Central Virginia Journal: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Poem 'Self Annihilation: Thoughts on an otherwise perfect day"

Waves endlessly stretch out

and cover the scene.

Waves spiritual and physical

move steadily toward the shore.

Waves long waves,

like lost souls in tireless travel go

Onward!, Onward! , Onward!

Waves in search of an ending

seeking always the distant shore.

Waves of human misery

ongoing without end

Waves of empty dreams

churn slowly toward the shore

Waves of useless efforts

with no pity or no heart.

Waves without a meaning

Onward!, Onward!, Onward!

Waves in search of an ending

seeking always the distant shore

Waves of guilt and anguish

roll forth across the scene

Waves of pain and sadness

seeking solace in their end

Waves so helpless

cry out in endless pain

No More!

Waves in search of ending

have found the distant shore

Written by Mark R. Day after being inspired by a conversation on T.S. Elliot's "The Wasteland" with my good friend Mrs. Hollingsworth

4-16-2008
Copyright by Mark R. Day all rights reserved

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Photo "God of War; Angel of Death"

Photo by Mark R. Day, taken in October 2010 with a Cannon power Shot SX100IS

shot just after dawn

Photo "Hushed Dawn"

Taken by Mark R. Day using a Cannon Power Shot SX110IS at the Battle of Ceder Creek reenactment 2010

Photo "Light, Life, and Renewal: Healing amid the scene of disaster"

Taken by Mark R. Day using a Cannon Power Shot SX100IS at the Stones River Battlefield in Tennesse August 2009

Photo "Richmond Sunset"

Taken by Mark R. Day using a Cannon Power Shot SX100IS Saturday 26 February 2011 from window of hotel room #310 Hoiday Inn, Kroger Center, Rihmond Virginia

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Poem 'Bewitched by the Sea"

In the evening and morning a beautiful lady, the sea in all her splendor is dressed for a ball.

Glimmering sunlight illumines her splendor: as fireflies dance wildly, on wave tops of silver.

Beautiful, exotic, and filled with life's vigor.
In a low smokey voice she softly whispers.

Great things, I will show you. Go with me, go with me!

Great things, I will show you. Come and see come and see!

Oh! but ponder this advice, from one that has answered.

The sea is a mystery, her truths unrevealed.

For the sea has a cunning that will startle the soul.

She will torment the wretch, that answers her call

Difficult and Vicious is this goddess of blue

So subtly changing from moment to moment

she is willful and moody, the queen of her realm.

How hard to explain the complex feelings, I have.

Oh happy is my heart and I am glad of my plight.

For to have known her at all, and to have such a love
I will remain loyal to her, until my very end

Written by Mark R. Day 2-23-2011 (revision of an earlier work)

Photo by Mark Day [Taken from the deck of the USS Nassau (LHA-4) Spring 1984]

Image is of North Atlantic Ocean. The Ship in the background is a Fleet Oiler.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Poem "Ruin Lies in Vanity"

Press not upon the power of nature, Ye Haughty man!

there is folly in vanity and chastisement in sinful, willful pride.

The storm will be emboldened, unencumbered, and unmerciful

An elemental force, set free and aroused to all its power.

Impossible furious frenzied flashes of lightning permeate the air, as thunder
beats a bleak tattoo against the waves.

Winds heavy with sea spray stifle the breath,
while the rising sea writhes in towering mounds of green.

Quick tempered cruel and unrelenting behold the storm

All the fury of Hell unleashed and untamed

Oh! the human anguish, lost souls entombed by the rampaging spray

All hope diminished and drown in the wake of the storm

The tempest harsh and deadly has served notice

Its clarion bell the wind a warning to vain man.

Who art thou to challenge me . . .

Who art thou to challenge me . . .

Copyright by Mark R. Day all rights reserved

Poem "Limits"

Like snow which falls to early in the year

a life can soon vanish and be forgotten.

written by Mark Day 12-6-10

Poem “Song of a man in his youth”

Oh! Happy are the days and nights of youth

Delight filled hours, delirious flights of fancy

Released from all constraint to pretense and conformity

so the human soul can sing with joy

set free to dance!

set free to laugh!

set free to love!

Alive, alive the spirit sprints and surges

Like an ocean wave it swells to great heights

Leaving all it touches breathless and exhausted

so the human soul can sing with joy

Mark R. Day 2-22-2011

Monday, February 21, 2011

Poem "Dioscuri Arise"

"Dioscuri arise"

Dioscuri arise!

ye great twin brethren

my patron's

my heaven, my hell

masters of my life

Eris thou dust transcribe

upon thy devote

and like Sisyphus in times forgotten

I roll the stone to summit

then see it tumble to the base

Therefore sweet Castor

who plead immortality,

great Zeus bestow on lost Pollox

pity the soul of a kinsman

a sailor, a warrior,

one born under your stars

inspire and renew

guide and constrain

lest the stain of Momus

fall on my brow

Written 12-6-10 by Mark Day

photo by Mark Day "Parthenon" Athens Greece 1974

Poem "Vermilion Sky"

Oh! Vermilion Sky

which casts it light anew

Awake my soul!

bathed in its vivid hue

Alight my eyes!

to the vernal moment so joyful

Arise my humanity!

before the apex of natural glory

Mark Day

Written while watching the sunrise 12-2-10

Photo by Mark Day "Surrise over Liberty High School Practice Fields" 12-2-10

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Photo "The Gate of Heaven"

"The gate of heaven'

photography by: Mark R. Day.

location: Wiggington Rd. Lynchburg, Va

Photo taken with a Cannon Power Shot SX100

Poem "My Teacher is the Night"

Darkness lies upon the earth, a masking blanket which covers every blemish and human fault.
Blinded by the opaqueness all are moved to similarity; for in the dark we are alone, naked and alive with thoughts.

Yet solace can be found in the ebony veil of night; manifested in the peaceful stillness which obscures our fear of the gloom.

Yes, Embrace the night and be entwined within the nighted hush

For in darkness we are lost, but only in the darkness shall we truly find ourselves.

Written By Mark Day 2-20-2011

Central Virginia Journal