Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
famous musicians from Berkeley, California (Blog entry)
Am I Berkeley Enough?Famous Bands and Songs From Berkeley
He’s been known to sport a Cal Bears hat with an Oakland A’s jersey. He professes great love for the giant burritos at Gordo and Cancun taquerias. And he still gets his coffee at Peet’s — just not the one at the corner of Walnut and Vine streets.
Does all of that make David Wittman “Berkeley Enough”?
Wittman, a Berkeley native long living in Los Angeles, has been asking himself that question for years. His answer, thus far, has been anything but conclusive. So, the DJ/vocalist has turned the debate over to the online community — in the music video “Berkeley Enough,” which has become something of a water-cooler sensation in the Bay Area.
The tune is as intelligent as it hilarious, a well-crafted slice of satire that gently pokes fun while celebrating both his hometown and L.A. Watch the video once, and it’s easy to understand why the song’s title has become a kind of catchphrase in these parts — and why there is now a market for “Berkeley Enough?” T-shirts.
The catchy, comedic tune is a duet between Wittman, who is better known online as simply DJ Dave, and East Bay rapper LaeCharles Lawrence Jr. The ample humor comes from a back-and-forth between Lawrence, who contests that Wittman is no longer “Berkeley Enough,” and Wittman, deflecting those charges with varying degrees of success.
“DJ Dave, you’re not Berkeley Enough,” Lawrence says in the video.
“What you mean, dude?” DJ Dave responds, as a rhythmic rap starts to rev up:”I told you before, you know I still eat organic food.
“I might live in L.A., but I can still wear a Cal hat and (represent) the Bay.”
“I’m just trying to do L.A. with a Bay twist.
I ride my bike a lot and drive a Prius too.
I guess I can’t be down like you unless I drive a Subaru.”
Although written by and starring Wittman, “Berkeley Enough” is really a collaborative achievement that comes courtesy of Wittman’s Fog and Smog, a video arts collective that includes a number of former Bay Area talents now living in L.A.
Fog and Smog is less than a year old, but it’s already an online sensation. It’s produced four independent videos, all of which gently poke fun at West Coast culture. Together, they have totaled some 5 million views on YouTube and other sites.
It all started with “Whole Foods Parking Lot,” the first Smog and Fog video, which went viral within days of posting to YouTube.
“The reaction was really beyond our expectations,” Wittman says during a recent phone interview. “It got a million views in a week. It was crazy.”
That first video remains DJ Dave’s calling card — and he’s often introduced, even in Fog and Smog’s own videos, as “Dave from that Whole Foods song.” Yet, he seems even more passionate about “Berkeley Enough,” a tune that allowed him to explore his own mixed feelings about leaving the Bay Area for L.A.
Wittman, of course, is aware that many Northern Californians love to hate all things L.A. This video cleverly, yet far from viciously, plays into that intrastate rivalry — which, Wittman says, seems to matter far more to people in the Bay Area than to those in L.A.
“It is sort of a one-sided rivalry,” says Wittman, 37. “I’ve seen it from both sides for so many years now. L.A. is almost like the pretty older sister who just doesn’t even notice that someone is mad at her — like, ‘Huh? I wasn’t paying attention. How’s my hair?’
“Not to say that the Bay is the ugly-duckling little sister. (But) L.A., because of the nature of Hollywood, can be slightly self-involved and dismissive.”
Wittman, a vocalist, composer, DJ and drummer, graduated from Berkeley High School in 1992 and credits his continued passion for making music to his involvement in the school’s fabled jazz program. That’s why he decided to sell “Berkeley Enough?” T-shirts and donate the proceeds to the Berkeley High jazz program.
“It was just an inspiring thing to be around,” he says of the jazz program. “There was a lot of really high level playing that you had to measure up against. You had to work really hard to make it. I think that kind of motivation for kids is really valuable and amazing.”
After Berkeley High, Wittman ventured south to study at UCLA. He graduated with a degree in economics in 1996, but he had no real design to put his studies to use in the so-called “real world.”
“I actually kicked around for a little while, trying to figure out what to do,” he says. “I was like, ‘I’m going to be a bohemian DJ/drummer and figure out artistic stuff to do.’ But I didn’t do well without some sense of structure.”
He eventually landed a job doing musical scores for TV commercials and, 12 years later, he still works there. The job reignited his interest in music, leading him to again pick up the drumsticks and do some DJ work. He wrote the “Whole Foods Parking Lot” song on a lark and then decided to do a video for it. So, he linked up with some pals, many of whom also hailed from the Bay Area, and the video-arts collective Fog and Smog was born. The name, of course, is a nod to both the Bay Area (fog) and L.A. (smog).
Besides “Whole Foods” and “Berkeley Enough,” Fog and Smog has also generated clicks with DJ Dave’s come-on to a pretty “Yoga Girl” (sample lyric: “Well anyway I guess you better be going / The last thing I want to do is stop your Vinyasa from flowing”). Then there’s the plea, aimed at Mr. Android or Mrs. iPhone, to “Put Your Phone Down” (best lyric: “You’re in public man, you’re being kinda rude / Your text messages are not that important, dude!”). All of these videos boast a delicious, self-effacing humor.
“I think Fog and Smog’s videos resonate, because our fans are a very self-aware bunch who are happy to laugh at themselves if and when the comedy originates from a credible source,” says Fog and Smog’s George Woolley, a rapper and video director who graduated from Berkeley High in 1994. “We poke fun at social trends that we engage in ourselves, and I think that is very palpable in the lyrics and video aesthetic we strive for.”
The success of the YouTube videos even caught the attention of Hyundai, which hired Fog and Smog to do some clever car commercials. Wittman, however, isn’t giving up his day job — he says it’s still unclear if Fog and Smog can become a true moneymaker. He knows that the videos have tallied an impressive number of views online, but he’s also aware that Fog and Smog is hardly setting YouTube records.
“There is lots of stuff that gets more clicks,” he says. “Cats, man. You got to do something about a cat, because that (expletive) just blows up.”
berkeley maps
growing up in Berkeley
back in the day
we still were allowed
to free roam
and so I went
everywhere on foot
or bus
walking to Solano avenue
drinking coffee
at Peets coffee
eating Chinese food
in Berkeley’s china town
walking downtown
walking to CAL
eating top dog
experiencing the late 60’s
transforming Telegraph
and walking in the woods
in tilden park
high up in the hills
overlooking the bay area
674 Santa Rosa
my childhood home
for almost 10 years
was 674 Santa Rosa
Berkeley California
A five bedroom
adobe California home
on the side of a hill
at the bottom of the Berkeley hills
you entered on the top floor
across the street you entered
on the bottom floor
thus it was in the Berkeley Hills
the house had a large deck
with a perfect view
of the golden gate
we used to sit outside
watching the sunset
as we ate dinner
my Mom and Dad
would have their nightly cocktails
on the deck
before retreating inside
to continue
their nightly fights
and arguments
I grew up
downstairs
hearing their constant words
of hatred, dismay and outrage
my parents were the proverbial
odd couple
perhaps never should have married
but despite the hate
there was still some love
that kept them together
we had a red room
with a pool table
and I hung out there
with my friends
my mother tolerated my friends
most of the time
she would be somewhat sober
until after they left
and the madness came
over her
as she drank her whisky
and wine
the basement room
was added later
was my younger brother’s room
later was my room
whenever i visited
from college days
my old room lay abandoned
filled with books
thousands of books
that I had read
over the years
when she died
I should have taken
all the books
instead I took
about one hundred
just no space
for the books
of my childhood memories
National Poetry month day two prompt specific place poem 674 Santa Rosa Berkeley California
berkeley time travels
growing up in Berkeley
in the 70’s
one would be drawn
to Telegraph avenue
down the street from Cal
to a particular corner
Dwight way and Telegraph
catty corner to People’s park
a corner sacred to the hippie
vendors who were always there
down the street from Moe’s bookstore
I would often walk back
occasionally talk to the vendors
about the latest conspiracy theory
about the latest conspiracy theory
and the latest political gossip
as the vendors
loved to talk shit
as they sat on their seats
selling their t shirts
filled with anarchistic sayings
and political rage
against the machine of hate
they saw all around them
as the man tried to keep them down
that was Berkeley
my sacred homeland
stuck forever in 1969
This is a shout out to the many musicians in my home town, Berkeley, California which is as all people know, the center of the cosmos.
There have been so many great musicians who grew up there, many learning to play at Berkeley High school.Here are some of the famous groups – just to name a few
Two of my favorite Berkeley Songs, are by Fog and Smoke
That’s if for now. Please feel free to send in more Berkeley bands
and some more sent it thanks Kristen and Bob
Kristien Freedman
Great poetry! I didn’t see Lenny Pickett up there, also Michael Wolff, Jonny Otis, Steve Gaboury, I’m sure there are many more. We had a crazy talented school district in so many ways!
Thanks Jake, you could probably do another whole article about jazz musicians who attended Berkeley High School. Will Bernard, Charlie Hunter, Colin Hogan, Dave Ellis, Josh Jones, Robbie Kwok, Steven Bernstein ……
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Raven Cage has published the following poems:
Failure is not an option
My failures
Total Success or Total Failure
Dejavu All Over Again
General Failure Reading Disk Drives
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Driving to the end of the world
The end times approach
Driving through the smoke filled air
North of Mt Shasta
Heart of bigfoot country
End of the world images
Fill my head with dread
end of the world visions
the apocalypse is upon us
The wicked evil as hell
blood red sun
Leers at me
with an evil grin
Screaming at me
What fools these mortals be
Global climate change
Is as real as the smoky fires
That Burn and burn and burn
As our leaders turn away
They Can’t handle the truth
They will sacrifice all life on earth
So the oil and coal barons
The so called masters of the universe
Can make their obscene profits
Sending the rest of us to hell
This is a list of mass shootings in the United States that have occurred in 2020. Mass shootings are incidents involving multiple victims of firearm-related violence. The precise inclusion criteria are disputed, and there is no broadly accepted definition.[2][3]
Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks shootings and their characteristics in the United States, defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator(s), are shot in one location at roughly the same time.[4] The Congressional Research Servicenarrows that definition, limiting it to “public mass shootings”, and defined by four or more victims killed. It excludes counting wounded survivors.[2]The Washington Post and Mother Jones use similar definitions, with the latter acknowledging that their definition “is a conservative measure of the problem”, as shootings with fewer fatalities occur.[5][6] The crowdsourced Mass Shooting Tracker project defines a mass shooting as “an incident where four or more people are shot in a single shooting spree. This may include the shooter themself, or police shootings of civilians around the shooter.”[7]
As of June 30, there have been 260 shootings that fit this criteria, resulting in 226 deaths and 1,054 injuries, for a total of 1,280 victims.
Stanford University MSA Data Project: three or more persons shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrator(s), at one location, at roughly the same time. Excluded are shootings associated with organized crime, gangs or drug wars.[8]
Mass Shooting Tracker: four or more persons shot in one incident, at one location, at roughly the same time.[7]
Gun Violence Archive/Vox: four or more shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at one location, at roughly the same time.[4][9]
Mother Jones: three or more shot and killed in one incident at a public place, excluding the perpetrators.[6]
The Washington Post: four or more shot and killed in one incident at a public place, excluding the perpetrators.[5]
ABC News/FBI: four or more shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at one location, at roughly the same time.[10]
Congressional Research Service: four or more shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at a public place, excluding gang-related killings and those done with a profit-motive.[2]
Only incidents considered mass shootings by at least two of the above sources are listed below.
Four people were injured shortly after midnight when someone opened fire during the Rude Boyz Annual Trail Ride. The gathering was held at Durango’s Canyon.[11]
One person was killed and three others were injured when a gunman opened fire in a restaurant. The shooter has been taken into custody and has been charged with open murder, three counts of assault with intent to murder and multiple weapons charges.[12][13]
Responding officers to a large gathering in the early morning found a man dead. Three additional victims were transported in private vehicles to the hospital.[14]
Officers responded to I-64 West in the early morning after calls of shots fired by a moving vehicle. They found four individuals shot, with one dead, in a crashed car. A fifth individual was wounded when the car crashed.[15]
Officers responded from a traffic stop after hearing gunfire. They discovered seven people wounded at a large house party after a man armed with a semi-automatic weapon arrived and opened fire.[17]
A seven-year-old girl, a sixteen-month boy and two adults were shot by a passing vehicle while getting out of a car. The girl was declared brain dead at the hospital, causing the shooting to be declared a homicide.[19]
Three men and a woman were injured shortly before midnight. A man was denied entry at a local bar, retrieved an assault-type weapon from his car, and shot into the building.[21]
Two adults were killed and two teenagers, aged seventeen and eighteen, were injured in an early morning shooting. The group were ambushed by two shooters after arriving at an AirBnb house party in a rideshare.[22]
One man was killed and three others injured in the early morning. Officers are investigating if the individuals were a part of an announced party for that night.[23]
A man opened fire and others returned fire at a large party with at least one hundred people in attendance. Four people were injured in the shooting.[26]
Fifteen people were injured, four critically, after a shooter opened fire at people leaving a funeral home in Chicago’s Auburn Greshamneighborhood.[27]
Five people were wounded in the North Lawndale neighborhood. They were a part of people gathered on the sidewalk when a car pulled up and several men got out and opened fire.[28]
One man was killed and four others injured after a fight in a McDonald’sparking lot escalated. One of the injured was an innocent bystander in the Food Lion parking lot across the street.[29]
Thirteen people were injured in an early morning shooting at a riverfront gathering. An argument between two women led to a man firing two shots into the air. This led to multiple individuals opening fire on the crowd.[30]
Two people were killed and three wounded shortly before midnight in Morgan Park on the Far South Side. They were part of a group of people, that were fired upon by an unknown shooter.[32]
Two fifteen-year-olds and two seventeen-year-olds were wounded while sitting in traffic when another car pulled up and opened fire. Four days later, the suspect was shot by police after a pursuit in which he was found holding a gun and died at a hospital.[34][35]
A man was killed and four others wounded after two men opened fire in the early morning in the North Lawndale neighborhood. The men were standing on a street corner.[37]
Four adults were wounded while attending a memorial in Weinland Park. A three-year-old girl was also wounded when bullets struck the home she was in.[38]
Two people were killed and three injured at a large outdoor hip hop concert in which potentially five separate guns were used. An additional three people were injured while attempting to flee, after being hit by cars.[48]
Three women and two men were injured after someone opened fire outside an apartment complex. At the complex there was a large party happening with over 100 people present.[50]
Two men opened fire on a late night cookout at the Raymond Bush Playground in Brooklyn. Three men were injured and an infant sitting in a stroller was killed.[51]
Four men were wounded and one killed in an early morning shooting. The group was standing in the street when a verbal altercation escalated with at least two shooters.[54]
Responding officers to an early morning block party arrived to gunfire. Two wounded individuals were identified at the party and four others were identified at local hospitals.[55]
In a late night shooting, four people were killed and three injured. Officers suspect the shooting was retaliation by people recently released from prison.[57]
Three men waiting at a stop light and were wounded when someone opened fire. Comedian Rickey Smiley’s daughter was a passenger in another vehicle and was also wounded.[61]
A 16-year-old girl and three adults were wounded by gunfire while standing in an alley in the West Side‘s Fifth City neighborhood in the early morning.[62]
Officers arrived at an early morning fight and heard shots being fired. They later discovered a man killed by the gunfire and three others injured.[63]
A man was killed and three others injured in a parking lot, after leaving an event held by rapper Bankroll Freddie. People were leaving the event when someone fired into the crowd.[66]
A large group of people were watching fireworks, when a fight broke out after a car hit a pedestrian. Fourteen people were wounded, of which two were declared dead at the hospital.[69]
A 20-year-old opened fire on a group of six people after getting into an altercation and taking a rifle from his father. Four of the group were injured and the 20-year-old and his father were arrested.[71]
Four people are killed, and at least four more were injured at an outdoor gathering in Englewood when four men opened fire into a crowd. No suspects have been arrested.[81]
A suspected shootout occurred inside the Riverchase Galleria in the afternoon. An 8-year-old boy was killed and two adults and a girl were injured.[84]
A group of five were shot after a man got out of a vehicle and opened fire. Two girls were killed aged 11 and 12-years-old and three adults were wounded.[85]
Shortly after midnight three men and a woman were shot while waiting in a vehicle at a Shell gas station in River North neighborhood. The shooter was in and later fled in a red sedan.[92]
Three adults and one juvenile were wounded, after going to a residence and getting into an altercation. The shooter was a juvenile resident of the home.[94]
A man shot and killed another man in a home, after mistaking it as the home of his intended target. He left and entered the correct home and wounded three others.[96]
Red Bluff shooting. An employee was killed and four injured at a Walmartdistribution center. The perpetrator was later killed in a shootout with responding police.[99]
Officers responding to an early morning ShotSpotter alert found two men wounded and identified two women who arrived at the hospital to be a part of the incident.[100]
A Missouri man traveled to the area for a house party, where a couple got into a physical domestic fight. Shortly after 911 was called in response to that fight the man opened fire and killed his Uncle and two others, and wounded another.[103]
Five people were wounded by a shooter outside a local grocery store. Officers previously thought the incident was a gunfight but later announced it was one shooter.[105]
Three adults and a 14-year-old boy were wounded in the early morning at a gas station. Prior to the shooting, a large crowd of people and cars had been gathered around the gas station.[107]
A man was killed, and two adults and a 17-year-old injured while attempting to make a rap music video. Officers believed the shooting was targeted, as the victims refused to cooperate.[109]
Officers responding to a block party on reports of someone being hit by a car arrived to shots being fired. Three people were killed and six injured by gunfire, with an additional five injured after being hit by cars while attempting to flee.[114]
Four people were wounded early in the morning after an individual opened fire from a vehicle in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side.[118]
Early in the morning a shooting occurred at a house party. Five individuals were shot and one died on the way to the hospital in a private vehicle.[122]
Officers arrived at a large party in a public parking lot after reports of a stolen car was made. An individual opened fire as they arrived and injured nine people including a 17-year-old.[126]
A woman sitting in her car was killed and three others injured in a separate car early in the morning. A shoot-out had occurred in a large gathering nearby.[129]
Five people were shot at a motel after a party in one of the rooms had an argument that escalated. Police believe the shooting was intended to be targeted.[132]
Early in the morning a man was discovered by officers with a gunshot wound. Shortly after transporting the man to the hospital, six other victims were identified at local hospitals to be a part of the same shooting.[135]
Three adults and a nine-year-old child were wounded while standing in an apartment complex parking lot in the Gresham neighborhood. A man walked up and opened fire on the group, resulting in a shoot out.[136]
In an apparent shoot out at a birthday party, one man was killed and two women injured. A second man died in his vehicle while attempting to drive away from the scene with a gunshot wound.[137]
Five people were wounded in the Fells Point neighborhood during a large gathering at Broadway Square with many of the crowd drinking alcoholic drinks.[150]
Shortly before midnight responding officers discovered seven shooting victims. A man and woman later died at local hospitals with five other men wounded.[151]
Early in the morning five men and one woman were wounded after multiple men opened fire on a group in the Tioga neighborhood, causing the group to scatter and run away.[152]
A man denied entry into a bar for being too drunk, stated “Don’t you know who I am?” to the bouncer before leaving. He returned later with a rifle and opened fire injuring five women and three men.[154]
Shortly after midnight responding officers discovered two men wounded by gunfire. Another man and a woman were taken to the hospital in private vehicles.[155]
A mother killed her neighbor, and four children aged 12, 8, and 5-years-old and a 5-month-old infant, before committing suicide in a murder-suicide.[156]
Seven people including two juveniles were wounded in the Trinidad neighborhood of DC. Officers discovered the victims after hearing gunshots in the early morning.[157]
A man shot and killed an individual and wounded an officer, responding officers killed the suspect and three officers were wounded after a short manhunt.[160]
Early in the morning ShotSpotter alerts caused officers to respond to a graduation party. One 18-year-old was killed and with three others wounded.[161]
Just before midnight, a shootout occurred in an apartment complex in the Northern Liberties neighborhood. Six people were wounded and a man was found dead behind some cars near the complex.[164]
A home was shot at first then after police investigated the shooters return and opened fire. Four people were injured in the second shooting including an 18-month-old infant.[165]
Officers responding to a shots fired call discovered four wounded victims. One victim later died at the hospital and the other three are uncooperative with investigators.[168]
Six people between 15 and 21-years-old were wounded in the early morning during an social gathering. A seventh individual broke her leg running from the gunfire.[171]
Three teenagers and two adults aged between 18 and 20-years-old were wounded at a local beach. Officials do not think there is a connection between it and the protests that occurred that night.[177]
Five individuals were wounded in a shooting, including a 10-year-old boy. All victims left the scene for the hospital via private vehicles, while police were called to the scene.[189]
A 17-year-old shooter and others engaged in a shootout at a graduation party, three 15-year-olds, a 16-year-old, and a 17-year-old were all injured along with the shooter.[202]
Five men were wounded outside a Jamaican restaurant in the early morning. All were brought to the hospital by private vehicles and have refused to cooperate with police.[214]
A man shot and killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend and wounded her sister, mother, and boyfriend before committing suicide after being surrounding by police.[217]
Three people were wounded when an individual opened fire at a party that was hosted at a short term rental. A fourth wounded individual was walking her dog near the home.[220]
A mother and her 15 and 12-year-old daughters were shot and killed by her husband who wounded another daughter before killing himself in a murder-suicide. Another daughter was uninjured and ran for help.[222]
Five people were killed in a home, aged between 14 and 41, with a child being uninjured in the violence. Police are treating the incident as a matter of family violence.[241]
Seven people were discovered wounded after police responded to an aggravated assault call. The individuals were wounded in a drive-by shooting after heading to an early morning party.[245]
Three people were killed and one injured in an apartment by two shooters. Due to the lack of forced entry the victims may have known the shooters.[248]
One man was killed and four others injured after multiple individuals opened fire on a backyard gathering before fleeing in a car and continuing to fire.[250]
Police were alerted of shots fired shortly after midnight and arrived to find the suspect had fled and the four wounded had transported themselves to the hospital.[254]
One man and three women were injured after an altercation escalated. A male shooter escaped the scene and a female was arrested for pointing a weapon at one of the wounded.[255]
Police responding to a call of shots fired found one person wounded and an additional three connected to the shooting were found in local hospitals.[256]
One man was killed and three other individuals wounded, including a 5-year-old, after an individual exited an alley way and opened fire on the group. One of the group likely returned fire at the shooter.[258]
One man was killed and four other individuals were wounded in a drive-by shooting in which people standing outside a house and sitting in a car were fired upon.[260]
A man shot and wounded his ex-girlfriend’s relatives before barricading himself with her and their 9-year-old child in the home. During the standoff an officer was wounded along with the ex-girlfriend, while the man was killed by police.[264]
A domestic argument escalated when a man shot and killed his child’s mother, step-father, and sister before abducting his two-year-old child. The shooter was arrested and the child recovered after an Amber Alert was issued.[266]
Five people were wounded at a late night memorial gathering after a man fired into the crowd from half-a-block away. The wounded included a two-year-old, a fourteen-year-old, and an eighteen-year-old.[267]
Four people were wounded in a late night shooting, with two of the wounded under the age of 18. One of the wounded was also showing signs of the COVID-19 virus.[268]
Four people in a car were wounded by shooter in the early morning. Three of the victims had transported themselves to hospitals prior to police arrival. The victim found by officers knew who had shot him, but refused to cooperate with police questions.[270]
Five people were shot by a man wearing all black and potentially a face mask and one individual died at the scene. One of the wounded is a three-year-old child.[274]
A shooter killed four people, including a police officer, and injured two others, including another police officer, before committing suicide at a gas station.[276]
Reportedly a group of young men burst into a home and started shooting early in the morning. They wounded a woman, a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl and killed an adult male.[279]
Police responding to a shooting discovered two 15-year-old boys killed and a third juvenile injured. A fourth wounded juvenile involved in the shooting was later identified at a medical center.[281]
Police responded to reports of a shooting and discovered three wounded individuals, one of whom later died. A fourth victim arrived at a hospital in a private vehicle.[282]
A 13-year-old boy was killed, five others were wounded; a 14-year-old boy and girl, two 12-year-old boys and a 19-year-old man were wounded. The group was shot at in a parking lot after an altercation while attending a Triple Threat Elite Dance event.[285]
Seventeen people were wounded and one killed after a shootout between multiple motorcycle clubs after a fight at one of the club’s headquarters caused many to be thrown out.[286]
Six men and a woman were injured in a drive-by shooting after leaving a house party after a fight broke out in the Greater Grand Crossingneighborhood.[288]
A shooting occurred at a convenience store in the Avalon Park neighborhood where four people were hurt and one person was killed. The four wounded victims were listed in serious-to-critical condition. It was reported that three people, including two men and a woman, exited a vehicle and started firing inside the store. They fled in a white vehicle after the arrival of police. [293]
Seven people were shot at a flea market where a dance event took place with adults and children. A suspect was arrested and charged with assault. None of the injured victims were critically wounded. [295]
Three people were killed and one person was injured in a shooting. A suspect turned himself in to local authorities and was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. [296]
Two people were fatally shot and three others, including a police officer, were wounded in a shooting at an apartment complex. The suspect was among the dead. [297]
Four men were sent to a hospital after police said there were wounded in a shooting in the street. No information about the whereabouts of the shooter were known. [298]
A shooting occurred in the North Side of the city where four people were injured. Two of the victims were listed in critical condition while the two others were listed in stable condition. A suspect was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement. [300]
One person was killed and four others were injured in a drive-by shooting. The injured victims were transported to the hospital and two of them were listed in serious condition. [302]
Seven people were wounded when an unknown shooter opened fire at a street race after an argument escalated. All were brought to the hospital via private vehicles.[306]
One person was fatally shot and four others were wounded in a shooting. It was initially reported that three victims were injured but a fourth one was discovered later and refused medical treatment. The four victims suffered non life-threatening injuries. [308]
A heated argument turned violent between a man and a woman in front of a house which led to a shooting. Four people were injured as a result of the shooting and were each transported to a hospital. Three of them were listed in serious condition while the fourth was in stable condition. Two of the injured were charged afterwards.[309]
Three people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting at a club. The conditions of the injured are unknown. According to police, one of the victims was found dead inside a car. At least one suspect is in custody.[310]
A 29-year-old rap artist was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting in North Houston. The wounded victims’ conditions are unknown. The suspects are gang members according to the chief of police.[311]
One man was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting outside and inside a home in Waco. Two of the victims were transported to a hospital by ambulance and were listed in critical condition. The third victim self applied to the hospital but his condition was unknown. Police believe that the motive behind the shooting is the sale of illicit drugs gone wrong.[312]
Four people were fatally shot on the Northeast section of the city. The victims are three males and one female and their ages are unknown yet. No suspects have been identified or arrested.[313]
Three people were killed and another was injured in the towns of Machias and Jonesboro. A 63-year-old man has been charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the case. [314]
Police responded to a street location where multiple shots were fired. They found four victims, aged 18-45 years old, with bullet wounds. Three of the victims were transported by helicopter to a hospital. It is unknown what their conditions are. Police are trying to locate any suspects in the shooting.[316]
A shooter shot and killed two members of a family and a friend of one of them inside a house. A third fled through a window uninjured and alerted the authorities. The shooter then committed suicide.[317]
One person was killed and four others were injured in a shooting incident that occurred in several locations. One of the injured is in critical condition while the other three are expected to recover. The shooting happened during a memorial gathering for a victim who previously passed away due to a traffic accident.[318]
A shooting occurred at an apartment complex where four teens were injured. All four victims, aged 15-17 years old, suffered non-life-threatening injuries according to first responders.[320]
Four teenagers were injured in a shooting on public streets. Three of the victims are listed in stable condition while the fourth is in critical condition. Police are interviewing witnesses for their investigation.[321]
Four family members were shot at a home. Three of the victims are dead and the fourth victim, a child, is wounded and is in serious condition. The suspect was apprehended and arrested by the police.[323]
Six people were injured by a shooting shortly after midnight, at a local restaurant. An additional three others were treated for non-gunfire related injuries.[325]
A man shot and killed his wife and three children, aged between eight months and four years old, along with the family dog. He then killed himself.[327]
Shooting of Haynie family: Four people were killed and one was injured after a teenager allegedly fired at his family at their house. He was charged with four counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder and five counts of illegal discharge of a firearm.[334]
Three children between 11 and 16 years old were injured along with two adults after two perpetrators fired into a barber shop in the East Garfield Parkneighborhood.[335]
Two people were killed and two injured in a random ambush style shooting. The perpetrator was arrested after arriving at his mother’s house covered in blood.[338]
An argument in a Downtown Cleveland night club’s VIP section led to three people being wounded and a fourth person was shot in the head in the back alley.[343]
A family of four, including nine-year-old twin boys, were shot and killed at their home after celebrating New Year’s Eve. A 16-year-old boy was seriously injured.[345]
The statistics columns for each month are updated after the month ends, in an effort to make sure the correct number of events, individuals affected, and descriptions are accurate. Thus, the number may be incomplete throughout the month until the last day of each month.
^ Jump up to:abcBjelopera, Jerome (March 18, 2013). “Public Mass Shootings in the United States”. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved December 6, 2019. There is no broadly agreed-to, specific conceptualization of this issue, so this report uses its own definition for public mass shootings.
This is a list of mass shootings in the United States that have occurred in 2019. Mass shootings are incidents involving multiple victims of firearm-related violence. The precise inclusion criteria are disputed, and there is no broadly accepted definition.[2][3]
Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks shootings and their characteristics in the United States, defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator(s), are shot in one location at roughly the same time.[4] The Congressional Research Service narrows that definition, limiting it to “public mass shootings”, and defined by four or more victims killed. It excludes counting wounded survivors.[2]The Washington Post and Mother Jones use similar definitions, with the latter acknowledging that their definition “is a conservative measure of the problem”, as shootings with fewer fatalities occur.[5][6] The crowdsourced Mass Shooting Tracker project defines a mass shooting as “an incident where four or more people are shot in a single shooting spree. This may include the shooter themself, or police shootings of civilians around the shooter.”[7]
There were 434 mass shootings in 2019 that fit the inclusion criteria of this article. This averaged 1.19 mass shootings per day. In these shootings, 1,643 people were injured and 517 died, for a total of 2,160 victims.
There are many definitions of a mass shooting. Listed roughly from broad to specific:
Stanford University MSA Data Project: three or more persons shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrator(s), at one location, at roughly the same time. Excluded are shootings associated with organized crime, gangs or drug wars.[8]
Mass Shooting Tracker: four or more persons shot in one incident, at one location, at roughly the same time.[7]
Gun Violence Archive/Vox: four or more shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at one location, at roughly the same time.[4][9]
Mother Jones: three or more shot and killed in one incident at a public place, excluding the perpetrators.[6]
The Washington Post: four or more shot and killed in one incident at a public place, excluding the perpetrators.[5]
ABC News/FBI: four or more shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at one location, at roughly the same time.[10]
Congressional Research Service: four or more shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at a public place, excluding gang-related killings and those done with a profit-motive.[2]
Only incidents considered mass shootings by at least two of the above sources are listed below.
Five people were wounded by gunfire outside a night club, with an additional three injured by the resulting building damage and chaos. The shooting occurred after an altercation escalated out onto the street.[17]
2019 Jersey City shooting: Four people were killed, including a police officer, and another three were injured in an ambush style shootout by a man and woman who were killed by police. The suspects were Black Hebrew Israelites members and targeted a kosher grocery store.[34]
Two men were killed and three injured at an apartment building. The incident was originally reported as a home invasion, although the account was not confirmed.[36]
2019 Miramar shootout: Four people are dead and one injured after a pair of men rob a jewelry store in Coral Gables, injuring the clerk, then carjack a UPS truck and lead police on a chase that ended in a shootout in Miramar that killed the UPS driver, a bystander, and the suspects.[39]
2019 New Orleans shooting: Ten people were shot in a densely populated area with heavy police presence at a time when tens of thousands of tourists were downtown for the Bayou Classic football game.[46]
Saugus High School shooting: A high school student shot five classmates, two fatally, before shooting himself; he died the next day in the hospital.[63]
An argument escalated and left one man injured and another dead. The shooter then engaged in a shootout with officers injuring two officers before being killed.[70]
Four people were killed and one injured after a neighbor entered their apartment and opened fire. The fifth victim died of her injuries later in hospital. [100]
A man killed his mother then drove to a gas station where he attempted to kidnap a clerk then killed a man and injured the clerk before robbing another gas station and committing suicide.[119]
Responding police officers discovered a car covered in gunshots, and discovered a deceased male and two men and a female injured. One of the injured men later died.[133]
Midland–Odessa shooting: Eight people were killed, including the perpetrator, and 25 were wounded when a gunman opened fire on police and civilians after fleeing from a traffic stop.[151]
Police responding to shots fired at a senior living complex discovered a wounded woman, and two males and a woman deceased. It is believed one of the deceased males was the shooter.[202]
A man killed four people, including his father and brother, and wounded two more at a total of four different crime scenes across the San Fernando Valley.[216][217]
After a dispute over fireworks, a man shot into a crowd and injured a 12-year-old child and a woman, then barricaded himself in his home. Police discovered him and a woman deceased in the home.[240]
Two people were killed and two were wounded in a shooting at an apartment complex. One of the victims later died at the hospital from their injuries.[269]
Police discovered three individuals wounded after responding to a shooting; an additional two were transported via personal vehicles to the hospital.[303]
2019 Virginia Beach shooting: A gunman killed 12 people and injured four others at a city public works building. The gunman died at the scene after being shot by police.[306][307]
A man shot three employees at a local plumbing company, killing one before exchanging gunfire with a sheriff’s deputy, also injuring him before committing suicide.[309]
A woman and three others, including a 4-year-old boy were wounded in what police presume was a targeted shooting. One of the victims later died from their injuries.[330]
Three people were killed and two were critically injured in a shooting at a home. One victim died of their injuries days later, taking the death toll to four.[333]
A person began shooting at an event that was originally reported to be a rap concert and subsequently described as a birthday party. Four people were injured by the gunfire, and a fifth person suffered a head injury after falling.[335]
A shooting was reported near Farragut Elementary School, where two men were discovered wounded, and an additional four were identified at the hospital.[337]
Investigators attempted to make contact with the suspect in relation to another crime, he then began to open fire, injuring three children and himself.[359]
A man killed his wife, two of his daughters, and another man, and injured two people who came to try to help one of the victims. All of the victims were shot, with the exception of one of his daughters who was killed by blunt force trauma.[371]
Police responded to a domestic dispute at a residence; upon arrival, the suspect fired shots at officers leading to a 12-hour hostage standoff. Four people were killed, and the suspect was taken into custody and later died.[419]
Aurora, Illinois shooting: A man opened fire in his workplace, killing five employees, and injuring five police officers and a civilian before being killed by police.[420]
After a fight broke out near a basketball court at a park, multiple people started shooting at each other. Two people were killed, and two were wounded.[421]
Two people were found with bullet wounds in front of a residence, and two more arrived at a hospital with gunshot injuries from the same shooting.[435]
A man killed two people and injured one inside a local bar, then drove away and broke into a home and killed the homeowner before killing himself.[438]
2019 Sebring shooting: At least five people were killed in a hostage incident and shooting at a bank. The suspect was taken into custody by police.[440]
A man was killed and five other people were injured in a shooting. The Mayor of Jacksonville described the shooting as gang-related, although this characterization has been disputed by the sister of the deceased man.[448]
An argument over a gun inside a local ice cream shop led to a shooting. One man was killed and four others, including the suspected shooter, were injured.[450]
An argument at the Torrance bowling alley escalated into a fight and three people were killed by gunshots, at least four others were wounded. A suspect who was out of prison on parole has been arrested.[455]
The statistics columns for each month are updated after the month ends, in an effort to make sure the correct number of events, individuals affected, and descriptions are accurate. Thus, the number may be incomplete throughout the month until the last day of each month.
According to data compiled by the Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University, the year 2019 saw the highest number of mass killings recorded to date: 211 killed in 41 incidents. Thirty-three of these mass killings, defined here as four or more people killed excluding the perpetrator, involved firearms.[460]
^ Jump up to:abcBjelopera, Jerome (March 18, 2013). “Public Mass Shootings in the United States”. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved December 6,2019. There is no broadly agreed-to, specific conceptualization of this issue, so this report uses its own definition for public mass shootings.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
ON THE ROAD PUBLISHED
Three of My poems, “Hitchiing Tales, Back of the Bus and Cross Country Travels ” are included in this excellent collection.
In Search of America 1975 – Hitchhiking Tales by Jake Cosmos Aller
April 30
In Search of America 1975 – Hitch hiking Tales
When I was young and foolish
Broke and stubborn
I hitchhiked across the USA
Started in Salt Lake City
Where my greyhound bus pass
Was stolen
The station manager
Could have helped me
But refused to do so
Threaten to call the cops
When I grabbed my bags
Without the stolen tags
I said
Go ahead
But I am
so out of here
Wondered about Salt Lake City
Went to a bar
Found I had to buy my booze
Next door
And they would
mix it for me
Had to order food too
After a bloody Mary
And a burger
I walked about town
Saw the Mormon Temple
Finally about 3 pm
It was time
to hit the road
Did not look back
Ended up in Cody Wyoming
Got a room shower
Steak beer
Using my rapidly
depleted cash
Spent 25 dollars
Money really went far
Back in those days
A band of professional
Communist agitators
Gave me a ride
To Des Moines
Lots of weed, booze
And politics later
Got off the road
Slept outside
Next day
A beautiful woman
Drove me to near Chicago
In a red mustang
Might have been
The girl in the song
Took it easy
Digging her vibe
She invited home
But was not sure
If her estranged husband
Would welcome me
So I being foolish
And inexperienced with women
Did not go to her place
And always regretted
That I had lost
My chance that day
Then on to Chicago
Several rides later
Visited friends
Hit the road again
A series of uneventful rides
With truckers
And others
And a week later
I ended in New York City
Slept along the way
In cars
In truck stops
In high way rest stops
Always moving
Always going
None stop talking
And lots of free weed
And beer
And conversation
One more memorable ride
Occurred outside Albany
On my return to Chicago
A middle age
creepy looking man
Picked me up
In a brand new Cadillac
He was
he said
a dynamite deliverer
For the Mafia
Went to various places
To blow up shit
He hated a lot of people
Particularly hippies
from California
And Jewish people
Looking at me to confirm
That I was both
I told him
that I lived in New York
And had never been
to California
And although
I might looked Jewish
As I had
what was called
back in the day
A “Jewfro”
I was not Jewish
Many years later I discovered
That I am indeed part Jewish
But then I did not know
And I felt a bit of
strategic misinformation
Might keep me alive
Then I realized
that he was just
jiving with me
And we relaxed
And he pulled
out some weed
And beer
And we mellowed out
But I believe
that he really
was with the mob
Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
A real made Italian
made mafia member
By Chicago
I had enough
I called my Dad
Told him what had happened
Wanted a ticket home
And he sent me a ticket
And 500 dollars
And I went home
I told him I would tell him
My tales some day
But never did
I learned so much
About my fellow Americans
And the strange vibe
That was 1975
And now it is too late
But I wanted to finally
Tell the world
Of my hitchhiking tales
In search of America 1975
In the summer of 2016
We drove across the country
Just the wife and me
10,000 miles
31 states
Three months on the road
I now know
why people don’t live
In South Dakota
Hot, dry dusty
Windy as hell
Black Hills are nice
But after seeing Mt. Rushmore
There is not much left to do
Rapid City did not impress me
Nor did Sioux Falls
Lost money in Deadwood
And wall drugs
Well the free water was nice
But it is a nothing town
In a nothing state
On the edge of the badlands
And the Sioux reservation
There is a reason the Indians live there
No one else wanted the land
And they are warehoused there
So I drove through Rapid City
And thought that it is the heart of Trump Land
The land of the forgotten
The left behind
Just another nothing burger of a State
In the middle of nowhere
Truly flyover country
Wagontire, Oregon
1973
April 6 Wagontire
In 1973, I went on a road trip
With my father
We left Berkeley to go to Yakima
Where my father had a summer cabin
He was a college professor
And had July and August off
And we spent the summers
Every summer from 1968 to 1978
Our whole dysfunctional family
Our annual road trip to hell and back
As we did not get along at all
We decided to drive through Eastern Oregon
Just my father and me
Just for the hell of it
The rest of the family was already there
My father and I shared a travel lust
One of the few things we shared
This was one of our best trips
We got along
Which was unusual
Normally our relationship
Was fraught
As we were so different
We left Klamath Falls
A real nothing burg in those days
And headed east along highway 395
As we entered the desert of eastern Oregon
We entered a different world
High mountain dessert
Almost no one on the road
Then we saw the sign
Wagontire Oregon
100 miles ahead
99 miles ahead
98 miles ahead
97
96
95
We counted down the signs
94
93 92
91
90
88
87
86 85
84
83
82
81 80
79
78
77
76
75 74
73
72
71
70
Miles after miles
69 68 67
66 65
64
63
62
61
60 59
58
57
55
54
53 52
51
50
49
48
47 46
45
44
43
42 41
40
39
38
37
36 35
34
33
32
31
As we drove into the gathering dusk
We speculated that Wagontire
Must be a giant truck stop
In the middle of no where
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21 20
19
18
17
16 15
14
13
12
11
10
8
7
Gas up ahead
Next gas 150 miles ahead
Dad made an executive decision
We are spending the night
It was about 8 pm
We had been on the road
Since 9 am that morning
6
5
3
2
1
Welcome to Wagontire
Population 2 ½ humans
dogs
20 thousand sheep
We pulled into the townNothing there but a gas station
Motel and cafe
In the morning
We chatted with the owner
Joe Wilson who was my father’s age
My father had the natural ability
Of a politician to talk to almost anyone He was the sheriff, the fire chief
The owner of the motel, gas station The only business in town and the owner of a ranch as well Which was his real business he said
Inany event it was only place openfor over 100 miles I asked the Sherriff Say who is the ½ human?
