finishes sinking!

Where did it go

I skip over years in memory,

was 12 once, 13, 15, 16.

All those characters on TV

(watched by this aging body,)

had something in common with me.

Used to laugh at, mock or impatiently

skirt around people who were older, now younger...

Used to be the smart-ass I now loath.

Several decades sure changes a point-of-view.

That first girlfriend, the fumbling moves,

knowledge won hard, in bits and pieces,

now seems trivial compared to what

has been acquired since those days.

My teen-aged classmates, all loud,

boisterous, and no one certain of their direction?

Now they are doctors, lawyers, mechanics,

all coasting towards retirement – or deceased.

I’ve lived a lot of life, got to enjoy the time,

if “enjoy” is the right word.

Thought I had seen it all, until this

Pandemic reared its ugly head.

You just never know what kind of shit

lies right around the next corner!

So now is the time to sit inside,

and ruminate on all of those years,

good and bad,

rich and poor,

amazing and boring.

Maybe the sixth decade can be a bit more placid,

calming looks back and forward across time.

Any new moves carefully surveyed;

And stable health savored and husbanded…

(assuming that I survive this covid-19 thing)

How many more?

One day at a time.

Civilize - it is awesome

I’ve been watching a program about “preppers” or people who prepare for the collapse of civilized society. It is pretty relevant nowadays with the Covid-19 pandemic. But these folks do things like build giant super-trucks with extra fuel, ammo, food etc, so in the event of a general collapse, they can drive their family to some remote “Bugout” site. There, they are able to defend themselves, get access to water via a well or stream, and generally hold out. For days, months or even years.

Various people have very detailed plans. They have arms and the capability to use them, foods, water, high-tech communication gear, etc, etc. But the thing I never hear them mention is what happens after? What about after the collapse? Are they willing to begin to trade with each other? So one person can grow certain things, another can grow or produce others, and a larger collective can thus re-establish a marketing and distribution system? In other words, a way to re-start an economy?

Everyone is so damn good at preparing for a collapse. But no one seems to be willing to discuss reestablishing an economy! So I sit and wonder, do some people really just want to exist in a permanent collapse, a “Mad Max” world of constant violence and killing and grubbing for survival?

Would it not just be easier to maintain a high degree of civilization like we have now, and avoid all of that hassle, work, and violent action? I suppose just acting and being civilized is too boring for some.

Civilization and trading for goods – much easier than collapse and violence and killing. Let’s try that instead. I would much rather “prep” for a happy future filled with technological delights, than some post-apocalyptic burned-out landscape where all anyone can do is simply survive.

A chant and a rant

Finding things at home to do,

they want us to shelter in place.

Cleaning living room, picking up my shoes,

they ask us to shelter in place.

Checking Facebook for the hundredth time,

they tell us to shelter in place.

Clicking on memes, reading between the lines,

they request us to shelter in place.

I had thought 2020 would see more humans in space,

they keep telling us all to shelter in place;

But now the robotic craft will take their place,

they want humans to stay earthbound, shelter in place.

Hope this all will end sometime soon,

Because me and others are so tired of sheltering in place.

Wal-martians galore

Masked counters have replaced the greeters,

one way in and one way out is the rule.

Everyone keeps their distance,

most wear masks, except a few youngsters.

The fruit counters seem plentiful,

but some freezers are empty.

For the most part, groceries are bountiful.

Why would there be any shortages

in this day and age of plenty?

People have never been through a pandemic,

so the reigning emotion of the day is panic.

“This too, shall pass.”

Like a big gallstone,

everyone is asking,

“goddamn it, but when?”

Hang in there.

Haiku time

Lush buds push out growth

robins hop in underbrush

surprised by snowflakes

new snow frosts old lawns

lily shoots refuse to yield

hide from the virus

shallow stream beckons

a perfect wade in July

mosquitoes agree

Book links for those curious

I got a few books self-published on Amazon.   Feel free to take a look at them.

Future Property – Michael Wilson

https://www.amazon.com/Future-Property-Collection-Speculative-Fiction/dp/147524732X

Experimental Tales – Dycen Alexander

https://www.amazon.com/Experimental-Tales-Enjoyment-Dycen-Alexander/dp/1500992429

The Osmotics – Dycen Alexander

https://www.amazon.com/Osmotics-Dycen-Alexander/dp/1495486575

New Venture – Dycen Alexander

https://www.amazon.com/New-Venture-First-Contact-Kuiper/dp/1508688729

Epic Prime Collection – Dycen Alexander

https://www.amazon.com/Epic-Prime-Collection-Dycen-Alexander/dp/1530631017

Crime Spree – poetry - Mike Wilson

https://www.amazon.com/Crime-Spree-Mr-Mike-Wilson/dp/1535057610/

A Strange Enterprise collection of speculations

https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Enterprise-Collection-Speculations/dp/0615818072

Shadow Intersection - poetry

https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Intersection-collection-Michael-Wilson/dp/1481859412

29 Stories – Kindle Edition – collection of short fiction:

https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Nine-Stories-Mike-Wilson-ebook/dp/B0714D14JD

Thanks for taking a look-see  :-)     

Dark psychedelia

Dark Energy is a substance proposed by some physicists to explain a discrepancy in calculations involving the known mass of the universe, versus the expected mass.

