NAPKIN WORDS #38 2010

1. CELEBRATION TOAST ON A BIRTH
May your life begin as joyous laughter.

End with a knowing smile!

2. THE WISE AMONG US
It does not take wisdom to understand tears.

It does take a fool to try to collect them!

3. AS WE GO
Even in a land of joy and happiness, some ground,
some small piece of land, must await a burial.

As we go with laughter, so too we go with tears!

4. HISTORY
Any experiment of torture with a prisoner
of war, is an experiment of human failure!

5. WHEN THE VISION IS POWERFUL
It is only with a view and insight that a
mighty mountain can be seen.

For there are many mountains around the
globe, as you roam about it, but the one that
is mighty, is remembered inside!


6. LEADERS IN TIMES OF WAR
Loss must be accepted in life.

Yet in times of war, it must never,
ever be expected or accepted.

It will happen in war. That I know.

Yet if leaders do not expect it or accept
it, only then will they do all that they
can possibly do to insure that the loss
is always the very minimum!

7. WHO IS WISER
I watched as an elated child dipped his little
fingers into a thick slice of chocolate cake,
then into a huge mass of whipped cream,
licked his hand, and offered laughter which
brightened the room.

The mother smiled, took the boy to the
washroom to clean the hand that was
no longer dirty, for it had been licked
clean. My only question: Here was a
little boy who was playing on the floor
of a busy restaurant when I first walked
in, yet none washed his hands before he
dipped his finger, then licked them
clean. Am I missing something in this
world of love?

MOTHER AWAKENING
She awoke to sounds, rays Her shower washed freshness
slipping, squeezing, between in coolness, brushed grime
slats, guaranteed to apprehend. of sleep till it dove from flesh
Unable, it raised thinnest strip to pool at her feet, then in
in joyous surrender for yet eddies, disappeared.
another sun’s mornings glory.
Her towel felt comfort, body
First she peered deep into tone sprung to attention,
honest mirrors which praised partners in life’s program of
her beauty, outlined flaws, morning employment.
had a decency to shadow
hardships, illuminate joys. The mother within smiled her
love. Milk was poured to
Cold water tickled, rather tunes of breakfast. Children
then washed, playing zigzag awakening were another
games pouring flakes of kindness she would gladly
skin into downward bear.
whirlpools of inventive
drainage.

A brave movement as breasts
were checked, beauty first,
lumps second, joy third. One
was absent, thank heaven, two
were there, ever present.

Her toothbrush roused gums
to joys of taste. Her tongue,
in pinkish splendor, poked at
friend mirror, hid a giggle
which suddenly appeared.


by Edward Hunter