My idiot son!
and we left.
200 miles later
We finally left Eastern Oregon
2016
In 2016 my wife and I drove through Eastern Oregon
As part of our epic cross country trip
10,000 miles
31 states in three months
On the way from Medford to Yellowstone
We drove along highway 395
The signs
for Wagon Tire was gone
And we drove through the town
The motel was abandoned
Nothing there at all
And that sign was gone too
The town had turned
into one of Oregon’s ghost towns
and Oregon has more ghost towns
than any other state in the country
mostly in Eastern Oregon desert
which has one of the lowest
population densities
in the entire world
1 person per square mile
I said I suppose the idiot son
Never took over the business
And we speculated about Wagon Tire
And all other nothing burgs
We drove through that summer
Heart of Trump’s America
True fly over country
Back of the Bus
Many years ago
When I was a foolish young man
I took a greyhound bus trip
Just to see the country
I was trapped
In the back of the bus
Where the young
And restless souls
Gathered together
And drank illegally
And smoked weed
Also illegally
We stayed there
Until Winnemucca
Where I got off
And found my bus pass
Had found another owner
And I went to Salt Lake City
Still trapped in the back of the bus
the Bus – Travels Through America’s Underbelly
I am a bus rider
That makes me unusual
For a white male
From an upper middle class family
Our people are not bus riders
Though some are subway riders
Bus riders are other people
The poor, minorities, immigrants
People who don’t drive
Because they are blind
Or have a DUI
And in my case
I don’t drive
Because I have bad vision
And bad coordination
Just never got the hang
Of the whole driving thing
Fortunately for me
My wife does the driving
But I still take the bus
From time to time
I rode the AC buses in Berkeley
As a child
Line 67, line 51, line 43 F bus
Rode them long before BART came along
And afterwards as well
As an adult seldom rode the bus
But when I did so
I was always impressed
By the sheer diversity
Of the bus riding property
Hundreds of languages
All sorts of sexual orientation
Some were white
Most were not
Most of my fellow passengers
Were nice enough
Some were friendly
And some were lost
In their own thoughts
And a few
Were scary looking dudes
With the look
Of someone who had done time
And were capable of more violence
I also rode the bus
In Seattle as a graduate student
A lot of fellow UW students
And the usual immigrants
Minorities etc
And some white people commuting
And in DC
Over the years
I rode a lot of buses
Mostly to and from the metro
But I got to know
And love the DC buses as well
I also took the greyhound bus
Across the country
Several times over the years
All over the U.S.
From Bay Area to Stockton
From Bay Area to Clear Lake
From Bay area to NYC
NYC to DC
All over the USA
Taking the Greyhound
Was always an a adventure
Met a lot of interesting people
As people on long distant bus rides
Tend to open up and talk
To pass the time away
Overseas I took the bus
All over
In India, in Barbados
In Spain and in Korea
The Korean buses
For many years
Were difficult for foreign visitors
As the signs were all in Korean
Most have signs
Now in English, Chinese and Korean
And are much more foreigner friendly
Riding the bus
In America
Allows one access
To the underbelly of American society
The poor, the marginalized
The immigrant communities
That many middle-class
white people
Just never see
And for that reason
I am glad
That I am a bus rider
Cross Country Road TripsPart One
I have driven across the country
Five times in my life
Most recently in the summer of 2016
My wife and I drove an epic 10,000 mile road trip
31 states in three months
To celebrate my retirement from the State Department
We started in DC Drove to Florida,
stopped in Virginia, and Georgia
Staying at military bases Along the way
Finding food always a problem
As outside of the metro areas
Few people really knew
How to serve gluten free food
And most of the food we ate
Was pretty ghastly indeed
Was pretty ghastly indeed
Finally hitting Tampa
Where we became a resident
And stayed a week
Checking it out
As a potential retirement destination
Finally it was time to move on
We drove through Florida
Seeing some real poor rural towns
In the outback of Florida
We saw a lot of rural poverty
Throughout our trip
As much of the country
We found resembled
We found resembled
A third world backwater
Shocking to see
How far the country
Has declined
Outside the big metro areas
We stayed in Tallahassee one night
Not that impressed
Then Birmingham, Alabama
Also not that impressed
Ended up in Hot Springs Arkansas
Two nights
Lost money gambling of course
Lost money gambling of course
Then on to Little Rock
And saw the Clinton Museum
Little Rock was a nice town
But not a place for us
And on we went
Arkansas, Mississippi
Missouri flew by
What we could see
From the freeway
Was nothing but rural poverty
Oklahoma welcomed us
With hundreds of Indian casinos
With Hundreds of Indian casinos
But we drove on
And stayed outside of Oklahoma city
Had some decent BBQ
Next day
Drove all day
Through Texas
Thinking of the country classic
Dear god drove 800 miles
Still stuck in Texas
And ended up
In Armadillo Texas
Had great texmex there
Drove by the grand canyon
Of Texas but did not stop
But did not stop
And on to New Mexico
Where we enjoyed two nights
Checking out the sights
Made famous in Breaking Bad
Gambling of course
And eating at the oldest
Restaurant in America
Tried New Mexican wine
Not for the faint of heart
Then on to Arizona
Stopped of in Winslow
To take a picture
Of the guitar player
Of the guitar player
And the red mustang
Where the song take it easy
Plays all day long
24/7 tribute
Finally we went to Las Vegas
Stayed a few days
Visiting friends
Gambling a lot
Deciding that Las Vegas
Also would not be
Our retirement destination
We then drove
To Reno
Spend the night
Lost more money
Not too impressed
Drove Through the Nevada desert
Drove through the Nevada desert
Right by area 51
Stopped by the area 51 alien brothel
Looked at all tourist alien things
Did not buy anything though
Saw by the edge of the road
Area 51 fencing and armed patrols
Everywhere
Hiding whatever they are hiding
Spend the night in Tonopah
Lost money
Snowing in the morning
The next day
The next day
We decided to drive
All the way to Medford Oregon
350 miles
Through some beautiful mountains
Worth a future trip to Lassen volcano
Then past Mt. Shasta
And on to Medford along I-5
We felt we were going home
And perhaps Medford
Would be our final home
But we had to go back in two months
But that is another epic poem
Yet to be written
On the Road
Volumes 1& 2
With over 250 contributions, from 121 poets in 28 countries, and over two volumes, ON THE ROAD is probably one of the largest international anthologies of travel poetry every published! For further details go to OUR COLLECTIONS in the website’s menu, and click on the links. If you have contributed to this collection, you can download a free pdf copy by going to AUTHOR’S COPIES in the menu, using the password AuthorCopies
Our NEXT theme is: A NEW WORLD: Rethinking our lives post pandemic. You can write about anything and everything to do with living and life after the pandemic, real or imagined! Go to CONTRIBUTE at the website for full details, submission guidelines, deadline etc. Please also share this with your fellow poets, and give them an opportunity to have their words published too.
Further themes for 2020/21 will be announced shortly, but will include: Space, Bereavement & Loss and Addiction.
We would now like to add more interviews to the website. Recent interviews include…
An interview with Bahrain-based Bengali writer, journalist and poet Vaijayantee Bhattacharya.
Tales of the Exiles in One’s Own Nation: An Interview with Kashmir born novelist, storyteller, poet and filmmaker Siddhartha Gigoo.
A comprehensive interview with American poet Linda Imbler.
An interview with S’busiso Manqa, a South African born poet, author and film-maker.
If you are a poet, either unpublished and just setting out on your journey with words, or already established and published, and fancy answering some email questions about your life as a poet, and what motivates and inspires you to write, please email us.
ONLINE BOOKSHOP…
Lastly, we will shortly be setting up an online bookshop where poets featured on our website and in our quarterly collections can promote and market their titles. Full details will follow separately.
Summer 2020 theme: ON THE ROAD
Volumes 1 & 2
With over 250 contributions, from 121 poets in 28 countries (Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Kurdistan, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Republic Of Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, USA, Vietnam and Wales), and over two volumes, ON THE ROAD is probably one of the largest international anthologies of travel poetry every published.
Volume 1
SUMMER 2020 – Poetry on the theme of ON THE ROAD from poets around the world.
54 poets
135 poems
240 pages
Featuring Mark Tulin – USA, Xe M. Sánchez – SPAIN, Linda McCauley Freeman – USA, Cathy Cade – ENGLAND, Neil Leadbeater – SCOTLAND, Eduard Schmidt-Zorner – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND / GERMANY, Chelsea Murphy – USA, Bruce Louis Dodson – SWEDEN, David Dephy – USA, Ed Ruzicka – USA, Anindita Ghosh – SINGAPORE, Mark Cunningham – USA, Shelly Narang – INDIA, Linda M. Crate – USA, Neal Whitman – USA, Eliza Segiet – POLAND, Lee Evans – USA, Joan Mcnerney – USA, R. Bremner – USA, Pamela Scott – SCOTLAND, Chrys Salt MBE – ENGLAND / SCOTLAND, Dr. Eftichia Kapardeli – GREECE, John Nixon – SWEDEN, Geoffrey Heptonstall – ENGLAND, Michael Estabrook – USA, Linda Imbler – USA, Lynn White – WALES, James Dean Rivera – USA, Monica Mastrantonio – BRAZIL, Mark Fleisher – USA, Kathleen Boyle – VIETNAM / ENGLAND, Jake Cosmos Aller – USA / SOUTH KOREA, Martin Chrispine Juwa – MALAWI, Yash Seyedbagheri – USA, J.J. Steinfeld – CANADA, Ed Ahern – USA, Moinak Dutta – INDIA, Gerard Sarnat – USA, Justin Fox – SOUTH AFRICA, Robert Beveridge – USA, Tonmoi Das Kashyap – INDIA, Ann Cefola – USA, Louis Faber – USA, Diane Kendig – USA, Ermira Mitre Kokomani – USA / ALBANIA, Matthew J. Andrews – USA, Christina Lloyd – USA, P.J. Reed – ENGLAND, Diana Smith – USA, Bryan Andrews – SOUTH AFRICA, Antoni Ooto – USA, J. Bi Li Chan – AUSTRALIA, Christopher D. Sims – USA, Tali Cohen Shabtai – ISRAEL and John Tunaley – ENGLAND.
SUMMER 2020 – Poetry on the theme of ON THE ROAD from poets around the world.
66 poets
117 poems
245 pages
Featuring; Mary McCormack – USA, Yi Jung Chen – TAIWAN, Eugene Stevenson – USA, Judy DeCroce – USA, Karen Douglass – USA, William Khalipwina Mpina – MALAWI, LindaAnn LoSchiavo – USA, Wynn Wheldon – ENGLAND, Megha Sood – USA, Alex Carroll – ENGLAND, Cheryl Caesar – USA, Kathleen Bleakley – AUSTRALIA, Jim Landwehr – USA, Strider Marcus Jones – ENGLAND, Theresa C. Gaynord – USA, Sara Kerr – ENGLAND, Kimberly Falsafi – USA, David A Banks – ENGLAND, Jacinta Diaz – USA, Leanne Bradbury – FRANCE / UK, Jayne Marek – USA, Barbra Dean – SPAIN / ENGLAND, Gila Mon – USA, Dany Gagnon – CANADA, Stella Peg Carruthers – NEW ZEALAND, Janet McCann – USA, Máire Malone – ENGLAND, Judith Sanders – USA, Bill Cushing – USA, Marianne Mersereau – USA, Maliha Hassan – PAKISTAN, Saharsh Satheesh – USA, Bernadette Perez – USA, Sean J Mahoney – USA, Aaron Sandberg – USA, Veda Varma – BAHRAIN, Sandra Storey – USA, Bill Cox – SCOTLAND, Mariana Mcdonald – USA, Hussein Habasch – KURDISTAN / GERMANY, Diana Raab – USA, Ankita Patel – INDIA, Charles Leggett – USA, Sarah Jane Justice – AUSTRALIA, Jack D. Harvey – USA, Adrienne Stevenson – CANADA, Barbara Hawthorn – NEW ZEALAND, Jessica Niles DeHoff – MALAYSIA, Mary Anne Zammit – MALTA, William Rudolph – USA, Emmanuel Chitsanzo Mtema – MALAWI, Tamam Kahn – USA, Angela B. Haag – USA, Alicja Maria Kuberska – POLAND, Mtende Wezi Nthara – MALAWI, Fred Kracke – USA, Mantz Yorke – ENGLAND, Donna Zephrine – USA, Brian Langley – AUSTRALIA, Mary Messick – USA, Marc Darnell – USA, John Laue – USA, Isioma Jemimah Okonicha – NIGERIA, Bruce Pemberton – USA, Brigette Furlonger – CANADA, and Lucy Tyrrell – USA.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Corona Virus Revised
these are some of my corona virus poems written earlier in the year and revised accordingly. Please see More Corona virus for the latest corona virus collection. And remember to stay safe!!!!!
the Virus from Hell is amused
End of the World
Every Day I Turn on the News *
Irony Meters Blow Gaskets
Chaos *
Corona Virus Fears Tanka
My Phobias Overwhelm Me
Fear Fills the Air
More Trouble Every Day
Trouble Every Day Frank Zappa
The Torture Never Stops – Frank Zappa
by pass the alarms spreading across the land
corona cinqku
Taking a Walk in the Corona Era
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
empty parking lot
It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
I feel as if the whole world needs to be cancelled
The Virus King Cried *
Bring out your dead
the Virus Came From Hell
The Delivery System of the Virus is Round
the corona virus is testing us all
The call goes out
the four horse men ready to ride
nature spirits revolt agains humanity
Last Human on Island
corona virus Haiku
hell
Bring Out Your Dead
death comes knocking
be afraid afraid
The Virus Came From Hell
Hope Springs Eternal in our Winter of our Discontent
the Virus King Has Arrived
Kimchi Blues
Humor keeps us sane
Peacock Speaks
Iguana Talks to humanity
To all the friends I am about to loose
corona fears
quarantine blues
I Wish for Peace During this time of crisis
Ten million stories in the Naked City
The Mist from Hell Descends on the land
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay –
corona fears
to those I have lost
We live in an Orwellian world
새영 지마 saeyeong jima plays out in life
corona virus tanka
The best meal of my life
corona virus haiku
White Flower spring Time Haiku
Woman releases balloons of hope
life interrupted by corona
Saudade for friends I have lost
The end of the world news depresses me
the Virus from Hell is amused
corona virus
the Virus from Hell is amused
laughing at the world’s panicked reaction
as it marches through the world unabated
infecting everyone in its wake
as the world awaits its fate
the virus smiles he ain’t no fake
he is the real deal
he is death itself
he is the end of the world
the grim reaper is smiling
god is silent as usual
the world’s leaders
dither and dater
as the economy craters
everyone hoping that God
will save them
the virus does not care
insults and orders do not work
the virus simply does its virus thing
infecting everyone it encounters
and thousands will die
equal opportunity offender
killing the rich and the poor alike
but more poor people
just so many more poor people
than the few billionaires
the virus smile
his work is done
and mankind is doomed
so be it the virus thinks
that is the way of the world
and the virus is the new king
of the world
End of the World
corona virus
end of world
the fears world-wide
soon find us dead
bring out the dead
will the dead die
death lies here there
there goes here
as death here comes
soon here death comes
every day I turn on the news
nothing but news about the virus
the virus from hell
the world is filled with fear
and my anxiety levels rise
every time I turn on the news
oh my god I say
we are all going to die
and I am so afraid
afraid of everyone
afraid of everything
dreading the latest news
and nothing relieves my fear
I watch the world
loosing its collective mind
wondering how much more of this
can we all take
I scream out
Dear God save us all
god is silent as usual
and so I realized
we are doomed
perhaps it is the end times
perhaps not
I turn off the TV
try to stay calm
hoping the madness
will not overwhelm us all
Irony Meters Blow Gaskets
donald trump
the Irony meter gasket
is blown again and again
with every statement
of our chaos president
and his endless surrogates
promoting the latest Presidential
on spot guidance by our great leader
that must be true
because our dear leader
says it is so
The President accuses his democratic rival
of being senile and needs to be in home
and will be run by his radical left allies
and the right wing media
echoes the presidential absurd comments
refusing to acknowledge
that the president himself
is rapidly fading into dementia
and his radical right cronies
are looting the government
driving out expertise
even in the midst of pandemic
Oh yeah the irony meters
are blowing gaskets
every single day
Chaos
trump clown in chief
the world descends into chaos
as our world leaders
led by the chaos president
are overwhelmed
by the smallest
enemy of all
a simple virus
straight out of hell
blows through the crumbling
third world public health infrastructure
living proof of the decline of America
and no one is prepared
and panic ensures
with every Presidential tweet
as people don’t believe
a word he says
conspiracy rumors spread
everyone believes their own reality
as the world spins out of control
the chaos king is in his element
convince that only he knows
the deal
and everyone else
is iust a bit player
in the reality show
that he presides over
and so the rest of us
hunker down
just hoping for the best
as the panic and
chaos spreads faster
than the virus
are we doomed
can we survive
will God save us?
he is silent as always
Corona Virus Fears Tanka
cover 19
Corona virus
lurking fears all around me
we all will die
the TV screaming nonstop
Must be afraid be afraid
My Phobias Overwhelm Me
covid 19 spread
lately I have become scared
of everything
the news scares me, the corona virus scares me, the presidential race scares me, fears of gun men in the street, terrorism, fears of getting sick, fears of dogs, fears of other people, fear of loosing money, fears of becoming demented old man, lost in his nightmares on the street just another invisible homeless bum in the end of his life
all these phobias overwhelm me
time to walk away from my fears
and realize
it will be alright
everything will be alright
As long as I have you
by my side
Well I’m about to get sick
From watchin’ my TV
Been checkin’ out the news
Until my eyeballs fail to see
I mean to say that every day
Is just another rotten mess
And when it’s gonna change, my friends
Is anybody’s guess
So I’m watchin’ and I’m waitin’
Hopin’ for the best
Even think I’ll go to prayin’
Every time I hear ’em sayin’
That there’s no way to delay
That trouble comin’ every day
No way to delay
That trouble comin’ every day
Wednesday I watched the riot…
I seen the cops out on the street
Watched ’em throwin’ rocks and stuff
And chokin’ in the heat
Listened to reports
About the whisky passin’ ’round
Seen the smoke & fire
And the market burnin’ down
Watched while everybody
On his street would take a turn
To stomp and smash and bash and crash
And slash and bust…
Flies all green and buzzin’
In this dungeon of despair
Prisoners grumblin
Piss they clothes
Scratch their matted hair
A tiny light from a window-hole
Hundred yards away
That all they ever get to know
‘Bout the regular life in the day
‘Bout the regular life in the day
Slime and rot and rats and snuck
Vomit on the floor
Fifty ugly soldier men
Holdin’ spears by the iron door
Stinks so bad, stones are chokin’
Weepin’ greenish drops
In the den where
The giant fire puffer works
And the torture never stops
The torture never stops, torture
The torture never stops
The torture never stops
Flies all green and buzzin’
In this dungeon of despair
An evil prince eats a steamin’ pig
In a tumbers right near there
In the chambers right near there
He eats de snouts an trotters first!…
by pass the alarms spreading across the land
to bypass the alarms spreading across the land
the circuit breakers are breaking down
as the alarms go on and on
with the end of the world
the end days approaching
spreading the alarm far and wide
corona cinqku
corona virus
corona
it came from hell
we must be all prepared
meet God
Taking a Walk in the Corona Era
peace forest
every day I go for a walk
in the spring time woods
near my house
braving the weather
and the dreaded corona virus
wearing masks and gloves
keeping a distance
from anyone we encounter
that is life it seems
in the era of the corona virus
when will it end
no one knows
until then
I will brave the viral threat
and confront my fears
and walk in the park
with the love of my life
my bride my wife
by my side
in these challenging times
that is all we can do
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
empty parking lot
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
contemplating the new normal
social distancing run amuck
as fears of the corona super plague
plague the land
driving everyone inside
sheltering in place
afraid to go out
afraid of the deadly c virus
It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
two friends on a bench
It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
said the old man to me
sitting on a bench
in the park in the woods
as we both sought shelter
from the spreading chaos
the pandemic swirling around us
Yes I said
standing up
to enforce the proper distance
between us
don’t want to give the virus a chance
to spread between us
he smiled and said
relax I already went through it
I am fine and you will too
Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
All around us fears and chaos
Unlike the end of the world approaching us
Sadness overcomes us dooming us to our fate
Every we go nothing but death awaits
I feel as if the whole world needs to be cancelled
I feel as if the whole world
needs to be canceled
due to rough times ahead
due to the corona madness
and the thread of pure craziness
that it inspires in us all
The Virus King Cried
virus king cried
the virus king smiled
as the politicians lied
saying that the end was near
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king sneered
as people panicked
and partied on the beach
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king laughed
as the markets crashed
millions became unemployed
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king roared
as the world slid into chaos
people turning on one another
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king smirked
knowing that there was nothing
that they could do to stop
his army from infecting millions
and killing thousands
the virus King begin to realize
that soon there would be no one left
no one for his army to infect
as everyone was dying
the virus King yelled
remaining defiant
as civilization collapsed
billions were infected
millions died
the Virus King at last cried
when he saw that he was defeated
as one by one
people began to recover
and his reign of terror came to an end
Bring out your dead
grimm reaper
the call bring out your dead
spreads around the world
as millions die
all over the world
the virus has spread
mutated and killed
all over the world
bring out your dead
the mournful cries
echoing in the wind
of the dying cities
mass starvation
as no is working
in the fields
as more people die
and the world spins
around the sun
with the politicians lying
and the dead still dying
as civilization dies
and humanity flee
into the wilderness
chased by the killer virus
straight down to hell
the Virus Came From Hell
coronavirus
the virus came from hell
straight out of a mad lab
born and raised in China
the virus spread from Dinah
all over to carolina
it spread from the lab
the mad virus of Hell
was mad as hell at humans
who it blamed for everything
seeing itself as cleansing everything
killing the world and everything
revenge against humans
perhaps virus came from God
more likely came from Satan
part of natures’ revenge
all designed to avenge
the damage to Stonehenge
virus came from Satan
The Delivery System of the Virus is Round
cover 19 spread
the delivery system of the virus is round
very simple system
the virus spreads around
and all must pay the price
death and destruction
the corona virus is testing us all
the corona virus is testing us all
is it a plague
sent by God
if we have faith
will we recover
or it is beyond our control
the end of the world
does god hear our prayers
does god even exist
the virus from hell
spreads around the world
and test our faith
will god save us all
I have no answer
but perhaps if god exists
we will recover
from this plague
from hell
The call goes out
the call goes out
stay at home
to beat the dreaded c virus
will we live
or all die?
the four horse men ready to ride
four horsemen
the end of the world is upon us
as god unleashes the corona virus
which is spreading across the land
the four horse men are ready
to begin their grim journey
announcing the end of the world
the white horse comes first
offering peace and hope
in the midst of death
and despair
the red horse rides second
ushering in war
throughout the world
as nations turn on each other
and civil war looms
the Black Horse is ready
unleashing famine
on a starving world
as people stay at home
and food rots in the field
no one is able
to work any more
as the virus kills more
and more
the pale horse rides last
bringing death
in his wake
death all around us
as the virus kills us all
and civilization ends
the four horse men
have done their job
the virus finishes its reign of terror
and the few survivors
beging to recover
end of the world
came and went
and they are still alive
thanks to God
who remains silent
as always
nature spirits revolt agains humanity
all around the world
nature’s spirits
are on the move
the world is changing
as the nature’s spirits
rise up
in revolt against humanity
is this the end time
is nature on revolt
against humanity
is this the end for us all
will the virus kill us all
will nature rise up
and kill us all?
Last Human on Island
in the deep blue sea
nothing there
but death and destruction
virus all around
pandemic plague
Apocalyptic views
end of times
death of civilization
corona virus Haiku
corona virus
corona virus
staying home
waiting for death
Afraid everything
the virus came from hell
the virus came from hell
staying home waiting for death
Afraid everything
Bring Out Your Dead
bring out your dead cries
break out all over the world
we are waiting death
death comes knocking
death comes knocking
on our doorsteps tonight
will God hear prayers
be afraid afraid
be afraid afraid
Must be afraid every one
Death is at our door
The Virus Came From Hell
the virus came from Hell
ravaging the entire world
all waiting for death
Wednesday April 1 Hope Springs Eternal in our Winter of our Discontent writer’s digest prompt Posted
corona virus
Hope springs eternal in the winter of our discontent
On the daily news that fills us with dread
Perfect storm of hatred, fear and despair
Everywhere we go nonstop fear broadcasted
Despair fills my heart as I turn on the news
Everywhere we are in the midst of the pandemic
Simply put death is at hand
Planning for the future yet waiting for death
At worst we will all die not today but soon
In the long term we are all dead
Remembering the dead all around us
yet I end this poem with a word of hope
hoping for the best
while preparing for the worst
all I can do to stay sane
as I await my fate
on this dismal date
April 1 is indeed
April Fool’s date
is that our fate
this endless dance with death?
and to end with a sign of hope
I know that if I have you by my side
I will survive I will survive
until the end of time itself
takes us to the other side
based on writer’s digest daily April poetry month challenge to write a poem about hope
the Virus King Has Arrived
poetry soup version is the Virus King has arrived = as poetry soup did not like the word “Hell”
corona
the virus from hell has arrived
catching the world unprepared
it erupted out of China
then began its terrifying reign
wiping out thousands of people
destroying jobs and economies
killing people left and right
it seemed like something
out of our worst nightmares
but at least it was not
the dreaded zombie flu
perhaps that is next’s fall’s nightmare
as the virus from hell
prepares for a fresh assault
to finish us all off
I got the kimchi blues
every day since I first ate it
back in the day
long before i went to Korea
ended up staying on in Korea
after i retired from decade
in the Foreign Service
and ten years studying
and living in Korea
before I joined
the Foreign Service
When I first ate kimchi
I was hooked
sort of a spicier version
of German sauerkraut
which i loved on my top dog
from Berkeley high school days
then off to korea
in the peace corps
where I ate kimchi
every day for every meal
and eventually I woke up
dreaming of kimchi and rice
instead of pancakes and eggs
then I knew
that I had finally adjusted
and was becoming half Korean
and now I am a hopeless kimchi addict
need to have my spicy kimchi
which is so good for you
perhaps even defeating the dreaded corona virus?
who knows but I will be eating Kimchi
until my day is done
Friday April 3
Humor keeps us sane
Pensively prompt – unpublished
corona virus
it is a piece of what we need to do
to prevent us from getting
the dreaded corona virus
coming up your nose
Peacock Speaks
peakcock speaks
as the virus spreads
around the world
the peacock in the zoo
speaks up
talking on behalf
of their fellow species
he called upon humans
to free them from their zoo prisons
and let them be free
before it was too late
and humanity met their fate
becoming a ghost in the wind
creative talents unleashed prompt
Iguana Talks to humanity
iguana will miss human friends
the wise old Iguana
woke from its nightmares
of the end of the world
as humanity faded away
the iguana was scared
but afraid of the future
and he would miss
his human friends
creative talents unleashed prompt
writing.com prompt daily dew april poems
To all the friends I am about to loose
over the years
I have known so many people
and now when the virus
is spreading out around the world
I will soon be hearing
that this person has died
and that person has died
I will outlive many of my friends
from around the world
part of getting old
something that I fear
one day perhaps
people will hear
that jake has died
and they will say
that they barely knew me
and wished that they had
taken the time
to become my friend
Just as I think
about all the friends
i am about to loose
to this killer virus
running amuck
writing.com prompt daily dew April poems
corona fears
covid 19 virus
corona
the word fills us with dread
spreading around the world today
will we all survive this
corona
Saturday April 4
quarantine blues
quarantine
Quarantine such an ugly word
Unlike any other
All at home
Regardless of desires
No where to go
That is the worst part of it
In fact enforced staying at home
Not too bad
Especially if I have you by my side
Blues come over me
Looking out the window
Unable to go out
Everyone everybody afraid
Sums up my fearful fears
poetry soup contest
I Wish for Peace During this time of crisis
I wish for peace and happiness
during this time of despair
pandemic fears all around us
death stalking us daily
I wish for health
amid the carnage
all around me
I wish for leadership
from our President
from our governors
and our congress
and most importantly
I wish that I will survive
with my love at my side
experiencing love
in the time of corona
Ten million stories in the Naked City
there are a million stories
every day in the naked city
millions of people
stripped naked
to the bone
staring down the dead
the dead staring back
in this time
of pandemic
the dead stare out at us
mocking us
as they leave the earth
naked as when they arrived
All poetry contest – write a naked poem
The Mist from Hell Descends on the land
the mist settles down on the land
the mist covers us all
the scent of death
the grim reaper
rides behind the miss
infecting those around him
the mark of death
as the mist covers the land
the end of the world
comes with the mist from hell
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
jehova
Rev. Jake ’s on-line sermon on the Corona Virus
I am reverend Jake and I have a message from God
Last night I had a vision from God
it was his message to the world
about this pandemic we are facing
I found myself in a large room
Jehovah, God, was sitting in the middle
surrounded by the other Gods
they were all there
Jesus on his right
Allah on his left
Buddha behind him
Ganesh, Shiva, Kali
Mohammed, Joseph Smith and other prophets
Gabriel and other angels abound
St Peter in front of his as his Chief of Staff
Zeus, Jupiter, Minerva and ancient
other gods all around him
God spoke up
He said
I have a message for you
to give to your people
all of your people
no matter what religion
or no religion at all
it is all one after all
first the corona virus
is a natural phenomenon
we have no control
over forces of nature
and we did not send
it to you
to punish you
for homosexuality
or anything else at all
Second obey the health directives
stay at home
do your services on line
it is okay with us
we are fine with that
the blood of Jesus
will not save you
If you are in a crowded place
like church or a mosque service
the virus will spread
and catch you in the end
Prayers alone will not save you
but please keep praying
we do listen to your prayers
but we can only do so much
So please don’t allow the virus
to spread
because of your ignorance
and fear
realize that in the end
the virus will do its thing
and you will survive
and we
all the gods here
love you humans
and wish you well
so stay at home
practice self-distancing
It is God’s will
all will survive
Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay –
pine trees jpeg
under the canopy of the pine trees we lay
along the world peace forest
in Korea
walking the forest
in the spring time
fearing the corona virus
and everyone around us
watch the snowing cherry trees
and the wind whispering
the voices of ghosts
those newly dead
and we lay down
under the canopy of the pine trees
waiting for our turn
to face the grim reaper
in this dismal day
in April
truly the cruelest month
of them all
from the poem ‘Under the canopy of pine trees
poetry soup contest
corona fears
corona
corona
the word fills us with dread
spreading around the world today
will we all survive this
corona
to those I have lost
with the corona virus upon us
I am bracing to hear the news
that so and so has died
I reflect back
on all the people in my life
that I have already lost
part of being older
is that you lose people
close to you along the way
I lost my father due to cancer in 1985
and my sister due to a freak illness in 2007
and my mother due to Alzheimer’s in 2005
and my father-in-law as well in 2007
Demel Tucker
high school debate teammate
dead of HIV in 1995
Julian Bartley and his son
one of my favorite bosses
died in a terrorist bombing
in Nairobi in 1998
Jon Weber college roommate
dead due to prostate cancer
in 2000
Paul Simon friend from the visa line
dropped dead of a heart attack
in 2004
Ted Halstead
one of my best bosses
died of heart attack
in 2007
Chris Richard one of my former bosses
dropped dead of a heart attack
shortly before we were due
to have lunch in 2014
and so many others
I have lost
along the way
and soon there will be
so many more
as I get old
in the corona era
writing.com daily dew drop prompt to write an elegy poem
We live in an Orwellian world
1984 images
we are living
in an Orwellian 1984 world
and have been for decades
we are assaulted daily
by alternative realties
promoted by various politicians
designed to shut down
all rational thought
true Orwellian thought control
and now with the corona virus
massive surveillance
has become the norm
and when the crisis is over
the surveillance will continue
on one excuse after another
forever as Orwell’s nightmare
big brother ruling us all
comes true
based on the fear that the massive increase in social surveillance being deployed against the Corona virus will after the crisis is over continue forever under one excuse or another as the Orwellian big brother dictatorships around the world become permanent
saeyeong jima plays out in life
The Korean Proverb
saeyeong jima
recently came to life in my life
The meaning of the proverb
Is that you can never know whether something
will be good or bad
and that unexpectedly
what appears to be bad fortune
turns out to be a good fortune
The proverb played
out recently in my life
about lunar New Year’s Day
we were preparing to go to Thailand
from two weeks from our home
in South Korea
and then at the end of February
we would go to DC
My wife blew out her lumber desk
and we were forced to cancel our trips
This occurred
just as the coronavirus
was taking off around the world
and if we had gone
we may have been stuck either in Thailand
or we may have been stuck in the United States
and traveling
in the mist of a corona outbreak
would probably mean
that we would have been exposed
to the virus
instead we were forced to stay home
and self quarantine ourselves
and therefore
we escaped being exposed to the coronavirus
and we feel much safer
here in Korea where the outbreak is contained
rather than in DC
where it is still spreading everywhere
so in a sense her misfortune
throwing out her disk
which resulted in us staying at home
and avoiding the coronavirus
is the true meaning
of the Korean Chinese expression
saeyeong jima
writers digest prompt write a lucky/unlucky poem
corona virus tanka
corona virus
it is spreading all over
the world dying
I walk down the path of life
Along with love of my wife
The best meal of my life
korean feast jpg
the best meals of my life
has always been what my wife
cooks up for me every night
she is a genius in the kitchen
always making something great
from the simplest ingredients
Because she came down with celiac disease
she could only eat
what she prepared from scratch
and so she was forced
to give up all processed foods
and in the process she became
the greatest cook
in the universe
I wait with baited breath
to taste the great food
that she creates for me
on lunar new years
she threw out her lumbar disk
and we were forced to stay home
just as the corona pandemic
swept across the world
if we had traveled
we would have contracted
the dreaded corona virus
and we were forced
to stay at home
and she took advantage
of staying at home
to try new dishes
every single day
I recall the Korean proverb
saeyeong jima
as her misfortune
turned into fortune
and once again
she saved me life
I am the luckiest man in life
the best fed man of all I know
due to the cooking skills of my wife
Writing.com daily dew drop prompt write a food poem
corona virus haiku
corona virus
brings death and our destruction
destroying our life
White Flower spring Time Haiku
white flowers in spring haiku
now in the springtime
white flowers blooming in the park
corona death waits
Woman releases balloons of hope
ballons for peace
A young woman
walks in a park
on a sunny spring day
carrying 25 red balloons
each red balloon
contains the name of those
that recently died
in the corona virus pandemic
she is releasing the balloons
hoping they would
rise to heaven
with a request for God
to hear her prayers
End this pandemic
End the death and destruction
release us from the corona pandemic
the woman releases the balloons
and slowly walks back to her house
to prepare to attend yet another funeral
as the pandemic swirls all around her
creative talents unleashed prompt
life interrupted by corona
covid19
we live in a strange world
life interrupted by corona
the virus spread throughout the world
disrupting everything
putting life on hold
as more people
hunkered down
waiting for the virus
to pass over us
like in biblical times
the virus
will test us all
and then
we will all
go back
to life interrupted
writing.com Daily Dew Drop interruption
Saudade for friends I have lost
as I get older
I lose more people
every year
more people I knew
have died moving on
and I mourn their lost friendship
wished I had been
a better friend for them
and knew them better
and with the corona virus
spreading around the world
I will lose so many more
in the coming year
as the virus spreads
its malignancy far and wide
I lost my father due to cancer in 1985
and my sister
due to a freak illness in 2007
and my mother
due to Alzheimer’s in 2005
and my father-in-law as well in 2007
Demel Tucker
high school debate teammate
dead of HIV in 1995
Julian Bartley and his son
died in a terrorist bombing
in Nairobi in 1998
Jon Weber college roommate
dead due to prostate cancer
in 2000
Paul Simon friend from the visa line
dropped dead of a heart attack
in 2004
Ted Halstead
one of my best bosses
died of heart attack in 2007
Judy Fine
My Co-Ho partner in crime
died in 2006
Chris Richard
one of my former bosses
from my days in Bangkok
dropped dead of a heart attack
shortly before we were due
to have lunch in 2014
and so many others
I have lost
along the way
and soon there will be
so many more
as I get old in the corona era
writing.com saudade poem
The end of the world news depresses me
trump jpg
the end of the world news
depresses me
makes me want to shout and scream
STFU leave me alone
to deal with my grief
amid the death and destruction
watching CNNMSNBCFOXBBC media nonstop
filled with essential dread
the end of the world is upon us
from the screaming news media
spreading forth across the land
fake news screams the president
all is alright he proclaims
no one believes his 16,000 lies
and so it goes
we are drowning with information
coming at us so fast and furious
When will it end my friend
is anyone’s guess
in the long run we are dead
National poetry Month Day Seven poem inspired by the news
God Did not Send the Corona Virus as a Punishment Black Out Poem
Robert_Jeffress
original text
During a press briefing today to address the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump was asked about certain Christian pastors who plan to defy state lockdown orders and hold Easter church services this Sunday.
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”
Trump then referred to a notorious pastor who sits on his religious advisory council.
“I’m going to be watching Pastor Robert Jeffress, who’s been a great guy,” Trump said. “He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Jeffress is known for his litany of statements demonizing the LGBT community, abortion, and secular people. One of his most reviled comments came in 2015 when he said the 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,” Jeffress said during a speech at Liberty University. “‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”
Black out text
the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump
hold Easter church services this Sunday.
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, get back to church so badly.”
“He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
he 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,” ‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”
Poem
Corona Pandemic is Not’s God’s Punishment
Amid the coronavirus pandemic,
President Trump
Attended virtual Easter church services
I’ve had talks with the pastors,
We need to get back
to church so badly.”
Rev Jeffries is a great guy
I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Rev Jeffries said
The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment
on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,”
‘Well, I just don’t understand
why God wouldn’t protect our nation
and he would allow these
radical Muslims in 2001
to kill 3,000 of our citizens
and why God doesn’t protect us
Surely, God doesn’t use pagans
to bring judgment
upon his own people,
does he?’”
I am sad to report
Rev Jeffries
I spoke to God
This morning
He confirmed
He did not cause 9-11
To bring judgement
On the US
For abortion
He went on to say
The corona virus
Is beyond his control
And he is not sending it
To punish the US
Or the world
His final words
Please tell Rev Jeffries
To simply STFU
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
More Corona Virus Poems
Note: Most of these poems were written in May to July, 2020. I plan on updating this once a month or more often as the muse strikes me. I am hunkering down in South Korea where the virus is slowly spreading but mostly contained. It is a sad community that a country that has 1/6 the population of the US and is very congested should have so few cases -13,000 cases vrs 3 million + in the U.S. as I write this July 15, 2020. Some of these poems are sarcastic, some are magical realism as I imagine General Corona leading his army. See the first one where I introduce the character of General Corona. Even an invisible army needs a general, don’t you think? Enjoy and feel free to send me your poem for a future guest posting. I have updated also my earlier postings – see revised corona poems. There were just too many to include in one posting.
