I am not an Armageddonist, far from it. In fact, I consider the whole theory somewhat amusing and kind of funny. But I am sure the Armageddon crowd these days is probably pointing to events around the world, whether natural or man made, trying to promote their agenda and in the process scare people into believing that the end of the world is actually near. For some, events like the recent fires in Southern California, Hurricane Katrina, the record heat around the world, the unusual weather pattern, the war in Iraq, instability in Middle East etc. may indeed push them over the brink and might give the enough reason to accept the Armageddon belief.

Watching the horrible fires here in So California and the other events mentioned above, I could not help be reminded of a poem by Robert Frost, Fire and Ice. Enjoy!

Robert Frost

Contributed by Kahlil Gibran

By Terengo

Like A Woman without a God

 By Mimi

When I am tempted to doubt myself
And question my gifts and experience,
Remind me, GOD- of all that I know,
And those things that I don’t know
That I Know,
Remind me, who I am, and whose I am
Even when I hide behind my piety
To avoid doing what must be done
And use You as an excuse for indecision,
For lack of action, for silencing myself.
Love me enough to lift the lid off my basket,
And order me to stop crouching in the dark.

Like a Woman without a GOD

ETHIOPIA - NOT UTOPIA

No sir, it is not utopia

It’s the land of legends, Ethiopia

No M’am, she has a face

She's not some desolate far off place

The land of Lucy the original

Africa’s icon her pride, her symbol

No, not utopia you’re Ethiopia!

Our badge of honor our insignia!

Some still doubt your existence

Your rich history your very essence

Drunk with lust and selfish reasons  

With much contempt and shameless blithe

So bold so vain their words so trite

Treat their own with much disdain

Like Abe was treated by brother Cain

Only sadly it is their mother’s

They rudely claim they are not keepers

How sad, indeed how sad!

How will this look in the eyes of God?

Many before have hopelessly tried

To quell your spirit, your humble pride

Even the youngins your 'guardians'

The pups you birthed as Ethiopians

The ones you raised you fed you sheltered

You gave your all nothing you spared  

Seeing you've fallen on hard times

Only for greed no fault of yours

They curse your name to seal your fate

And wash their hands like Pontius Pilate

Their gall, their unmitigated gall

To ploy your demise, your downfall 

They carved your flesh with no conscience

And made like bandits or hungry vultures

They chopped your head and sold to traitors

Like thieves in the night or robber barons

Now it's your heart they are after

That place from which your children gather

Their courage their love their will and valor

That kept us proud for rich or poorer 

No, they say, no Ethiopia! No such country!

Fueled with hate, ethnic fury

But they know, even them, they know

Your triumphant face is sure to glow

Your elegance your majesty

They can’t deny your dignity

You are Ethiopia

You’re not a dream, a utopia

Or some far off place an idea 

A place of hope and resurrection

Of loyalty of great devotion  

Where we pledge allegiance to a beloved nation 

CHEREKA

Write?

So I am to write

A Poem, of all plights!

I, who can't create even if I were God!

A discreet, introvert little lad

Why? I ask