jamescallahansr

[jamescallahansr]

It’s been a long, long timesince I’ve heard the expression,‘the human race’ like I oncedid from my father whoinvoked it in the ‘60’svernacular of our one,global world, nationsunited and east and westdivided so clearlyall was known, thoughall wasn’t safe. In his ownway I was chided tobehave civilly and notgad about as an unevolvedNeanderthal breathingthrough his mouth;the future of the humanrace…

[jamescallahansr]

How well back does one gowhen telling one’s own tale,when sitting here and nowseeing as you wish to see,knowing what you now knowabout that singular trailmeandering somehowwith hindsight’s guarantee? It all makes sense and blendsevery twist and untimely turnwith meaning assigned true,life has now become history,chance and choice and friends,sterile events of no concern;and how one must…

[jamescallahansr]

Out of time...

I’ve said “I love you” enough, often, intentionallyand unintentionally and meant it every time, so I’m goodwith that one, but it’s the stories of things that made meme and then, of course, us – not as an excuse but becauseif I don’t say them soon I’m afraid I’ll run out of time.

[jamescallahansr]

Today a man in a brown coaton a fine day sat at the counterand ordered chilieven though the serverrecommended he shouldn’t;anyone of the regulars could have told himnot to order it here,for while there were several fine menu items,like the BLT, swiss steak and evena good tuna melt,chili has never been one of them,but he wouldn’t have listened anyway;he seemed like the kind of personwho was…

[jamescallahansr]

It takes so little todrown,just an ounce or sosuckedinto the lungscan begin the end;a simpleaccident,a chance mistakea gaspora bath inmiserywhen misery is all,allthere is, all that’sseen in an everdarkeningdawnwithout a silver lining,without a hintof hope;it takes so little,so little,to drown a life.

[jamescallahansr]

In our once upon a timewe had spells to linger andentwine our fingers in aweb we gladly persistedagainst all convenienceof freedom. Before all wecall our lives now, do youremember, how we weren’talways going somewhere,and if we were it was anadventure shared firsttogether? It couldn’t befrozen in a globe for wewould have melted theice with our simple kissesand giggled at the puddleswe’d made.…

[jamescallahansr]

People don’t use concordances any more… all the words of the Bible alphabetically arranged… we have Google and search options and no one cares to peruse like concordances taught us to….Much of what I learned to love about finding my way through the Bible was part of what a concordance made possible..And don’t get me started on my preference for Young’s over Strong’s – I can shame most into…

[jamescallahansr]

(for Daniel H. Smith on his 80th Birthday) He was born when beinga man was different; it meantbeing strong, doing the rightthing when there were rightthings to do and you knewwhat they were when he didthem; it meant being the rightperson for the right people;he was born when quiettogether was golden, lovewas both tender and stern,and less was always more;he is from a different time,a better…

[jamescallahansr]

Is it worth $125…

It caught my attention as if struck by lightening and I had to see it again and again, so I quickly snapped a crooked photo and just as quickly I was ticketed for using a phone while driving. But when I look at my $125 photo I have to admit it’s not as valuable as just about any other of the hundreds of photos of family and friends and pets I’ve captured for free for so long.

[jamescallahansr]

Morning’s gloom,unwanted for a wannabebut an aspiring scholargreeted in his musty,book-filled roomquietly rejoices to seeair for upturned collarand studious honesty. Library nook,table for many pagesserves as an altarand he the priestof saints who tookpen from far agescomposing a psalterof knowledge leased. Murkiness aroundevery shelves’ stack,drawing down editionsof obscure vexationto others…

[jamescallahansr]

I doubt that...

Nothing kinder than strangers? I doubt that,and all ‘nothings/than’ we can dream of – a weak wishto sentimentalize while hiding from what (and who)we know or should know and should care enoughto care how we are to them regardless of excusesto ignore those who are loved. There is nothingmore frustrating than all the nothing/than’s of life,nothing more ignorant, nothing more thoughtlessthan missing…

[jamescallahansr]

It’s been years, too many,far removed from laughsand tears of caretaking andtaking care of a flock thatwas never mine but mindedme; to hear that he’s goneafter starting his last fightso long ago and doing itright by undoing petty thingswith gentleness; my friend’sheart has stopped andstarted, fits and foughtbut not for naught hegained a decade of life,he made surviving an artfrom that first Eve’s…

[jamescallahansr]

What do people pray,I wonder;what do they whisperto the Almightywhen no one’s listeningon those ordinary,uneventful nightswhen work has weariedand bills worried,when love is trustedand promises are to be kept;what do they ventureknowing they are knownand there are no secretsthat are kept,no wagers to be made;what do they dareask after forgiveness?

[jamescallahansr]

Somewhere along State Rd. 11winding through sleepy townsdotting southern Wisconsin is asmall farm pushed up to the two-lane with a hand-painted signpropped against the once whitefence that reads, “My horse is old,not neglected” and it could easilysay the same thing about the house,barn, tractor or even my life, I suppose.

[jamescallahansr]

Everyone needs time that’squiet to think or not,just time without, notsimply unconnected, notsimply quiet, but time enough.I’ve seen it done and donewell; my Dad would stand onthe front steps in almost anyweather at the end of the dayand do nothing – not sitor shuffle or hum or sing;it was his time enough.When I’d open the doorhe wouldn’t react, hewould still have his timeenough; and I could…

[jamescallahansr]

It should come as no surpriseI find you most curious;the wry curl of your lips,chocolate brown of your eyes,little about you is spuriousand you found me in your grips. Coyly you cast your spellrefusing my handhold grasp,toying, refusing my escapeand all this you did so welluntil I drew you into my claspto discover your neck’s nape. Little was needed beyond this,your wonder was my delight,your…

[jamescallahansr]

If for no other reason than to hearthe constant, tireless, angelic voiceof my daughter singing her waythrough each and every day, hittingand missing and finding new notesfor songs which filled the air,refused to be kept by closed doors,stopped passersby through openwindows, and never failed to delight;if for no other reason than thishad all the wisdom and wonderof God created ears to hear it…