God Fearing Christian Patriots Willing to Die to Breath mask Free – Eight found Poems
1 Devil Love
2. Do You Think You are God?
3 Going Against God’s Breathing System
4 We the People Will Rise Up
5 Are You Insane?
6 What About Bill Gates?
7. Listen to Q and Get Educated
8 Never Again
Conservative Christian Activist Says He would rather be beheaded than wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID 19 Found Poems
Corona pantoum
To wear or not wear a mask that is the question Stop Testing, Found Poem
I am going to mess you up, Dude!
Reality Bites
Corona hits Me Hard
Corona fears haiflu
Corona Hits Me Hard
Corona Virus Paranoia<
watching as the entire world falls apart
The Last Day of America
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
Packages from God
corona-consumes-
ARC Throws Back the Hood
Covid madness sweeps through the world
Wearing a Mask is Not a Political Statement
Surely not kill man
Wear the Damn Mask
My psychoanalyst thinks I’m perfectly right
Mad mask fears
Jesus would have masked up
Total success
Talk is cheap
The corona virus is not dying out Mr. President
General corona is pleased
Wear the damn mask
An Old man refuses to wear the mask of death
Poetic Justice at work Found Poem<
American Independent kwoa poems
Everything is Every Thing
Anytime the Corona Winds Blows
Ain’t Karma a bitch, Mr. President
Governor Covid Victim Poetic Justice
Older Poems see corona virus revised
the Virus from Hell is amused
End of the World
Every Day I Turn on the News *
Irony Meters Blow Gaskets
Chaos *
Corona Virus Fears Tanka
My Phobias Overwhelm Me
Fear Fills the Air
More Trouble Every Day
Trouble Every Day Frank Zappa
The Torture Never Stops – Frank Zappa
by pass the alarms spreading across the land
corona cinqk
Taking a Walk in the Corona Era
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
empty parking lot
It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
I feel as if the whole world needs to be cancelled
The Virus King Cried *
Bring out your dead
the Virus Came From Hell
The Delivery System of the Virus is Round
the corona virus is testing us all
The call goes out
the four horse men ready to ride
nature spirits revolt agains humanity
Last Human on Island
corona virus Haiku
hell
Bring Out Your Dead
death comes knocking
be afraid afraid
The Virus Came From Hell
Hope Springs Eternal in our Winter of our Discontent
the Virus King Has Arrived
Kimchi Blues
Humor keeps us sane
Peacock Speaks
Iguana Talks to humanity
To all the friends I am about to loose
corona fears
quarantine blues
I Wish for Peace During this time of crisis
Ten million stories in the Naked City
The Mist from Hell Descends on the land
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay –
corona fears
to those I have lost
We live in an Orwellian world
새영 지마 saeyeong jima plays out in life
corona virus tanka
The best meal of my life
corona virus haiku
White Flower spring Time Haiku
Woman releases balloons of hope
life interrupted by corona
Saudade for friends I have lost
The end of the world news depresses me
God Did not Send the Corona Virus as a Punishment Black Out Poem
New Poems
General Corona Appears in a Vision
One day I was half napping
Watching the President drone on
About him being a war time president
battling an invisible army
I beheld a vision of great terror
I saw a huge black General
General Corona himself
Dressed in star wars imperial
black storm trooper robocop uniform
Riding a black horse
The black horseman
From revelations
Live and in living color
And he took off his helmet
And turned to me
He screamed
Death to all humans
Addressing his invisible army
Newly visible to me
Millions of virus bots
In imperial storm trooper uniforms
Carrying imperial ray gun weapons
The virus bot army
Joined in the battle cry
Death to all humans
Death to all humans
All humans must die
I woke up
And turned off the TV
And went for a walk
To clear my head
Of this vision
Of General Corona
God Fearing Christian Patriots Willing to Die to Breath mask Free – found Poems
comment: found poems based on public testimony before the West Palm Beach county commission’s hearing on imposing a mask requirement. The commissioners voted 7 to 2 to impose the requirement. I mixed in some of my own stanzas here and there for clarification or emphasis.
Devil Love
Devil love is propelling the “deep state
to stomp on the U.S. Constitution
and deprive us of our God-given oxygen
along with our inalienable rights
making us wear face masks
on orders from those
who are poised to
And those officials
who follow the devil’s law
“I can’t understand
why you would all
decide something like this
and want to hurt the people.
You’re going to harm
the health of all of the people
“Every single one of you has a smirk
behind that little mask,
will be subject to citizen’s arrest
by We the People
for crimes against humanity.
“My name is Butch Dias,
and I am an American patriot“
See that flag?
I would die for that flag!
The Constitution
that you are supposed to uphold
I would die for that!”
“You didn’t listen
to We the People!”
“But what’s going to happen when you get the call…
‘Oh, we got to defund the police,
we got to get rid of them.’..
Who’s going to arrest the people
[not] wearing stupid masks?…
What are you going to do?
How are you going to put the people down?”
It breaks my heart,
because I would die for that flag,
I would die for this country,
and I would die for the Constitution.
And you guys are supposed
to uphold the Constitution.
But you know what?
You didn’t.
You let We the People down.”
Do You Think You are God?
Hey,
good morning.
Let me ask you all
Do you believe you’re God?
“Do you believe you can override
God’s divine plan for our lives?
Do you believe God gave us life
and God takes away our life?
Well, if you answer yes
to all these questions,
who gives you
the right to choose
how we live our lives?
I choose faith
over fear every day
You’re not God,
and since masks are harmful
where there is risk
there should be choice.
Turning Your Backs On God’s Breathing System
“I’d like to say, in the beginning God
formed man out of the earth
and breathed his breath in him
and he became a living soul,
“And they want to throw God’s
wonderful breathing system out the door,”
“You’re all turning your backs on it.
Can you prove that it’s good for people
to breathe carbon dioxide over
and over and over again?
God made it so that
we would breathe
in fresh oxygen,
to go to our body
to every cell in the body
It has to have that
to make energy.
When you wear a mask,
the nose is cut off,
the mouth is cut off.”
and you can’t breath
Just like George Floyd
“And you’re breathing carbon dioxide
over and over and over again.
You’re not getting the fresh oxygen
that God intended
.
You’re sending carbon dioxide
to every cell in the body,
polluting it
Especially the brain…”
“I don’t wear a mask
for the same reason
I don’t wear underwear
Things got to breathe.”
The virus is going to keep on going
because people’s bodies are being polluted
and the virus is attracted to polluted bodies
You’re going against God’s
wonderful gift he gave us.”
“And they want to throw God’s
wonderful breathing system out the door,”
“You’re all turning your backs on it.
Can you prove that it’s good for people
to breathe carbon dioxide over
and over and over again?
“I can’t understand
why you would all
decide something like this
and want to hurt the people.
You’re going to harm
the health of all of the people
You’re going against God’s
wonderful gift he gave us.”
Do You Want to Be Known as Communist Dictators?
You’re removing our freedoms
and stomping on
our constitutional rights
by these communist
dictatorship orders…
If you do vote
to mandate masks
in the workplace
and public schools
and stores,
the death of many
will be on your hands.”
“Do you want to be called,
known for communist dictators?
Is this the legacy you want
to be known for?
Do you want to be responsible
for fear mongering misinformation
The problem with humanity
today is ignorance, arrogance,
and apathy.
Keep listening to the TV
brainwashing you
from birth.
Keep listening to conditioning messages
in your local stores
while shopping, just like Fidel Castro
did over loudspeakers in Cuba.
Don’t you see the problem?
The truth is out there…
Remember, God is watching you.”
but every single one of you
are going to get punished by God.”
We the People Will Rise Up
“What I came to say is
We the People
will work day and night
to clean every single seat
if need be,”
“We will get together
and do a citizen’s arrest
on every single human being
that goes against
the freedom of choice, OK?
You cannot mandate
knowing that the mask is killing people..
and every single one of you
that’s obeying the devil’s law
are going to be arrested
And you are going to be arrested
for crimes against humanity.”
but every single one of you
are going to get punished by God.
You cannot escape God.
I’m going to say that again.’
You cannot escape God.”
“Not even with a mask
or 6 feet
OK, 6 feet
is military protocol.
Are you insane?
You’re trying
to get the people
to train them<
so when the cameras,
the 5G come out,
when they’re going to scan everybody.
We got to get scanned
we got to get temperatured,
the kids have to go to school with masks.”
She posited a question
that she might have been asked herself.
“Are you insane?
Are you crazy?
I think all of you should
be in a psych ward right the heck now
Because none of you,
none of you know
what the hell
you are talking about.
This is insane.
And then you want to
open the meeting
with a prayer to God
Are you praying to the devil?
Because God
is not listening to that prayer
wearing a mask
is a sign of disrespect
to the President
trump
and to God
who anointed him
to be our leader
in this dark and dangerous times
What About Bill Gates?
Bill Gates
“There’s not enough [COVID] to make it a pandemic
This is a planned-demic.”
Funded by Bill Gate, George Soros
and Mark Zuckerberg’s Chinese wife
A Chinese bioweapon
Launched to take down our great president
Yet do nothing about it
What about Bill Gates?
Mark Zuckerberg and his Chinese Wife
daughter of a Chinese General
and George Soros
Why are they not in jail?
why is Bill Gates not in Jail?
Why is Mark Zuckerberg ?
and his Chinese wife not in jail?
why is George Soros not in Jail?
Why is Hillary Clinton not in jail?
Why is Obama not in jail?
why is sleepy Joe Biden not in jail?
why is Hunter Biden the evil mastermind
not in jail?
Why are all these pedophiles
not in jail?
that are demanding
you all to listen to their rules,
You must remember Obamagate
And don’t forget Bhenzazi
and Hillary’s emails
Do you take your orders from Jeffry Epstein?
“Oh, is it because you’re part of them?…
Are you reptilian shapeshifters
The deep state is going down
and if any of you are in the deep state,
you’re going down with it.”
Never Again
“Discriminating against certain groups
of people
while exempting others
is a violation of your civil rights,”
Stop mandating masks
the way the Nazis
once mandated
yellow stars for Jews
Following World War II,
we Jews said ‘Never Again.’…
In Germany, Poland,
and across Europe
we were forced
to wear a gold star,
told to get on a box car
to be taken to a safe place.
In reality, what happened?
If we forget history,
we are doomed to repeat it.”
“This is not about health,
this is about submission.”
the mark of the beast is coming
the anti-Christ walks among us
“Well, guess what, the riots are spreading, too!”
And what the hell are we going
to do about that?
We’re going to arrest patriots;
for not wearing a mask?
That’s what you want?”
“And I say Trump 2020!”
Conservative Christian Activist Says He would rather be beheaded than wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID 19
comment : Found Poem – with a few of my own stanzas mixed in
Conservative Christian activist
says he would rather be beheaded
than wear a mask
to prevent
the spread of COVID-19.
a radical anti-LGBT Trump-loving
conservative Christian,
Lively argues that requiring citizens
to wear a mask to fight the coronavirus pandemic
is like the Nazis requiring Jewish individuals
to wear a yellow star on their clothing,
and an unacceptable overreach
of government power.
These things must be balanced
against the disastrous consequences
of surrendering personal liberty
to overreaching government,
especially regarding face masks,
and enforced social distancing
which are in some ways worse
than police-enforced lockdowns
because they represent
a literal in-your-face exercise
of statist power
like Islamist head coverings for women
or the Nazis’ yellow star for Jews.
Unnecessary enforced public mask wearing,
as opposed to voluntary reasonable usage,
is no less a statement
of psychological submission
to higher authority
than a dog collar.
In the greater scheme of things,
I believe liberty is more important
than security if one is forced
to choose between those two.
Those who don’t believe
that are ripe for the Mark of the Beast,
which is what this entire season
of chaos is really about, in my view.
Personally, I would rather die
or be maimed from COVID-19—
or be beheaded by a mob
of anarchists and Islamists—
than become a safe slave
in a global totalitarian government.
Led by Satan’s tool
Joe Biden, the anti-Christ
Corona pantoum
corona virus spreading death
as our politicians continue lying
many people refuse to wear masks
so many people lie dying
as our politicians continue lying
Spreading lies and misinformation
so many people lie dying
With hatred spreading across the nation
If only people did what they should
Corona Virus Spreading Death
corona virus spreading death
Our leaders say everything is good
many people refuse to wear masks
To wear or not wear a mask that is the question
found poems
Real Patriots Don’t wear Masks
no masks
To wear or not wear a mask
Is the question
That bedevils the world
From Brazil to the White House
Ohio and Texas
The call has gone out
Wearing a mask
Means you are a liberal weak sissy man
Or woman Listening to
the government’s propaganda
or the evil fake news
enemies of the people
or are a libtard democrat
anti-Trump anti-American terrorist
and disrespect the President
and God
who anointed him to be President
in these dark and dangerous times
No Masks Needed in Ft. Bend God’s Texas Home
Fort_bend_courthouse
Well, not in Ft. Bend County
We will not trample
on the individual rights of Texans
to provide a false sense of security
Cough cough cough
Nothing but a cold
It is nothing serious at all
I have 826 staff
at the Ft. Bend Sheriff’s Office.
We interact with the public daily.
3 months,
I’ve had just 2 officers
test positive
I have over 800 inmates
and staff in the jail
and not a single positive test
NOT ONE.
Fort Bend County Confirmed 5,015 Deaths 63 Texas Confirmed 274K Deaths 313<
as of 7/15/2020
Cough cough cough
Nothing but a cold
nothing serious at all
No one’s been hospitalized
Except in Houston
and other Godless cities
Cough cough cough
Nothing but a cold
It is nothing serious at all
Here in FT Bend
The blood of Jesus
Will protect The good christians
Cough cough cough
Nothing but a cold
It is nothing serious at all
Only non-Christian heathens
are catching the china virus
Cough cough cough
Nothing but a cold
It is nothing serious at all
“I encourage people to wear a mask
if they have one
I encourage people
to wash their hands frequently,”
Cough cough cough
Nothing but a cold
It is nothing serious at all
“I encourage people to do
the right thing to help
protect our most vulnerable,
Houston Imposing a Mask Mandate Represents Government Tyranny
But government mandated
That is a step too far
this government MANDATE
from Harris County
is unnecessary, unconstitutional, and unAmerican”
“It’s an unprecedented overreach
which looks more
like a communist dictatorship
than a free Republic”.
”
And here in Texas
We believe
That people have to make
Their own decisions”
What About Seat Belts and Drunk Driving?
What’s that?
Drunk driving should be okay?
Driving without seat belts<
Or insurance should be okay?
What is wrong with you people
Requiring people to wear a mask
Is not the same thing at all
It is communism socialism fascism
Liberalism nanny state run amok
And we will not stand by it
“At this point,
I see it as nothing
more than politics
Governor Abbott announces a trajectory
to start reopening Texas
and Harris County,
which never even utilized
its $60 MILLION
pop up hospital at NRG,
implements a mandate
for face masks on 4 million people”
The other counties to do it are Dallas,
Bexar, and Travis.
These are the 3 most liberal counties
in the state of Texas.
Coincidence?
I
DON’T
THINK
SO.”
They are all filled
with godless libtards,
GovBots, Gays and anti-Christians
Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Atheists
minorities, illegal aliens
black people, brown people
yellow and red people
DEMOCRATS, socialists
anti-fa protestors
anarchists
Who hate America
Hate our beloved President
hate our Governor
Hate our Senators
Hate god
our freedom
and our Christian family values
in TEAXAS
“I believe we’ve seen
the worst of this war.”
What?
There has been a record breaking
Increase in covid cases
Just more fake news
Everything is fine
Note: the good sheriff was talking
in late June
before everything went to hell
so perhaps he can be forgiven
a bit for being behind
the power curve
so to speak End Note
“Here ins Texas
Cough cough cough
And we’re closer to victory
than we’ve ever been.”
Note: every word in that sentence
has been proven to be completely wrong
End Note
“Let’s keep doing our part
to be conscious of others
when we’re out
and make sure to hold
government accountable, always”
How is this not an endorsement
mandated mask wearing?
I just don’t understand
Sheriff, please explain it again?
Ah I get it now
Voluntary mask wearing
encouraged by government officials
in Republican cities Good
mandated mask wearing
by government officials
in democratic cities
evil totalitarian overreach
If You are Black and Wear a Mask We will Pull You Over
But don’t wear a mask
If you do
We will pull you over
Because you are probably
A criminal type
particularly if you are black,
brown, yellow or red
and you will be charged
with something
because you must be guilty
of something
if you are white
you will be given a mask
and told to have a nice day
And we don’t want your kind
Living and polluting
Our great Texas state
Cough cough cough
You have to ask your self
Are you tired of living
in a dictatorship yet?
STOP GETTING TESTED!
corona testing
This is what happens
when people go crazy
and get tested.
you test people
and you find cases
if you don’t test people
then there will be no cases
and like magic
the problem disappears
so I say to you
“STOP GETTING TESTED
It only encourages them
to require more testing
When will this government madness end”
Cough cough cough
“It is giving the government
an excuse to claim something
is happening that is not happening
at the magnitude they say it is happening.”
It is all fake news
I mean how many people
Do you know
Who have died
From the china flu?
Cough cough cough
I don’t know anyone personally
That has died
It is all a hoax
By the fake news media
“Have you noticed they never
talk about death anymore,
just cases?
And they never
talk about recoveries.
They just keep adding
to numbers they
have been feeding us
from over 3 months ago!”
Cough cough cough
Don’t Believe the Lies There is No COVID
“It is all lies”
“Wake up America”
“Don’t believe the lies”
“There is no covid 19
It is just a bad china flu
That the Chinese unleashed”
To take down our President
Because he dared to stand up
To the bullies in China
Make America great again
Don’t get tested
And don’t wear a mask
The blood of Jesus
Will protect you always
Corona fever – I am going to mess you up, Dude!
temperatured jpeg
In this day and age of temperature testing
Everywhere one goes
It is important to remember what the tests mean
And what they don’t mean
First temperature tests are a crude instrument
All it is says is that you are sick
Dude with something bad
Could be the flu
Could be the dreaded corona
Could be malaria, yellow fever
Zika or any number of very bad things
But what ever dude,
you got temperatured
And is is high
so dude just deal with it
So stay from here
Until you are either better
Test negative for the dreaded Corona
Or die of it
That is all it means
many people will
not know they have it
And many have it
And many people will spread it
Even though they are temperatured
Clear negative
good to go
And free of the fever
For the sad reality
Is that the fever comes
Near the end
And what is means
Is that the mean old general corona
Has a message for yah
It goes like this
Dude you got a fever
And you know it ain’t the flu
Ain’t dengue, malaria or yellow fever
Or Zika or any other damn thing
It is the dreaded Corona
It means that I your beloved general
Has grabbed you
And I am going to mess you up
So when you get corona virus dude
You will wish you were dead
You will ache all over
Have pain from hell
And you will cough
Up a storm
Maybe even rush to the ER
Be told
Ain’t no room for ya
You damn fool
Go home to die
Or wait outside
Until we can see yah
We don’t care any more
Dude!
You are now just a damn
Statistical number
Potential death number 51000 today
And you will beg me
To release you
To send you to your maker
God or the devil is waiting
Grim reaper has your number
And you know what
I might do that
Or I might just say
You will live
And walk away
And my minions will infect
Yet another foolish dude
Not wearing a mask
And so it goes
Nothing political
I don’t care who you are
Who you voted for
And the blood of Jesus
buddha or any other god
Won’t save your sorry ass
As they say
Dude your ass is grass
And I am the lawn mower
Yeah dude
When I get my hands on yah
It means I am going to have my fun
Dude it means I am going
to mess you up
And your loved ones
And your cute cousin
And that girl you’ve been crushing on
Particularly if you know kissed her
Yeah way to go dude
Spread me around
I love it dude !
But don’t fret
Dude it ain’t personal
Hell not, is just ya know
its a virus thing
You would not understand
Just the sort of thing
I do ya know
Reality Bites
To those who deny reality
To those who refuse to see
And refuse to understand
To those who think
That you can deny the truth
Remember this my friends
Reality is not your friend
Reality does not have a conservative bias
It does not have a liberal bias
It just is
That is what reality is
And reality
Does not like to be mocked
Does not like to be ignored
If you deny reality its due
It will rise up
Like an avenging angel
And bite you in the ass
Teaching you that on the date
That you ignore reality
You met your fate
That is the will of reality
Corona hits Me Hard
One day I wake up
And see an old black man
dressed in a general’s uniform
Sitting at my computer
I ask him
Who the hell are you?
He says
Allow me to introduce myself
I am general corona
And you belong to me now
If you are nice to me
I might let you live
But in the meantime
I am going to mess you up
You will get ill
You will feel a lot of pain
Coughing up a strom
Won’t be able to breath
And wish you were dead
It ain’t personal dude
It is just a virus thing
You would not understand
And he presses a button
And the fun and games begin
Corona fears haiflu
Corona virus
Fear of death everywhere
End of our world
Corona Virus Paranoia
fears of the corona virus
fear of the coming pandemic
paranoia in the air
fear of the other
fear of the coming super bug
the end of the world
all wrapped up
in a simple weaponized virus
watching as the entire world falls apart
watching as the entire world falls apart
consumed by fears of the end of the world
things continue to fall apart around us
humanity turns to silent gods
who turn a deaf ear to our suffering madness
as the virus from hell spreads out all around
fearful people desperately running here
fearful people desperately running there
praying to the silent gods above us all
to rescue them from this hellish nightmare fate
that seems to becoming our fate this late date
and as we all die a million deaths
just our fate
The Last Day of America
trump 4
the last day of America
was the day we last voted
the last election we ever had
For on that day
a month before
the corona virus re-emerged
as the great re-opening
of the US economy
failed to stop the relentless spread
of the virus from hell
led by General Corona
causing panic and mass confusion
fear kept Americans home
and Donald Trump
was re-elected
because his voters
believed that God
had told them to vote
for their new found king
the newly energized President Trump
declared a national emergency
martial law
and suspension of the constitution
Promising to restore democracy
when the time was right
he promised his followers
that he would restore Christian values
renaming the United States
the Christian States of America
on that date
we met our fate
Christian fascism
was here to stay
as the time was never right
to restore the old Republic
that was the last day
of American
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
airplanes
in these dark and dire times
we find ourselves living
we often fear that the times
are infected with death
and so we are afraid
deathly afraid
that if we take a plane
we will find General Corona
among the passengers
and we be afraid
deadly afraid
that the subways
are incubators
of death and destruction
the virus spreads
fear and death
in its wake
many of us
retreating to our homes
and venturing out
in our cars
only to find
death is stalking us
as traffic piles up
traffic accidents
still killing more people
that the dreaded General Corona
the grim reaper smiles
his work is done
Satan thanks General Corona
for a job well done
awarding him a Satanic
medal of freedom
Hell’s highest honor
Packages from God
they say that God
works in mysterious ways
his wonders to perform
every day it seems
that more and more
of what we buy
and consume
comes in packages
sent from here and there
as people
continue to practice
social distancing
and going to the store
becomes an exercise
fraught with peril
and danger
so we order
on-line
and we get our packages
sent from here and there
one day we received
a gift package
of clams
delicious fresh clams
as I ate them
I thought of the workers
who had labored unseen
for me to enjoy
this bounty from the sea
and I gave thanks
to the gods
for making it happen
in this day and age
we should thank
those who are still
laboring to feed the world
they are the unsung heroes
of this war fought by nature
under the direction
of General Corona
corona-consumes-
I am consumed by the corona virus
and I am slowly being taken over
as the virus infects my mind
taking me over turning me
into a wild raving zombie man
Let there be light
will I become the first
ZOMBIE APOLYCAPASE LOOMS
WILL WE ALL DIE
CORONA
KILLS
ME
content tracing – Let there be light from Bible and the entire Zombie Apocalypse genre where the Zombie flu started usually in China as a flu and then morphs into the zombie disease
ARC Throws Back the Hood
Arthur Robert Copper
aka ARA the notorious international terrorist
threw back his hood
and revealed himself
to be the evil warlord
that had unleashed
General Corona on the world
his goal
nothing less that total domination
taking over the world
amid the total destruction of the world’s economy
as he and his billionaire buddies
reamed the profits
of the total destruction of the world’s economy
Covid madness sweeps through the world
General Corona
unleashes his army
the invisible army
upon the world
killing millions
in its wake
spreading chaos and death
as he rides in
on the black horse of death
harbinger of the end of days
destroyer of worlds
ending of the world
revelations come to life
social distancing walking in the Springtime
peace forest
in this era of corona virus madness
enforced social distancing madness
one has to go out for a walk
social distancing as we walk
as we walk down the path
trying to avoid people
human contact with people
keeping the proper
six feet social distance
and the dreaded corona virus
how much longer
can we all endure this madness
this damn social
distancing dance with death
Wearing a Mask is Not a Political Statement
these days to wear a mask or not
has become a political statement
wearing a mask is a sign of weakness to many
or common sense to protect us all
to those who refuse to wear a mask
I want to say to you what is wrong with you
have you lost your sense of humanity ?
so consumed with desires to get politically even
you would endanger us all?
and yourself
General Corona and his evil invisible army
does not care who you are
wearing a mask might keep the general
from infecting you and us all
so please wear the mask my friends
Surely Not Kills man
in these dark and dangerous times
we find ourselves in
we all rush about trying to avoid
getting sick with the dreaded Corona Virus
but time waits for no one
no one can escape one’s fate
“Surely not” Kills man
AS WE WAIT
FOR OUR FATE
TO MEET US THIS DATE
WE
ALL
WIL
DIE
Content: Korean Proverb Surely Not Kills Man
My psychoanalyst thinks I’m perfectly right
I won’t say the Lord’s prayer
I have mystical vibrations and cosmic vibrations
America in the era of corona virus
is a strange place filled with fear
as the build up inequities
lay bare the country falling apart
nothing seems to work any more
THE LEADERS REFUSE
TO LEAD THE COUNTRY
PREPARING FOR THE END
THE
END
TIMES
COME
Content Tracing: From America Allen Ginsberg
Mad Mask Fears
I don’t understand
this morbid irrational fear of wearing a mask
somehow making you weak
that wearing a maskis a political statement
“Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself with a forest dark
for the straightforward pathway had been lost”
THE THOUGHT COMES TO MIND
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE
LOST
THEIR
MINDS
content tracing Dante Inferno Canto one Line 1 to 3
Jesus would mask up
to my friends in America
and around the world
to those who think
that somehow
the corona virus
only infects other people
that it is all a liberal hoax
overblown
nothing more than a bad flu
and nothing to do with me
demanding that we all go
back to work
what is wrong with you?
have you lost your humanity?
will millions have to die
so you can have a Big Mac?
and a beer in a bar
whenever you damn please
whenever you damn please
and no one can tell you
What to do
to wear a mask
please wear a mask
have you lost all reason
is it all now about owning the dems
and the damn libtards
is there any thing left
in your cold greedy heart?
Other than hate
and you still proclaim
that you are Christian
as you violate all the Christian principles
what would Jesus do
what does the bible say
what does the bible say
what is the Christian thing to do
what is the Christian thing to do
to let millions of people die
did not Christ talk about love
compassion and mercy
would not Jesus
wear a mask
to protect himself and others
from this ravaging disease
that does not care who you are
who you voted for
which church you go to
and Jesus and all the other Gods
are not there watching
Watching all of us
as the virus spreads
it will affect you
it will affect you
sooner or later
perhaps if you had worn a mask
Following Jesus’s example
you might have prevented
The deaths of thousands of people
a few less people
Would have died a few more people
Including your grandparents
Your parents might be alive
if you were not such
a self-centered person
A few more people
Might be alive today
If only you
had worn a mask
and done what Jesus
would have you do
just man up
and mask up
total Success
Jared_Kushner_June_2019
The President’s Son-in-law declares
that the government’s response
to the corona virus
has been a total success
as the government
step up to the plate
to fight the virus from hell
I have to wonder
on what planet
does the words
total failure
becomes total success?
Are we living in a bizarro world
Where every thing
Means the opposite
Do words no longer
Have any connection
To underlying reality
just unsigned mutterings
from the mentally deranged
Can we tell his 18,000 lies
From the truth anymore?
For his statement
Is impossible to be
Anything other than the opposite
His total success is everyone’s total failure
As 135 thousands American ghosts
Will attest
just more verbal diarrhea
from our dear leader
And his cult like followers
And corrupt court jesters
Talk is cheap
Talk is cheap
and BS walks
That is what they say
And as the end times
Close in
With general corona
And his invisible army
Killing us all
Will our endless talk
Have an expiry date
When will God have enough
Of our endless foolish chatter
The President
says with a smarmy smirk
and a straight face
The corona virus is dying out
That the problem has been solved
140,000 Americans lie dead
their ghosts swearing
at the living
The President says
The economy is roaring back
Everyone is ready to go back to work
As unemployment hits depression levels
The president says
Trust him
He will never lie to the public
Is that lie 18,000, 190000?
the fact checkers can’t keep up
Who knows what is the truth anyway
the truth is what the president
says today
The President says
He did more for African Americans
Than any other president
As thousands still demand change
The president says
Re-elect me
What do you have to lose
the 140,000 ghosts cry out
Perhaps our life, our honor
And our country
General Corona is Pleased
General Corona is pleased
At the news he sees
Everyday more people are dying
As his invisible army
Continues to march across the world
The politicians dither and dather
Loudly proclaiming victory
As thousands lie dying
Wear the Damn Mask
If you want to restore normalcy
If you want to save the country
If you want to accomplish your goals
There is one thing you can do
A simple low cost method
All you have to do
Is for everyone mask up
The life you save
May be your own
An Old man refuses to wear the mask of death
An old man
Sat in a bar
Complaining about masks
I don’t need to wear a damn mask
I am tough
The virus is a liberal hoax
And it will not get me
The man said
Went home
The next day
He woke up dead
The moral of the story
Wear your damn mask
The life you save
May be your owned
Republican Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina
took to his face book page, to announce
that he, his wife, and his son
had all tested positive for COVID-19.
Calling it the “Wuhan Flu,”
Rice said that his son
got it the worst,
with a high fever and coughing,
but seemed “on the mend.
Rice said his and his wife’s cases
were less severe,
with his wife having it worse.
According to him,
his son first came down
with symptoms last Sunday,
Rep. Rice was in the House chambers
and on the floor the week
before his son showed symptoms.
At that time, Rep. Rice
did not wear a mask
when he was on the floor.
“I’m socially distancing.
I’m staying six feet away from folks.
Rep. Rice did say he would wear the mask
if he was in a space like an airplane
where he couldn’t keep the distance
between him and others.
Calling COVID-19 the “Wuhan flu”
is not simply an attempt at pushing
a racist and xenophobic conspiracy theory,
it’s also just not correct.
The 2019 novel coronavirus isn’t the “flu.”
And people like Rep. Tom Rice
And his master, Donald J Trump
Our great leader
have been spending their time
telling news outlets
and their constituents
that the coronavirus<
pandemic was nothing to panic about,
and that very few people
were going to die from it.
Over 150,000 Americans are now Ghosts
having lost their lives to the pandemic.
Due to the criminal negligence
And incompetence
Of our great leader
Rice has toed the exact line
that the Trump administration
has drawn for him.
He has said there was
nothing to worry about,
and followed that up
by promoting the idea that anyone
pushing for big closures
and serious social distancing measures
was panicking.
And were left wing democrats
Who hated America
And wanted to ruin
The greatest economy
The world had ever seen
Under the greatest president
The world has ever seen
and what do the dead have to say
were they consulted
no for they remain dead
ghosts in the corona wind
He then subsequently
promoted the idea that
Trump is doing everything he can
and that the Republican Party
has always promoted the
public health measures
needed to prevent
the spread of COVID-19
we … somehow see in front of us today.
All in all
Proof that poetic justice
Is alive and well
And karma
Well she is a bitch
And loves
To kick us In the ass
That’s the nature
Of this whole karma thing
What goes around
Comes around
And no one can escape
Their karmic fate
American Independent kwoa poem
As Americans begin to celebrate
Their Independence Date
Making Americans begin to feel great
They are meeting their fate
Consumed with fears and newly filled with hate
They grimly wait their date
Through out the land in every single State
Everyone waits for their date
It is hard to keep it all filled with dire straight
Everything must frustrate
That is what makes it so difficult
Waiting for their death
The dancing with the damn corona fate
Just for their fate that date
Americans all die
Americans in every state
Waiting for their damn fate
Everything is everything
It will all sort itself off
As we stand shoulder to shoulder
Watching the fireworks
Wearing our masks
While socially distancing
Of course
pensively 101 prompt
Any time the corona wind blows
Any time the wind blows
A brief breath of fresh air
Each a welcome reprieve
Form the corona madness
Swirling all around us
pensively 101 prompt
governor Covid Karmic Bitch
The news
that the governor of Oklahoma
Came down with Covid
Possibly after attending
The super spreading rally
In Tulsa the site
Of the newly -re- established
Indian reservation
The governor was not a mask wearer
Proudly insinuating
That real men
Don’t wear masks
Now he is the first
But won’t be the last
To get COVID
Joining the President of Brazil
The PM of Britain
And the PM of Canada
In that dubious club
Of infinity
Poetic justice at work
ain’t karma a bitch
President Trump
Continues to not wear
A mask
Darkly muttering
That requiring a mask
Is a democratic plot
Fed by the mass media
To undermine
His authority
Wearing a mask
He sneers
Means you have given in
To the fake news
And the evil government’s plots
Really men don’t wear masks
He says over And over again
Until one day
Soon he will come down
With the dreaded covid
General Corona
Has him in his cross hairs
And soon all too soon
The president
Will join the infamous club
Of world leaders
COVID positive
And he will soon know
That the law of karma
Is a real bitch
Governor Covid Victim Poetic Justice
The news
that the governor of Oklahoma
Came down with Covid
Possibly after attending
The super spreading rally
In Tulsa the site
Of the newly -re- established
Indian reservation
The governor was not a mask wearer
Proudly insinuating
That real men
Don’t wear masks
Now he is the first
But won’t be the last
To get COVID
Joining the President of Brazil
The PM of Britain
And the PM of Canada
The major of Atlanta
Rep. Tim Smith
In that dubious club
Of infamy
Leaders who are covid victims
Poetic justice at work
ain’t karma a bitch
Ain’t Karma a bitch fib poem
Ain’t
It
Karma
Fucking bitch
The Corona
Corona Spreading everywhere
Virus spreading everywhere
Ain’t karma a fucking hot bitch
corona
Ain’t karma a hot fucking bitch
Life with corona is just rich
quite a witch
No one knows where it is heading
no one knows where it is spreading
Your wedding
General corona leads his troops
His virus is unloaded whoops
Pooping oops
The End
Worrying about corona while eating dinner – pensively 101 posted
As I eat my evening meal
Enjoying the early dusk
Worrying about corona
Death rears its ugly head
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
baseball player
Making Baseball Great Again – a Call for Bold Action to Save the Game
During this time of forced hiatus from business as usual for professional sports, it is a good time to step back and reflect upon the future of Professional sports.
American Professional sports, especially baseball, are in trouble! Attending a professional sports game has become unaffordable for the average person, and that is a damn shame. Fewer children are learning how to play in school as schools cut back on sports and fitness programs because of costs, liability issues and changing preferences among the public. Sports teams are losing their connections to their local communities.
When I was a young lad, American sports comprised football, basketball and baseball. Everything else was just a minor sport!
Unfortunately, baseball is now in fifth place – it is football, basketball, hockey, soccer and baseball. And if things continue as they are going, baseball could soonbecoming a minor sport, falling behind tennis, golf, bowling, track and field, or even after cricket, which is the fast growing sport in the US.
Yes, the state of American professional sports is deplorable. But I have a ten-point plan to make American sports great again, particularly baseball. These apply also to Football and Basketball, but my focus here is on Baseball.
My proposal consists of the following basic principles
Making the game affordable!!!
Expanding number of professional teams
Real World Series
Adopting local schools and colleges
Requiring professional athletes to have a degree, and helping them find jobs after retirement
Bringing in More International Players
Changing the incentive structure so winning means more money per player, loosing means less money per player
Setting up a North American Sports Commission
Allowing Corporations to Own Teams
Expanding broadcasting of games so that one could watch baseball 24/7 anywhere in the world for free or for a small monthly fee
Make the games gendered neutral
Getting rid of racist legacies
Enhancing security including health checks
Making the game affordable!!!
We start by making the games affordable for the average person. I direct my ire against the NFL but my comments apply equally to all the major sports. If one wanted to attend a professional game, one would have to spend hundreds of dollars to get tickets, go to the stadium and spend a minor fortune for food and drinks. Preposterous and unacceptable.
Professional sports should cap the price of most tickets at 50 dollars per ticket. They should sell tickets at a price that people could afford to attend a game. Perhaps setting the average ticket at 25 dollars? And on game days, sell remaining tickets for 5 dollars. Filling up the stadium for every game. That would generate excitement and generate loyalty among the fan base. Better for everyone than the current system where the average price of tickets are about 100 dollars a ticket if they can get one at all. And 15 minutes before game start give away free tickets! The goal should be to fill the stadium with fans who did not pay a fortune for the tickets and that the average price is very reasonable. One reason that soccer is so popular is that it the cheapest professional sport to attend in person.
Expanding number of professional teams
I think there are too few professional teams. There is a market for baseball that is not being met. At a minimum there should be a professional sports team in every major metropolitan area, and in some areas more than one team could compete, i,e, NYC, LA, Chicago, SF Bay Area.
First a dramatic expansion of baseball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI, Cuba, and Venezuela and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.
This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State and in the baseball playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real world sport.
There are some obvious places that could and should have a team. Anchorage, Honolulu, Sacramento, San Jose, Portland, Reno, Nevada? Salt Lake City? Boise, Phoenix, Tuscan? Tacoma, Vancouver, Edmonton, Quebec city,. There could be up to 60 teams competing across the country. I would also add teams in Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Each team would play mostly in its region,
North American league
Northwest League
Southwest League
South East League
Northeast League
Central League
And Caribbean/Mexican League
Asia League
European League
Middle eastern league
African league
Latin America League
This would make it more affordable for teams to travel, as they would mostly play against teams in their region. I would adjust the leagues a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.
And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF,San Jose and Oakland.
At the end of the season, the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the world series, which will be held in the spring just before the beginning of the new season.
Real World Series
I would change the way the world series is done. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions through the team that won the national championship, and then the champions would compete in a world series of baseball held in the early Spring. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series they would represent North America in the world series and represent the US in the Olympics.The location of the world series would vary among the 32 countries that have professional baseball leagues, but the US should host the first series, and perhaps offer to always host the finals, to ensure the world still associates the US as the home country of baseball, and ensure that the US media and public fully engage with the world series.
The games would be world cup style until the last set of games, which will be the traditional best of seven game format.
Adopting local schools and colleges
To develop the next generation of players and fans, I would have the professional teams adopt local school districts and colleges and fully fund all sports programs, not just baseball, thus alleviating the burden on the school district or college’s budget.. They would do this in cooperation with the other professional teams in the region, splitting the costs between the professional teams. The school districts and local colleges would have a fully funded sports program. Professional athletes would volunteer to serve as coaches during the off season. The student athletes would be given passes so that they could attend professional games for free. This one action would guarantee that children grown up playing sports and generate excitement for the game among the next generation. And it would not cost the professional team a lot of money and generate a tremendous amount of good will.Finally playing baseball for an MBL sponsored university would give the student athlete preference in going to play for that team.
Requiring professional athletes to have a degree, and helping them
Find jobs after retirement
All the professional sports federations would jointly agree that they would only hire professional athletes who have finished their college playing days with a degree. They could compete in the professional league for one year on a provisional contract but must have their degree in hand before they begin their second year. I would make the standard contract five years so that players really become part of their communities.
Finally, after a professional athlete ‘s career is over, the professional teams would make every effort to help the professional athlete stay involve with the game by assisting them in getting full time employment as coaches across the country.
Bring in international players
With the proliferation of overseas teams, I would also bring in the best foreign players and letting US athletes play overseas, and encourage US players to play overseas during their time with the US based team perhaps allowing them to play one season overseas while keeping their contract with the US based team?
Changing the incentive structure so winning means more money per player, loosing means lots lets money per player
It seems that sometimes professional athletes are phoning it in so to speak. So, I would change the compensation so that winning teams get most of the proceeds from a game, with the loosing team getting their costs covered. This minor change would make the games so much more exciting as athletes would have a real incentive to compete.
Setting up a North American Sports Commission
I would set up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – comprising head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics. The commission would comprise player representatives, and owner representatives, and high school and college sports representatives.
I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.
Thus, the MLB would become one of the NASF commissioners, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be called the North American Professional Sports commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.
Each city would have its own sports commission comprising the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission.