Dark Energy is known to most humans.

It presses in after an argument,

or propels us to dark affairs in dark places,

Sordid, wild flings of flesh-feast.

It drives us to orgasm, then repeats

because we just can’t resist that Dark Energy.

The correct level of weed or THC high reveals

all kinds of energy to those watching for it.

Flashing colors of pleasure and glee,

foreboding browns and blacks heavy with fear -

It soon is clear whether the energy present is

dark or light.

Mescaline or Peyote or psilocybin can reveal

energy in myriad permutations,

show the past and future in endless combinations.

Multiple universes? You will see them all.

Lambda and 2-pi and X/2 + Y = 0 will be meaningless,

you will just feel-taste the vibrations of everything,

know what God must feel like every day,

assuming there is a God besides you in this trance.

This quintessence that must surround us all

may be harnessed someday by us clever humans.

Then it will be called something else,

Quint Quant fuel pellets, Fifth Force Juice.

But to all other living things on Earth,

the human race has been the Darkest Energy

they have ever known,

or been forced to suffer from.

Imagine that.

We will overcome it

Treatment may become routine,

be great if you live through it;

Stay at home in quarantine,

better to avoid getting sick!

Be great if you live through it,

taking all the needed precautions.

It is easy to avoid getting sick,

just disinfect and practice sanitation.

Take those necessary precautions,

Avoid any large teeming crowds;

disinfect and practice good sanitation,

Stay indoors, stay healthy, stay proud.

Avoid any large teeming crowds,

especially at the busy supermarkets;

Stay indoors, stay healthy and stay proud,

there is lots of food, don’t have to hoard it.

No need to go to busy supermarkets,

you can still order restaurant carry-out;

there is lots of food, don’t have to hoard it,

We will overcome this, there is no doubt.

Government checks could soon be on the way,

stay at home in safety and quarantine;

no need for excessive despair or dismay,

treatment for this virus will become routine.

the Divine Miss D

Forget any fentanyl-laced heroin;

Forego the cannabis brownies or drinks;

no need to smoke joints or bowls, no siree.

Hard liquour or craft beers? Who needs ‘em?

Divine donuts are enough of a treat,

lush with creams and tasty frosting,

oozing with flavorful jellies,

spiffed up with color sparkles.

Long square frosted eclairs,

round, plump bismarcks,

cake rings thick with frosting,

I could spend all day gazing at

these glazed lovelies in a bakery window.

The only law enforcement problem

I might stumble across might be a

hungry, impatient patrol officer,

eager to grab his breakfast and be gone.

Then I would have to stifle my addiction

momentarily, and offer a place:

“After you, officer!”

Never know, might prevent a ticket someday;

Even addicts have to observe protocol sometimes.

Corona Afire

Concerns stack up like bodies at a morgue,

as a virus roams across continents.

Some researchers struggle to make a vaccine,

while others mass-manufacture testing kits.

Stock prices whipsaw up and down,

Central banks take emergency measures

to loosen up the money supply. Can a

lower interest rate help eliminate a virus?

Guess we will soon find out.

Some of this reminds me of the AIDS

epidemic, and how threatening that seemed.

It was a guaranteed death sentence, disability

granted with no questions asked. 30-some

years later, HIV+ people lead normal lives.

Science and human determination will find

a solution, and then a cure. We always do,

sooner or later.

It is the damage in the meantime that is tough.

(Wash those hands, everyone)

Spring Arise

Green is rising up the stalks

of the Spirea I’m trimming;

A peace agreement was signed yesterday,

potentially bringing our boys home;

Forsythia flowers in a neighbor’s yard.

Temps have risen to a balmy 63,

the sun is out and fresh robins serenade.

New weeds leaf out to catch those March rays,

for a moment all is quiet in the neighborhood.

This rare moment of tranquility is savored…

Tomorrow more rain is forecast,

along with falling temps and north winds.

Today’s teaser just whets my appetite,

but I know the main course is coming eventually.

Patience and perseverance and a good yard cleaning

will bring an emerald lawn, and new flowers glowing.

Tulips, hyacinth and daffodils poised for their showing,

Time to get the lawnmowers out, homeowners grumbling.

No chips or dip or beer to sip

Buy the market dips?

Take some Corona sips?

The “Orange Crush” will

make everything swell...

Have faith all you losers,

Take heart all you movers.

Our leaders have it all under control,

the CDC is alert, Pence is on a roll.

No matter what you read or hear,

one thing is abundantly clear:

Wash your hands and cover your sneezes;

Take precautions, prevent spread of diseases!

Collecting Neurons

All these items showing off their time:

Hot Wheels cars, action figures, Lego everything;

Postum general beverages, oil cans, jars of screws.

