The flavor of Granny Smith apples
My taste buds brought to attention by the watercress in my salad
The sting of wasabi mixed with my double black soy

The prose of a Shakespeare comedy
The intent in the command voice of a drill instructor
A mother’s imperative remark to her pestering child

The perfect application of white in a field of black
The air-shattering effect from the firing of a high-powered rifle
The first and second beats of a drum roll

The logic in a well written constitution
The perfect delivery of a message
The implicit effects of bulletproof code

Hearing you break my monotony with a simple hello
Your stern look when I’m caught self-deprecating
Watching you come toward me when you could go elsewhere

All the crispness that make my life even more pleasant

Here are a few observations and thoughts hours away from high noon, 20 January 2009 – what will be the beginning of a new American executive quadrennial period.

1. For many liberals and emotive secular progressives, America is suddenly deserving of their admiration and pride.

For conservatives and American traditionalists, this country has always been admirable and deserving of unmitigated loyalty.

2. All of those who swore that they would move elsewhere after the election of George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 no longer seem to want to be expatriated.

Those of us who worry and oppose the oncoming socialist implementation that has been promoted by Mr. Obama throughout his campaign will remain here to watch and actively oppose his less-than-favorable initiatives, whichever they may be.

3. In the months after the election, many marketers substituted some form of active civics where there was once contempt and ridicule for the chief executive of the United States; conservatives and most traditionalists have always displayed some form of civic awareness and action.

4. It is becoming all too apparent that the oncoming administration will attempt to defy the laws of economics to take us out our present economic reality. Given an option, the last thing most of the political right will do is embrace the oncoming mass welfare proposed by Mr. Obama and his ilk.

5. In the midst of a lack of mass appeal, celebrities and progressives thank God others are willing to be in the armed service of the United States. Most of their political counterparts have no hesitation to be those who will serve in said service.

5a. Members of the Obama administration, including chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel have noted an active interest in the implementation of some form of required “common national service”, a concept that is very close to conscription. Ironically, the last two presidents who initiated drafts were democrats; but no worries: people eventually blame republicans and the right for those kind of tactics. Go ask Nixon. Oh wait: too late.

And now for something completely different: the french word for “left” is “gauche”.

N’être pas gauche. Don’t be gauche.

Standing in bloom amongst your peers
sharing the same common descriptor,
yet holding your own.

You are part of this composition in which we all belong,
yet you are so much different from the rest.
In your own beauty you defy being known as just another shiny pebble:
you are the brightest gem of the lot.

Everything grows in this city by the ocean: exotic and intoxicating creatures of great magnitude,
yet the most amazing creation in these parts is not native;
she hails from the other coast of our great land,
and has traveled great distances to land here.

By some miracle I just happen to find myself near your radience:
the aroma of your bloom is nothing less than tantilizing.
I just feel grateful that I can witness you,
even more blessed for having you in my life.

The proverbial bird has been released
And the missing has since begun…
I pass by her street and all I can sense is my missing her even more.

I hope all the bards were correct in their assertion that the bird to whom I gave my heart might perchance return.
Soundtracks are best played to a great Hollywood production: to the one you cherish the most.

As for all the things I have told her, all I know is that they will somehow always be true.
Even though the sun orbits light years away from my perch on Earth, I still manage to feel her warmth;
but truth be told, I would much rather burn up with her than barely float alone.

Ah, to be blinded by the lights of a picture show;
the pleasure of wanting to see more and more…

Alas, I hope I will be able to once again.