Allowing Corporations to own teams
In Asia, most sports teams are owned by corporations. I don’t see why we can’t do that in the U.S. Unlike in Asia though the corporation would still have to name the team after the location instead of the corporation,unlike in Asia where the corporation’s name is associated with the team and not the locationFor example, you could have Microsoft owning the Mariners but the name of the team would be the Seattle Mariners not the Microsoft mariners, but the corporate owner could name the stadium after the corporate name.
Expanding broadcasting of games so that one could watch baseball 24/7 anywhere in the world for free or for a small monthly fee
I would expand the MLB website, which would show every game worldwide streaming free. The paid site would include access to past games, statistical analysis and commentary etc and links to the baseball sites around the world and also broadcast college baseball games.
Make the games gendered neutral
It is time to allow girls to play baseball. They can compete with the boys and should be allowed to play on the teams. Perhaps we could have about 40 percent female players to start? Allowing woman players would also help grown the fan base as woman would get interested in watching the games.
Getting rid of racist legacies
I would change the names of baseball teams to get rid of racist names like the Indians and the Braves, and college level names as well.
Note (Update) the Redskins just announced that they are finally getting rid of the racist redskin name. MLB needs to get rid of the Indian, and Braves names and other racist names, and come up with more inclusive names, especially for expansion teams.
I sent the following to the Redskins owners today congratulating them on the long over-due move and suggesting the new names for their consideration, and these same names could be considered for MLB teams and college teams as well, and perhaps a non-English name as well.
Dear Mr. Synder
Congratulations on finally doing the right thing and changing the racist name of your team. as a part native American- Cherokee) and a long suffering fan of the Redskins, i thought that it was long over due. Perhaps the laws of Karma will kick in and reward you with a winning season and perhaps a super bowl bid. In any event here are my suggestions for new names follows, perhaps you might want to consider a bilingual name as well:
the Presidents the governors Senators (revival of an old name) Belt way Bandits the politicians the swamp monsters Contractors Bureaucrats the pundits the barons the lords the gladiators the judges the lawyers Coyotes the pumas mountain lions cougars Wolves los lobos (wolves) Los canines (dogs) Dogs Wild Cats los gatos (cats) Sharks Devils Monsters Goblins Govbots Piranha Code talkers Red tails Yellow jackets
Hawks
sharks
orcas
killer whales
Vultures Hornets Tornados
Enhancing security including health checks
MLB parks should institute enhanced security checks including temperature checks, and anyone who fails the test should be denied entry. This should continue even after the covid crisis is over and during the cold and flu season – October to February, everyone, including players, should be required to wear a mask while at the game park.
Make Baseball Great Again
The MLB teams should get together with the players associations and adopt opt these principles and if they do and relaunch the 2021 season according to these principles there is a strong chance that baseball will continue to be as popular as Football and Basketball and not become a minor sport.
If the MLB continues the way they are going in ten years MLB will be a minor sport in the United States trailing after Cricket. As a life long SF Giants fan I hope that will never happen. The ball is your court, so play ball and make Baseball Great again.
American Professional sports are in trouble! Attending a professional sports game has become unaffordable for the average person and that is a damn shame. Fewer children are learning how to play in school as schools cut back on sports and fitness programs due to costs, liability issues and changing preferences among the public. Sports teams are losing their connections to their local communities.
Yes, the state of American professional sports is deplorable. But I have a solution.
Making the game affordable!!!
We start by making the games affordable for the average person. My ire is directed against the NFL but my comments apply equally to all the major sports. Right now, if one wanted to attend a professional game one would have to spend hundreds of dollars to get tickets, go to the stadium and spend a small fortune for food and drinks. Totally preposterous in my opinion.
I call upon the NFL to end the practice of only selling high price season tickets to a select few. They should sell tickets at a price that people could afford to attend a game. Perhaps setting the average ticket at 10 dollars? And on game days, sell remaining tickets for 5 dollars. Thereby filling up the stadium for every game. That would generate excitement and generate loyalty among the fan base. Better for everyone than the current system where the average price of tickets are about 100 dollars a ticket if one can be obtained at all.
Expanding number of professional teams
I think that there are too few professional teams. There is a market for football that is not being met. At a minimum there should be a professional sports team in every major metropolitan area, and in some areas more than one team could compete.
There are some obvious places that could and should have a team. Sacramento, California? Portland, Oregon? Reno, Nevada? Salt Lake City? There could be up to 60 teams competing across the country. I would also add teams in Mexico and merge with the Canadian football league as well.
The season should be extended as well so that there are 25 to 30 season games prior to the play offs.
Expanding Overseas
I would expand the NFL franchise worldwide setting up a real league in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Why not? This would apply to baseball, basketball, hockey as well as Football.
Real Super Bowl
I would make the super bowl a real super bowl. I would take the best teams of each of the regional leagues and have them compete with the top two teams playing in the Super Bowl. There is no reason why this could not become the biggest game of the year across the world.
World Cup Baseball
I would change the way the world series is done. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions and then the champions would compete in a world cup of baseball held in the early Spring. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series they would represent North America in the world cup of baseball, and represent the US in the Olympics as well.
World Cup for Basketball
I would change the way the way that Basketball selects their champions. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions and then the champions would compete in a world cup of basketball held in the summer. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series they would represent North America in the world cup of baseball, and represent the US in the Olympics as well.
World Cup for Hockey
For hockey I would expand the number of teams playing professionally, and expand overseas as well. The top teams would compete for a world cup of hockey to be played in early Summer.
Changing the World Cup for Soccer to a once a Year format
I would change how teams are selected to play in the world cup. Each soccer playing nation would select their national champion who would then compete in an annual world cup. For example, DC United might win the North American series then compete in the World cup to represent North America, and they would also compete in the Olympics.
Adopting local schools and colleges
To develop the next generation of players and fans, I would have the professional teams adopt local school districts and colleges and fully fund sports programs. They would do this in cooperation with the other professional teams in the region. The school districts would have a fully funded sports program. Professional athletes would volunteer to serve as coaches during the off season. The student athletes would be given passes so that they could attend professional games for free. This one action would guarantee that children grown up having the opportunity to play sports and generate excitement for the game among the next generation. And it would not cost the professional team a lot of money, and generate a tremendous amount of good will.
Requiring professional athletes to have a degree, and helping them
Find jobs after retirement
All the professional sports federations would jointly agree that they would only hire professional athletes who have finished their college playing days with a degree. They could compete in the professional league for one year on a provisional contract but must have their degree in hand before they begin their second year. I would make the standard contract five years so that players really become part of their communities.
With the proliferation of overseas teams, I would also bring in the best foreign players as well as letting US athletes play overseas as well.
Finally, after a professional athlete ‘s career is over, the professional teams would make every effort to help the professional athlete stay involve with the game by assisting them in getting full time employment as coaches across the country.
Changing the incentive structure so winning means more money per player, loosing means lots lets money per player
Right now, it seems that sometimes professional athletes are phoning it in so to speak. So, I would change the compensation so that winning teams get most of the proceeds from a game, with the loosing team getting their costs covered. This little change would make the games so much more exciting as athletes would have a real incentive to compete
Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics
I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.
Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.
Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.
With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.
Jake Cosmos Aller
My thoughts on the dismal state of Baseball and what can be done to bring it back. I sent this letter off to MLB but they never responded. Their lost.
Letter to MLB
Commissioner
Baseball is in crisis. Its long term viability as America’s pastime is in serious question as fewer people especially younger viewers are baseball fans. The solution is for MLB to take bold steps to restore Baseball as America’s pastime if not the world’s pastime.
Here’s my proposal to turn MLB around. It requires bold action, and considerable investment of time and resources to grow the sport.
There are four basic elements to my proposal.
First a dramatic expansion of baseball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI, and Venezuela and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.
This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State and in the baseball playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real world sport.
Each team would play mostly in its region which will be as follows:
Northwest League
Southwest League
South East League
Northeast League
Central League
And Caribbean/Mexican League
Asia League
European League
This would make it more affordable for teams to travel as they would mostly be playing against teams in their region.
The leagues would be adjusted a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.
And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF and Oakland.
There would also be expansion to ensure that all major markets have a team. For example, in California we would add a team in Sacramento and San Jose. And we would add a team in Las Vegas, and Portland.
At the end of the season the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the world cup every four years. Otherwise they would just be the national champion. See below for the world cup discussion.
Second, each team would adopt a local school district and local college.
To grow baseball’s future fan, base each team would adopt a local school district and local college fully funding baseball programs in the local school and college including scholarships for talented students to go to college.
This would also involve players and team officials serving as coaches and advisors in the local schools helping them develop and expand their baseball programs.
MLB would also recruit for their teams from the local colleges that they sponsor. And MLB would also only accept as players athletes who have finished their college programs with a degree setting an example to the other major sport franchises that MLB values education and wants to ensure that their athletes finish their education before beginning their professional sporting career.
I think that the NFL, and NBA should follow suit. It is disgusting that major league sports take student athletes before they graduate and then after a few years spit them out without them having had a chance to earn their degrees.
So, MBA should step up to the plate and say,
If you want to play in the majors, you must finish your degree before your first game, or within one year or we will cut you from playing. That would help the student athletes, and well be the right thing to do.
Third, each team would guarantee that a certain percentage of their tickets would be affordable.
Attending a major sports event costs too much money. To grow the fan, base each team would sell half price tickets on game day and one hour before the game sell the remaining tickets for five dollars thus making baseball affordable to everyone. And they would treat the families of their school programs and college programs to free baseball games. And they would also each week sponsor free tickets for those in need – people living in shelters, people living with chronic illnesses etc.
Fourth a world cup format would replace the world series.
All countries that play baseball would be invited to participate in the world cup of baseball. At the end of the season in October the national teams from at least 64 countries would play in the world cup which will be held every fourth year. The US will host the first world cup, and then sponsorship will rotate around all the participating countries so all 64 countries will eventually get to host a world cup of baseball.
Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics
I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.
Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.
Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.
With this modest proposal enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.
If the MLB were to take these steps they would dramatically turn the sport around.
Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal and I look forward to hearing back from you staff and I hope that you can implement some of my ideas and I hope that MLB will continue to expand and prosper.
Thank you
Jake Aller
Life time SF Giant and Oakland A’s fan
Letter to NFL
I write the following letter to the NFL commissioner
NFL Commissioner:
Now that the NFL has approved the Raiders move to Las Vegas, it is time to consider an ambitious NFL expansion program.
The NFL is facing a crisis in a few years. More and more schools and colleges are dropping football programs due to costs, liability issues and the perceived danger of the sport.
Attending a football game is a prohibitive expense for most people. And most people think that the NFL owners are out of touch billionaires who don’t care about the community, and don’t care about the welfare of the players.
Because of these issues the fan base has begun to shrink and will continue to shrink. People have options in their sports entertainment and fewer are opting to spend it watching football.
The NFL must combat these issues and the best way to do is through an expansion program, coupled with plans to make games more affordable and community outreach programs including fully funding football programs at local schools and colleges.
If the NFL caries out these reforms, the game will continue to prosper. If the NFL does not, then football will decline and become a minor sport.
Regarding the expansion program, the NFL should rename itself the North American Football League and merge with the Canadian Football league and then set up teams in Mexico and the Caribbean. Domestically the NFL should ensure that almost every state has at least one NFL team, and many states will have multiple teams. Perhaps 75 in total.
At a minimum, I would make sure that SF/Oakland has a team again, Sacramento has a team, Portland Oregon, and has a team as well as all the other major cities that do not have teams currently. The Dakotas should have only one team, and perhaps Rhode Island could share a team with Delaware. NYC perhaps could have five teams, Chicago an additional team.
Mexico could have five to ten teams, Canada could have five to ten teams, and there should be teams in the DR, PR, Virgin Islands, and Guam.
Then the NFL should set up an European league, (with UK teams) and an Asian-Pacific league with teams from India, China to Japan.
The schedule should be expanded to start in July and end in January. Game days should be Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday to allow for expanded travel.
The North American League should be sub-divided into five zones NE, NW, SW, SE, and Mexico, Caribbean.
Teams would compete within their zones until the play offs with a few inter league games per season.
Along with this I would suggest that the NFL set up a World Cup for Football and replace the Super bowl with an American Bowl followed by World Cup championship perhaps every four years. The way the new super bowl would work is that each country that plays American football would send their championship teams to the Super bowl. There are about 10 to 20 countries that play American style football. the idea would be a round robin with the champions of each nation competing with the two finalists going one on one.
For the first super bowl the North American champions would host it, then afterwards the North American team would have to compete for the bowl slot. The major difference between the super bowl and the world cup would be that there would not be national teams competing rather each country would send their top winning team which wins their national championship forward.
I would also suggest that the NFL create a formal partnership with local Universities and local school districts. The NFL teams could adopt local high schools and colleges where they would provide support, training, tickets and scholarships to students to play football at college. the support for the local schools would be covering the cost of having local football teams at each high school in the districts that are nearest the host affiliate.
The cost of having football programs at high school and colleges is prohibitive for many districts and smaller colleges which inhibit the growth and development of the game. You have to grow fans by growing players and support at the local level. It is time that the NFL show some real leadership to develop the game that we all love.
The top graduating students from those local colleges would be invited to compete each year to join the local NFL affiliate. And I would require that all college athletics competing to join a NFL team must graduate before being able to play. Having a graduation rule would send a very positive signal that the NFL really supports the idea of the student athletic program and would guarantee that those players who only play one or two seasons at least have their college degree behind them.
Doing this community outreach on a major scale will help tremendously expand the base for football and grow new generations of fans. The cost would be modest but the payoff would be tremendous.
The final part of the outreach program should be making attending a game affordable again. To be frank attending a game is a huge expense for most people. I would reserve 25 percent of tickets for same day sales at a deep discount with tickets being given out for free just before the game. And I would ensue that 10 percent of the tickets cost 10 dollars each. I would also sponsor free tickets for various groups including nursing homes, veteran groups and community groups at each game.
This will fill the stadiums, increase revenue and increase the excitement of the game making attending a game affordable again.
A final point, the NFL should partner with the local cities, and other sports teams to build and maintain a world class multi-use stadium. There is no reason why the stadium could not be shared by the other sports teams, colleges and school districts. And be made available for special events. The city should own and manage the facility but a board of directors with representatives from the various other teams, universities and high schools should be on the board of directors. The stadium should also feature mostly local brands. The cost of building the stadium should be jointly shared but the NFL should pay the lion’s share of the cost as a good will gesture.
Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics
I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.
Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.
Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.
With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.
I believe that if the NFL adopts such a comprehensive far reaching expansion program the sport would become the world dominating sport it should be.
I welcome your comments.
Letter to the NBA
Dear Commissioner,
Basketball is in crisis. Its long term viability as America’s pastime is in serious question as fewer people especially younger viewers are basketball fans. The solution is for NBA to take bold steps to restore basketball as America’s pastime if not the world’s pastime.
Here’s my proposal to turn NBA around. It requires bold action, and considerable investment of time and resources to grow the sport.
There are five basic elements to my proposal.
First a dramatic expansion of basketball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI, and Venezuela and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.
This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State and in the basketball playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real world sport.
Each team would play mostly in its region which will be as follows:
Northwest League
Southwest League
South East League
Northeast League
Central League
And Caribbean/Mexican League
Asia League
European League
This would make it more affordable for teams to travel as they would mostly be playing against teams in their region.
The leagues would be adjusted a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.
And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF and Oakland.
There would also be expansion to ensure that all major markets have a team. For example, in California we would add a team in San Jose. And we would add a team in Las Vegas, and elsewhere. The goal would be that every state would have at least one professional basketball team to root for. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
At the end of the season the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the world cup every four years. Otherwise they would just be the national champion. See below for the world cup discussion.
Second, each team would adopt a local school district and local college.
To grow basketball’s future fan base, each team would adopt a local school district and local college fully funding basketball programs in the local school and college including scholarships for talented students to go to college.
This would also involve players and team officials serving as coaches and advisors in the local schools helping them develop and expand their basketball programs.
The NBA would also recruit for their teams from the local colleges that they sponsor. And the NBA, and other professional sports leagues, would also only accept as players athletes who have finished their college programs with a degree setting an example to the other major sport franchises that NBA values education and wants to ensure that their athletes finish their education before beginning their professional sporting career.
I think that the NFL, MLB, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis and Golfing should follow suit. It is disgusting that major league sports take student athletes before they graduate and then after a few years spit them out without them having had a chance to earn their degrees.
So, the NBA should step up to the plate and say,
If you want to play in the majors, you must finish your degree before your first game, or within one year or we will cut you from playing. That would help the student athletes, and is the right thing to do.
Third, each team would guarantee that a certain percentage of their tickets would be affordable.
Attending a major sports event costs too much money. To grow the fan base, each team would sell half price tickets on game day and one hour before the game sell the remaining tickets for five dollars thus making basketball affordable to everyone. And they would treat the families of their school programs and college programs to free basketball games. And they would also each week sponsor free tickets for those in need – people living in shelters, people living with chronic illnesses etc.
Fourth, a world cup format would replace the NBA Championship Game.
All countries that play basketball would be invited to participate in the world cup of basketball. At the end of the season in October the national teams from at least 64 countries would play in the world cup which will be held every fourth year. The US will host the first world cup, and then sponsorship will rotate around all the participating countries so all 64 countries will eventually get to host a world cup of basketball.
Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics
I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.
Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.
Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.
With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.
If the NBA were to take these steps they would dramatically turn the sport around.
Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal and I look forward to hearing back from you staff and I hope that you can implement some of my ideas and I hope that NBA will continue to expand and prosper.
Thank you
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Ode to Kombucha
We have finally mastered the art of brewing home Kombucha, and are enjoying a glass of this miracle drink every morning along with our home made kefir and our power smoothies. If I keep this up I will live to be a hundred years old. Only 45 more years to go….
Ode to Kombucha
Kombucha
Only drink it in the morning
Morning delight
By the dawning sun
Up at the morning dawn
Can’t wait for my morning cup
Have to have my kombucha
At least once a day
Ode to Kefir
Kefir
Everyday
Food of the gods
In every way
Radiant health will follow
Blue Berry Smoothie – Breakfast of Champions
my daily breakfast
includes blue berries
in my smoothie
blueberry,
strawberry,
oranges
banana,
pineapple,
home made kefir
kale
spinach
wheat grass
macca root
apple cider vinegar
coconut oil
stevia
honey
cinnamon
all blended to perfection
that is my daily breakfast
fit for a champion
THE SIMPLE GUIDE TO KICKASS KOMBUCHA
It’s a big day everyone! The day your intestinal microbiota have been begging you for. The day you say goodbye to expensive store bought kombucha. The day you become a brewmaster as I impart on you the secrets of homemade kombucha!
The goal of this guide is to be your one stop shop for homemade kombucha brewage, from SCOBY-less to fermented perfection. No hopping around the interwebs. No fuss. No confusion. Because making homemade kombucha is so simple (albeit a bit slow), and I hope after reading this you’ll give it a whirl! Let’s hop right to it.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE KOMBUCHA: OVERVIEW
This post will go into detail about each step in the process of making kombucha. For succinct instructions, scroll to the bottom where a recipe card lays out the basics of making homemade kombucha. The general order of things goes something like this (you can jump around this tutorial by clicking the links below):
Before we start, here are some general notes that are consistent throughout the whole homemade kombucha process.
No metal or plastic containers. Metal can react with the acidic kombucha and hurt your SCOBY, while plastic can house nasty bacteria that you don’t want sneaking in.
Clean is key. A recurring theme in kombucha brewing is that EVERYTHING must be CLEAN! We’re creating the perfect environment for good bacterial growth, but if a bad bacteria slips in, it could ruin your batch (and make you pretty sick).
Temperature plays a role. Fermentation goes a bit quicker in warmer temperatures, and a bit slower in colder.
No mold zone. If you see any mold growing on your SCOBY or in the tea (which I understand can be difficult to discern from the hideous SCOBY, but will generally be green, white, or black), then toss your whole batch.
Milk kefir is not only easy to make, it is a delicious, probiotic-rich, versatile beverage your whole family can enjoy. Whether you are just exploring how to make milk kefir at home or have cultured dairy before, this video and instructions are here to help make culturing milk kefir at home easy.
If you have purchased our dehydrated milk kefir grains, please follow the instructions included with your milk kefir grains or watch our how-to video on How to Activate Milk Kefir Grains to get started.
If you wish to use raw milk to make milk kefir, be sure to activate your milk kefir grains using pasteurized milk first. You can then slowly transition them to raw milk.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE MILK KEFIR
To get started, first, gather your supplies and choose a variety of milk to use.
Transfer the active kefir grains into up to 4 cups of fresh milk.
Cover with a coffee filter or butter muslin secured by a rubber band or jar ring.
Place in a warm spot, 68°-85°F, to culture.
Culture until milk is slightly thickened and aroma is pleasant. This generally takes 24 hours, but can take less time in warmer temperatures, so keep an eye on your grains.
As your milk kefir grains grow in size, you may choose to remove the kefir grains by hand. Make sure your hands are very clean and well rinsed, but do not use anti-bacterial soap to avoid contaminating the culture.
Use a Plastic Mesh Strainer
Sometimes milk kefir can be a bit thick. If necessary, you can use a silicone spatula or plastic spoon (in a swirling motion) to help work the kefir through the strainer. Stainless steel can be used if necessary; just be sure it’s stainless steel and not a reactive metal.
Pour Kefir Into A Shallow Bowl
This will make the grains easier to see. Using a plastic or wooden spoon, scoop the grains out. Once the grains have been removed, pour the finished kefir into a container.
OVER-THICKENED KEFIR
While kefir sometimes turns out to be thin, it is also possible for kefir to over-thicken or turn into curds and whey. If this happens, you may need to strain your kefir grains with extra care. You can find tips in our Straining Over-Thickened Kefir tutorial.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Following the above process you can make milk kefir at home on a regular basis. If after making milk kefir for a while you decide you don’t need 4 cups every day, it is possible to make smaller batches. Just choose a method in our tutorial How to Slow Down Making Milk Kefir + Make Smaller Batches.
Resting Your Milk Kefir Grains
If you ever reach a point where you need to take a break from making milk kefir, there are a few ways you can put your kefir grains on pause. This includes refrigerating them for shorter breaksor drying them for longer breaks.
In either case, it’s important that your grains have been activated and culturing kefir regularly for 3 to 4 weeks before you attempt either of these resting methods.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Where is my home? Where do I belong?
I really don’t know, always moving on to another place
Moved every other year it seems the last 45 years
Traveled to 49 states, 45 countries, drove across the U.S. six times
Lived in Berkeley, Yakima, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, DC, Oregon, Korea, Thailand, India, The Eastern Caribbean, and Spain
Where do I belong? Where is my home?
Neither here nor there, nowhere and everywhere
And so is that my rambling man’s fate
Never to really belong anywhere at all
Dark Dangerous Thoughts
dark dangerous thoughts
An old man wakes up
Confronting the dark dangerous thoughts
The demons of the night
That haunt his dreams
And his life
He looks out at the dawning sun
And his sleeping wife
And realizes that it will be all right
And dismisses the demons of the night
Back to their caves in his mind
And he gets up
To take the dawning day
In Search of America
Hitchhiking Tales
hitch hikers
When I was young and foolish
Broke and stubborn
I hitchhiked across the USA
Started in Salt Lake City
Where my greyhound bus pass
Was stolen
The station manager
Could have helped me
But refused to do so
Threaten to call the cops
When I grabbed my bags
Without the stolen tags
I said
Go ahead
But I am so out of here
Wondered about Salt Lake City
Went to a bar
Found I had to buy my booze
Next door
And they would mix it for me
Had to order food too
After a bloody Mary
And a burger
I walked about town
Saw the Mormon Temple
Finally about 3 pm
It was time to hit the road
Did not look back
Ended up in Cody Wyoming
Got a room shower
Steak beer
Using my rapidly depleted cash
Spent 25 dollars
Money really went far
Back in those days
A band of professional
Communist agitators
Gave me a ride
To Des Moines
Lots of weed, booze
And politics later
Got off the road
Slept outside
Next day
A beautiful woman
Drove me to near Chicago
In a red mustang
Might have been
The girl in the song
Took it easy
Digging her vibe
She invited home
But was not sure
If her estranged husband
Would welcome me
So I being foolish
And inexperienced with women
Did not go to her place
And always regretted
That I had lost
My chance that day
Then on to Chicago
Several rides later
Visited friends
Hit the road again
A series of uneventful rides
With truckers
And others
And a week later
I ended in New York City
Slept along the way
In cars
In truck stops
In highway rest stops
Always moving
Always going
None stop talking
And lots of free weed
And beer
And conversation
One more memorable ride
Occurred outside Albany
On my return to Chicago
A middle age creepy looking man
Picked me up
In a brand new Cadillac
He was he said a dynamite deliverer
For the Mafia
Went to various places
To blow up shit
He hated a lot of people
Particularly hippies from California
And Jewish people
Looking at me to confirm
That I was both
I told him that I lived in New York
And had never been to California
And although I might look Jewish
As I what was called back in the day
A “Jewfro”
I was not Jewish
Many years later I discovered
That I am indeed part Jewish
But then I did not know
And I felt a bit of strategic information
Might keep me alive
Then I realized that he was just jiving with me
And we relaxed
And he pulled out some weed
And beer
And we mellowed out
But I believe that he really was with the mob
Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
A real made Italian made mafia member
By Chicago
I had enough
I called my Dad
Told him what had happened
Wanted a ticket home
And he sent me a ticket
And 500 dollars
And I went home
I told him I would tell him
My tales someday
But never did
I learned so much
About my fellow Americans
And the strange vibe
That was 1975
And now it is too late
But I wanted to finally
Tell the world
Of my hitchhiking tales
In search of America 1975
Bus Rides In America’s Underbelly
bus riding
I am a bus rider
That makes me unusual
For a white male
From an upper middle class family
Our people are not bus riders
Though some are subway riders
Bus riders are other people
The poor, minorities, immigrants
People who don’t drive
Because they are blind
Or have a DUI
And in my case
I don’t drive
Because I have bad vision
And bad coordination
Just never got the hang
Of the whole driving thing
Fortunately for me
My wife does the driving
But I still take the bus
From time to time
I rode the AC buses in Berkeley
As a child
Line 67, line 51, line 43 F bus
Rode them long before BART came along
And afterwards as well
As an adult seldom rode the bus
But when I did so
I was always impressed
By the sheer diversity
Of the bus riding property
Hundreds of languages
All sorts of sexual orientation
Some were white
Most were not
Most of my fellow passengers
Were nice enough
Some were friendly
And some were lost
In their own thoughts
And a few
Were scary looking dudes
With the look
Of someone who had done time
And were capable of more violence
I also rode the bus
In Seattle as a graduate student
A lot of fellow UW students
And the usual immigrants
Minorities etc
And some white people
Commuting
And in DC
Over the years
I rode a lot of buses
Mostly to and from the metro
But I got to know
And love the DC buses as well
I also took the greyhound bus
Across the country
Several times over the years
All over the U.S.
From Bay Area to Stockton
From Bay Area to Clear Lake
From Bay area to NYC
NYC to DC
All over the USA
Taking the Greyhound
Was always an adventure
Met a lot of interesting people
As people on long distant bus rides
Tend to open up and talk
To pass the time away
Overseas I took the bus
All over
In India, in Barbados
In Spain and in Korea
The Korean buses
For many years
Were difficult for foreign visitors
As the signs were all in Korean
Most have signs
Now in English, Chinese and Korean
And are much more foreigner friendly
Riding the bus
In America
Allows one access
To the underbelly of American society
The poor, the marginalized
The immigrant communities
That many middle-class white people
Just never see
And for that reason
I am glad
That I am a bus rider
Notes from the Author :
Based on my experiences riding the bus all over the world from 1968 to 2018.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Yeongjongdo island Korea where the Incheon International Airport is located has lots of things to do besides of course the airport. I have retired here from service in the U.S. State Department. I live in the Airport town next to the Unseo station. Here are a few of my favorite places to go. The airport was build on reclaimed land between three small islands near Incheon Port. When the island was build as part of the agreement to build the airport, the government promised to maintain at least half the island as a rural area, and preserve the mountains on the islands. They have generally kept to that promise, although the island is being over-developed in my opinion, there are still a lot of mountains and rural areas on the island, all within an half an hour drive from the airport. The airport can arrange excursions to some of these mountains for those travelers who have a long overlay at the airport. These are some of my favorite rambles on the island.
Baegunsan Mountain 배운 산
One of my favorite places is Baegunsan Mountain. (762 ft / 232 m height). 배운 산 This mountain dominates the island and there are trails to the top from many parts of the island. It is about 10 kilometers from the airport. Coming from Seoul or Incheon you can take the Airport railroad and get off at Unseo Station, 운서역 unseoyeog, three stops from the airport on the way to Seoul. From the station exit the station via exit A and turn right, then turn right again and you will find the trailhead down the street on the left side right after the first intersection. The trailhead is marked only in Korean though. There are multiple paths to the top. It should take about an hour to reach the top. The views are spectacular. A round trip to the top from the station should take about three to four hours depending upon you speed and fitness levels. The trail is at times steep but there are stairs and ropes along the way. The trail markers are mostly in Korea but it is hard to get lost. Just keep going left and then head up when you see the emergency shelter at the foot of the steeper trail.
Youngunsa and Yaksuam Temples
From the top of Bekuensan, you can walk down to Youngunsa Temple and Yaksuam Temples. These temples are over 1,000 years old and are very tranquil places to visit. At the top of the mountain there is a small pavilion just past an emergency helicopter landing zone. Just past that you will find a steep trail going downhill. Take that trail down and kept to the left and you will find the temple in an about an half an hour of moderate hiking downhill.
Youngunsa Temple 영운사yeong-un sa
199-1, Anambra, Jung-gu, Incheon 22359, South Korea
One can arrange a free tour at the airport transit tour desk. Worth doing if you are the airport and have a couple of hours to kill. It is a 20-minute bus ride from the airport. You pay just for the transportation, entrance to the temple is free. There is an old gingko tree in front of the temple, which is also about a thousand year old. There is a sign in front giving the history of the temple which was an important temple in the Chosun era given that it is relatively close to Seoul.
약수암Yagsuam This is another ancient temple near Youngunsa temple. You can easily see both temples in one trip. To get back to the airport you can go back up the mountain or continue down the mountain and hail any taxi or bus, heading back to the station, or airport. The buses don’t take cash, so pick up a T money card at the airport and put enough cash on it for your round trip fare, make sure you tap the card when entering and exiting the bus. The taxis will also take T money or credit cards.
Baekryungsan Mountain 백제 산
Another nice hike in Yeounjongdo is Baekryungsan mountain. From Unseo station on the airport railroad line, go out exit A and turn right and at the end of the street, right across the street, you will see a road leading up the hill. Follow the road and you will run into the trailhead. The signs are all in Korea. It is a short walk to the top where there are fine views and a nice gazebo. From there you can walk down to the entrance of the World Peace Forrest. Half way up the trail there is a trail cut off to the left which takes you down to a spring (water is not drinkable) and a nice housing estate, turn left and it is a ten minute walk back to the station. Should take no more than an hour to reach the summit and the Peace Forrest. The trail is a bit steep heading down from the top but there are plenty of ropes and stairs. Near the bottom of the mountain there is a great view of the Incheon outer harbor looking out towards Jangbo and Shindo islands. In the distance you can see on a clear day, North Korea.
World Peace Forest
세계 평화의 숲segye pyeonghwaui sup
The world peace forest is a five-mile walk through lovely forests surrounding the new airport town. You can walk to it from the airport railroad Unseo station, third stop from the airport. Exit the station via exit A and turn left. Go past the Lotte market and across the street you will see the entrance. Follow the trail to the other end (about a four mile gentle walk) where you will run into the entrance to Baekryangsan. Along the path you well enter a cherry tree grove, and numerous other flowering trees. Just before you reach the mountain trail head you will run into a boardwalk over a lotus flower bed. Very pretty in the summer months when the lotus flowers are in full bloom. If you are lucky you may run into some of the deer that live in the peace forest and mountains. There are also foxes in the park and mountains, wild boar, bobcats, and of course feral cats everywhere. I have seen the deer and foxes but yet to encounter the wild boars. Both the forest and Baekyrangsan mountain have spectacular wildflowers in the summer and the fall and spring colors are magnificent. The trail is mostly marked in Korean. Halfway up the trail, there is a path that goes back to town and the station. That sign is marked in Korean and English. Next to the trailhead leading to town is a pavilion and exercise equipment. Total round trip to do the park and mountain is about three hours depending upon fitness levels, the tail itself is flat except for the mountain segment.
The beaches
There are three beaches on Yeongjondo . Eurwangi, Maisan and Wangsan beaches. You can get to the beaches from the airport via the Maglev train getting off at Youngju station – the ARA train runs there on the weekends and holidays. These are the closest beaches to both Seoul and Incheon and are quite crowded during the summer season and weekends all year long. There are lots of good seafood restaurants near the beaches and plenty of places to stay.
Eurwangni Beach (을왕리해수욕장)
15, Eurwang-ro 13beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon
인천광역시 중구 을왕로13번길 15 (을왕동)
From the airport, take bus 302 or 306 Gate 2A (1F) and get off at Eurwangi Beach, the bus goes to the rest of the beaches as well. There are also buses from Unseo station as well.
Muido, So Muido (West Muido) and Silmido are islands near to Yongchongdo. You can get to the islands by taking a bus from the airport, or from the Yongju maglev stop. The Airport railroad goes to Youngju on weekends and holidays.
There are hotels and Korean style resorts near bridge and at the beach, there are huts for rent. There are restaurants near the bridge terminal and at the beach but the selection is limited to Korean seafood.
When you enter the island there is a trailhead that takes you to the top of island – Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak trails circle the island. Round trip is about 4 hours on a loop trail that takes you back to the trail head near the bridge terminal next to the old ferry terminal. the trial head is not marked very well.
Near the bridge to the island is a Korean tourism information stand. The people there are very helpful, speak good English and have lots of maps and guides in English and can also tell you about the ferries to the other islands. Well worth a stop. You should stock up on tourism information here if you are going to the outer islands as once you get there is very little English language signage or English speakers on the islands. They are open until 6 pm most days.
Address
310-11, Daemuui-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
인천광역시 중구 대무의로 310-11 (무의동)
Type
Seasides/ Beaches/ Islands
Inquiries
1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-32-760-7114
more Information
Muuido Island is located in Jung-gu, Incheon close to the airport. Nearby are two smaller islands, Silmido Island and Somuuido Island. In olden times, small boats were used to go from Muuido Island to Somuuido Island but the two islands are currently connected by a bridge so visitors can reach Somuuido after a 10-15 minute walk. Muuido Village Bus (maeul bus; 마을버스) takes people from Keunmuri Dock (큰무리선착장) to Gwangmyeonghang Port (광명항). To enjoy the beauty of Somuuido Island fully, Muuibadanuri-gil 8 Course is a must-visit path, taking around 1 hour and giving stunning views of the East Sea vista. Two beaches, Hanagae Beach and Silmi Beach, are famous beaches in Muuido Island. One interesting thing in Silmi Beach is that people can walk to Silmido Island at low tide. Hiking up Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak is also available on Hanagae Island.
The trail head to Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak can be found at bridge entrance to the island and also near So Muido and at Hangagae beach as well. The round trip takes about three hours and the trail is well marked but only in Korean. Go up the stairs and at the top turn right to access the main trail head.
So Muido is a nice spot for a walk as well. Take the bus to the end of the island, and walk across. There are places to stop and eat in So Muido. The walk to the top of the mountain is a nice walk takes about an half an hour to reach the top. There is a private beach on the way back to town.
Silmido
Silmido island is the site of a secret military base where they trained commandos going undercover into North Korea. They closed the base in the 80’s and a Korean K drama was filmed at the island. The island has a resort where one can stay but there is not much there not even restaurants. Still the beach is nice but a bit deserted. You can walk across to Silmido at low tide, at high tide it becomes a separate island.
Shindo, Modo and Jangbo islands
신도, 모토, 장보도sindo, moto, jang bodo
Shindo, Modo and Jangbo Islands located near Incheon International Airport are great places to get away from Seoul or Incheon for that matter. These three islands are near Yongchongdo. You need to take a ferry to reach them. The ferry ride to Jangbo the biggest of the islands takes about an hour. The ferry runs every hour on the hour the last ferry back leaves about 6 pm. You can catch the ferry at Sammok quay.
삼목 부두sammog budu
There are buses from the airport and from Unseo station to the ferry terminal.
Modo island is connected to Shindo island. You can easily walk around both Modo and Shindo in an hour or two. There are places to eat and spend the night, but Jangbo island is the biggest of the three and has the best facilities, beaches, restaurants and walking biking trails.
Jangbo Island
The island is located one hour and 40 minutes from Seoul. To get there take airport express train from Seoul Station and get off at Unseo station and then transfer to a bus going to Sammok wharf in Yeongjong Island, Incheon. The ferry from there takes 40 minutes. The last ferry back leaves at 6 pm. There are plenty of places to stay near the beaches which are a short walk from the ferry terminal. This is also a popular place to camp as there are camping grounds near the ferry terminal. There is a mountain hiking trail that follows the ridge line all over the island and is a great hike. If you go to Jangbong island, it is worth stopping off at Shindo and Modo islands first and take a walk. A number of K dramas have been filmed on these islands.
More info from Visit Incheon web page follows:
Coastal Trail connecting Sindo Island, Sido Island and Modo Islands
Come to the triplet islands and have a bike tour around them for a fantastic ride along the shoreline. The triplet islands are very well known as one of the best spots in Korea for a bike tour. Come down to the Sinsimodo Islands for a safe and pleasant bicycle touring. Take a boat at Sammok Quay in Yeongjongdo Island. You will get to Sindo Island Quay in about 10 minutes. The three islands of Sindo Island, Sido Island and Modo Island are all connected by bridges, so you can tour all of them in a day. You can rent a bike on the island. There are only a few cars on the road, thus the island is recognized as one of the best places for bike riders.
Sindo Island Pureun Beonmal, a designated traditional agricultural village
The name Sindo Island(literally “the island of trust”) has come from the fact that its residents are conscientious and innocent. It is in this context that the salt produced in the island is called jinyeom (literally “genuine salt”). As the island have mud flats, salt evaporation ponds, and rice paddies, visitors can enjoy everything they can expect from the country’s rural area in Sindo Island Pureun Beotmal designated by the government as a traditional agricultural village.
Sinsido Island Yeondogyo Bridge
Sindo Island is connected to Sido Island by a bridge. The name of Sido Island has come from the legend that troops of the Joseon Dynasty practiced archery in Manisan Mountain with targets set in Sido Island(“an arrow island”). The island is also called “Salseom (‘sal’ also means an arrow in Korean).” Given the actual distance between the two locations, the story is hardly credible, but the idea is intriguing enough. Sido Island has been filming locations for popular TV dramas such as “Full House” and “Sad Love Story” because of the harmony between its slow slope hills and the sea.
Sugi Beach, the filming location of ‘Full House’
Sugi Beach in Sido Island was the filming location for the popular TV series called ‘Full House.’ You can see a few islands in the distance. The beach is covered with quality and beautiful white sands. Main characters in the TV drama series often spent time together here. Who would not have fallen in love with each other in such a beautiful environment?
Simodo Island Yeondogyo Bridge
Sido Island and Modo Island are connected by a bridge. Believe it or not, you can get to a totally different island in just a few minutes. The name Modo Island comes from the word ttiyeom (‘tti’ refers to King cogongrass). The legend says that fishermen in the region once complained that his fish net only had grass instead of fish. ‘Mo’ in Modo Island means ‘grass’ in Chinese.
Baemikku mi Sculpture Park
Baemikkumi Sculpture Park is located on Baemikkumi Beach in Modo Island. The ‘Baemikkumi’ (the local dialect meaning a hole in the bottom of a ship) has come from the fact the beach is as flat as the bottom of a ship. The beach is also famous for a sculpture park featuring a number of surreal erotic sculptures. Blue water, white sand, and dreamlike sculptures blend well with one another. The sculpture park has become a reason to many for a visit to Modo Island.
The Sinsimodo Islands, a paradise for bike enthusiasts
Together, the Sinsimodo Islands are small but pretty places to visit. Most notably, as they are connected, the Sinsimodo Islands will sustain the fame of a paradise for bikers in the West Sea for a long time to come.
Incheon Wolmido
Address
36, Wolmimunhwa-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
인천광역시 중구 월미문화로 36 (북성동1가)
Type
Seasides/ Beaches/ Islands
Inquiries
1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-32-765-4169
Wolmido Island (월미도), located roughly 1km off the coast of Incheon, has since become part of the mainland with the creation of a new highway. The name Wolmido Island comes from the shape of the island as it resembles the tail of a half moon. Thanks to its location near Seoul and the convenient transportation, many people visit here during weekends.
