It is the age of Obama and some are naive enough to join George Will in saying that his election signals the end of Racism. Although I hope to never use racism as an excuse for my shortcomings and failures, I will not ever join Mr. Will in saying that Mr Jackson(Jessie) and Mr Sharpton(Al) should go sit in a corner and be quiet. There are still too many instances of police profiling and police brutality on a world wide basis. Think of what the so called color blind therory(advanced by conservatives to suit their agenda and not the advancement of people of color) has done to the plight of Blacks in Canada and England. Blacks in Canada are routinely discharged for being disruptive when they complain to surpervisors and cowrkers about discrimination. In England, on my last transcontinental visit, Blacks both of African and West Indian origin were treated as fouth classs citizens. I noted several things. First of all the lack of inclusion of Blacks in the media(both print and screen). Secondly I noted a virtual absence of Black Men in the buisneess district of London.Thirdly I noted that their was not one bookstore owned by people of African descent in London. Finally, I was horified to see on the bilborards, in the train stations pictures of mostly Black Women under the heading of "Gone Missing". Could not wait to get back home and folks this is the so called liberal or tolerant part of Europe. Wonder what it would  be like in Germany or Russia. Well I know that Africans are routinely killed in Russia and no one has ever been brought to justice for that! Well hey yall, over here if whites want to kill Blacks without penalty, they must first put on a police or sherif's uniform. Not to mention that the current head of state in France is a known Anti-Semite who refered to rioting people of African and Arab descent as animals. We have a long devide to overcome and we won't even begin to get there by false celebrations or unrealistic conclusions about where we are as a world in matters of race. Untill we can be more tollerant, the bigots are just as  imprisoned by their additudes as those discriminated against on the basis of color are by their tormentors and opponents.

 THE BACKYARD NEIGHBORS

By Sharlet Liebel  © 2007

Hope you’ve have a restful day.

As for me, been BZ since this a.m. when my new neighbor with the parrots banged on the front door that some water was squirting-out all over the backyard.  For some reason, the Lord had me wear my bathing suit under shorts and a blouse, today. I grabbed my umbrella when I saw what appeared to be a geyser from Niagara Falls at the back of my lot! I got soaked but it was the only way to see what had broken and if I could shut it off.

Well, as the story goes, my next door neighbor’s surfboard landed like a knife on the spigot and CHOPPED the faucet off! I ran to get my neighbor in my soaked hair and clothes with an umbrella saying, “We’re in trouble. Can you help?" So, while he didn’t say much about that I’d just gotten him out of his Sunday afternoon nap, and not looking too well, he limped outside to help.

About this time, another friendly neighbor, came by and opened the trap to cut-off the water-main! A crowd had gathered and followed the leaders down to the cut-off! The geyser had stopped spouting water. This we could see from the distance. We all scurried back to discuss the broken pipe.

One on-looker suggested we just cap the broken pipe and let the "surfboarders" fix the damage when they got in. Another looked and suggested we glue the same pipes together that were cut-off. About that time, another more mechanical neighbor who mows lawns on Saturdays and does handyman work, stopped over. He listened-in on the going conversations.

I took charge of the matter especially since I was the first on-scene to get soaked. Firmly, I objected. Why should we NOT fix the joints the right way so that when our neighbors returned from their swim they wouldn’t come home to a waterless trailer? My suggestion took-up more conversation. And, of course, the group heartily laughed, made jokes, and finally decided, "Why, would we be so mean as to leave our neighbors without water?”

In the end, I offered my wrenches and a pipe cutter that I’d recently bought. So work began. Of course, the neighbors got there at the end of the debates and work had about finished.

As proof, had I needed any proof about the major catastrophe resulting from a wayward surfboard, I’d left the surfboard in the position from which it’d fallen (surmised, of course)  until I’d had witnesses to further discuss the mishap. We took a vote and all agreed the surfboard was to blame.

The full story is that when I’d noticed that the surfboard owner had lodged his/her surfboard in a precarious position I thought I’d move it to rest against their more solid shed. Owner came out, when I hadn’t noticed, and moved it again against their Tahiti grass divider and the Wind-Mariah came along with a gush and blew the surfboard down. Oh my word!

IN THE FULLNESS OF LOVE

 By Sharlet Liebel ©2007

Look deep into my eyes

What do you see?

You see love.

Dare I believe how far

You can succeed?

Beyond clouds above.

My thought is on fire

Shall I speak of it?

 You are my flame.

Your light is brilliance

Can you not see it?

It is so free.

Together, we are one

The ocean, moon, and stars,

Do stay with me.

THE WILD BIRDS IN MY YARD

By

Sharlet Liebel © 2008

The new young birds in my yard this season are Finches. They hop, hop, hop, on two little legs upon landing on flat surfaces. Chirp, chirp, chirp, they say to announce their presence.

Finch birds are colorful. They have bright red chests and crowns over their eyes and areas of their faces. The Finch birds have wings that flutter up and down to get them from one tree limb to another tree limb. Their tail helps them to keep their balance when they are in a perch position on a tree branch or feeder.

Although the bird’s tail does not flutter up and down like the wings, it does move down and back up. Sometimes, a bird in flight might use the muscle in the tail to push down hard against the wind and this will slow down the bird very quickly. A bird will do this when they want to land quickly. When we see the bird perch on a branch or the ledge of a feeder, their wings are close against their body. They need to use their tail as a balancing arm, so to speak. In order for the bird to lean forward to pickup food and get back up, their tail moves down and then up to support their body for this activity.

Very young birds cannot perform an activity of balance without a developed muscle in their tail. That is one reason their parents must feed them in the nest. When they become older and stronger, bird-parents will encourage their youngsters to fly from limb to limb. However, it is sad to see little birds fall to the ground. Kind people rescue little birds that fall out of trees. People can help baby birds to get strong enough to leave their rescuer’s care. It is a wonderful experience to rescue little birds.

Just look at how brave Finch birds are! An adult Finch who is trying to eat from one of my bird feeders will chase a larger bird-neighbor away by dueling. We have seen people duel with swords. Perhaps, you have seen a movie of Pirates dueling by holding their swords in front with one hand and placing their other hand behind their backs. Now, the little birds duel by using their tiny beaks as a sword. WOW! What a lot of noise they create! They chirp faster and faster, and louder and louder, to get their point across to their opponent.  Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp! Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp! Unbelievable! This goes on and on until one or the other bird takes flight.

The young Finch birds may win or they may lose but neither bird gets hurt in these duels. The birds are never discouraged from trying again, either. Usually, it happens that these little squabbles send many seeds flying all around and seeds land all over the ground. Now, the Finches may be little but they are smart enough to eat all that food on the ground that takes little effort.

The colorful little Finches hop, hop, hop, and chirp, chirp, chirp, very happily, and save their courage for another day.  

THE END.

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