They seem to say, “Remember this year, that year,

those years when we were young too?”

Cigar boxes, decorative bricks, cowboy hats;

Metal calendars and water pumps all remind us

of some other date, some other time.

That day as a kid when you first used a

hand pump to drink cold water on a sizzling day.

Riding bikes to a town next door and stopping

for a pop or candy at the venerable gas station.

Figurines and steins and tea sets speak of

happy finds and happier times, patina of

colors reflecting memory glimmers in

our contemplative minds. Years blend together, like

that cat wedged in next to the bird, cup and decanter,

all mixing together in our axons and dendrites,

mental casserole signaling nostalgia from the past.

Mannequins and uniforms, toys and VHS tapes

gather stares and dust, next to a large bin of old tools.

Trowels and gas pump nozzles nuzzle our nostalgia.

Lanterns and bottles and binoculars each do their thing

with reflected fluorescent rays, like they used to with the

sun or the moon, back in our more pristine incarnations.

Now some of us accrete at the local flea market,

more mobile versions of what sits on the shelves;

Both pass on memories, images and greetings galore…

One day closer, one day more.

Consensual or Rape

They emerge out of the shadows of time,

harbingers of disaster for another career.

So sincere in their grief over events long past,

They must reveal it all, in great earnestness.

So out they come, onto the talk shows,

dab eyes with tissues, loose minor admissions,

implicate some imagined evil beast who happens

to be a successful male star or movie producer.

Coincidence?

How many poor nobodies have been dragged out

before an enraged public, forced to admit to

unwanted sexual advances performed decades ago?

None?

Some of these sad, unfortunate victims need to

be charged themselves – with racketeering;

Because it sure seems that is exactly what they are doing.

Shaking down some unfortunate guilty party,

who in many cases thought everything was just fine.

Must be a more honest way to sell an expose.

The truth is indeed an elusive beast...

Happy Caucus-ing Iowans!

The 2020 Iowa Caucus is here! Joe and Amy and Pete and Liz and Bernie are making the last rounds, shaking hands and flashing victory grins.

Their supporters are turning into precinct captains and promoters and assistants. TV stations are inundated with coverage. Kinda exciting to see our humble state in the spotlight – but it happens more often than one might expect. Not only during caucuses and elections, but also during the State Fair, when big names come into town to entertain, or even campaign early. Not sure how much this happens in other states, but Des Moines seems to get a fair amount of news coverage all year long, for one thing or another. Is there any truly isolated mid-sized city in the USA anymore? I doubt it.

And our state as a whole also seems to get outsize attentions. Ames played an important role in the development of atomic energy, not to mention the invention of the first digital computer. The U of Iowa hosted James Van Allen and his space physics department. I could list many more examples of ways in which some region of Iowa played a critical role in our national history. I suppose other states could make a similar claim. It just seems amazing there were so many things that happened or got their start in our middling agricultural state.

So here we are again, in the national, and international, spotlight. Put on your best behavior, Iowans – not the way you act in rush hour every day, or the way you behave in a crowded grocery store or restaurant or bar. Nope, put on that finest suit of behavior and show your Iowa colors and pride to the world!

‘Cause tomorrow they will all move on, and we’ll be stuck with just each other again. LOL. Somehow we’ll get by until the next exciting event. I hear that St. Patrick’s day parade is a real party – a month or so away. Happy Caucusing, everyone. Take care and thanks for reading ;-)

Two more days

They are all circulating now in our state;

Donald and Pete, Bernie and Amy and Liz.

Or rather, they were, before the impeachment voting.

Now their surrogates circulate all over the place.

Town halls, cafes and coffeehouses.

Rallies at meeting-places of every

size, shape and description.

Eleven contenders still stud the Democratic race,

only two at most can to the White House go.

Television stations and Downtown streets are

clogged with candidates and supporters.

Such excitement to descend on our humble

Iowa landscape – now the center of world attention.

Why, it could give our egos an unnatural boost!

Not to worry, though:

After February 3^rd, the spotlight will move to

New Hampshire, and all of us exalted folks

will once again, be “just folks” left to deal with

a lot of cleanup and one hellova Media Hangover.

We’re Iowans – we’re tough – we’ll get over it and move on.

90 seconds to extinction

Our planet is not like Venus, roasting in heat,

nor like Mars, frigid and barren yet irradiated.

We inhabit a world of life, lush, fertile, nutritive

to our human swarm that threatens to choke itself.

Not blessed with wing or fang or claw,

humble Homo Sapiens made do with

hands and brain and desperate practice.

We became so good at killing, we rose to the top.

Now we threaten to eliminate ourselves altogether.

Nuclear and aerospace armaments poised at

each others throats like so many giant daggers,

our trigger fingers twitch and itch for payback.

The lower species, if they have a lucid moment left,

will perhaps laugh in their own way.

“Those humans thought they were so mature,

so clever, so smart, that they devised a way to

end their species forever.”

Now who is on top?

Nobody.