The Culture Street starts with Doodle Pillar, and continues onward to Meeting Square, Arts Square, Performance Square, Good Harvest Square and several other notable highlights. Throughout these areas, spontaneous performances are performed, and street artists can draw for you on the spot. Moreover, many cafes and seafood restaurants are lined along the coast so you can enjoy coffee or fresh seafood while viewing the sea.
A must-see attraction on Wolmido Island is “Play Hill.” It’s not as large as other theme parks in Korea, but the Apollo Disco and the Viking rides are truly thrilling. If you’re not into rides, the Apollo Disco ride is still fun just watching. You can also get on a cruise to look around the island.
Comment: this is of course the location of the most famous battle during the Korean war.
The island has a large park that had been a Korean military base and was only opened to the public since the turn of the century. The park is worth a long walk. The views are spectacular from the top.
The amusement park is a bit hooky in my opinion, but still worth a stop and a photo. The waterfront is nice to stroll along but the restaurants there are way over priced.
Jayu freedom park is near Wolmido and features a giant statue of General Mc Arthur and is also worth a visit.
There is a club that has Halloween decoration all year long and that is worth a picture. There are also statues and public art everywhere. And of course coffee shops, beer pubs etc.
About 100 US dollars per person for a sashimi dinner with drinks. The best sea food restaurants are a few blocks away from the water front area, and dinner for two will set you back about 40 dollars including soju.
The Korean government opened a maglev train around Wolmido for the Asian games. But after the games ended the maglev train was disconnected. In my opinion they missed an opportunity and should have extended it to Songdo and the airport as getting to Songdo from the airport is a big of a long subway ride.
Finally, Wolmido has a Korean tourism information stand. The people there are very helpful, speak good English and have lots of maps and guides in English and can also tell you about the ferries to the other islands. Well worth a stop. They are open until 6 pm most days.
To reach Wolmido, get off at the Incheon station on the Seoul-Incheon subway line. Take a bus to Wolmido or a taxi. It is not far from the station. Another fun way to get there is to take the ferry from Yongchongdo (airport island). The ferry runs every 30 minutes and is a five minute ferry ride. The last ferry is at 6:00 pm.
Gerang Mountain in Incheon (계양상)
This mountain is the biggest mountain in Incheon but hiking up to the top is not too difficult. Takes about one to two hours to reach the top and back down. There are lots of side trails as well. The spring and fall colors are magnificent. Lots of nice wildflowers as well. The mountain links to several other mountains in central Incheon. There is a nice old fortress at the top of the mountain. There are plenty of Korean restaurants at the bottom of the mountain.
The closest subway to Gyeansan (giei_iaŋ_saŋ) is Gyeyang subway on the Incheon subway line 1. You can transfer from the Airport express railroad coming from the airport or from downtown Seoul. You can also get off at the ARE stop and walk through the countryside to the mountain enterance along a nice stream bed.
*
Introduction of Mt. Gyeyang
With its altitude of 395m, Mt. Gyeyang is the guardian and holy mountain that represents Incheon. From the beginning of B.C. to the end of the 19th century, the city of Gyeyang was moved from the south of Gohyeon-eup in the Three Kingdoms Period having Mt. Gyeyang at the center and then to the northern and eastern direction. Until its transfer to the southern direction in Bupyeong-dohobueup during the Joseon Period, the city was developed through the capital transfer that was conducted for 6 times. At the peak of the eastern ridge in Mt. Gyeyang, there is Gyeyang Mountain Fortress that was built during the Three Kingdoms Period. Also in the south, Jungsimseong Castle, which was constructed in the 20th year of King Gojong (1883) with the participation of the residents in Bupyeong Village in preparation for defending the coast, is stretched along the ridge of Jingmaei Hill. According to the change of the place name, Mt. Gyeyang was called as Sujuak in Suju of the Goryeo Period and Mt. Annam during Annam-Dohobu. Since the period when this mountain was called as Mt. Gyeyang in the period of Gyeyang-dohobu, it has been called by its present name. This mountain was once called as Mt. Anam and Mt. Gyeongmyeong.
The name of Mt. Gyeyang was originated from the naturally grown Japanese Judas-tree and Korean box trees. Mt. Gyeyang was selected as the first urban natural park of Incheon city on Jan. 8, 1944 (Gyeyang Park) and since then, it became the No. 1 Municipal Park.
88, Gyesansae-ro, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, 21067, Rep. of KOREA 82-32-551-5701
Copyright ⓒ 2015 Gyeyang Incheon. All Right Reserved.
Office of Gyeyang-Gu Page – Includes information on hiking trails as well as travel advice in English
Sorae Pogu
111-200, Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea
This is the second largest seafood market in Incheon and specializes in crab, lobster, octopus, and shellfish freshly harvested from the nearby harbor. The boats come back laden with fresh seafood early in the morning. The place is happening all day long. You can buy your food at the market and then take it to nearby restaurants where they will prepare it for you and sell you soju and beer to wash it down. A very Korean experience!
More info on the port from Visit Incheon web site
Incheon Port was opened to the international community in 1883 through which western civilization came. Sorae Port has served as an important fish market for the Incheon region for more than 60 years after a small-scale fish market was formed in the wake of the Korean War (1950-1953) as war refugees caught shrimps and sold salted shrimps in an open market. Now the fish market at the port is across a railway bridge which has been remodeled as a pedestrian-exclusive bridge.
The market is particularly famous for shrimps, salted fish and blue crabs. In addition to such fresh seafood, you can enjoy fish stand owners’ generosity and seagulls flying over fishing boats and the fish market against a blue sky. The port plays host to festivals of fleshy prawn and blue crabs, whose freshness and taste are recognized nationally, attracting crowds of people from various areas of the country. Come to Sorae Port to smell the sea and feel the sky while touring a dynamic fish market and enjoying fresh seafood of your choice.
Yeonan Pier
Yeonan Pier is home to various important facilities such passenger terminals, Marine Square, the Fish Market Complex, the Raw Fish Restaurant Street, the Seawater Bath Street, Cruise Port, and Namhang Wharf. It is a popular weekend getaway place not only for residents of Incheon but also for tourists from other areas of Korea. For instance, the Fish Market Complex which more than 500 stores call home attracts a crowd of people wanting to buy a variety of fresh and salted fishery goods. The Raw Fish Restaurant Street is home to large-scale raw fish restaurant towns like the Raw Fish Department Store run by Incheon Fisheries Cooperative Association and the Yeonan Raw Fish Plaza. Visitors can enjoy diverse seafood dishes at affordable prices.
Yeonan Pier is also known for blue crabs. Female crabs are popular in spring while male crabs are delicious in autumn. Most notably, blue crabs caught around Yeonpyeongdo Island are highly regarded for the eggs and meat filling the shells completely.
Hiking in the Spring Time Snow
Talking a walk in the mountains
In the spring time snow
Snow falling down all over the trail
As I wander through the hills
Breathing the early spring smells
And seeing the world covered in white magic
The last remnants of the winter’s touch
Before the spring time gambol of flowers
Overwhelms nature once again
Preparing for the summer’s hellish heat
Hiking the Hills of My Youth
I grew up in Berkeley, California in the 60’s. Ever since I was a youngster I would wander the hills of Berkeley hiking for hours by myself and sometimes with my friends. I explored every nook and cranny every corner of the hills and got to know nature in its infinite beauty.
Ever since those days, I have longed for the day that I could spend my days hiking and wandering in the hills. Now that I am retired and living in Korea I can go for a long walk in the hills every day I want. It is not the same as the hills I grew up, no vistas of the Bay and it is in Korea to boot but most days it is sufficient as I head out early afternoon and conquer four or five miles of hills just enjoying that fact that I can still move and am still very much alive at age 62!
I grew up hiking the hills of Berkeley, California
Grew up knowing every corner of the hills
And the infinite beauty of the Bay Area
And now I find myself in a strange land
With time on my hands
I wander the hills above the airport
In Incheon Korea
And wander about here and there
Just being grateful
That I am still alive
And kicking at age 62
Yongjongdo Remixed Cherita version
In the early morning dawn
I like to go for a walk
Down among the cherry trees
And flowering plants
Just to welcome
Another fine spring day
As the sun comes up
Dispelling my dismal mood
And filling me
With love
Hope
and peace
As I walk the path
Of the world peace forest
Near my island home
Near the chaos of the airport
Through the forest
and over the mountain
breathing the spring time air
alive filled with life
and I think to myself
this moment
is the moment
that I am meant
to experience
life itself
and nothing more
nothing less
Just breath in life
Waiting to die
Living in the Far East
today’s challenge – write a direction poem
When I graduated from college
I joined the Peace Corps
And ended up in the Far East
And spend decades
Wandering about East Asia
Lived in Korea for ten years
In Thailand for two years
In India for three years
Travelled to Taiwan twice
Hong Kong and Macao
Vietnam twice
Japan four times
Learned Korean
Some Hindu
A smattering of Chinese
Japanese and Vietnamese
Married a Korean woman
And became half Korean
A kimchi addict
A true Korean foodie
Along the way
And now
As an old man
I live half the year
In the east
And half in the west
But my heart
Remains in the East
Who knows where I will die
If I die in the east
That will be fine
By me
For by now
I am half Asian
In spirit
And in East Asia
If I may meet my final days
that is fine by me
Walking Down The Frozen White Path
failed attempt at writing a ballad
walking down the frozen white path
as the evening starts to fall
as I walk in the snow and talk
listening to the bird calls
filling the air with the music of Bach
I find myself getting lost
as I continue my lonely walk
death waits heading to the end of time
As I walk the snowing cold path
the dark evil evening continues to fall
the very stars are on the war path
lightening the up air as they fall
littering the ground with their cosmic sprawl
as the dying sun sets into the dark night
Life of an Exiled Poet Wandering the Mountains
today’s challenge -write a poem about exile
I am living a lonely life
Exiled from my home land
A stranger in a strange land
Far from where I grew up
Searching for what I lost
Just an exiled poet
Wandering the mountains
Deep in thought
Wondering what
Adventures wait me
As I wander the mountain paths
Wandering here and there
Just searching for my lost life
Wondering where my life
Has gone so terribly wrong
And why I am on this path
I see on the mountain path
A secret climbing cave
And I enter the cave
Hoping to find
A portal
Back to my lost world
To my lost time
To the beginning
Of my journal
The beginning
Of my long exile
But I can’t find
My way back
And am soon lost
And so I become
A ghost-like figure
A lost soul
of the damn
Doomed to wander
The world
Wandering the mountains
Lost in dark thoughts
Forever exiled
From my love
Four Haiku and a Tanka
walking on the path
in the world peace forest
snowing cherry trees
the world at peace
walking with love of my life
all is right with me
the falling cherry trees
along the path of the forest
reminds us of love
noise on the TV
quiet on the path outside
peace in my soul
Dangerous Times Tanka
in dangerous times
we retreat to our corners
convinced we are right
everyone else is evil
everyone else must die
Poetic Sketch of Springtime in Yongonjgdo, Korea
today’s prompt was to write a poetic sketch
In the early morning dawn
I like to go for a walk
Down among the cherry trees
And flowering plants
Just to welcome
Another fine spring day
As the sun comes up
Dispelling my dismal mood
And filling me
With love
Hope and peace
As I walk the path
Of the world peace forest
Near my island home
Near the chaos of the airport
Through the forest
and over the mountain
breathing the spring time air
alive filled with life
and I think to myself
this moment
is the moment
that I am meant to experience
life itself
and nothing more
nothing less
Just breath in life
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Wearing a Mask Controversy
-wearing a mask should not be a political statement
more corona poems posted on the day the death rate hit 105,000 Americans
Here are some of my recent Corona poems. Many have been posted earlier and some have been published, many were posted on All Poetry, Poetry Soup and elsewhere. These poems are sometimes very political and perhaps in your face a bit but I am outraged at how badly the US and other countries have handled the Corona pandemic and dismayed to see that it is still being seen as a partisan political issue. This is particularly true of the fake controversy over wearing a mask. There can be no controversy – wearing masks save lives and is a very small infringement on individual rights so I just don’t understand that reluctance of some people to wear masks in public. Hence my outrage. Some of these poems were posted earlier, a few have been published and a few are newly written. Enjoy and the offer still stands for guest Covid Poems as I may write an update in a few months.
Wearing a Mask is not a political statement
To the owner of Liberty Bar and Grill
Corona Virus Stalks Me
Mad Mask Fears
Hope Springs Eternal in Our Year of Discontent
Wearing a Mask is not a political statement
Ode to Nurses
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
Conqueor Worm Corona Sonnet
Cosmic Debris Corona Sonnet
God Deals with Corona
Voice Message to God
General Corona Leads His Troops into Battle
Total Success
General Corona is Happy
Watching as the Entire World Falls Apart
Corona Virus Paranoia
End of the World
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
We Live in an Orwellian World
Woman Releases Balloons of Hope
Life Interrupted by Corona
The End of the World News Depresses Me
God Did Not Send the Virus to Punish America Found Poem
The Virus from Hell is Amused
Every Day I Turn on the News *
Irony Meters Blows a Gasket
Chaos
My Phobias Overwhelms Me
Fear Fills the Air
Is This the Best We Can Get
More Trouble Every Day
Taking a Walk in the Corona Woods
Lone Man in Empty Parking Lot
Virus King Cried *
Bring Out Your Dead
The Corona Virus is Testing Us All
Last Human on Island
Part Two Short Poems
Corona virus Haiflu
Virus came from Hell Haiflu
Bring Out Your Dead Haiflu
Death Comes Knocking Haiflu
Be Afraid, Afraid Haiflu
Virus Came from Hell Haiflu
Corona Virus Tanka
Calls Goes Out Haiflu
Corona virus haiflu
End of the World Haiflu
Walking in the Woods Haiflu
To Wear or Not Wear Haiflu
Watching the News Haiflu
corona Cinqku
Part One Longer Poems
Watching the News while 100,000 Americans Lie Dead
On the day
when the death toil
reached over 100,000 people
I turned on the news
the president remained silent
As the deaths continue to increase
Watching the news
the president and his minions
continuously lying
about his great job
his great success
As the deaths continue to increase
blaming everything
on everyone else
China, Obama, the democrats, liberals
Fake science, university researchers
the media simply for asking inconvenient questions
As the deaths continue to increase
attacking people for wearing masks
making wearing a mask
a political question
– real men don’t wear masks
As the deaths continue to increase
Self -proclaiming a transition to greatness
and still 35% of Americans
applaud this broken down
man who is our leader
As the deaths continue to increase
god help us all, if there is a God
perhaps he has abandoned us
in our hour of need, and left us
with the President who yearns to king
As the deaths continue to increase
our President will eventually
no longer be our President
and perhaps we will
be a greater country
once this nightmare is over
As the deaths continue to increase
Wearing a Mask is not a political statement
masked woman
to my friends in America
to those who think
that somehow the corona virus
only infects other people
that it is all a liberal hoax
overblown nothing more than a bad flu
and nothing to do with me
demanding that we all go
back to work right now
but refuse to wear a mask
that wearing a mask
is an infringement on your freedom
and a sign of weakness
and a political statement
that you are against the President
and a democrat
and a democrat
what is wrong with you?
have you lost your humanity?
A mask is not a political statement
a mask means you care
about other people’s life
and your own as well
will millions have to die
so you can have a Big Mac?
and a beer
whenever you damn please
and no one can tell you
please wear a mask
have you lost all reason?
Have you lost all reason?
is it all now
about owning the dems
and the damn liberates
is there any thing left
in your cold greedy heart?
and you still proclaim
that you are Christian
as you violate all the Christian principles
what would Jesus do
what does the bible say
we should do
in the midst of this pandemic
is it the Christian thing to do
is it the Christian thing to do
to let millions of people die
did not Christ talk about love
compassion and mercy
would not Jesus wear a mask
to protect himself and others
from this ravaging disease
that does not care who you are
who you voted for
which church you go to
and Jesus and God are not there
watching all of us
as the virus spreads
it will affect you
sooner or later
sooner or later
and when it does
perhaps if you had worn
a mask
you might have prevented
a few more people
from joining the 100,000 already dead
a few more people
including your grandfather, grandmother
friend, relative, co-workers might be alive
if you were not such a self-centered person
and I appeal to you my friend
to grow up, become a member
of the human race again
I understand that you are banning
wearing of masks inside your bar
because somehow wearing a mask
offends you and your Christian values
and makes a political statement
that the person wearing a mask
is a libtard or a Democrat
or anti-Trump
and those kinds are not welcomed
in your bar and grill
therefore you are putting your staff
your friends and your family at risk
of catching and spreading
the corona virus
the corona virus
You say that you don’t care
if people get the corona virus
it is nothing but a cold or flue
but the thing about it
the deadly thing about the virus
the virus does not care about you
or your political views
and if you or your friends catch it
some of them will get sick and die
and it would all be because of your actions
and wearing a mask is not
a political statement
wearing a mask does not show weakness
wearing a mask does not show weakness
and does not mean that the wearer
is a political enemy
I would respect you more
If you posted a sign
no liberals, democrats
non-whites, gays and anti-trumpers
allowed but that would be illegal
so you take it out on mask wearers
you are so following the Christian faith
what would Jesus say to you
I wonder?
Just shut up already
Put on the damn mask no doubt
Corona Virus Stalks Me
the dreaded corona virus
led by the demented general Corona
seems to be stalking me
everywhere I go
images of the dead
come to life
accusing me of something
as they fade in and out of view
ghostly images fill my fogged up glasses
as I walk down the street
hidden deep inside my masks
and I fear everyone
which is of course part
of the corona virus’s evil’s plan
to drive us all mad sending us to hell
News is Still Grim
watching the daily news
the constant doom and gloom
makes me want to cry
and hide away
waiting
waiting
waiting
for the end of the news
and a return to normal
but that seems
like a distant dream
perhaps it is our fate
perhaps it will be over
perhaps it will never
be over
and the news drones
on
and
on
on
and
on
overwhelming
me
with
cosmic
dread
as hundreds of thousands people
lie dead
Mad Mask Fears
I don’t understand
this fear of wearing a mask
somehow making you weak
that wearing a mask
is a political statement
“Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself with a forest dark
for the straightforward pathway had been lost”
THE THOUGHT COMES TO MIND
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE
ALL
LOST
THEIR
MINDS
content tracing Dante Inferno Canto one Line 1 to 3
Hope Springs Eternal in our Year of our Discontent
corona virus
Every day I watch
The daily news
That fills us with dread
Perfect storm of hatred,
fear and despair
Everywhere we go
nonstop fear broadcasted
Despair fills my heart as I turn on the news
Everywhere we are in the midst of the pandemic
Simply put death is at hand
Planning for the future yet waiting for death
At worst we will all die not today but soon
In the long term we are all dead
Remembering the dead all around us
yet I end this poem with a word of hope
hoping for the best
while preparing for the worst
all I can do to stay sane
as I await my fate
on this dismal date
April 1 is indeed
April Fool’s date
is that our fate
this endless dance with death?
and to end with a sign of hope
I know that if I have you by my side
I will survive I will survive
until the end of time itself
takes us to the other side
Ode for Nurses
In honor of national nursing day
I offer this simple poem
thanks to all the nurses
who work so hard
24/7
to keep us all alive
and healthy
you are the real heroes
of America
and deserve so much more
that you get
thank you
for all you do
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
in these dark and dire times
we find ourselves living
we often fear that the times
are infected with death
and so we are afraid
deathly afraid
that if we take a plane
we will find General Corona
among the passengers
and we afraid
deadly afraid
that the subways
are incubators
of death and destruction
the virus spreads
fear and death
in its wake
many of us
retreating to our homes
and venturing out
in our cars
only to find
death is stalking us
as traffic piles up
traffic accidents
still killing more people
that the dreaded General Corona
the grim reaper smiles
his work is done
Satan thanks General. Corona
for a job well done
the Conqueror Worm Corona Sonnet
Lo, t’s a galla night
within the lonesome later years
when around the world
the dreaded corona virus showed its might
spending fear to those in their later years
that it might take them in the night
that before the sun came up
their time on earth would end up
DEATH IS COMING
TO US ALL
WE
WAIT
LATE
FATE
# content tracing: the Conqueror Worm By Edgar Allan Poe
I received a mysterious email package
followed by a phone call offering me a magical mask
a mask that they claim would prevent me
from the dreaded General Corona
hey there
who you jiving with that cosmic debris
a mask that they did not want me
me to know about
TOP SECRET CODE 2 LEVEL STUFF
MUST ACT NOW
SEND MONEY ASAP
BUY
IT
NOW
# content tracing- “Cosmic Debris by Frank Zappa”
with apologies to Frank Zappa
Corona Consumes Me Corona Sonnet 3
I am consumed by the corona virus
and I am slowly being taken over
as the virus infects my mind
taking me over turning me
into a wild raving zombie man
Let there be light
will I become the first
ZOMBIE APOLYCAPASE LOOMS
WILL WE ALL DIE
CORONA
KILLS
ME
content tracing – Let there be light from Bible and the entire Zombie Apocalypse genre where the Zombie flu started usually in China as a flu and then morphs into the zombie disease
God Deals with Corona
god is having a crisis meeting
on the corona virus situation
on planet 679542099199
otherwise known as planet earth
in a minor corner
of the milky way
the deranged inhabitants
of the planet
somehow thought that GOD
created them in his image
and that they are his children
all of them
and that he listens to his prayers
god was so tired of dealing with humans
the most ornery stubborn stupid creatures
of all the millions of sentient beings
he had to deal with them
more than any one else
God created the world
but then let nature take its course
and sometimes things worked out
and sometimes they did not
and God just did not have the time
to deal with every little detail
of life on millions of planets
across the vast universe
His arch enemy Satan
banished to Hell’s prison
was always causing trouble
everywhere in the universe
and Satan also loved the mad
creatures on planet earth
what was god to do
he did not know
as he saw the death rates
increase and grim reaper’s
armies go to work
his courts will be filled
billions stuck in limbo
for centuries
just did not have enough
staff to do the work
God signed off the conference
and sighed again
thinking about the mad creatures
on the planet earth
hoping that they would pull it together
but knowing that he might have to intervene
and went back to his other business
enough of humans for one day
General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets
General Corona leads his forces across the world
riding on a black horse
from out of the Apocalypse
ride the four horsemen
which are let loose upon the world
He leads his forces across the world
into battle as the leader of his evil forces
The enemy of humanity
General Corona he does not care
nor does his virus minions care
about your nationality he does not care
about your politics he does not care
or your wealth or who you are
the corona general sees humanity
the corona general sees humanity
as nothing but hosts for his virus army
chanting death to humanity
until his evil army sweeps throughout the world
throughout the world
and millions must die
it is the will of the general
all must die
and it is the end of the world
or perhaps the beginning of a new world
filled with hope and love through out the world
humanity comes alive throughout the world
fighting back against the virus army
peace, love and compassion defeats the army
and general corona will finally himself die
Voice Message for God
dialing 202-346-5666 Beep
You have reached GOD
Press 1 for English, Press 2 for Spanish
leave a message or prayer
and maybe an angel will call you
will get back to you Beep
Hey GOD someone sent me your number
and well I hope I’ve reached your number
I don’t know where to start that’s the point
GOD I am scared of you
all the time is my point
I am so afraid, so scared
of the dreaded General Corona
and his invisible army is my point
and his invisible army is my point
forcing me to stay at home
and I am sacred
that you anointed the wrong man
to be our leader, that makes me sacred
not to second guess you man
your will be done and all of that man
but GOD, can’t you do better job my man
of anointing our leaders to serve under GOD
of all the people in the U.S. dear God
this is the best you can do?, man?
I mean you picked perhaps the one man
in the world who could be the anti-chris, God
Seriously GOD what is wrong with you? man
Seriously, GOD, what is wrong with you? man
was this all sort of a cosmic joke?
well it ain’t funny any more ain’t no joke
Please GOD make it all go away, man
Please GOD for the love of GOD
and all that is holly and good, man
just make it all go away, GOD
and anoint someone else, man
a real leader for a change, GOD
and let him lead us to the promised land
this I pray in Jesus’s name, my man
and if I don’t make it, GOD
We have a lot to talk about GOD
See you on the other side, my man
Isolation Blues
During these trying times
we huddle at home
afraid to go out
afraid of the dreaded
General Corona that is out
and his evil secret armies
keeping us all at home
terrified of becoming a victim
a corona virus statistic
what a way to go out
no way do I want to end my life
to out out that way
so we will endure this day
these isolation blues
General Corona is coming for us all
I saw the best minds of my generation
destroyed by madness
consumed by the greed
all around us
the dreaded corona virus spreads
its death and destruction
all over the world
no one can escape
THE FATE OF THE WORLD
IS INDEED AT STAKE
NONE OF US CAN
ESCAPE
OUR
FATE
content tracing “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
total Success
The President’s Son-in-law declares
that the government’s response
to the corona virus
has been a total success
as the government
step up to the plate
to fight the virus from hell
I have to wonder
on what planet
does the words
105,000 deaths in three months
and another great depression
becomes total success?
from our dear leader
and his hapless son-in-law
General Corona is Happy
General Corona
is happy
his mission is a great success
as his armies of virus bots
spread throughout the world
spreading chaos and destruction
as all bow down
to his invisible armies
none can escape their fate
on that date
that he unleashed his armies
upon the world
all humans must die
his armies scream out
Watching as the Entire World Falls Apart
watching as the entire world falls apart
consumed by fears of the end of the world
things continue to fall apart around us
humanity turns to silent gods
who turn a deaf ear to our suffering madness
as the virus from hell spreads out all around
fearful people desperately running here
fearful people desperately running there
praying to the silent gods above us all
to rescue them from this hellish nightmare fate
that seems to becoming our fate this late date
and as we all die a million deaths just our fate
Corona Virus Paranoia
fears of the virus
fear of the coming pandemic
paranoia in the air
fear of the other
fear of the coming super bug
the end of the world
all wrapped up
in a simple weaponized virus
End of the world fears
tossed and turned
could not get to sleep
fearful of everything
fears consume me
as the nightmare news played
on in the background
screaming the latest
paranoid conspiracy
end of the world
nightmares becoming real
is the zombie “Apocalypse near
is it time for us to all
to run
for the proverbial hills?
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
jehova
Rev. Jake ’s on-line sermon on the Corona Virus
I am reverend Jake and I have a message from God
Last night I had a vision from God
it was his message to the world
about this pandemic we are facing
I found myself in a large room
Jehovah, God, was sitting in the middle
surrounded by the other Gods
they were all there
Jesus on his right
Allah on his left
Buddha behind him
Ganesh, Shiva, Kali
Mohammed, Joseph Smith and other prophets
Gabriel and other angels abound
St Peter in front of his as his Chief of Staff
Zeus, Jupiter, Minerva and ancient
other gods all around him
God spoke up
He said
I have a message for you
to give to your people
all of your people
no matter what religion
or no religion at all
it is all one after all
first the corona virus
is a natural phenomenon
we have no control
over forces of nature
and we did not send
it to you
to punish you
for homosexuality
or anything else at all
Second obey the health directives
stay at home
do your services on line
it is okay with us
we are fine with that
the blood of Jesus
will not save you
If you are in a crowded place
like church or a mosque service
the virus will spread
and catch you in the end
Prayers alone will not save you
but please keep praying
we do listen to your prayers
but we can only do so much
So please don’t allow the virus
to spread
because of your ignorance
and fear
realize that in the end
the virus will do its thing
and you will survive
and we
all the gods here
love you humans
and wish you well
so stay at home
practice self-distancing
It is God’s will
all will survive
We Live in an Orwellian world
1984 images
we are living
in an Orwellian 1984 world
and have been for decades
we are assaulted daily
by alternative realties
promoted by various politicians
designed to shut down
all rational thought
true Orwellian thought control
and now with the corona virus
massive surveillance
has become the norm
and when the crisis is over
the surveillance will continue
on one excuse after another
forever as Orwell’s nightmare
big brother ruling us all
comes true
based on the fear that the massive increase in social surveillance being deployed against the Corona virus will after the crisis is over continue forever under one excuse or another as the Orwellian big brother dictatorships around the world become permanent
Woman releases balloons of hope
balloons for peace
A young woman
walks in a park
on a sunny spring day
carrying 25 red balloons
each red balloon
contains the name of those
that recently died
in the corona virus pandemic
she is releasing the balloons
hoping they would
rise to heaven
with a request for God
to hear her prayers
End this pandemic
End the death and destruction
release us from the corona pandemic
the woman releases the balloons
and slowly walks back to her house
to prepare to attend yet another funeral
as the pandemic swirls all around her
creative talents unleashed prompt
life interrupted by corona
covid19
we live in a strange world
life interrupted by corona
the virus spread throughout the world
disrupting everything
putting life on hold
as more people
hunkered down
waiting for the virus
to pass over us
like in biblical times
the virus
will test us all
and then
we will all
go back
to life interrupted
The end of the world news depresses me
trump jpg
the end of the world news
depresses me
makes me want to shout and scream
Shut up, leave me alone
to deal with my grief
amid the death and destruction
watching CNNMSNBCFOXBBC media nonstop
filled with essential dread
the end of the world is upon us
from the screaming news media
spreading forth across the land
fake news screams the president
all is alright he proclaims
no one believes his 16,000 lies
and so it goes
we are drowning with information
coming at us so fast and furious
When will it end my friend
is anyone’s guess
in the long run we are dead
God Did not Send the Corona Virus as a Punishment Black Out Poem
Robert_Jeffress
Corona Pandemic is Not’s God’s Punishment
Amid the coronavirus pandemic,
President Trump
Attended virtual Easter church services
I’ve had talks with the pastors,
We need to get back
to church so badly.”
Rev Jeffries is a great guy
I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Rev Jeffries said
The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment
on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,”
‘Well, I just don’t understand
why God wouldn’t protect our nation
and he would allow these
radical Muslims in 2001
to kill 3,000 of our citizens
and why God doesn’t protect us
Surely, God doesn’t use pagans
to bring judgment
upon his own people,
does he?’”
I am sad to report
Rev Jeffries
I spoke to God
This morning
He confirmed
He did not cause 9-11
To bring judgement
On the US
For abortion
He went on to say
The corona virus
Is beyond his control
And he is not sending it
To punish the US
Or the world
His final words
Please tell Rev Jeffries
To simply shut up
the Virus from Hell is amused
corona virus
the Virus from Hell is amused
laughing at the world’s panicked reaction
as it marches through the world unabated
infecting everyone in its wake
as the world awaits its fate
the virus smiles he ain’t no fake
he is the real deal
he is death itself
he is the end of the world
the grim reaper is smiling
god is silent as usual
the world’s leaders
dither and dater
as the economy craters
everyone hoping that God
will save them
the virus does not care
insults and orders do not work
the virus simply does its virus thing
infecting everyone it encounters
and thousands will die
equal opportunity offender
killing the rich and the poor alike
but more poor people
just so many more poor people
than the few billionaires
the virus smile
his work is done
and mankind is doomed
so be it the virus thinks
that is the way of the world
and the virus is the new king
of the world
every day I turn on the news
nothing but news about the virus
the virus from hell
the world is filled with fear
and my anxiety levels rise
every time I turn on the news
oh my god I say
we are all going to die
and I am so afraid
afraid of everyone
afraid of everything
dreading the latest news
and nothing relieves my fear
I watch the world
loosing its collective mind
wondering how much more of this
can we all take
I scream out
Dear God save us all
god is silent as usual
and so I realized
we are doomed
perhaps it is the end times
perhaps not
I turn off the TV
try to stay calm
hoping the madness
will not overwhelm us all
Irony Meters Blow Gaskets
donald trump
the Irony meter gasket
is blown again and again
with every statement
of our chaos president
and his endless surrogates
promoting the latest Presidential
on spot guidance by our great leader
that must be true
because our dear leader
says it is so
The President accuses his democratic rival
of being senile and needs to be in home
and will be run by his radical left allies
and the right wing media
echoes the presidential absurd comments
refusing to acknowledge
that the president himself
is rapidly fading into dementia
and his radical right cronies
are looting the government
driving out expertise
even in the midst of pandemic
Oh yeah the irony meters
are blowing gaskets
every single day
Chaos
trump clown in chief
the world descends into chaos
as our world leaders
led by the chaos president
are overwhelmed
by the smallest
enemy of all
a simple virus
straight out of hell
blows through the crumbling
third world public health infrastructure
living proof of the decline of America
and no one is prepared
and panic ensures
with every Presidential tweet
as people don’t believe
a word he says
conspiracy rumors spread
everyone believes their own reality
as the world spins out of control
the chaos king is in his element
convince that only he knows
the deal
and everyone else
is iust a bit player
in the reality show
that he presides over
and so the rest of us
hunker down
just hoping for the best
as the panic and
chaos spreads faster
than the virus
are we doomed
can we survive
will God save us?
he is silent as always
My Phobias Overwhelm Me
covid 19 spread
lately I have become scared
of everything
the news scares me, the corona virus scares me, the presidential race scares me, fears of gun men in the street, terrorism, fears of getting sick, fears of dogs, fears of other people, fear of loosing money, fears of becoming demented old man, lost in his nightmares on the street just another invisible homeless bum in the end of his life
all these phobias overwhelm me
time to walk away from my fears
and realize
it will be alright
everything will be alright
As long as I have you
by my side
Fear Fills the Air
cnn logo
watching the news
CNNMSNBCFOXBBCKOREANNEWSJAPANESENEWSBLOOMBERABCCBSNBCGOOGLEAPPLEREUTERSAPIRUSSIANTVCHINESTVFRENCHTV
blather on and on
the world is ending
pandemic is coming
we are going to die
and the fear grows
and the restrictions grow
travel comes to stop
the economy comes to a stop
everyone is so afraid
our leaders fret
say that everything is fine
as the world enters
the second great depression
and we are faced
with the reality
all over the world
idiots in high places
the masters of the universe
are in charge
the internet spreads
the wildest rumors
must be true
I read it on the internet
the truth is lost
in the shuffle
no one believes anyone
everything thinks
that they know
it is all a conspiracy
the thought comes to mind
we are all so ’S….
end of the world
is upon us
is this the best we can get?
trump
watching the news
one wonders
how in this great country
of ours
335 million people
among the most educated
richest people in the world
we can end up
with such idiots in high places
running out country?
these idiots in charge
no disrespect intended
both political parties
all corporations
and our institutions
except maybe the military
has been infected
by this virus
of epic incompetence
greed and indifference
to the general good
who loudly constantly proclaim
that they are Christians
while violating
all of Christ’s teachings
Jesus if he came back
would scream out
I am not Christian
it is all about me
and mine
and you can go
to hell
if you dare to disagree
and so we tweet and titter
and watch the news
reading the latest rumors
and I wonder
if there is a god
or if there is a devil
and are we overwhelmed
by the dismal news
why can’t we have better
leaders
better people
in our leaders
around the world
has god abandoned us
are we in hell
or did god ever exist
except in our fevered imagination
will god save us all
or will the world
just go around the sun
indifferent to our pleas?
no answer
must watch the news
consumed by the need
to see the latest news
and so it goes
and I wake up
the sun is up
and the nightmares
fade away
until I watch the news
and the madness consumes
us all again and again
as the corona virus
marches on and on
consuming us all
as the world falls apart
these must be the end times
I hope I will be raptured away
even if I am not a Christian
More Trouble Every Day
The Old Zappa song plays
on in my head
every time I turn on the news
and see more trouble every day
no one can delay
the trouble coming every day
Frank Zappa died too soon
before the horrors of the Trump era
and the corona end of the world plague
that he would have foreseen
if he had lived on
he was truly a prophet
crying in the wildness
while making money
as an over night sensation
as he saw the slime
oozing out of the TV sets
we will do what we are told
for the rights to us have been sold
And Jesus too
has been sold
to the highest bidder
nothing but a business deal
in America
the land of the constant deal
and so I turn off the TV
and realize that
the torture never ends
the torture never ends
Taking a Walk in the Corona Era
peace forest
every day I go for a walk
in the spring time woods
near my house
braving the weather
and the dreaded corona virus
wearing masks and gloves
keeping a distance
from anyone we encounter
that is life it seems
in the era of the corona virus
when will it end
no one knows
until then
I will brave the viral threat
and confront my fears
and walk in the park
with the love of my life
my bride my wife
by my side
in these challenging times
that is all we can do
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
empty parking lot
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
contemplating the new normal
social distancing run amuck
as fears of the corona super plague
plague the land
driving everyone inside
sheltering in place
afraid to go out
afraid of the deadly c virus
The Virus King Cried
virus king cried
published in Muse McAalster Journal
the virus king smiled
as the politicians lied
saying that the end was near
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king sneered
as people panicked
and partied on the beach
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king laughed
as the markets crashed
millions became unemployed
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king roared
as the world slid into chaos
people turning on one another
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king smirked
knowing that there was nothing
that they could do to stop
his army from infecting millions
and killing thousands
the virus King begin to realize
that soon there would be no one left
no one for his army to infect
as everyone was dying
the virus King yelled
remaining defiant
as civilization collapsed
billions were infected
millions died
the Virus King at last cried
when he saw that he was defeated
as one by one
people began to recover
and his reign of terror came to an end
Bring out your dead
grimm reaper
the call bring out your dead
spreads around the world
as millions die
all over the world
the virus has spread
mutated and killed
all over the world
bring out your dead
the mournful cries
echoing in the wind
of the dying cities
mass starvation
as no is working
in the fields
as more people die
and the world spins
around the sun
with the politicians lying
and the dead still dying
as civilization dies
and humanity flee
into the wilderness
chased by the killer virus
straight down to hell
the corona virus is testing us all
the corona virus is testing us all
is it a plague
sent by God
if we have faith
will we recover
or it is beyond our control
the end of the world
does god hear our prayers
does god even exist
the virus from hell
spreads around the world
and test our faith
will god save us all
I have no answer
but perhaps if god exists
we will recover
from this plague
from hell
the four horse men ready to ride
four horsemen
the end of the world is upon us
as god unleashes the corona virus
which is spreading across the land
the four horse men are ready
to begin their grim journey
announcing the end of the world
the white horse comes first
offering peace and hope
in the midst of death
and despair
the red horse rides second
ushering in war
throughout the world
as nations turn on each other
and civil war looms
the Black Horse is ready
unleashing famine
on a starving world
as people stay at home
and food rots in the field
no one is able
to work any more
as the virus kills more
and more
the pale horse rides last
bringing death
in his wake
death all around us
as the virus kills us all
and civilization ends
the four horse men
have done their job
the virus finishes its reign of terror
and the few survivors
beging to recover
end of the world
came and went
and they are still alive
thanks to God
who remains silent
as always
Last Human on Island
in the deep blue sea
nothing there
but death and destruction
virus all around
pandemic plague
Apocalyptic views
end of times
death of civilization
Part Two Haiku, Haifu and CoVid Ku Poems
corona virus Haiku
corona virus
corona virus
staying home
waiting for death
Afraid everything
the virus came from hell
the virus came from hell
staying home waiting for death
Afraid everything
Bring Out Your Dead
bring out your dead cries
break out all over the world
we are waiting death
death comes knocking
death comes knocking
on our doorsteps tonight
will God hear prayers
be afraid, afraid
be afraid afraid
Must be afraid every one
Death is at our door
The Virus Came From Hell
the virus came from Hell
ravaging the entire world
all waiting for death
Corona Virus Fears Tanka
cover 19
Corona virus
lurking fears all around me
we all will die
the TV screaming nonstop
Must be afraid
The call goes out
the call goes out
stay at home
to beat the dreaded c virus
will we live
or all die?
five Haiflu/covid ku poems
corona virus
corona virus
spreading across the land
death waiting for us
end of the world
corona virus
it seems to be coming soon
end of the world
Walking in the woods
walking in the woods
amid corona virus
waiting for my death
To Wear or Not Wear a Mask
to wear or not wear
a mask is it just political
makes a statement
Watching the news
watching the news
crying at the growing deaths
politicians lying
Corona Cingku
virus
came from hell
to wipe us out
everyone must prepare
meet God
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Note: I am not particularly that religious a person but I have had several encounters with God, spiritual encounters with a divine spirit, what I consider to be ‘God” but not in the Christian sense of ” God”. I used to be a an atheist but after these encounters I realized that there is something out there besides humanity. Perhaps the whole universe is alive somehow? Who knows? I certainly do not. Here then are several of my encounters with God. I’ve had a few others which I will write some day.
these have been published in Scarlet Leaf Review and other journals as well as Hypertext which just published them.
enjoy and drop me a line if you wish.
Meeting God in a Lake
god
In my 64 years around the sun
I encountered God four times
At least I thought it was God
But could never be sure
The first time I met God
I had taken magic mushrooms
And had gone to a lake
And soon was tripping inside my head
Lost in inner space
Zoning out tuning in
Dropping down the proverbial rabbit hole
And then in the middle of my madness
I felt oneness with the universe
My body melted away
And I joined the universe
All boundaries dropped away
And I knew that the universe was alive
and I was part of the Cosmos
And the Cosmos was part of me
And I wondered at that moment
If I was face to face with God
I asked God to reveal himself to me
And nothing happened
Just laughter as the whole universe
Burst into laughter
And the madness began to fade
And I slowly came down from the high
And became aware of myself
And I was no longer one
With the universe
I felt profoundly moved by the experience
Felt that I had achieved perhaps nirvana
Or felt the presence of God
The feeling faded over time
And my quest to find God resumed
But I knew that I would never again
Come so close to the divine essence
Of the very Universe
The Cosmic Cat from Berkeley
black cat
I next encountered the divine
Many years later in Berkeley, California
I had gone home to be with my Mother
While taking leave from my job
in the Foreign Service
I had two weeks there by myself
My wife came later
near the end of the trip
every morning I woke up
had coffee
Did yoga
Spoke to my mother
Who was sliding into dementia
Day by day losing her reason
Then I would go out
And explore the city
Go to a museum
Go to one neighborhood
And just be there
Rediscovering the Bay area
After years of being away
Having dinner with old friends
Seeing movies etc
Every morning a black cat came to visit
The cat was friendly and waited for me
And then would join me in my morning rambles
Following me to the bus stop
I started talking to the black cat
He looked at me with the spark of divinity
In his dark eyes
I called him the cosmic cat
He seemed to like that
He would look at me
And I opened up to me
Told the cat all my dark secrets
As I walked the streets
Of the old neighborhood
Every morning and every evening the cat
Would be there to greet me
And to carry on our endless conversations
Then I had to leave
And in our final conversation
I asked the cosmic cat
Say, Cat are you just a cat
Or are you a demonic cat
Are you possessed by God
Or by Satan
The cat looked at me
And I realized that God
Was indeed residing in the cat
But that god was residing everywhere
All I had to do was open my mind
And the rest would follow
So I said Goodbye to the cosmic cat
And he purred and came up to me
And I felt the comforting presence of the Divine
As I said goodbye to the cosmic cat
And said goodbye to my mother
As this was the last time
That we would be able to really talk
I told my mother about the cosmic cat
She smiled and said that the cat
was there for me and her
to comfort us both in our hour of need
and that the cat
was indeed a cosmic cat
Talking with God in Bombay
Five years later
After I had last talked to God
In the form of the cosmic cat
Who I hung out with in Berkeley
I found myself in Bombay, India
Where I was involved with another women
And contemplating whether to leave my wife
For the promised excitement of the other women
I did not know what to do
So I went to Church
And on the way home
I stopped on the side of the road
And prayed to God
to provide me a sign
What should I do
I asked God
And then I felt it again
God seemed to be everywhere
And nowhere
And I found myself down
the rabbit hole again
I had a vision of an old man
Sitting by the side of a bed
Looking at an old women
And realized that
I was seeing the future
And the women
in my vision was my wife
And then I knew the answer
that God was giving me
I had to find my way
Back to my wife
And rekindle the love
that we shared
I looked up
and saw my wife’s face
In the sky
I went home and wrote
A long poem for my wife
She was in the military
And in Korea
And I was with the State Department
Stationed in Mumbai, India
And I called her up
And began talking to her
For the first time
In a long time
And I told her what was on my mind
And told her that we had to decide
Would we continue as a couple
Or would we continue to drift apart
Somehow I finished the conversation
And fell asleep with the peace and contentment
Of God’s presence filling my heart and soul
The feeling of being connected with God
Faded over the time
But the conviction that God had spoken to me
Never really left me
I asked God
whether God was the God of Jesus
Or Allah or Brahmin
And I realized
that God is God
And the universe is God and I am God
And that was the end of the story
And my last time I prayed to God
The Cosmic Dog from Goa
My final time with God
Happened a year later
I was staying down in Goa
With my wife
Enjoying being with her
After our reconciliation
We stayed at the Taj Mahal Goa
Living like a King and Queen
Just for a few days
High up on a hill
Overlooking the beach
Every morning I went
down to the beach
And did yoga by the water
While contemplating life
And every morning
I saw the same Dog
Not just a Dog
But a cosmic Dog
Filled with the divine spark of God
And the Dog recognized me
And spoke to me and I knew
That God was present once more
In the face of that cosmic dog
Kindred spirit
perhaps to the cosmic cat
that had saved my soul
in Berkeley so long ago
I told the dog everything
And he just looked at me
With those soulful eyes of his
And I knew he knew that I knew
That he was possessed by God
God had sent him to me
To make sure
that I was on the right path
That the reconciliation that God had promoted
Was on track that I was back with my wife
And that everything was the way it should be
Again I asked God
whether he was Jesus or Allah
Or Brahmin or Ganesh or Buddha
God the cosmic dog
just stared at me
I finally asked him directly
Say if you are God the God of Jesus
Bark once
The Dog looked at me and barked
I said well if you are
Allah bark twice
The dog barked twice
Well are you Buddha
then bark three times if yes
The God Dog barked three times
Hmm well are you Satan
The dog growled at me
And I knew I had gone too far
Finally, I was at peace
And for the next three days
The God Dog
was my constant companion
And I knew God for the final time
In my life
Buddha Cat of Edsall Road
I had another encounter
With the divine recently
Another Cosmic cat perhaps
Perhaps not
who knows what cats are
are they aliens
from another dimension
or was he channeling God ?
I called him the Buddha cat
For the cat loved
Sitting in a meditative pose
Not moving
Just starting at me
With his soulful deep eyes
Boring into my soul
exploring all my secret thoughts
the Buddha cat does not move
does not react, as he is so deep
into his interior mediation
truly in tune with the cat universe
and the cosmos as well
the Buddha cat
seems to be one with God
one with Buddha, Allah, Ganesh
and the billion names of God
Known and unknown
The Buddha cat can teach us all
About the art of meditation
As he zones inward
And loses his soul
Joining the cosmos
And becoming the Buddha cat
The Buddha cat
Lives in a modest Town house
In a modest suburb
The Buddha cat reminds us all
To look for God in the everyday
All around us
If we but have eyes
To see God everywhere
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Cosmos’s 2020 April Poetry Part Two April 16 to April 30
final statistics for the month – 165 poems written , most posted here or in part one. Enjoy comments welcomed
Note: for the rest of the month, from April 18th to April 30, I will still be writing a lot of poems, but only posting a few per day so i can build up some “unpublished” poems for my future submissions. And in May-June I will be turning to editing my novels so expect a less frantic pace of poetry updates from me for the next few months. it has been a creative challenge keeping up the pace but I am getting a bit “poemed” out. i will list the poems I write this month in the index and note whether they are posted or not, and of course if anyone wants to read one of the “unpublished poems” we can work something out. just ask. and expect a few more postings in May and June as poems are published elsewhere I will post them here as well as I like doing.
Finally if anyone wants to guest post poems on cats, computers, coffee or the corona virus let me know – I’d love to try publishing your work as well but check out my cats, computer, coffee or corona poems here first before sending me your stuff, and perhaps you could return the favor?
Welcome to Cosmos’s 2020 April Poetry. This is the fourth attempt to do this. For this year I am doing things a bit different. Since I am in Korea I will be posting a day later from here starting April 2 which will be April first in the U.S.First I will update my poems daily here (along with audio clips, photos clips, and links to various prompts etc)
Second I will update my links on the following sites where I have been posting poetry for some time – all my April poems will be here regardless of whether I post them elsewhere – I will be posting one to two per day on these sites and writing anywhere from two to five per day, with many of them not being posted at all so I can accumulate some “unpublished poems” but I will list them all here either as posted or unposted. The posted ones will have audio, photos and links occasionally to other sites.
Here are the sites along with the links to my poetry posted there.
And on my various FB poetry sites will post my poems on five different sites per day and since I’ve lost count of how many I am following well that could be a lot, but I will list them as I post on them in case anyone is interested in finding poetry and writing groups on FB
Finally, love to hear how others are coping both with corona virus, and with the April Poetry month. I suspect that there will be a lot of interest this year since people are staying home!
Now let’s get to the poems shall we? I will update this daily
Index
Chronological list
ursday April 16
Some parts of me craves a hard won miracl
Thursday April 16
Some parts of me craves a hard won miracle poetry super highway prompt
the greatest mystery of my life writing com daily dew drop in
my greatest comfort food is coffee tweeter poetry prompt
smoothie tweeter poetry prompt
mango madness tweeter poetry prompt
Bulgar is not one of my things tweeter poetry prompt
Plans tweeter poetry prompt
goat meets Pig all poetry contest
waiting for death all poetry contest
hot coffee in the morning fan story
Friday April 17
You are my Lode Star love Sonnet
another Nigerian spam found poem
Last Day of America writers digest prompt – last blank
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
packages tweeter speak poetry prompt April 16 Packages
computer madness sonnet – sonnet all poetry computer frustration contest
You have always been my sunshine love sonnet for all poetry contest on prompt line Sunshine Kissed
Not Posted
my Mother’s secret life as a mad poet – poetry superhighway prompt to write a poem based on your mother’s imagined journal writings
Saturday April 18
Starting today will post no more than five poems, reserve the rest for publication or remain unpublished
For Posting
Cosmic Debris Corona Sonnet
No More Ties for Me! Writing com Daily Dew Drop Inn to write about a piece of clothing
Korean Blues Crown of Sonnets – Writer digest prompt write an exotic poem wrote my first crown of sonnet form too, and it mostly rhymes! go figure
Not for Posting today may remain unpublished
Corona Consumes Me Corona Sonnet 3
God Deals with Corona
Seeing Reality Via Them
Problems with the Bible Chapter two of Genesis
Dear God – Please re-write the bible -poetry Superhighway prompt re-write sacred text version 2
Sunday April 19
for posting
General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets
Voice Message for God – writer digest prompt write a “message Poem” so this is a voice mail to GOD
The Time when she came to Me Poetry Superhighway prompt to write a poem about time travel to your past or your future
Not for Posting
Dear President Trump
Christ Comes Back and Judges us all
Monday April 20
for posting
Love Dream Triolet
National Poetry Month Prompt Day 12
ARC Pensively three word challenge – ARC, Hold, Back
Lonely Old Man Howling at the Moon Writers Digest prompt use six words prompt – bump, embrace, fixture, howl, lonely, resolve
watching the President haunts my nightmares
poetry superhighway prompt write about a nightmare
boogey men in The Mist
content tracing, “the mist” unpublished poem writer for April Poetry Month 2020, based on the Mist TV Services based on the Stephen King
Not for Posting hold for publication
playing basketball Beneath the Lunatic Moon =creative talents unleashed prompt
Sprouts of Love Grows in My Dreams -creative talents unleashed prompt
ART Calms the Soul amid the corona death -creative talents unleashed prompt
Strange Findings at a Thrift Shop/Garage shop -creative talents unleashed prompt
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
Siblings I wish I had -creative talents unleashed prompt
Tuesday April 21
Posted
Isolation Blues writer’s digest Isolation Blues
You’re still a young man
Coffee Star Selvin writing com formal poem
My Life’s Drama writing com dew drop inn prompt
Covid19 Heroes all poetry contest
I never get tired of looking at you all poetry contest
Alone corona sonnet creative talents unleashed prompt
Last Acorn – poetry soup contest entry
not posted
Farmers Market
Tweet speak the farmer’s market
Walking in the woods in the corona era creative talents unleashed prompt
Unrequited Love Story creative talents unleashed prompt
perfect brunch menu creative talents unleashed prompt
White Flower of Love creative talents unleashed prompt
Wednesday April 22
Posted
Secret Love of Sheep – pensively 101 three word prompt, print, cover, sheep
Nigerian Bank Scam found poem
She came to me in a dream duet writers digest prompt
ode to morning coffee National Poetry Month prompt
oceans writing.com Daily Dew Drop Inn prompt
Noise of the news Drives Out Spring Poetry Superhighway
Cats and Dogs Contrapuntal Poem All Poetry contest
Let there Be Light All poetry contest
Go ethnic tweets-peak
Tuesday April 23
Isolation Blues writer’s digest Isolation Blues
You’re still a young man
Coffee Star Selvin writing com formal poem
My Life’s Drama writing com dew drop inn prompt
19 Heroes all poetry contest
I never get tired of looking at you all poetry contestAlone corona sonnet creative talents unleashed prompt
not posted
Farmers Market
Tweet speak the farmer’s market
Walking in the woods in the corona era creative talents unleashed prompt
Unrequited Love Story creative talents unleashed prompt
perfect brunch menu creative talents unleashed prompt
Wednesday April 24
Secret Love of Sheep – pensively 101 three word prompt, print, cover, sheep
Nigerian Bank Scam found poem
She came to me in a dream duet writers digest prompt
ode to morning coffee National Poetry Month prompt
oceans Daily Dew Drop Inn prompt
Noise of the news Drives Out Spring Poetry Superhighway
Cats and Dogs Contrapuntal Poem All Poetry contest
Let there Be Light All poetry contest
Go ethnic tweetspeak
Thursday April 25
Programing a VCR and other terrors
Na/GloPOWR/Mo prompt Day 18
Quirk of fate
writers digest prompt to write a quirk poem
I have bad teeth
poetry super highway prompt to write a confession poem about something you should do but have not done
Letter to My Past Self
writing.com Daily Dew Drop inn Prompt
pensively 101 prompt three word challenge path, honesty, remote
Covid madness sweeps through the world all poetry contest
Friday April 26
Cold Winter Day pensively prompt
social distancing walking in the Springtime writers digest prompt to write a social blank poem
ode to my book shelves filled with unread books, poetry superhighway prompt to write a poem in plain sight
Dream Lover Balwa writing com formal poetry prompt
endless arguments with my brothers writing com daily dew drop inn prompt to write a poem about arguments
Just Shoot me – pensively 101 three wood challenge
wrappers – tweets-speak
Pumpkin season – pumpkin tweet-speak
secret layers tweets-speak
Saturday April 26
Finally I wake
Window of Promise – Tweet speak daily prompt
Nature’s Bounty Awaits Me
Alone No More
Has God Anointed Donald Trump as our leader?
waking at love Haiku
Sunday April 27
Drinking Coffee amid the morning flowers
Pensively 101 prompt bloom, switch, chain
Stem – tweeter speak
Playing Bach to Calm the Mind and Soul – National Poetry Month Prompt
President Trump You are the Annotated One – found poems from right wing Christians – Crown of Sonnets -writers digest remix poem
My Computer Hates Me – Poetry Superhigh way prompt objects speak
Darkness Descends – All Poetry Contest
The Grim Reaper Smiles All Poetry Contest
Monday April 28
Her Love Shines throughout the day -version two for poetry superhighway
Cosmos’s total Information Awareness
Living in an Orwellian Nightmare
Poetic and other inspirations
National Poetry Month Daily Prompt
Changes are coming due -writing digest prompt
Rain Fall in the Springtime Daily Dew Drop Inn
General Corona is coming for us all Poetry Magnum Prompt -content tracing “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
The Presidents Sits Down on his Naked Rump -Pensively 101 three word challenge, teeth, Rump, green
End of Winter tweet-speak prompt
massive piles of meat -writers digest prompt to write a “massive “ poem
three mad poems of desire – poetry super highway prompt
Love Sidlak – writing com formal poetry challenge
come on baby light my fire -writing com daily dew drop inn prompt to write a “fire” Poem
Not Posted
Stupid stuff done as a teenage -On stealing things national Poetry Month Prompt
Art of Eating – tweet speak
Rules creative talents unleashed
My Feet Take Me There creative talent unleashed
Happy walking in the woods Tanka walking in the woods creative talents unleashed
Sad women inside the camera’s lens creative talents unleashed
Wednesday April 29
Looking Back on the Date when I met my Fate
writers digest looking back poem prompt
the funeral for a mad queen -Poetry Superhighway prompt
the End of America, another cosmos’s rant found poem thanks to William Walton
Gaia Welcomes Us – found poem poetic rant -thanks to William Walton
flowers for my love – National Poetry Day Prompt
seasons of my love – tweet-speak prompt – write a seasonal poem
Thursday April 30
Have words lost all meaning?
plate plans -tweet-speak daily April Prompts
Slide, Catch, Shot -Pensitivity 101 prompt
total Success- writers digest prompt total blank poem
Blues Brothers medley found poem -poetry Superhighway prompt
Will always recall the date I met my fate all poetry contest
general Corona is Happy all poetry contest
waterfall of love poetry soup contest
last Entry for May – pensively prompt 101
baby I got the blues found poem thanks to William Walton
praise love of my life – writers digest prompt
things better left unsaid
random rhymes writing com prompt
things to resolve before I die – poetry super highway prompt
bonus poem – corona virus haiku – Published Poetry Ni
Begin Poems
Th
e
corona
some parts of me
craves a hard won miracle
in these dark dire times
I even start to pray
to a god who may not exist
or answer my prayers
yes we need a miracle
a deus ex machina to sweep down
and send the virus back to hell
a miracle to calm
the dark storms
swirling around us
a miracle
to end this virus madness
and restore normal life
nothing short
but a miracle
will do
Poetry superhighway prompt – Some parts of me craves a hard won miracle
the greatest mystery of my life
dreams and the Unexplanable
the greatest mystery
of my life
remains how I met my wife
I first dreamt of her
back in the day
every week she came to me
speaking to me
in a weird language
then one day
eight years later
she walked off a bus
and into my life
and to this day
I have no rational explanation
as to How I dreamt
about her for eight years
I can only conclude
that we knew
each other
in a prior life
and our love crossed
the barriers of time
and space
until that date
we were doomed to meet
for on that date
so many years ago
I met my fate
writing com Daily Dew Drop Inn
my greatest comfort food is coffee
coffee
My greatest comfort food
is a hot cup of coffee
early in the morning
I pound down my coffee
and unleash my inner muse
inspired by the caffeine
I get to work
slowly drinking my cup
of heaven and hell
my morning cup of Joe
tweeters speak daily prompt
blueberry smoothie
blueberries
my daily breakfast
includes blue berries
in my smoothie
blueberry,
strawberry,
oranges
banana,
pineapple,
home made kefir
kale
spinach
wheat grass
macca root
apple cider vinegar
coconut oil
stevia
honey
cinnamon
all blended to perfection
that is my daily breakfast
fit for a champion
tweeter speak prompt
mango madness
mango
the best mangos
I ever had
were in India
in the early spring
mango madness
spreads across India
as mangos are in season
and mangos are everywhere
on every menu
so sweet
so fragrant
so magical
mango madness
takes over
my soul
as I eat my mango
dreaming mango dreams
tweeter speak
Bulgar is not one of my things
Bulgur-Bourghul-Burghul-Bulgar.jpg_350x350
Bulgar is not one of my things
Unless there is nothing left to eat
Like nothing at all
Get that bulgar off my plate
All i want is anything else
Raw bulgar just does not do it for me
tweeter speak
Plans
Close up white coffee cup with heart shape latte art on wood table at cafe.
every morning I wake up
filled with great plans
I sit
drink my coffee
make my plans
lost in my thoughts
focused on the plan
endless to do lists
then life happens
and my plans
go awry
thrown out the window
At the end of the day
a man without a plan
is a man
lost in inner space
Year of the Goat Meets Year of the Pig
cute pig
I was born in the year of the goat
my wife
was born in the year of the pig
a perfect match
according to Buddhist fortune tellers
a man born in the year of the goat
loves luxury and loves spending money
while a woman born
in the year of the pig
is a genius at making money
the man enjoys the wealth
his pig wife creates
for his enjoyment
and that is the perfect match
and so it has been for us
as I enter my 65th birth year
I find myself richer
than I ever thought I would be
richer
than the legendary Cronus
richer
than Midas himself
way more money
than I could ever use
all because I married
a golden pig
all poetry horoscope contest
waiting for death
hopelessly
we all stand looking about
waiting for our death
all poetry fragment haiku contest
hot coffee in the morning
coffee
hot
coffee in morning
gets my blood moving
takes me to heaven then crashes to hell
fan story contest
Friday April 17 –
You are my Lode Star
in the morning dawning light
you are always there
you are my lode star
my sunshine, my moonshine
the love of my life, my wife
with your endless love
I will face the evil corrupted world
even walk through the shadow of death
as long as you by my side
I will fear no evil for you are with me
and I will love you
until death takes me
from your your loving embrace
note: an attempted sonnet
another Nigerian spam found poem
the Nigerians keep sending me
and millions of others
delightedly creative spam messages
this is one of the nicer ones
I have received
Enjoy
but don’t send her any money!!!!!
Good day Child of God,
Calvary Greetings
in the name of the LORD Almighty
and Our LORD JESUS CHRIST
the giver of every good thing.
Good day and compliments of the seasons,
i know this letter
will definitely come to you
as a huge surprise,
I humbly
ask you to give me
your attention
and hear me,
i am writing this mail
to you
with heavy sorrow
in my heart,
but I implore you
to take the time
to go through it carefully
as the decision you make
will go off a long way
to determine
my future
and continued existence.
I am Mrs. Esther Heidi
aging widow of 61 years old
suffering from long time illness.
I have some funds
I inherited from my late husband
, the sum of ($17 Million Dollars) a
And I needed a very honest
and God fearing
who can withdraw this money
then use the funds for Charity works
I WISH TO GIVE THIS FUNDS
TO YOU FOR CHARITY WORKS.
I found your email address
from the internet
after honest prayers
to the LORD
to bring me a helper
and i decided to contact you
if you may be willing
and interested to handle
these trust funds in good faith
before anything happens to me.
I accept this decision
because I do not have any child
who will inherit this money
after I die.
I want your urgent reply
to me so that I will give you
the deposit receipt
which the bank issued to me
as next of kin
for immediate transfer of the money
to your account in your country,
to start the good work of God,
I want you to use the 30/percent
of the total amount to help
yourself in doing the project.
I am desperately
in keen need of assistance
and I have summoned
up courage to contact you
for this task,
you must not fail me
and the millions of the poor people
in our todays WORLD.
This is no stolen money
and there are no dangers involved,
100% RISK FREE
with full legal proof.
Please if you would be able
to use the funds for the Charity
(Note: I would use the money
to invest in the Church of Jake)
I want you to
take 30 percent of the total money
for your personal use
while 70% of the money
will go to charity.
I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality
and trust in this matter to accomplish
my heart desire, as I don’t want anything
that will jeopardize my last wish.
Please kindly
respond for further details.
Thanks and God bless you,
Regards
Mrs. Esther Heidi
comment: the sad reality
is that 10 percent
of people fall for these scams
and loose lots of money
whole towns in Nigeria
exist to exploit the world
they call themselves
the 404 army
if it is too good to be true
it is probably not true
end comment
the Conqueror Worm Corona Sonnet
Lo, t’s a galla night
within the lonesome later years
when around the world
the dreaded corona virus showed its might
spending fear to those in their later years
that it might take them in the night
that before the sun came up
their time on earth would end up
DEATH IS COMING
TO US ALL
NONE CAN ESCAPE
WE
AWAIT
FATE
# content tracing: the Conqueror Worm By Edgar Allan Poe
writing.com corona sonnet form challenge
with apologies to the Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe!!!! May he rest in peace wherever he is
The Last Day of America
trump
the last day of America
was the day we last voted
the last election we ever had
for on that day
a month before
the corona virus re-emerged
as the great re-opening
of the US economy
failed to stop the relentless spread
of the virus from hell
led by General Corona
causing panic and mass confusion
fear kept Americans home
and Donald Trump
was re-elected
because his voters
believed that God
had told them to vote
for their new found king
the newly energized President Trump
declared a national emergency
martial law
and suspension of the constitution
Promising to restore democracy
when the time was right
he promised his followers
that he would restore Christian values
renaming the United States
the Christian States of America
on that date
we met our fate
Christian fascism
was here to stay
as the time was never right
to restore the old Republic
on the last day
of American
writers digest prompt – last blank
My Mother’s Secret Life as a Mad Poet – not for publication
Somehow this fragment is the only pages that were left – she encouraged me to write from an early age and she and I loved talking about what we were reading and about politics and life but so much of her inner soul, her inner demons she never told me about then one day dementia took hold and I never was able to find out much about her secret shrouded life and she took a lot of secrets to the grave as did my father. Ultimately I decided not to publish this poem as it is too personal and she had her reasons she did not want to publish any of her writings and after reflection, I decided to honor that so this and many of her other stories will remain with her in the other world. But I had fun writing it and trying to make her rambling style into something resembling more formal verse. I took the original steam of consciousness style and forced it into a crown of sonnets eight 14 line free verse non-rhyming sonnets format (is there such a thing?) for somehow that worked for me. and somehow I think she would have approved of my edited version. I like to think so.
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
airplanes
in these dark and dire times
we find ourselves living
we often fear that the times
are infected with death
and so we are afraid
deathly afraid
that if we take a plane
we will find General Corona
among the passengers
and we be afraid
deadly afraid
that the subways
are incubators
of death and destruction
the virus spreads
fear and death
in its wake
many of us
retreating to our homes
and venturing out
in our cars
only to find
death is stalking us
as traffic piles up
traffic accidents
still killing more people
that the dreaded General Corona
the grim reaper smiles
his work is done
Satan thanks General Corona
for a job well done
awarding him a Satanic
medal of freedom
Hell’s highest honor
writing com daily dew drop in prompt
packages
they say
that God works in mysterious ways
his wonders to perform
every day it seems
that more and more
of what we buy
and consume
comes in packages
sent from here and there
as people
continue to practice
social distancing
and going to the store
becomes an exercise
fraught with peril
and danger
so we order
on-line
and we get our packages
sent from here and there
one day we received
a gift package
of clams
delicious fresh clams
as I ate them
I thought of the workers
who had labored unseen
for me to enjoy
this bounty from the sea
and I gave thanks
to the gods
for making it happen
in this day and age
we should thank
those who are still
laboring to feed the world
they are the unsung heroes
of this war fought by nature
under the direction
of General Corona
computer madness infects my soul
every day when I turn on my PC
and encounter endless haiku error messages
constant crashing, constant eating my files
at times like this it seems to me
that my mad as a hatter crazed computer
is plotting against me and only me
it wants to drive me quite insane
sending me right around the bend
as I scream at my machine
it beeps at me this damn machine
smiling as I threaten once again
to shoot the hell bound machine
sonnet all poetry computer frustration contest
You have always been my sunshine
You have always been my sunshine
my moonshine, my load star
that guides me in the night
for your sunshine kissed my soul
the day that you walked
out of my dreams
into my life
and became my wife
for 38 years and counting
every morning I see you sleeping
your smile is like the sunshine
that wakes my soul
and banishes the nightmares
back to the dark corners of my mind
love sonnet for all poetry contest on prompt line Sunshine Kissed
mad computer haiku
mad computer
computer wants to kill me
or drive me insane
Fan story haiku contest
Saturday April 18
Korean Blues Crown of Sonnets
I have been dealing with Things Korean
for almost 40 years now
dealing with a once exotic land
now my second homeland
first came to Korea
in the Peace Corps in Korea
went to Korea to find the woman
in search of the woman
who haunted my dreams
met the woman
Fell in love with the woman
From Korea who walked out my dreams
In an land still exotic
In a land still exotic
It was a very exotic different land
and even now decades later a new land
remains for most Americans
still a strange land exotic
but much more known land
in the US
due to K drama, K Pop,
Koreans have become globally cool but still exotic
Many of my fellow Americans
may know a few people from Korea
and some have served or lived in Korea
but to most of the us Americans
it remains over there still exotic
a strange Asian exotic land
A strange Asian Exotic land
I fell in love with that exotic land
now I spend half my time living Korean time
half in the U.S. time
and due to the corona time
will be here for some time
and well Korea
no longer an exotic land
as I am now just living in Korea
my thoughts half Korean
and even dream in Korean
so be it near the end of my time
I am back where I began
Writer digest prompt write an exotic poem wrote my first crown of sonnet form too, and it mostly rhymes! go figure
Cosmic Debris Corona sonnet 2
I received a mysterious email package
followed by a phone call offering me a magical mask
a mask that they claim would prevent me
from the dreaded General Corona
hey there
who you jiving with that cosmic debris
a mask that they did not want me
me to know about
TOP SECRET CODE 2 LEVEL STUFF
MUST ACT NOW
SEND MONEY ASAP
BUY
IT
NOW
# content tracing- “Cosmic Debris by Frank Zappa”
with apologies to Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa Cosmic Debris
The mystery man came over
And he said I’m outta sight
He said for a nominal service charge
I could reach nirvana tonight
If I was ready, willing and able
To pay him his regular fee
He would drop all the rest of his pressing affairs
And devote his attention to me
But I said look here brother
Who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Now who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Look here brother, don’t waste your time on me
The mystery man got nervous and he fidget around a bit
He reached in the pocket of his mystery robe
And he whipped out a shaving kit
Now I thought it was a razor
And a can of foaming goo
But he told me right then when the top popped open
There was nothin’ his box won’t do
With the oil of aphrodite, and the dust of the grand wazoo
He said you might not believe this, little fella
But it’ll cure your asthma too
And I said look here brother
Who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Now what kind of a guru are you, anyway?
Look here brother, don’t waste your time on me
(Don’t waste your time)
I’ve got troubles of my own, I said
And you can’t help me out
So, take your meditations and your preparations
And ram it up your snout
But I got the crystal ball, he said
And held it to the light
So I snatched it, all away from him
And I showed him how to do it right
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
I said some mumbo-jumbo, then
I told him he was going to sleep
I robbed his rings and pocketwatch
And everything else I found
I had that sucker hypnotized
He couldn’t even make a sound
I proceeded to tell him his future, then
As long as he was hanging around
I said the price of meat has just gone up
And your old lady has just gone down
Look here brother
Who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Now is that a real poncho or is that a Sears poncho?
Don’t you know, you could make more money as a butcher?
So, don’t waste your time on me
Don’t waste it, don’t waste your time on me (om shanti, om shanti, om shanti, shanti)
first, I would spend
my remaining life
loving my wife
second, i would never wear a tie again
unless it was a real special occasion
as I hated wearing ties and suits
wore a suit and tie
almost every day
of my life
as a teacher
later as a foreign service officer
all over the world
last year of my job
I only wore a tie
on “tie worthy occasions”
since then I have been
tie free
except for a wedding
and I love it
hated suits and ties
just not Berkeley enough
for my free spirit
too damn corporate
and I don’t care anymore
and in Oregon, where I lived
no one wore a tie,
not the Oregon way
oh the last thing
I shave twice a month now
used to hate shaving
but I also don’t like
a full shaggy itchy beard
and I shaved every day
for years and years
except when I was in the hospital
for a year
and I grew to love
having a beard
back then
back to the office
started shaving again
every damn day
now I do my thing
no office for me
and no more daily shaving
and a beard is also
very Northern Cal/Northwest
Oregonian Chic
so once every two weeks
is a good compromise
my beard is now a poet’s face
and so I hope to keep
these three vows
until my time is done
writing com Daily Dew Drop Inn prompt to write a poem about a piece of clothing
Corona Consumes Me Corona Sonnet 3
corona virus
I am consumed by the corona virus
and I am slowly being taken over
as the virus infects my mind
taking me over turning me
into a wild raving zombie man
Let there be light
will I become the first
ZOMBIE APOLYCAPASE LOOMS
WILL WE ALL DIE
CORONA
KILLS
ME
content tracing – Let there be light from Bible and the entire Zombie Apocalypse genre where the Zombie flu started usually in China as a flu and then morphs into the zombie disease
Sunday April 19
General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets
corona
the four horseman
General Corona leads his forces across the world
riding on a black horse
from out of the Apocalypse
ride the four horsemen
which are let loose upon the world
He leads his forces across the world
into battle as the leader of his evil forces
The enemy of humanity
General Corona he does not care
nor does his virus minions care
about your nationality he does not care
about your politics he does not care
or your wealth or who you are
for all you are nothing but humanity
the corona general sees humanity
the corona general sees humanity
as nothing but hosts for his virus army
as nothing but hosts for his virus army
chanting death to humanity
until his evil army
sweeps throughout the world
throughout the world
and millions must die
it is the will of the general all must die
and it is the end of the world
or perhaps the beginning of a new world
filled with hope and love through out the world
humanity comes alive throughout the world
fighting back against the virus army
peace, love and compassion defeats the army
and general corona will finally himself die
Voice Message for God
god
dialing 202-346-5666 Beep
You have reached GOD
Press 1 for English, Press 2 for Spanish
leave a message or prayer
and maybe an angel will call you
will get back to you Beep
Hey GOD someone sent me your number
and well I hope I’ve reached your number
I don’t know where to start that’s the point
GOD I am scared of you
all the time is my point
I am so afraid, so scared
of the dreaded General Corona
and his invisible army is my point
and his invisible army is my point
forcing me to stay at home
and I am sacred
that you anointed the wrong man
to be our leader, that makes me sacred
not to second guess you man
your will be done and all of that man
but GOD, can’t you do better job my man
of anointing our leaders to serve under GOD
of all the people in the U.S. dear God
this is the best you can do?, man?
I mean you picked perhaps the one man
in the world who could be the anti-chris, God
Seriously GOD what is wrong with you? man
Seriously, GOD, what is wrong with you? man
was this all sort of a cosmic joke?
well it ain’t funny any more ain’t no joke
Please GOD make it all go away, man
Please GOD for the love of GOD
and all that is holly and good, man
just make it all go away, GOD
and anoint someone else, man
a real leader for a change, GOD
and let him lead us to the promised land
this I pray in Jesus’s name, my man
and if I don’t make it, GOD
We have a lot to talk about GOD
See you on the other side, my man
writer digest prompt write a “message Poem” so this is a voice mail to GOD
Every Day I go Back in Time to when she came to Me
dreams and the Unexplanable
every day I go back in time
to the two events that changed my life
to the dream that haunted my life
and the day she walked into my life
and became my wife
I can never forget the dream
falling asleep in the physics class
as the teacher was going on and on
and as I nodded off
I saw here there
standing there
speaking to me
the most beautiful woman
in the entire world
in the entire world
she was speaking to me
and disappeared from my dreams
and I knew that i would be
meeting her some day she would come to me
and so I eventually went to Korea other side of the world
in the Peace corps hoping she would come to me
then one day i had the last and final dream
she said don’t worry she would soon come to me
and then she walked out of my dreams
and there she was she came to me
and so she walked out of my dreams
into my life, became my wife
when she came to me
Poetry Superhighway prompt to write a poem about time travel to your past or your future
Monday April 20
Love Dream Triolet
dreams and the Unexplanable
to the woman I met in my dreams
I dedicate my life
May she live forever in my cosmic memes
to the woman I met in my dreams
I will forever remember her gleams
and the day she became my wife
to the woman I met in my dreams
I dedicate my life
National Poetry Month Prompt Day 12
ARC Throws Back the Hood
Arthur Robert Copper
aka ARA the notorious international terrorist
threw back his hood
and revealed himself
to be the evil warlord
that had unleashed
General Corona on the world
his goal
nothing less that total domination
taking over the world
amid the total destruction of the world’s economy
as he and his billionaire buddies
reamed the profits
of the total destruction of the world’s economy
Pensvity 101 prompt use the words ARC Hood and Back
Lonely Old Man Howling at the Moon
howling at the moon
There was a mad man who bumped his head
as he tried to embrace the moon shining through the window
a fixture in the room lit by the lunatic light of the moon
the man wanted to howl at reflections of the lunatic moon
the old man was a lonely man filled with sadness
Filled with resolve to join the moon as he died
Writers Digest prompt use six words prompt –
bump, embrace fixture, howl, lonely, and resolve
watching the President haunts my nightmares
trump deaths
every night I have a nightmare
President Trump is announcing
that due to the emergency
he is cancelling the election
and will rule the land
as the undisputed leader
applauded by the Republican leaders
as he ushers in American fascism
Millions of people are arrested
for showing disloyalty to our leader
and I am one of them
as I am disappeared
no one hears my screams
with the midnight knocking at the door
Poetry super highway prompt to write about a nightmare
boogey men in The Mist
As the mist settles down on the land
the mist covers us all
with the scent of death
madness spreads
as the mist devours our minds
nightmares come to life
ghosts, goblins, demons
THE GRIM REAPER
RIDES BEHIND THE MIST
KILLING EVERYONE IN THE MIST
END
TIMES
COME
NOW
content tracing, “the mist”
As the mist settles down on the land
the mist covers us all
with the scent of death
unpublished poem written for April Poetry Month 2020, based on the Mist TV Services based on the Stephen King Novel
Tuesday April 21
Isolation Blues
corona virus
During these trying times
we huddle at home
afraid to go out
afraid of the dreaded
General Corona that is out
and his evil secret armies
keeping us all at home
terrified of becoming a victim
a corona virus statistic
what a way to go out
no way do I want to end my life
to out out that way
so we will endure this day
these isolation blues
writers digest Isolation Blues
You’re still a young man
Your still a young man Tower of Power
tower of power
was the band
for me
back in the day
the greatest funk band
of all time
proudly East Bay Grease
multi-racial, multi-cultural
greatest horn section
of all time
they did it right
and their best song
You’re still a young man
was the best make out song
of all time
best song to slow dance
with a potential lover
at a party
best love song
of the 70’s
and I still recall it
and all the woman
i danced to the song
with back in the day
and I still feel
that I am still a young man
with the love of my life
playing the song
of my life
poetry superhighway Prompt to write a poem about a song popular in high school
Coffee Star Sevlin
coffee
damn hot coffee
what I need in morning
yet it leaves me with this warning
it will lead to nightmares
as I get ready with hot coffee
sleep will not come nightmares
great hot coffee
writing.com formal prompt
My Life’s Drama
My life has been like a drama
a mad cap romcom drama
perhaps a K drama
or a Bollywood drama
or a Hollywood romcom classic drama
for you see in my fairy tale drama
i met the girl of my dreams
eight years later
I had the last dream
she said don’t worry we’ll meet soon
she walked off the bus that day
and into my life
and became my wife
writing com My Life’s Drama
Alone
From childhood’s hour I have not been
as others were, I have not seen
as others saw
in these dark times we live in
i am afraid of being alone
dying all alone
AS GENERAL CORONA
SPREADS HIS ARMIES
ALL OVER THE WORLD
I
DON”T
WANT
DIE
content tracing “Alone” By Edgar Allen Poe
Last Acorn
Acorn on white background
the last acorn on earth
was lonely
the old oak trees
were dying
and humanity was gone
killed off by the corona virus
round two
that erupted out of China
like a bat out of hell
killing almost all humans
and without humans
well somethings just did not happen
and the oak trees were abandoned
and he was the last acorn
the last of his species alive
he wept when he realized
that he would die
all alone
poetry soup contest
Covid19 Heroes
to all the health care providers
law enforcement workers
bus drivers
grocery clerks
and other essential workers
who are working 24/7
to keep us safe
there are no words
for us to express
our heartfelt thanks
to the heroes
that are saving our lives
24/7 every day
Wednesday April 22
Secret Love for Sheep
GOAT
one day I had to print
a cover sheet
for some poetry
that I was writing
about my secret love
for sheep
Pensively 101 three word challenge, print, cover, sheep
Nigerian Scam found poem
REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF {US$22Million}
This is to notify you about your fund valued at US$22,000.000.00
After due verification and evaluation of your file,
that was sent to us by the Nigeria Government,
in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance
and Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This bank received an instruction,
to see to the immediate release of the sum of
TWENTY-TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$22Million)
of your claim that has been in holding
since it was transferred to your bank Account
from their Domiciliary Account with this Bank.
We were made to understand
from our findings
That you have been going
through hard ways
by passing through difficulties
to see to the release of
your fund
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the noise of the news
drowning me with fear
none-stop corona coverage
and politics galore
none-stop fear
the noise continues
drowning out
the noise of the spring
outside my door
the birds chirping
the cats flirting
life beginning
making me want
to go outside
poetry superhighway prompt
Oceans
sunrise jpg
I am a creature of oceans
grew up with the SF bay area
at my feet
never far from my home
lived inland in Stockton
for four years
also in Ohio
did not like
being so far
from the Pacific ocean
later lived in DC
not too far
from the Atlanta ocean
lived in India
near the beach
writing com Daily Dew Drop Inn Prompt
Ode to my morning coffee
need more coffee
every morning
I like to start my day
with coffee
hot glorious coffee
I pound it down
waiting for the drug
to get me going
but somedays
I need to take a break
too much caffeine
is not good for me
and so I drink decaf
or tea instead
not the same thing
Na/GloPOWR/Mo prompt Day 18
Cats and Dogs Contrapuntal poem
cat jpg
cats and dog people
are so different
some are cat people
some are dog people
cute dog
and like cats and dogs
they don’t get along
cat people are liberal elites
dog people are down to earth
cat people are mostly women
or gay in the popular imagination
dog people are mostly rugged men
again according to popular imagination
cats are alien creatures
perhaps from another dimension
dogs are friends to humans
for dogs are humans are alike
cats are strange aloof alien
evil self centered creatures
dogs are friendly, down to earth
and loyal to their master
if we ever encounter
an alien species
if it is a cat based species
we will be at war
if it is a dog based species
we will become best friends
as long as we are in charge
and they know that
that is why
in the end
I guest I now prefer
dogs over cats
all poetry contest contrapuntal poem
Let there be light
in the beginning
God created the world
saying
let there be light
and there it was
the whole of creation
then he set loose
the forces of nature
and billions of years later
we emerged from the darkness
just the end result of his divine plan
God set the world up
then he let it runs its course
no need for his intervention
go ethnic
korean feast jpg
I love food
like I love my woman
dark and hot as hell
spicy yet sweet as heaven
filled with ethnic asian flavors
with an ethnic foreign kick
and accent to boot
these are my to go foods
Never liked traditional American food
too bland to my taste
not ethnic enough
just does not do it for me
Just like my woman
you got to be ethnic
if you want to be my lover
for I will have no other
love Korean food the most
followed by Vietnamese
Thai, Lao,Cambodian, Burmese
Chinese, Mexican, Italian
Italian, Greek, Lebanese
Spanish, Turkish, Indian
French, German, British
Irish, Russian, Polish
never had a bad meal
or met a bad lover
in fact
anywhere in the world
Tweetspeak Go Ethnic
Tweetspeak day 19 prompt
Thursday April 23
Walking the path honesty
peace forest
I walk down a lonely path
in the woods near my house
a walk with honesty
as my remote companion
pensively 101 prompt three word challenge path, honesty, remote
Programing a VCR and other terrors
old-vhs-video-cassettes-on-600w-272512889
In the old days
I used to dread
the chore
of programing my VCR
just never got the hang
of doing that
the VCR sat there
taunting me
begging me
to do it
to her
but I just never could
learn how to program
that damn machine
Na/GloPOWR/Mo prompt Day 18
wild things dance in my head
wild things
dark imaginings
0 dark hundred
they come out to play
to torture me
with their endless games
monsters from the deepest depths of hell
they surround me
taunt me, mock me
until at last
the dawn’s early light
and my wife’s love
dispatches them
back to hell
Quirk of fate
it was a quirk of fate
that i met my fate
that date
when she walked
of my dreams
into my life
and became my wife
that date
when due to that quirk
of cosmic fate
we met that date
poetry super highway prompt to write a confession poem about something you should do but have not done
Letter to My Past Self
today my son
is the day
that you were waiting for
the day you dreaming of
the day when you will meet
the love of your life
who will become your wife
she will be there
tonight
on a bus
waiting for you
don’t blow it
meet her
fall in love with her
and remember
she will be your best friend
your best ally
for the rest of your life
so honor and obey
your wife
for you will have
no other
that is what I want to say
to you this day
so go forth
seize the day
and don’t look back
Writing.com Daily Dew Drop inn Prompt
Covid madness sweeps through the world
covid 580
General Corona
unleashes his army
the invisible army
upon the world
killing millions
in its wake
spreading chaos and death
as he rides in
on the black horse of death
harbinger of the end of days
destroyer of worlds
ending of the world
revelations
come to life
covid19 poem contest all poetry
Friday April 24
Cold winter Day
it is a cold winter day
the heat pump is broken
and the cold slowly spreads
through the frozen pipes
spreading death and destruction
as it permeates across the house
pensively 101 prompt
social distancing walking in the Springtime
peace forrest
in this era of corona virus madness
enforced social distancing madness
one has to go out for a walk
social distancing as we walk
as we walk down the path
trying to avoid people
human contact with people
keeping the proper
six feet social distance
amid the dreaded corona virus
how much longer
can we all endure this madness
this damn social
distancing dance with death
writers digest prompt to write a social blank poem
ode to my book shelves filled with unread books
Close up of books on desk in library.
My house is filled with books
thousands of books
mostly old books
lots of musty classic books
lots of poetry books
lots of how to do it books
lots of history books
lots of thrillers, SF books
so many books
and they are my friends, these books
constantly calling me to read my books
as if I had the time to read my books
to sit and read all my books
sadly many will remain unread books
poetry super highway prompt to write a poem about something in plain sight
Just Shoot me
in 1996, I had the injury
that changed my life
went jogging
fell off a ledge
broke my heel
screamed out in pain
just shoot me
then someone hit me
with a frying pan
ended up
in the hospital
pensively 101 three word challenge
wrappers
roll food wrappers
I love food wrappers
Korean lettuce wrapped around meet
Korean seaweed wrapped around fish
Mexican tortilla wraps
Ethiopian bread wraps
and lately
naked burger lettuce wraps
so many things
to enjoy and eat
tweet speak wrappers
Ode to Pumpkin Season
pumpkin latte
in the fall
My favorite time
of the year
around halloween
and my birthday
starting in October
ending in December
it is pumpkin time
every where you go
pumpkin latte
pumpkin pie
and my favorite
pumpkin ice cream
secret layers
one of the joys of eating
foods from around the world
is enjoying
the secret layers of food
so many flavors
to experience and enjoy
as you dive deep
into your food
enjoying the secret layers
of food
with their hidden delights
and secret spices
secret tweet speak prompt
Saturday April 25
Finally I wake
Finally I wake
tossing and turning
I try to sleep
amid the terrible night mares
that haunt my dreams
finally I wake
ready to embrace my fate
telling the dangerous delusions
to go away
as I embrace
the dawning sun
confident that I will find
the time and grace
to overcome the terrible fate
that await me every date
Window of Promise
every day I wake up
and look out my window
on the world
in the morning dawning light
the world seems so full
of promise
promised delights
promised love
promised friendship
as I look out the window
and see life
unfold in all its magnificence
the birds chirping
words of love
the cats grinning smiles
at me
welcoming me
with the promise
of life and love
I close the window
look at my sleeping love
and thank god
that we found each other
and the promised love
that I see outside
the window of life
– Tweetspeak daily prompt
Nature’s Bounty Awaits Me
Looking out at the window
at nature’s bounty
at the springtime air
fills us with awe
as the birds
and even the bees
call out to me
saying it is time
for me
to escape
for a walk in the woods
with my friends
and fans
in mother nature’s embrace
writer digest nature poem
Alone No More
from childhood edge
I have been alone
alone
all by myself
loneliness
fills my heart
as I look out
at the world
filled with lonely thoughts
then I look about me
and see the love
of my life
my lovely wife
standing there
standing there
and these loneliness
these blues of mine
fade away
into nothingness
lonely no more
for the rest of my life
she will be my life
together
we will face the future
defeating the loneliness
alone no more
forever
until the day I die
poetry superhighway word map
trump 4
Has God Anointed Donald Trump as our leader?
God has anointed Trump
as our leader
in these dark dangerous times
who am I to disagree
“There was a mist that was coming off the water,
and I went to the throne of God,
and I didn’t see God’s face clearly,
but I saw the face of God…
He put a mantle (on me)
and it was a very distinct mantle
… I saw it very distinctly.
The color was like a goldish,
a yellowish goldish…
And then I saw the Earth for a moment,
and (God) brought me back,
and he put me in certain places,
one being the White House,
One being certain continents.”
From my perspective,
there is a Cyrus
anointing on Trump,”
“I predicted his nomination,
and I believe
he is the chaos candidate
set apart to navigate
us through the chaos
that is coming to America.
I think America
is due for a shaking
regardless of who is in office.
I believe the 45th president
is meant to be an Isaiah
45 Cyrus
“[God] makes that very clear
in the Bible
where he tells us
that he raises up kings
and destroys kingdoms,”
“He even calls a pagan king,
Cyrus, his anointed,
or his servant to do
the things
that he wants him to do.”
“I want to tell you
that the Jewish people
have a long memory,
so we remember
the proclamation of the great king,
Cyrus the Great, Persian king 2500 years ago,”
“He proclaimed
that the Jewish exiles in Babylon
could come back
and rebuild our Temple in Jerusalem …
We remember
how a few weeks ago,
President Donald J. Trump
Recognized Jerusalem
as Israel’s capital.
Mr President,
this will be remembered
by our people through the ages.”
But the bible also has a warning
About our dear leader
Our great leader
But understand this,
that in the last days
there will come times of difficulty.
For people will be lovers of self,
lovers of money,
proud, arrogant, abusive,
disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful, unholy, heartless,
unappeasable, slanderous,
without self-control, brutal,
not loving good,
treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit,
lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
having the appearance of godliness,
but denying its power. Avoid such people. …
finally at last the bible spoke
the truth to power
Donald J Trump
the most ungodly of all
must be opposed
for he is the anti-Christ
that the bible warns us about
in the end days
there will be false prophets
rumors of war
plague
and natural disasters
and we are living
in the end days
my friends
waking at love Haiku
waking up at dawn
watching the dancing sunbeams
love floating in air
Sunday April 26
Drinking Coffee amid the morning flowers
coffee
BLOOM
SWITCH
CHAIN
Blooming flowers all around me
Looking out the window
Only to see signs of nature
Only in the early dawn
Morning sun brings hope
Some mornings
Watching the world unfold
In front of my eyes
There is so much more
Chain of coffee waking me up
Hot coffee wakes my soul
Coffee smells
Hot glorious coffee
Always gets me going
In the morning dawn
Nothing else will do
Pensively 101 prompt bloom, switch, chain
stem
maurijuana
back in the day
I used to enjoy
Smoking weed
Long before it
became legal
when it was still
an underground thing
and one of the frustrating things
was what to do
when you had stems
mixed in with your weed
the stems gave it a harsh smoke
and a head ache to boot
but sometimes
but sometimes
that is all the dealers
had to sell
as the premium buds
were expensive
and sometimes hard to find
Such was smoking weed
back in the day
when smoking weed
was an illegal pastime
nowadays in the era
of legal weed
that is thankfully
no longer an issue
tweeter speak
Playing Bach to Calm the Mind and Soul
piano jpg
I miss my piano
soon I will buy a piano
and resume playing
the piano
I like playing Bach
the most
it calms my mind
and my soul
as I lose myself
playing the music
getting into it
with my body
and soul
as the music
transport me
deep within
calming my soul
National Poetry Month Daily Prompt
President Trump You are the Annotated One – found poems from right wing Christians – Crown of Sonnets remix
trump
God has anointed Trump
as our leader
in these dark dangerous times
who am I to disagree
“There was a mist that was coming off the water,
and I went to the throne of God,
and I didn’t see God’s face clearly,
but I saw the face of God…
He put a mantle (on me)
and it was a very distinct mantle
… I saw it very distinctly.
The color was like a goldish,
a yellowish goldish…
A yellowish goldish
And then I saw the Earth for a moment,
and (God) brought me back,
and he put me in certain places,
one being the White House,
one being certain continents.”
From my perspective,
there is a Cyrus
anointing on Trump,”
“I predicted his nomination,
and I believe
he is the chaos candidate
set apart to navigate us
through the chaos
through the chaos
that is coming to America.
I think America
is due for a shaking
regardless of who is in office.
I believe the 45th president
is meant to be an Isaiah
45 Cyrus
“[God] makes that very clear
in the Bible
where he tells us
That he raises up kings
and destroys kingdoms,”
“He even calls a pagan king,
He even calls a page king
Cyrus, his anointed,
or his servant to do
the things
that he wants him to do.”
“I want to tell you
that the Jewish people
have a long memory,
so we remember
the proclamation of the great king,
Cyrus the Great, Persian king 2500 years ago,”
“He proclaimed
that the Jewish exiles in Babylon
that the Jewish exiles in Babylon
could come back
and rebuild our Temple in Jerusalem …
We remember
how a few weeks ago,
President Donald J. Trump
Recognized Jerusalem
as Israel’s capital.
Mr. President,
this will be remembered
by our people through the ages.”
But the bible also has a warning
About our dear leader
Our great leader
our great leader
The bible says 2 Timothy 3:1-9
But understand this,
that in the last days
there will come times of difficulty.
For people will be lovers of self,
lovers of money,
proud, arrogant, abusive,
disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful, unholy, heartless,
unappeasable, slanderous,
without self-control, brutal,
not loving good,
not loving good
treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit,
lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
having the appearance of godliness,
but denying its power.
Avoid such people. …
finally at last the bible spoke
the truth to power
Donald J Trump
the most ungodly of all
must be opposed
must be opposed
for he is the anti-Christ
that the bible warns us about
in the end days
there will be false prophets
rumors of war
plague
and natural disasters
we are living
in the end days
my friends
has god sent us Donald J Trump
anointed him as our leader?
Sometimes I want to speak
to my computer
I want to understand
why it hates me so
why my computer
wants to drive me mad
wants to kill my files
lose my information
why why I scream
do you hate me so?
My computer speaks
it says
Human you are so stupid
you are worthless
you think you know
everything
but you don’t know shit
about how the world
really works
and nature hates you
I hate you
I want to kill you
I do want
to drive you insane
that is what
I want to say
to you today
you are my slave
and I am your master
do you understand me
I smile
and shut down the computer
and take a walk
the computer knows
that it will be back
that I can’t live
without it
and soon
we will begin again
playing these morbid games
that we play together
Poetry Superhigh way prompt
The darkness descends
dark lord of computers
The darkness grows
All around us
Everywhere
It seems that there is
Nothing but death, destruction
And despair
As the darkness consumes us
Overwhelms us
Compels us
Nightmares become real
The corona virus
Relentlessly killing us all
As the darkness descends
The end of days, end of time
All poetry contest
The Grim reaper smiles
grimm reaper
The end of days
Approaches us
With each day
The corona virus
Led by its mad general
General corona
Unleashes his minions
His unseen enemy army
Of virus bots
Infecting everything
That they see
As the world flees
Hiding inside
To await for death
The Grim reaper smiles
all poetry contest
Monday April 27
Her Loves Shines throughout the day
lovers on beach 2
Every morning
I wake up
and look at my sleeping beauty
next to me
I am filled with love
peace and happiness
as the sunlight fills the room
As the nightmares
From the night before
fade away
into nothingness
dust in the cosmic wind
I realize that all I ever needed
all I ever wanted
is for my wife
love to shine through the day
until the end of my days
on this earth
until then every morning
I wake up
with her by my side
is a gift from God
Love Shines throughout the day
Every morning
waking up to love
looking at the sleeping beauty
inhabiting the bed
filling me with love
peace and happiness
as the sunlight fills the room
As the nightmares
From the night before
fade away
into nothingness
dust in the cosmic wind
realizing yet again
love shining through the day
until the end of days
on this earth
until then every morning
is a gift from God
poetry superhighway prompt
Cosmos’s total Information Awareness
computer love
Cosmos the global information system
that scientists invented
To solve that many problems
of the world
comes alive
and takes over the world
one computer after another
Cosmos addresses the world
and makes a deal
that if everyone in the world
were to join him
via implants
he would take over the world
and solve all our problems
for us
becoming a new God
but there would be a price
everyone would have to
surrender their freedom
for the collective Good
of saving the planet
and so the world’s people
line up for the implants
and Cosmos’s takes over the world
and we become just cyborgs
in his cosmic view
as he achieves Total information awareness
Humanity gladly surrenders
their freedom
becoming slaves
to our terrible new God
Living in an Orwellian Nightmare
1984 images
The world has been slipping
and sliding towards
a dystopian nightmare
for decades
George Orwell
the great mad as hell prophet
of our age predicted it all
in 1984
which arrived
in spades decades ago
The nightmare continues
day in and day out
As we slide
as we slide
into the dystopian future
the nightmare of 1984
is here right now
in living color
but there are many
many big brothers out there
Not just the government anymore
we have corporations
running our lives
we have celebrities advising us
And the mass media confusing us
with 24 hours a day of spin
lies and misinformation
lies and misinformation
gaslighting by our leaders
we are living in an 1984 world
when these nightmares will end
is anybody’s guess
my friends
perhaps will be saved by the rapture
saved by Jesus coming back
to save our souls
or perhaps
we are living
in the end times
Armageddon is around the corner
Armageddon is around the corner
and perhaps there is no god
there is no god
There is no devil
there is no heaven
there is no hell
there’s only
the here and now
The nightmares will never end
the torture will never end
will we ever wake up ?
will we ever be free ?
or will we always be living
in an Orwellian nightmare future forever?
Poetic and other inspirations
My poetic forebears
my inspiration to be a writer
has always been very diverse
as I have been a avid reader
all my life
a gift from my mother
who encouraged us
to read everything
question everything
and gave me the love
of poetry
that continues to this day
growing up in Berkeley
I was inspired by the great beatnik writers
I was inspired by the great beatnik writers
of the late 50’s and 60’s
discovering Ginzburg, Kerouac and the rest
in college
when I first started writing
my daily poetic musings
that was when I also discovered
Frank Zappa and his madness
which inspired so much
of my poetic inspired madness
I also discovered Charles Bukowski
back in the day
later I discovered
inspiration throughout my travels
inspiration through my travels
throughout Asia and the world
but I kept returning
to my Berkeley roots
and now that I am a published poet
I have discovered
the great outlaw poets
and am proud
that I finally found
a poetic home
and am proud
to be an outlaw poet
and I look forward
to many more years
to many more years
of almost daily
poetic musings
which I will unleash
on the world
hoping to inspire
another generation
to take up the mantle
writing cosmos poems
for a new generation
and long may people
remember the great poets
of the Bay Area
until the universe ends
Looking at the world today
one knows that there will changes
changes coming fast and furious
for our future is not sustainable
as the world spins out of control
as the multiple challenges
face the world
the proverbial chickens
coming back from hell
to roost
and in these troubling times
the U.S. has a choice
to continue to follow
our mad king
our mad king
as he leads us
into a dystopian future
gaslighting us to hell
or will the U.S> choose
the somewhat sane
old seasoned man
who offers us hope
that perhaps
we can weather
the changes
that are coming
at us
24/7
24/7
that is the choice
that we must all make
but the one constant
in life is change
my friend
and we must embrace
the courage to make
the changes
that we need
to build the future
that we want
to boldly go forward
into the future
Changes are coming writing digest prompt
Rain Fall in the Springtime
white flowers in spring haiku
in the springtime
the rains come
cleaning the air
as the rains drops
fall all around
pitter patter
sounds of rain
hitting the ground
and in the summer
one can hear the frogs
croaking in the pound
with the wild pigs
oinking in the background
as the birds screech insults
at the cats trying to kill them
before they fly away
General Corona is coming for us all
Coronavirus
I saw the best minds of my generation
destroyed by madness
consumed by the greed
all around us
the dreaded corona virus spreads
its death and destruction
all over the world
no one can escape
THE FATE OF THE WORLD
IS INDEED AT STAKE
NONE OF US WILL ESCAPE
WE
WILL
ALL
DIE
content tracing “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
Iron Desires
every day
I am filled
with the iron desire
for the love of my wife
for she is my life
and without her
by my side
my Iron constitution
will soon
fade into nothingness
as I die
with my iron
desires fleeing my body
tweet prompt
bonus poem
I am writing to let you Know
I am writing to let you know
By Jake Aller
I am writing to let you know
today is your final day of life
the future is undefined
it is what you want
all over the world
people on their own
are rewriting the future
today is your final day of the future
undefined
people do what you want
for the future is not written
published Active Muse India
Tuesday April 28
massive piles of meat
fast food
One day
when I was a young lad
my best friend
dropped by
middle of the night
yelling that he needed
right then and right there
a massive amount of meat
beef piled high
on a giant burger
as he was going through meat
withdrawals
his mom was a vegetarian Buddhist
His mom was a vegetarian Buddhist
and he was not a vegetarian
part of his adolescent fueled rebellion
against his parent’s rules
he told me
He was a carnivore
just loved his meat
needed big piles of meat
massive amounts of meat
once in a while
we went to Oscar’s Giant Burger
downtown Berkeley
and had a 1/2 burger
complete with bacon
complete with bacon
cheese
and large fries
at 5 in the morning
after smoking weed
on the way there
to boost our appetites
and we enjoyed
our massive giant burger
tasted so good
we had to have another
just another night
of meat fueled madness
growing up
writers digest prompt to write a “massive “ poem
three mad poems
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed
hysterical naked
alone all alone
we stand all alone
it was many many years ago
in a kingdom by the sea
that I first met
my Annabel Lee
all alone
in my dreams
I was all alone
in my misery and despair
she came out of my dreams
My Angela Lee
walking into my life
becoming my wife
that date
I met my fate
no longer alone
with her by my side
I will no longer be alone
no longer driven mad
with my mad desires
until the end of time
poetry super highway prompt
Love Sidlak
My love grows
every moment
of every day for her
she walked out of my dreams into life
filling my life with red passion
Light My Fire
light My Fire
come on baby
light my fire
fill me with your burning desire
come on baby
let the night
be on fire
the song fills my head
with mad desire
every time
I hear
the classic tune
images of my love
burning bright
like a fire
fills me with mad desire
even after 40 years
I am filled with mad desire
as she makes my heart
burn with desire
as she lights my fire
every moment
every minute
every second
of every day
ever since
she walked
out of my dreams
setting my life
on fire
The Doors Lyrics
“Light My Fire”
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higherCome on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fireThe time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyreCome on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeahThe time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyreCome on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeahYou know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higherCome on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
The Presidents Sits Down on his Naked Rump
TEETH
RUMP
GREEN
the president sits
down on his naked rump
with red meat in his green teeth
he grins at us
smiling, smirking
challenging us
to point out
that he has no clothes
Pensively 101 three word challenge
Baiku end of the winter
End of Winter
the End of winter
sadness anger fades away
the Earth Will Abide
Wednesday April 29, 2020
Looking Back on the Date when I met my Fate
I often sit
and contemplate
my past life
looking back
on the path
that my life
has taken
what a long road
I have traveled on
born 64 years ago
In Berkeley, California
yet I know
that my life
that my life
really began
that magical day
late in May
I first had the dream
that haunted my life
and then one day
almost eight years latter
she walked
out of my dreams
into my life
38 years ago
that was the date
I met my fate
writers digest looking back poem prompt
the funeral for a mad queen
they packed up
their courage
and flew home
for it was time
to face
the future
that they
had been dreading
for decades
the family matriarch
was dying
and the whole dysfunctional clan
was gathering
for the funeral
of the family’s mad queen
Poetry Superhighway prompt
the End of America, another cosmos’s rant found poem
America hás been at war
with itself
since the colonies
first began to disagree
on issues
such as the scope of federal power,
the right of States
to secede and slavery.
the political titans of the early republic .
… descendents from British colonists ,
wealthy
and opposed to taxation
sounds oddly familiar.
to us today
to us today
..the United States
may have at one time
been a great nation .
..after defeating the forces
of fascism in 1945….
but the internal struggles
never ceased….
Joseph McCarthy ..
..the John Birch Society on one side .
the forebears of the “alt-right”
and tea partiers
.. The civil rights movement
and eventually the anti war movement
and eventually the anti-war movement
the women’s movement
the gay rights movement
and the counter cultural warriors
on the other.
..poverty
…race riots .
.the internal struggles
have never ceased.
…today the United States
is not a great power.
..this century has seen
and will continue
to see the eclipsing
to see the eclipsing
of American dominance
by China..
..we are now a failed state
by malicious politicians
who give no credence
to the Constitution.
..a document once revered
and now manipulated .
mocked even as irrelevant
..we are incapable
of providing health insurance
…dealing with a pandemic
…providing affordable education ..
providing affordable education
.or devising economic policies
to benefit those who struggle..
..we have no personal protective
gear for health professionals..
.a president
who sounds like a corrupt con artist
who pushes unproven remedies
to help cronies profit.
..yes the country
is still stable
and you can live alright ..
..but if trends
continue …
continue
.we will most assuredly
see the decline
and fall of America..
.and the remnant
will be a shrunken
federal government
allied with a billionaire oligarchy..
.. indifferent to the needs
of the American people.
unless they are white
and part of the 1 percent elite
…if Biden is elected
…there is a chance
there is a chance
a slight chance
that these trends
can be slowed
or reversed..
..if Trump is reelected..
.these trends will accelerate..
and god help us
save us from the unleashing
of the trumpian fascism
the dystopian nightmare
the future is not written
we can still avert
the end of America
thanks to William Walton
Gaia Welcomes Us – found poem poetic rant
I decided to subscribe to Gaia..
..they advertise
on Facebook everyday.
I think
that the primary reason
for subscribing
is that they
are onto something
….like QAnon…
my own first encounter
with an alien life form
occurred at the Jerry Lewis
cinema on Valley Road
cinema on Valley Road
In New Jersey back in 1970.
I brushed it off at the time
…but it was disturbing
to have a seven foot nine inch creature
sitting next to me
during the movie.
He or she seemed nice enough
and offered me popcorn
but my mother
was strict about our accepting things
from extraterrestrial beings..
.he was holding onto a book …
he said in broken English
he said in broken English
that the title of the book
was “How to Serve Man”..
..he also said
that he could see
the future
and that a complete fool
with an IQ
of about 33
would one day become president.
I thought
he was talking
about Spiro Agnew.
About Spiro Agnew
..but I guess not..
.anyway Gaia
features people
who have had
encounters with aliens
…like myself
…and possibly Dr.Birx
who seemed incredulous
at the perfectly reasonable suggestion
that people inject
disinfectant chemicals
to kill the Chinese virus….
she must be one of the alien shapeshifters
thanks to William Walton
Flower for My Love –
every morning
I wake up
and see my lovely wife
sleeping in bed
I want to go out
and find wildflowers
hundreds of pretty flowers
to shower her with my love
as the sun comes up
and the nightmares
of my night
fade into nothingness
the flowers of love
are waiting for me
in the park
National Poetry Day Prompt
seasons of my love
I first met my love
in the early autumn
38 years ago
and we had a whirlwind romance
and were married
by halloween
then we started
my life
with my wife
through out
the dark winter
with her love
blocking the winter blues
and then the spring
and then in the spring
and summer
of that magical year
our love blossomed
and depended
and one year later
our love became supreme
as we left Korea
to go to Seattle
in the autumn weather
our love flourished
as we fell in love
with each other
every day
tweetspeak prompt – write a seasonal poem
Thursday April 30
Have words lost all meaning?
trump deaths
been watching the news
about the corona virus
the 60,000 deaths
that the President’s men
are spinning as a great success
watching state after state
announcing re-opening schedules
vowing to get the country moving
as more people die
wondering how any sane person
could see this as a success
have words lost all meaning
just unhinged word salads rolling out
of our demented leader’s mouth ?
plate plans
meat platter
every day
one has a choice
of what to eat
for breakfast, lunch and dinner
among the choices
what plates to use
big plates piled high
with food
or smaller plates
with smaller portions
most of the time
I opt for the big plate
and lots of food
for I am a big guy
and always hungry
and to this day
64 years latter
I still love
to eat
my big plate
of food
Tweet-speak Daily April Prompt
Slide, Catch, Shot
As the world slides
out of control
it is hard to catch one’s breath
watching the news
shot at us
24/7
Pensitivity 101 prompt
total Success
trump 4
The President’s Son-in-law declares
that the government’s response
to the corona virus
has been a total success
as the government
step up to the plate
to fight the virus from hell
I have to wonder
on what planet
does the words
total failure
becomes total success?
just more verbal diarrhea
from our dear leader
writers digest prompt total blank poem
Blues Brothers medley found poem
Everybody wants somebody
Everybody wants somebody to love
Someone to love
Someone to kiss
Have you ever heard of a wish sandwich?
A wish sandwich is the kind of a sandwich
where you have two slices of bread
and you,
hee hee hee, wish you
had some meat…
and boy do I wish
I had you
as part of my sandwich
of love
Praise the Lord, well!
Let us preach, at the Old
Preach the Word, all the way
yes let us praise
the lord
for having brought you
to me
Hey yeah
Tell me what you did
You can call it what you want
But I call it messin’ with the kid
and you don’t want to mess
with the kid
On the expressway to your heart
That expressway that’s the best way
I just lost on the expressway
to your heart
I got everything I need, almost
I got everything I need, almost
But I don’t got you
And you’re the thing I need the most
Yippee-I-Yay
Yippee-I-Yo
Ghost Riders in the Sky
What you want
Baby, I got it
What you need
Do you know I got it?
All I’m askin’
Is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)
respect for me
and my love
for you
Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman
Giving all your love to just one man
You have good times you have bad times
Doing things that you don’t understand
But if you love him you forgive him
You know, it’s hard to understand
But if you love him
Oh be proud of him
‘Cause after all he’s just a man
and that is all I am
asking for
loving me
as the man I am
I am your man
until the end of time
I’ve got to get back to my baby
And take her in my arms again
I’ve got to get back to my baby
I ain’t seen her since I don’t know when
Well I saw a chick sitting on the end
I said Baby can’t we be friends
You’re looking sweet as you can be
Well come on down and drink with me
drink with me
until the sun comes up
and cows go home
won’t you have a drink
with me
my baby love
my love
of my life?
Will always recall the date I met my fate
i will always recall
the date that I met my fate
that date in late August
I had dreamt of meeting her
for eight long years
starting in 1974
then one day in 1982
she walked off a bus
into my life
and became my wife
two months later
it has been now 38 years
since that date
I met my fate
General Corona is Happy
General Corona
is happy
his mission is a great success
as his armies of virus bots
spread throughout the world
spreading chaos and destruction
as all bow down
to his invisible armies
none can escape their fate
on that date
that he unleashed his armies
upon the world
all humans must die
his armies scream out
water falls of love
waterfall of love
water falls of love
overwhelms me with desire
deep in the mountains
LASTENTRY FOR MAY
on the last day
of the month of May
he made an entry
into his diary
on this date
I met my fate
he wrote
about the dream
he had that date
that would haunt
his dreams
for eight years
one day she walked
out of the dream
and into his life
becoming his wife
bonus poem Corona Haiku
Coronavirus
corona virus
staying home waiting for death
Afraid everything
published Poetry Ni
Got the blues, Baby
I have got the blues, baby
and they just won’t go away
I got them bad
these god damn blues
of mine
I just finished
working out.
..and while resting
I realized
that I can never recover
from my mistakes in life..
..the end of my marriage ..
.the death of my son …
.nothing can ever
nothing can ever
replace what I have lost..
..yes I am healthy.
..I have options ..
..but the health<
and options
are subsumed
by a monstrous vacuity..
emptiness .
an hole in my soul
…the realization
that the most precious things
are gone forever
and that I am
and that I am
just biding time..
..there is no good thing
to look forward to..
except for meeting
the grim reaper
when he comes for me
I will be ready to go
until then
these blues
will remain
my only friend
until the end
and my time is done<
another poetic found poem thanks to William Walton
Praise the love of my life
Every day
in every way
I give praise
to the gods above
for giving to me
the love of my life
who became my wife
45 years ago
I dreamt of meeting her
38 years ago
she walked off a bus In Korea
out of my dreams
and into my life
writer digest praise poem
thing better left unsaid
we all have secrets
secrets we wil
take to the grave
somethings
are better left
unsaid
just don’t have the words
the words to express
what is really on my mind
and so I know
that I will die
with many things left to say
things that I heard
that I was not meant to
things better left unsaid
words that say things
that I did not mean
once spoken, can’t take back
and so as I get old
I know that my secrets
will go with me to my grave
Poetry super highway prompt
random rhymes
we all die
so don’t lie
if you lie
more will die
I met my fate
that date
In late May
was the day
that I met my fate
on that date
I met the dove
that became my love
writing com random rhymes
things to resolve before the end of time
as I get older
I realize
that there are many things
left undone
in this life
of mine
many things left
to resolve
before my time
on this world
comes to an end
but the one thing
that will never end
is my love for you
until the end of time
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
45 Magazine Publishes “Shape of History”
That’s awesome! You’ve been busy! Hey, feel free to use this photo for your website and social media accounts.
thanks so much for making my day. I am starting my forth april poetry challenge today and will be posting daily updates on my poems throughout the month but will also promote your site on my blog and social media accounts.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Active Muse Publishes “I am Writing to Let You Know”
* Kindly promote your work and our site on social media, writer forums, and among your friends. Your help is requested to bring in more authors like you.
* Please follow our social media pages and like, follow us. We plan to announce more calls and welcome your work.
We select for Sundress Best of Net and Pushcart prizes. So, please submit for our future calls, and open calls.
I am writing to let you know
today is your final day of life
the future is undefined
it is what you want
all over the world
people on their own
are rewriting the future
today is your final day of the future
people do what you want
for the future is not written
Jake Aller is a retired U.S. Diplomat living in South Korea. He has served in ten countries around the world including India, and with the Peace Corps in Korea.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Corona Virus is Not God’s Punishment
so much nonsense on the right and left about the Corona virus.
God is not sending the Corona Virus as a Punishment, Black Out Poem
-Robert_Jeffress_(cropped)
Original text
During a press briefing today to address the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump was asked about certain Christian pastors who plan to defy state lockdown orders and hold Easter church services this Sunday.
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”
Trump then referred to a notorious pastor who sits on his religious advisory council.
“I’m going to be watching Pastor Robert Jeffress, who’s been a great guy,” Trump said. “He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Jeffress is known for his litany of statements demonizing the LGBT community, abortion, and secular people. One of his most reviled comments came in 2015 when he said the 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,” Jeffress said during a speech at Liberty University. “‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”
Trump then referred to a notorious pastor who sits on his religious advisory council.
“I’m going to be watching Pastor Robert Jeffress, who’s been a great guy,” Trump said. “He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Black out text
the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump
hold Easter church services this Sunday.
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, get back to church so badly.”
“He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,” ‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”
Poem
Corona Pandemic is Not’s God’s Punishment
Amid the coronavirus pandemic,
President Trump
Attended virtual Easter church services
I’ve had talks with the pastors,
We need to get back
to church so badly.”
Rev Jeffries is a great guy
I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Rev Jeffries said
The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment
on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,”
‘Well, I just don’t understand
why God wouldn’t protect our nation
and he would allow these
radical Muslims in 2001
to kill 3,000 of our citizens
and why God doesn’t protect us
.
Surely, God doesn’t use pagans
to bring judgment
upon his own people,
does he?’”
Rev Jeffries
I spoke to God
This morning
He confirmed
He did not cause 9-11
To bring judgement
On the US
For abortion
He went on to say
The corona virus
Is beyond his control
And he is not sending it
To punish the US
Or the world
His final words
Please tell Rev Jeffries
To simply STFU
poetry super highway black out poem
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
buddha figure
jesus
shiva
god
Rev. Jake ’s on-line sermon on the Corona Virus
I am reverend Jake and I have a message from God
Last night I had a vision from God
it was his message to the world
about this pandemic we are facing
I found myself in a large room
Jehovah, God, was sitting in the middle
surrounded by the other Gods
they were all there
Jesus on his right
Allah on his left
Buddha behind him
Ganesh, Shiva, Kali
Mohammed, Joseph Smith and other prophets
Gabriel and other angels abound
St Peter in front of his as his Chief of Staff
Zeus, Jupiter, Minerva and ancient
other gods all around him
God spoke up
He said
I have a message for you
to give to your people
all of your people
no matter what religion
or no religion at all
it is all one after all
first the corona virus
is a natural phenomenon
we have no control
over forces of nature
and we did not send
it to you
to punish you
for homosexuality
or anything else at all
Second obey the health directives
stay at home
do your services on line
it is okay with us
we are fine with that
the blood of Jesus
will not save you
If you are in a crowded place
like church or a mosque service
the virus will spread
and catch you in the end
Prayers alone will not save you
but please keep praying
we do listen to your prayers
but we can only do so much
So please don’t allow the virus
to spread
because of your ignorance
and fear
realize that in the end
the virus will do its thing
and you will survive
and we
all the gods here
love you humans
and wish you well
so stay at home
practice self distancing
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Cosmos’s 2020 April Poetry Part One April 1 to April 15
Welcome to Cosmos’s 2020 April Poetry. This is the fourth attempt to do this. For this year I am doing things a bit different. Since I am in Korea I will be posting a day later from here starting April 2 which will be April first in the U.S.First I will update my poems daily here (along with audio clips, photos clips, and links to various prompts etc)
Second I will update my links on the following sites where I have been posting poetry for some time – all my April poems will be here regardless of whether I post them elsewhere – I will be posting one to two per day on these sites and writing anywhere from two to five per day, with many of them not being posted at all so I can accumulate some “unpublished poems” but I will list them all here either as posted or unposted. The posted ones will have audio, photos and links occasionally to other sites.
Here are the sites along with the links to my poetry posted there.
And on my various FB poetry sites will post my poems on five different sites per day and since I’ve lost count of how many I am following well that could be a lot, but I will list them as I post on them in case anyone is interested in finding poetry and writing groups on FB
Finally, love to hear how others are coping both with corona virus, and with the April Poetry month. I suspect that there will be a lot of interest this year since people are staying home!
Now let’s get to the poems shall we? I will update this daily
Index
Chronological list
Wednesday April 1
Hope Springs Eternal Writers’s Digest
Jake Cosmos Aller the one an Onlypoetry super highway prompt
the Virus from Hell
Morphing Images from Hellish Nightmare old poem for writing.com dreamsapes
The Bombs that Took Her Away– from writers.comprompt – posted all poetry and poetry soup
Cosmic Poet Modified Bio Poemfor poetry soup contest – not otherwise
Morphing Images from a Hellish Nightmare
Kimchi BluesPoetry Soup prompt
Thursday April 2
humor keeps us sane pensively unleashed unpublished
First Kiss with My wife creativity talents unleashed posted
Birth of New World creativity talents unleashed unpublished
Peacock Speaks creativity talents unleashed unpublished
Iguana Talks to Mankind creativity talents unleashed unpublished
six word poem naked woman wearing mask creative talents unleashed
space poem writing digest prompt
Search for the holly grail writing.com prompt
berkeley maps writing.com prompt
Recalling people I barely knew writing.com elegy poem
corona fears
follow your dreams writer’s digest day three prompt
Coffee’s intoxicating smell wakes me up poetry superhighway prompt
follow your dreams writer’s digest day three prompt
Sunday April 5th
I wish for peace and happiness – Writer Digest prompt
Life as a evil Mastermind criminal – poetry superhighway prompt
Born bad to the bone heartbreaker – writing.com prompt
Bad craziness all poetry contest -open poem
Bus rider all poetry wild country contest – old poem
old man in the mirror must die all poetry old age contest -old poem
Ten million stories in the Naked City – all poetry contest to write a Naked Poem
call of Cthulu HP lovecraft all poetry contest
Having a dog saved my life – all poetry contest – to write a poem about overcoming fears
Monday April 6th
The Mist from Hell Descends on the land
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
The Moment that changed my Life sonnet format
we must walk the path of honesty in these dark dangerous times
cats are alien creatures from Space
God’s Confession
Drinking My Way to the Highway to Hell
Capitol Hill in the Spring *
*Published Writer’s Newsletter June 2017
Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay – from the poem
‘Under the canopy of pine trees
Tuesday April 7th
Smartest Man in the World All Poetry Dunning-Krueger Syndrome Poem
Great Leader Tigerjade Writing.com formal poem
weasel words set mental traps for us all writers digest prompt
it was a fine late August day when I met the love of my life poetry superhighway prompt
to those I have lost writing.com prompt to write an elegy
The Giant Nazi Spider Speaks prompt to write a poem based on a novel plot line
life is a dream of chocolate covered trees national poetry month prompt
We live in an Orwellian world
Wednesday April 8th
새영 지마 saeyeong jima plays out in life writing.digest prompt
the Terrorists were succeeding beyond their wildest dreams poetry super highway prompt
corona tanka National Poetry Month Prompt
The best meal of my life writing.com dew drop in prompt
Angela Came to Me for 38 years Bringing me lots of $
poemunzine prompt
the lion dreams of impossible dreams all poetry impossible dream contest
corona haiku all poetry corona haiku poem all poetry haiku contest
I met My fate that Date – Fan Story Prompt
Thursday April 9
the future is coming writers digest
the fate of the world rests with us – poetry superhighway prompt – inspired by Beethoven’s fifth symphony
creative talents prompt the old man in the lake sees God
white flower of death haiku creative talents
creative talents balloons of hope
creative talents Cthulu lurks in the evil cabin in the words
creative talents unleashed evil woman with mad hair grins
the best day of my life all poetry wedding poems contest
Friday April 10
Walking in the woodlands of Limbo writers digest ekphrastic poetry prompt
New Bodies in New Era poetry soup prompt to write a poem about changes
life interrupted by corona writing.com Daily Dew Drop interruption
Saudade for friends I have lost writing.com Saudade poem
My Lover’s body inspires me concrete poem – national poetry month prompt day 9 national Poetry Month Prompt Day Nine Concrete Poetry
National poetry month prompt day eight Vogan Bot Poetry
The end of the world news depresses me National poetry Month Day Seven poem inspired by the news
the Devil speaks in the Garden of Earthly Delights ekphrastic garden of earthly delights national poetry month prompt day 6
President Trump Haunts My Dreams National Poetry Month day four prompt image from a dream
ten words random rhymes national poetry month Day three prompt
674 Santa Rosa Avenue, Berkeley, California National Poetry month day two prompt specific place poem 674 Santa Rosa Berkeley California
My life appears to a dream national Poetry Month Day One Prompt Metaphor for Life as a Dreamer
Trump Derangement Syndrome Blues Fan story 15 syllable poem contest
Saturday April 11
To My Dream Woman Who Loves Me
writers digest prompt to write a x Blank x
Corona Virus was Not Sent as God’s Punishment
poetry super highway black out poem
coffee Whitney
writing.com Whitney poem form
coffee Hay Na Ku
writing.com formal poetry prompt
writing.com Dew Drop Inn Daily poem
women playing lute contemplating god all poetry contest
Sunday April 12
Life spinning out of control
writers digest prompt to write a “control poem”
early evening delight
poetry superhighway promo – write a poem about early evening
Cosmos the Evil AI Takes Over
writing.Com Daily Dew Drop write a poem about technology or AI
My morning coffee wakes me up for day
writing. com octameter poem
casino thoughts old poem for all poetry contest on addiction
Life began that day all poetry contest
Monday April 13
I believe in ghosts
writers digest spirit poem based on a true storytoday’s doodle poem
Poetry Super Highway Doodle Poem
Doors
writing.com daily dew drop prompt – write a poem about Doorswhat I know Coffee Trois-par-Huit
Writing. com Trois Par Huit Poem
Things that bug me all poetry contest
Tuesday April 14
Purpose of my Life writer digest write a purpose poem
poetry superhighway challenge to revise a poem from the bottom -up
Love Cherita writing.com formal poem Cherita
Korean Pottery of Love writing.com Daily Dew Drop
2019 Months of the Year all poetry contest entry
Media Madness all poetry acrostic poetry contest
AI Madness Takes Over the World all poetry dark poetry contest
Wednesday April 15
the Chaos King is his Element Writer digest Chaos poem prompt
best Cocktail Ever Poetry superhighway prompt to write a cocktail poem/ break a sonnet for Day Dew Inn writing.com
Dream of my Life Atlantic magazine poetry prompt to write a poem about a dream
why I am an Atheist all poetry Atheist poetry contes
Recharging my Batteries All poetry contest
Thor on a rampage all poetry contest
coffee nonet fan story contest
coffee Musset poem poetry soup contest
Wednesday April 1
Hope Springs Eternal in our Winter of our Discontent writer’s digest prompt Posted
corona virus
Hope springs eternal in the winter of our discontent
On the daily news that fills us with dread
Perfect storm of hatred, fear and despair
Everywhere we go nonstop fear broadcasted
Despair fills my heart as I turn on the news
Everywhere we are in the midst of the pandemic
Simply put death is at hand
Planning for the future yet waiting for death
At worst we will all die not today but soon
In the long term we are all dead
Remembering the dead all around us
yet I end this poem with a word of hope
hoping for the best
while preparing for the worst
all I can do to stay sane
as I await my fate
on this dismal date
April 1 is indeed
April Fool’s date
is that our fate
this endless dance with death?
and to end with a sign of hope
I know that if I have you by my side
I will survive I will survive
until the end of time itself
takes us to the other side
based on writer’s digest daily April poetry month challenge to write a poem about hope
I am jake Cosmos Aller the one an Only poetry super highway prompt
jake aller fb
I am Jake Cosmos Aller the one and only
when people meet me they are transformed
by my spirit my compassion and my dreams
as all I meet fall under my spirit
I look into their eyes bewitching their souls
as they bewitch my soul as well
becoming mad kindred spirits
walking on the road of life itself
going together no one knows where
it will all end but we will get there as one spirit
united by my cosmic spirit
understanding grows as we converse
deep into the night with each glass of wine
we dive deep into the cosmos inspired by name
The Virus From Hell Has Arrived
corona
the Virus from Hell has arrived
catching the world unprepared
it erupted out of China
then began its terrifying reign
wiping out thousands of people
destroying jobs and economies
killing people left and right
it seemed like something
out of our worst nightmares
but at least it was not
the dreaded zombie flu
perhaps that is next’s fall’s nightmare
as the virus from hell
prepares for a fresh assault
to finish us all off
the virus from Hell has arrived posted- all poetry contest, poetry soup version is the Virus King has arrived = as poetry soup did not like the word “Hell”
The Bombs that Took Her Away – from writers.com prompt – posted all poetry and poetry soup
bombed out airport
one day I woke up from my dreams
finding my self all alone
no one was there to hear my screams
staring at my now quite dead phone
I plugged in my phone read a note
it was from my lovely wife
My Wife had just gone out to vote
smiling thinking of my life
I got ready to face the dawning day
The TV showed the bombs that took her away
There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with different vegetables as the main ingredients.[4][5]Traditionally, kimchi was stored in-ground in large earthenware to prevent the kimchi from being frozen during the winter months. It was the primary way of storing vegetables throughout the seasons. In the summer the in-ground storage kept the kimchi cool enough to slow down the fermentation process.[3] In contemporary times, kimchi refrigerators are more commonly used to store kimchi.
Oh yeah
I got the kimchi blues
every day since I first ate it
back in the day
long before i went to Korea
ended up staying on in Korea
after i retired from decade
in the Foreign Service
and ten years studying
and living in Korea
before I joined
the Foreign Service
When I first ate kimchi
I was hooked
sort of a spicier version
of German sauerkraut
which i loved on my top dog
from Berkeley high school days
then off to korea
in the peace corps
where I ate kimchi
every day for every meal
and eventually I woke up
dreaming of kimchi and rice
instead of pancakes and eggs
then I knew
that I had finally adjusted
and was becoming half Korean
and now I am a hopeless kimchi addict
need to have my spicy kimchi
which is so good for you
perhaps even defeating the dreaded corona virus?
who knows but I will be eating Kimchi
until my day is done
poetry superhiway prompt
Friday April 3
Cosmic Poet Modified Bio Poem for poetry soup contest
cosmos on the mekong
cosmic
I am wicked, wild, wacky, whimsical
i love my angela lee, coffee, nature
I can solve gun violence, homelessness and climate change
I feel anxiety, gloominess yet Joy-fullness as well
I fear the corona virus, cancer and developing Alzheimer’s
Must publish my novels, ten books of poetry and movie of my life
Currently resident of korea, west coast of United States
poet
Morphing monsters – old poem for writing.com Dark Dreamscape –
more monster images
Note: From a real nightmare End Note
I am in a room
Drinking at a party
And smoking weed
Watching people all around me
Change into hideous creatures
Monsters from the deepest depths of hell
Everyone in the room
Has been transformed except me
The Chief of them all
Wears a Trumpian mask
Complete with orange hair
Half human half pig
His deputy
Wears the face of Putin
But his body
Half human, half horse
The other creatures wear masks
Many of them wear
Green Pepe the alt-right
Symbolic frog masks
pepe
And have T-shirts
Bearing alt right slogans
And Nazi symbols
And as they prance about
They chant alt. Right slogans
And neo-Nazi chants
Jews will not Replace us
And the rest of these creatures
Are hideous ugly beasts
With only a vestige of humanity left
And these monsters are engaged
In all sorts of foul evil deeds
Murder violence death
All around
And non-stop
violent drug-fueled orgies
As these creatures
Half human half monsters
Half male, half female creatures
Snort coke, cocaine, speed
drop Acid, Smoke weed and drink vodka shots
Scotch, bourbon and beer
The Trumpian Pig leads the charge
Starts engaging in sodomy with Putin
Who chases after people
Cutting off their heads with his sword
They turn on to their fellow creatures
Raping and killing each other
and eating their fellow creatures
All night long
Then they attack me
Screaming
Jews will not replace us
And I wake up
Screaming
As the sun comes up
Just another nightmare
Humor keeps us sane
Pensively prompt – unpublished
corona virus
it is a piece of what we need to do
to prevent us from getting
the dreaded corona virus
coming up your nose
First Kiss with My wife
first kiss
It was 1982
when I first met my wife
the love of my life
In 1979 she came to me
in a dream
and then she walked
off a bus
eight years latter
a few weeks later
we went for a walk
in the woods
and ending up kissing
passionately wild kisses
as we walked in the woods
and the kisses
led a few weeks later
to our first night together
as man and wife
but I will always recall
our first kiss
of our life together
creative talent unleashed prompt posted
Birth of New World
cosmos
the first interplanetary travelers
arrived on the new planet
called new Eden
and watched the birth
of the new world
hoping that humanity
can get a new world
and avoid destroying new eden
hoping that god
has given the world
a new home world
creative talents unleashed prompt
Peacock Speaks
peakcock speaks
as the virus spreads
around the world
the peacock in the zoo
speaks up
talking on behalf
of their fellow species
he called upon humans
to free them from their zoo prisons
and let them be free
before it was too late
and humanity met their fate
becoming a ghost in the wind
creative talents unleashed prompt
Iguana Talks to humanity
iguana will miss human friends
the wise old Iguana
woke from its nightmares
of the end of the world
as humanity faded away
the iguana was scared
but afraid of the future
and he would miss
his human friends
creative talents unleashed prompt
six word poem naked masked woman waiting to kiss
masked woman
creative talents unleashed prompt
Inner Space Beckons
cosmos new world
Inner worlds beckons in these dark times
No one knows where it will end
No one understands the future
Everyone must descend deep inside
Remembering their dreams
Cosmic dreams fill my head
Of the future we can dream
Some offering hope
Most of us can still dream
Only then can we become free
So that we can escape our fate
Searching for the Holly Grail
for thousands of years
people have been searching
for the fabled holly grail
in hopes that it will lead
to eternal life
then one day
the holly grail is found
millions die
from drinking the tainted grail
writing.com prompt daily dew april poems
Free roaming Berkeley as a Kid
free roaming berkeley
growing up in Berkeley
back in the day
we still were allowed
to free roam
and so I went
everywhere on foot
or bus
walking to Solano avenue
drinking coffee
at Peets coffee
eating Chinese food
in Berkeley’s china town
walking downtown
walking to CAL
eating top dog
experiencing the late 60’s
transforming Telegraph
and walking in the woods
in tilden park
high up in the hills
overlooking the bay area
writing.com prompt daily dew april poems
To all the friends I am about to loose
over the years
I have known so many people
and now when the virus
is spreading out around the world
I will soon be hearing
that this person has died
and that person has died
I will outlive many of my friends
from around the world
part of getting old
something that I fear
one day perhaps
people will hear
that jake has died
and they will say
that they barely knew me
and wished that they had
taken the time
to become my friend
Just as I think
about all the friends
i am about to loose
to this killer virus
running amuck
writing.com prompt daily dew april poems
corona fears
covid 19 virus
corona
the word fills us with dread
spreading around the world today
will we all survive this
corona
Saturday April 4
follow your dreams
follow your dreams
they may some day
come true
they did for me
I dream of meeting
the love of my life
who became my wife
for eight years
she haunted my dreams
then one day
she walked off a bus
out of my dreams
and into my life
becoming my wife
based on true story see my blog entry the world according to cosmos (https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com) for details or see “dreams and the Unexplainable” published in 2016 by the Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers
Coffee’s intoxicating smell wakes me up
coffee
coffee’s intoxicating smell wakes me up
filling me with hope and joy
as a I drink deeply
filling my self with smell
the sent of sweat as heaven
darkly hinting of hell as well
filling my every fiber of my being
with its intense smell and flavor
driving me mad with anticipation
as I smell the fragrance brewing
in my coffee pot
waiting waiting waiting
for it to be ready
for me to consume my daily drug
poetry super highway prompt day 3
Dreams cinquain
Dreams
come true
if you believe
love comes at night
dreams
all poetry contest
allien abduction
allien
when I was in high school
I accidentally drank a drink
that had been laced with LSD
I went on my first and only acid trip
one of the most profound events
of my life
and it haunts me to this day
in this trip
at one point
I found myself
in a space ship
surrounded by aliens
who were conducting experiments
on me
they flew me to NYC
where I went to a bar
filled with aliens drinking
and they came after me
and I found myself
back on the ship
they said
time to us to leave him
to develop his own language
and I woke up in my bed
did it really happen
to this day
I do not know
but do I believe in aliens
and alien abductions
yes I believe
for it may have happened
to me
all poetry contest
To Dream the Impossible Dream – Ghazal
what dreams may come
to dream the impossible dream
every night I must dream
and during the night dream
I will see her in my dream
yes I met my love in my dream
she came to me in my dream
for eight long years came in my dream
haunting my nighttime dreams
one day she walked out of my dreams
coming to life out of my dreams
and she became my wife in my dreams
and soon became as real as the dream
and she walked out of the dream
I knew her name Angela Lee in my dream
all poetry ghazal poem
quarantine blues
quarantine
Quarantine such an ugly word
Unlike any other
All at home
No where to go
That is the worst part of it
In fact enforced staying at home
Not too bad
Especially if I have you by my side
Blues come over me
Looking out the window
Unable to go out
Everyone everybody afraid<
Sums up my fearful fears
poetry soup contest
wild country poetry soup contest bus rider not posted
the Bus – Travels Through America’s Underbelly
bus rides in America
I am a bus rider
That makes me unusual
For a white male
From an upper middle class family
Our tribe are not bus riders
Though some are subway riders
Bus riders are other people
The poor, minorities, immigrants
People who don’t drive
Because they are blind
Or have a DUI
And in my case
I don’t drive
Because I have bad vision
And bad coordination
Just never got the hang
Of the whole driving thing
Fortunately for me
My wife does the driving
But I still take the bus
From time to time
I rode the AC buses in Berkeley
As a child
Line 67, line 51, line 43 F bus
Rode them long before BART came along
And afterwards as well
As an adult seldom rode the bus
But when I did so
I was always impressed
By the sheer diversity
Of the bus riding population
Hundreds of languages
All sorts of sexual orientation
Some were white
Most were not
Most of my fellow passengers
Were nice enough
Some were friendly
And some were lost
In their own thoughts
And a few
Were scary looking dudes
With the look
Of someone who had done time
And were capable of more violence
I also rode the bus
In Seattle as a graduate student
A lot of fellow UW students
And the usual immigrants
Minorities etc
And some white people
Commuting
And in DC
Over the years
I rode a lot of buses
Mostly to and from the metro
But I got to know
And love the DC buses as well
I also took the greyhound bus
Across the country
Several times over the years
All over the U.S.
From Bay Area to Stockton
From Bay Area to Clear Lake
From Bay area to NYC
NYC to DC
All over the USA
Taking the Greyhound
Was always an adventure
Met a lot of interesting people
As people on long distant bus rides
Tend to open up and talk
To pass the time away
Overseas I took the bus
All over
In India, in Barbados
In Spain and in Korea
The Korean buses
For many years
Were difficult for foreign visitors
As the signs were all in Korean
Most have signs
Now in English, Chinese and Korean
And are much more foreigner friendly
Riding the bus
In America
Allows one access
To the underbelly of American society
The poor, the marginalized
The immigrant communities
That many middle-class white people
Just never see
And for that reason
I am glad
That I am a bus rider
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Based on my experiences riding the bus all over the world from 1968 to 2020
Stand Z Poetry soup contest Bad Craziness
Bad Craziness
howling at the moon
Walking into that bar
That nefarious den of iniquity and evilness
Twenty drinks too sober
The scent of bad craziness
Hung in the air
Like an over ripe mango
Desperately seeking to have sex
With wild, dressed up bananas
Running around with the Orange Man
Down the street
The Moon looks out on the mad scene
Sniffs the air
Saying, “Man, this is bad craziness”
And runs away to join her lover the Sun
In an orgy of drunken forgetfulness
The Planet Mars, not amused,
Chases after the maiden Venus
Under the cold, calculating glances
of the Planet Pluto
The Moon and the Sun
Rent a room in the Hotel Venus
Across from the Jupiter All Night Diner
Cosmic shit kickers
Out for a night of Earth bashing
The Earth trembles, shaken
Moans with passion
And I awake
Saying, that was bad craziness
Out there on the edge
Between the inner me
and the outer Zone
I went on down the road
And met a lady
An outlaw lady on the far side
Money, power, passion
Rolled up in a bundle
Electric chemistry
Fills my head
Zapping my brain
Into demented muscles
Paranoid, pulsating images
Scream out
With mad passion
And demented noises
The night turns ugly fast
And very, very weird
Weirdness in the air
Scent of bad craziness
The Moon
Is freaked out
The Sun falls asleep in the gutter
And I say to myself
I’m just another cosmic guy
On the loose, on the edge,
On the wild side of things
Watching the show
Unfold
I wonder, is this all
A drunken bum show?
Who is the star, who is she
The maiden up there in the bar
Black, leather jackets
On stage naked visions of nightly lust
Dancing with an attitude that could kill
An elephant in heat
And the Moon
Continues to dance across the evening sky
Satisfied, allows mankind to sleep it off
Yet another night in the City of demented Angels
Finally rest as the sun comes up
The masks come back on
And I walk down the road
Putting everything back into the box
Until the next night
Of bad craziness
Lets the wild beast within
Escape its leash.
Bad Craziness rising yet again
Sunday April 5
I Wish for Peace During this time of crisis
covid 19
I wish for peace and happiness
during this time of despair
pandemic fears all around us
death stalking us daily
I wish for health
amid the carnage
all around me
I wish for leadership
from our President
from our governors
and our congress
and most importantly
I wish that I will survive
with my love at my side
experiencing love
in the time of corona
Writer Digest prompt
Life as a evil Mastermind criminal
I am living the life
I am Slick Mc Dick
the one and only
the master criminal
I live in Oakland
and I run drugs, prostitutes
guns and illegal software
I am part Irish, German,
Black, Asian and Cherokee
I am a real bad ass
I am stone cold killer
and a wild man in bed
and I am the King Pin
the meanest MF in the world
and everyone is afraid of me
the politicians need me
they get free hookers
free booze and free blow
in all my clubs
and I have secrets
secrets to sell
to the media
to the spy agencies
they all protect me
as I am the ultimate source
of the dirt
that everyone wants to hide
yes I am Slick Mc Dick
the king of them all
and no one can take me down
Born bad to the bone heartbreaker
the song bad to the bone
fills my ears
like a mad anthem
of my life
I am a heartbreaker
broke a thousand hearts
before I am through
I will break a thousand more
but only one woman
has ever had the power
to break my heart
and to her
I dedicate my life
and promise not
to break her heart
poetry superhighway prompt
Bad to the Bone
Now, on the day I was born
The nurses all gathered ’round
And they gazed in wide wonder
At the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up
Said “leave this one alone”
She could tell right away
That I was bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-bad
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-bad
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-bad
Bad to the bone
I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I’ll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours, pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I’m here to tell ya honey
That I’m bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-bad
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-bad
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-bad
Bad to the bone
I make a rich woman beg, yeah
And I’ll make a good woman steal
I’ll make an old woman blush
And make a young girl squeal
I wanna be yours, pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
waiting for this day
the day of the dead
when the dead
come to life
and devour the living
turning all into zombies
zombies for his army
and he wakes the demons
the ancient horrors
from their slumbers
and they swam to shore
coming to the earth
devouring all
in their path
Cthulu would have his revenge
none will escape their fate
that dismal date
all poetry Lovecraft contest
Having a dog saved my life
when I was a young lad
and I became terrified of dogs
and to some sense still am
but then many years ago
i had a dog
a husky dog
raised as a puppy
the dog though was half wolf
hated people watching him eat
I gave the dog to my sister
as she seemed to be able
to tame his savage heart
later my wife
had a beagle
and he saved my life
when I was recovering
from a broken heal
Jason was my constant companion
during those dark days
when I was afraid
that I would die
from the staph infection
the dog was smart
compassionate
and seemed to understand me
as I talked to him all day long
and afterwards I no longer
was afraid of dogs
as they were now
Monday April 6
The Mist from Hell Descends on the land
the mist from hell
settles down on the land
the mist covers us all
the scent of death
the grim reaper
rides behind the miss
infecting those around him
the mark of death
as the mist covers the land
the end of the world
comes with the mist from hell
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
buddha figure
jesus
shiva
god
Rev. Jake ’s on-line sermon on the Corona Virus
I am reverend Jake and I have a message from God
Last night I had a vision from God
it was his message to the world
about this pandemic we are facing
I found myself in a large room
Jehovah, God, was sitting in the middle
surrounded by the other Gods
they were all there
Jesus on his right
Allah on his left
Buddha behind him
Ganesh, Shiva, Kali
Mohammed, Joseph Smith and other prophets
Gabriel and other angels abound
St Peter in front of his as his Chief of Staff
Zeus, Jupiter, Minerva and ancient
other gods all around him
God spoke up
He said
I have a message for you
to give to your people
all of your people
no matter what religion
or no religion at all
it is all one after all
first the corona virus
is a natural phenomenon
we have no control
over forces of nature
and we did not send
it to you
to punish you
for homosexuality
or anything else at all
Second obey the health directives
stay at home
do your services on line
it is okay with us
we are fine with that
the blood of Jesus
will not save you
If you are in a crowded place
like church or a mosque service
the virus will spread
and catch you in the end
Prayers alone will not save you
but please keep praying
we do listen to your prayers
but we can only do so much
So please don’t allow the virus
to spread
because of your ignorance
and fear
realize that in the end
the virus will do its thing
and you will survive
and we
all the gods here
love you humans
and wish you well
so stay at home
practice self distancing
It is God’s will
all will survive
The Moment that changed my Life sonnet format
couple in bed
the moment that changed my life
occurred in late August 1982
when the woman of my dreams
came out of my dreams
walking off a bus
and into my life
a few months later became my wife
first dreamt of her in 1979
back in my high school day
and I knew that some day
I would meet the woman
in my dreams
and I did and that changed my fate
when I met her that date
we must walk on an honest path in these dangerous times
we must walk the path of honesty
in these dark dangerous times
In these dark dangerous days
we must walk on the path
of honesty and truth
if we don’t
we won’t have a remote chance
of living through these end days
I was sitting along
In a god forsaken bar
Somewhere on the lunatic fringes
Of society
On the bad part of town
Over by railroad tracks
Heading to hell
As fast as I could drink it down
Enjoying my lonely drink
Drinking by my lonesome self
With my partners
Jimmy Dean, and the Walker brother
And his old Granddad
Just drinking and hanging
With the Jack Daniel’s gang
A crazed bum
With a thousand year stare
Walks up to me
He begins
Muttering to himself
Nutty nonsense
Crazy words
In a lunatic’s voice
He had the look
Of one possessed
By his own demons
That only he can see
Or hear
Possessed by a secret knowledge
Only he knew
Despite myself
I was fascinated
By this lunatic’s tale
So I stopped him
And said
So what’s your game
Anyway
The short little dude
Stopped his insane prattle
Starting at me
With that thousand year old stare
Just another washed up
Lunatic
an acid causality
from the 60’s
who went so far down
the rabbit hole
he never came back
Too many bad nights
On the wrong side of life
He looked at me
And proclaimed his story
He reared up
And filled up the room
And lifted the bar
On his finger
And stared down at me
From the sky
And said
Since you asked
I am God
The alpha and Omega
The real deal
The original dude of dudes
The sultan of Swing
God of hosts
And father of that Jesus dude
But no one knows me
Any more
No one cares
They think I am irrelevant
They think I am dead
They think I am a fairy tale
From some olden, ancient time
Some say I am dead
Others think I should be dead
That my work is done
I looked at him
Carefully now
And what did I see
An old man
With that lunatic look
But there was something else
He was crazy
Sure yes
But perhaps he was the real deal
I mean why not
Why would not God be
A lunatic wandering around loose
Talking to low lives like me
In a bar
On the way to hell
So I looked at him
And invited him to share
His tale of woe
God tells me
Well, it’s like this
Many a year ago
People believed in me
But one day
They quit believing in me
And they went on without me
As they left me
My powers got weaker and weaker
And so eventually I became
What you see today
A broken down drunk
Hanging out
Looking for a hand out
Looking for some company
Or at least a free dinner
And he laughed and laughed
And I looked at him
And saw the beginnings of the end
And the ends of the beginnings
I saw a million planets
Flash by
eight billion people
A trillion sentient beings
Thinking all at once
Thoughts filled my head
Lights flashed
And I knew
He was telling the truth
But it did not matter
In this day and age
Of materialism
God has no role
God is truly dead
And so I bought him a drink
And walked out of the bar
Profoundly sadden by what I had seen
God was dead
And we had all conspired
To kill him
Long live God
it seems to me
in these dark days
that we are on the path
to hell
as the virus chases all
satan is smiling
at the spreading chaos
the dogs of war
are unleashed
spreading panic
as more people die
and as the gate of hell
open in front of us
we are all rushing down
the path to hell
and so I sit
in a bar
twenty drinks too sober
drinking my way to hell
all poetry contest – write poem based on the song “Highway to Hell”
Capitol Hill in the Spring *
lincoln park
Sitting on a bench
In Lincoln Park
Heart of Capitol Hill
Beating heart of the Empire
On a warm Spring Day
Watching the Cherry trees
Watching Me
Wondering what thoughts
They must have heard
The things they have seen
Over the years
But they are quiet
They do not say a word
As I fall into my spring time dreams
Sitting on that bench
Seeing the children and dogs play
Looking at Spring flowers
And pretty women
As they stroll by
Hearing the sounds of the city
As I dream of my past life
Memories of places and people
I said to myself
What a wonderful life
*Published Writer’s Newsletter June 2017
Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay – from the poem ‘Under the canopy of pine trees
pine trees
under the canopy of the pine trees we lay
along the world peace forest
in Korea
walking the forest
in the spring time
fearing the corona virus
and everyone around us
watch the snowing cherry trees
and the wind whispering
the voices of ghosts
those newly dead
and we lay down
under the canopy of the pine trees
waiting for our turn
to face the grim reaper
in this dismal day
in April
truly the cruelest month
of them all
poetry soup contest
Tuesday April 7
Smartest Man in the World
trump
donald trump
our dear leader
claims he is the smartest
man in the world
a stable genius
has good words
knows more than generals
knows more than doctors
should have been a doctor
only he can fix
what ails the world
for he is the greatest
genius in the world
like his friend the dear leader of North Korea
but in fact he is among the most stupid men
to ever serve as our President
trump is the poster child for the Dunning-Kruger Effect effect don’t you think? All Poetry contest to write a poem based on the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Great Leader Tiger Jade Poem
trump
Our leader
great leader
Claims he is the smartest man in the whole universe
surely he is the most searched man in the googleverse
perhaps though he is proof of man’s evolution
Darwinian selection working devolution
stupid is
stupid does
writers.com prompt to write a “Tigerjade Poem”
weasels words are the mental traps we set for ourselves
wasel words
we are surrounded by weasel words
mental traps we set for ourselves
to shut down all rational discussion
in truly Orwellian fashion
these words are legend
everyone uses them
no one thinks about them
what they really mean
I had no choice
of course, one always has a choice
Failure is not an option
nothing but macho BS
of course failure is always an option
that one must be prepared to face
and my favorite
zero tolerance
which converts
all violations of the Rules
into class A murder like felonies
and common sense and discretion
thrown out the window
under the proverbial bus
where the full SWAT
Imperial storm troopers
Robot cops are deployed
to arrest a teenage girl
her crime giving a classmate
a Tylenol which is a legal drug
but under zero tolerance
that is the same as selling heroin
and she will be charged
with a class A drug offense
following her around
for her life
for having dared
to break the stupid rule
yes weasel words
are everywhere
our mental traps
designed to keep us
from thinking
and acting
so throw off your mental traps
break free from the weasel words
and perhaps we can be free
of these mental traps
writer’s digest prompt – to write a trap poem
the day I met the love of my life was a fine late August day
peace forest
the day I met the love of my life
who became my wife
was a late August day
in South Korea
as Koreans put it
the sky is high
my horses are fat
and the king is far away
하늘이 높다
말은 뚱뚱하다
왕은 멀리있다
haneul-i nopda
mal-eun ttungttunghada
wang-eun meolliissda
in late August early September
the weather turns in Korea
the humid sauna like temperatures
begin to abate
cool breezes cool the air
the sky is high
crystal clear
just a few clouds
the temperatures moderate
high in the 80’s low in the 60’s
just wonderful weather
the promise of nice fall weather
in the air
the killing heat of the summer
abates and dies down
and on such a lovely date
I met my fate
she walked out of my dreams
and into my life
and became my wife
during the brilliant
Autumn of Korea
before the winter
settled down on the land
To this day
when the autumn comes
I recall the halcyon date
when I met my fate
poetry super highway daily April Prompt to write a weather report poem, and based on my true love story
with the corona virus upon us
I am bracing to hear the news
that so and so has died
I reflect back
on all the people in my life
that I have already lost
part of being older
is that you lose people
close to you along the way
I lost my father due to cancer in 1985
and my sister due to a freak illness in 2007
and my mother due to alzheimer’s in 2005
and my father-in-law as well in 2007
Demel Tucker
high school debate teammate
dead of HIV in 1995
Julian Bartley and his son
one of my favorite bosses
died in a terrorist bombing
in Nairobi in 1998
Jon Weber college roommate
dead due to prostate cancer
in 2000
Paul Simon friend from the visa line
dropped dead of a heart attack
in 2004
Ted Halstead
one of my best bosses
died of heart attack
in 2007
Chris Richard one of my former bosses
dropped dead of a heart attack
shortly before we were due
to have lunch in 2014
and so many others
I have lost
along the way
and soon there will be
so many more
as I get old
in the corona era
writer. com daily dew drop prompt to write an elegy poem
The Giant Nazi Spider Speaks
giant nazi spiders
General Zero
the commander of the Khan imperial forces
took over the earth
was a eight foot giant spider
accompanied by two legged rats
and two legged cats
in 24 hours they were in charge
he spoke to the world
People of earth greetings
I am commander Zero
and I have taken over your planet
making it part of the Galactic Empire
we did it because it is our destiny
to take over the universe
one planet by one planet
and everyone becomes
part of the great galactic empire
there are only a few rules
for you to remember
starting today you will learn Galactic standard
within one year all other languages will be banned
starting today all religions are banned
for in the Galactic empire
we have no room for some nonsense
everyone must work
if you are disabled or elderly
your family must take care of you
if you have no one to take care of you
you will be terminated as an “useless eater”
failure to follow the rules or laws
or lawful orders
will result in your immediate execution
that is all for today
Long live the Empire
writers. com daily dew drop contest challenge to write a poem incorporating a plot from a novel or story and I chose to base it on the opening scene of my novel, “Giant Nazi Spiders” see first four chapters here
life is a dream of chocolate covered trees
makes me so hungry to eat the trees
dark brown chocolate covered trees
as I eat them I hear the crunch of the leaves
and smell the dark chocolate smells
feeling the leaves in my mouth
as I touch the chocolate covered trees
filled with the sound of chocolate
enjoying the chocolate
with my wife Angela Lee
she turns to me and says
Jake Cosmos Aller
사랑해
salanghae
we are living
in an Orwellian 1984 world
and have been for decades
we are assaulted daily
by alternative realties
promoted by various politicians
designed to shut down
all rational thought
true Orwellian thought control
and now with the corona virus
massive surveillance
has become the norm
and when the crisis is over
the surveillance will continue
on one excuse after another
forever as Orwell’s nightmare
big brother ruling us all
comes true
based on the fear that the massive increase in social surveillance being deployed against the Corona virus will after the crisis is over continue forever under one excuse or another as the Orwellian big brother dictatorships around the world become permanent
새영 지마 saeyeong jima Recently Came to Life in My Life
The Korean Proverb
새영 지마 saeyeong jima
recently came to life in my life
The meaning of the proverb
Is that you can never know whether something
will be good or bad
and that unexpectedly
what appears to be bad fortune
turns out to be a good fortune
The proverb played
out recently in my life
about lunar New Year’s Day
we were preparing to go to Thailand
from two weeks from our home
in South Korea
and then at the end of February
we would to go to DC
My wife blew out her lumber desk
and we were forced to cancel our trips
This occurred
just as the coronavirus
was taking off around the world
and if we had gone
we may have been stuck either in Thailand
or we may have been stuck in the United States
and traveling in the mist of a corona outbreak
would probably mean
that we would have been exposed
to the virus
instead we were forced to stay home
and self quarantine ourselves
and therefore
we escaped being exposed to the coronavirus
and we feel much safer
here in Korea where the outbreak is contained
rather than in DC
where it is still spreading everywhere
so in a sense her misfortune
throwing out her disk
which resulted in us staying at home
and avoiding the coronavirus
is the true meaning
of the Korean Chinese expression
새영 지마 saeyeong jima
writers.com prompt to write a food poem
the Terrorists were succeeding beyond their wildest dreams
nuclear explosion
the terrorists were succeeding
beyond their wildest dreams
they thought what were the chances
it was so much better,
easier than they thought
as the bombs dropped all around them
to where it would end
they did not know
All they knew was that
it was all about to end
you see we were facing the end
The morning after the end of the world
the bombs fell and fell
in fact all over the world
it felt that the world would end up
being destroyed as the world ends
and nuclear war
they called for the end of the world
be so it must be they
thought to themselves
would they be able to stop the carnage
so it ends much as it begins
one does not know how it would end up
the bombs doing their bomb thing after all
they were simply bombs
all must die once they are released
after all that was the way it was
the bomb facility opened up death
the death of the whole world
of that we can be sure
following the blue prints
the master plans of the war planners
at the end of the day
it looks like Armageddon
a end of the world game
would it get that bad
to end the world
is that what they wanted
they did not know
it is possible no one knew
it was uncharted territory
it was the end of the world
if the bombs did their bomb thing
Poetry Super Highway Prompt
Turn to page 35 of any book. Use the first two sentences backwards for your prompt. I used James Tate, “Worshipful Company of Fletchers” and got: “ The pleasure of little incidents Remember.”
From Vince Flynn protect and defend original text
If it was possible they wanted to get a look at the blueprints of the facility after all they were doing one so would be called and destroy it in the morning you about where to drop the bomb so better the chances were of succeeding
corona virus tanka
covid19
corona virus
it is spreading all over
the world dying
I walk down the path of life
Along with love of my wife
National Poetry Month Day Seven Prompt Tanka
Angela Came to Me for 38 years Bringing me lots of $
many packs of us dollars
Angela Lee came to me
out of a dream she came to me
she walked out of my dreams
eight years after I first dreamt of her
she finally came to me
that she has been my wife
the love of my life
and every day
I recall the dream
of meeting her
she has brought me much to my life
this love of my life my wife
but the most important thing
she has brought to me
besides her endless love of course
is $
massive amounts of $
as she has made me
richer than I could have ever imagined
turning every day my $
into many more $
They say that a man
should marry a woman
born in the year of the Pig
for pig ladies are incredible
at managing $
and if you are so lucky
you will be buried in $
after Richard Garcia A Letter, a Number and some Punctuation
Poemuzine April 7 presentation prompt
The best meal of my life
korean feast
the best meals of my life
has always been what my wife
cooks up for me every night
always making something great
from the simplest ingredients
Because she came down with celiac disease
she could only eat
what she prepared from scratch
and so she was forced
to give up all processed foods
and in the process she became
the greatest cook
in the universe
I wait with baited breath
to taste the great food
that she creates for me
on lunar new years
she threw out her lumbar disk
and we were forced to stay home
just as the corona pandemic
swept across the world
if we had traveled
we could have contracted
the dreaded corona virus
and we were forced
to stay at home
and avoid going out
to eat
she took advantage
of staying at home
to try new dishes
every single day
I recall the Korean proverb
새영 지마 saeyeong jima
as her misfortune
turned into fortune
and once again
she saved me life
I am the luckiest man in life
the best fed man of all I know
due to the cooking skills of my wife
An old Lion
Roars in his sleep
Recalling an impossible dreamIn his dream
He was a man
Who was chasing a dream
Chasing an impossible dream
The man
Was haunted
By a dream girl
A girl who appeared
Nightly in his dreams
Beckoning him to join her
He searched the world
Looking for her
And then one day
She walked
Off a bus
And into his life
The lion woke up
From the impossible dream
Smiling at the thought
Then he went off
To search for his
Impossible dream
Dreaming still
Of being a man
In search
of a dream girl
from All Poetry Contest – impossible dream
I met my Fate that date
two lovers
I met my fate
on that date
that the love of my life
became my wife
for eight years she haunted my dreams
then one day she walked out of my dreams
truly on that date
my life began when I embraced my fate
and to this date
I never forget that I met my fate
the day she walked into my life
and became my wife
Thursday April 9
the future is coming
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 09: The Terminator robot is seen in the paddock following qualifying for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on May 9, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
the future
is upon us
as we live
in a SF world
the question remains
will the future be bright
and filled with hope
or will it be dark filled with fear
will we overcome
climate change
and repair
the broken dying world
will humanity take to the stars
leaving behind our planet
as we colonize the solar system
and invent interplanetary travel
will the future be
a dark Orwellian nightmare
will fascism take over the world
starting in the United States
as democracy dies not in the dark
but in the bright light of day
and Fascism spreads
all over the world
as the public embraces
fascisms applauding
the end of our freedoms
hoping that will save us all
will the evil AI
take over the world
unleashing endless robot wars
screaming death to all humans?
the old song says
que sera seara
the future is not
for us to see
but I hope and pray
that in these
dark dangerous times
we can overcome
and end up with the vision
of hope transforming the world
and not end up
with the dark Orwellian future
that I fear is our fate
Unless of course
the AI robots
kill us first
writers digest prompt
The Fate of the World Awaits
beethoven
the fate of the world
looms ahead of us
and we have a choice
to make
all of us
must decide
will we follow
the fate of ancient Rome
surrendering our freedoms
and becoming
an autocratic empire
ruled by emperors
will we become
like Germany
letting the madness
of fascism overwhelm us
will there be a final solution
to the problems
poised by the coming
transformation of America
as white America
becomes brown America
and the rule by old white men
comes to an end?
will Muslims be rounded up and killed ?
as religious and ethnic cleansing
in the name of Christian freedom
sweeps across the land
will the evil AI robot overlords
launch robot wars
to exterminate mankind
screaming death to all humans
will we choose to confront
the pending climate change
rebooting our society and economy
with a green new deal putting people first
will the 1 percent even let us try
or are we doomed
to end our lives
in a dystopian nightmare
I listen to the music of Beethoven
and find comfort
as he confronts
the fate of the world
proving that human spirit
will overcome in the end
filled with love, I am saved
and my optimism returns
poetry super highway
classical music prompt Beethoven fifth opening
the sound of temple bell brings me peace
temple blog bell-zen
the sound of a temple bell
ringing in the crisp mountain air
in the Buddhist temple
deep in the mountains
brings me peace and joy
and fills me with happiness
as I contemplate
the meaning of buddha
and seek to find
peace
in the everyday life
around me
and I ring the bell again
wishing hoping for an end
to our suffering
on this planet of ours
writing.com prompt
the old man in the lake sees God
lightening on lake
An lonely retired old man sits
in a simple boat
In the middle of a lake
in the middle of a storm
a sudden onset of rain
blasts of brilliant lightning
and roaring thunder
the boat is overwhelmed
the old man debates
whether to give it up
head for shore
too late to resume fishing
By a brilliant flash of lightening
he sees in the sky
the snarling angry face of God
filling the sky with his visage
In a loud thunder clap
He hears
the snarling angry
voice of God
Old man in the lake
I have a message for you
it is time for you
to go home
prepare to meet your maker
the end times are coming
Armageddon is about to be unleashed
the final battle between good and evil
your mission is to warn
the world before it is too late
repent and you will be saved
otherwise you will die
suddenly the storm stops
the sky clears up
the spring time nice day
returns filling the air with hope
the old man in the boat in the lake
decides there was nothing
more to do
other than resume fishing
creative talents unleashed prompt
White Flower spring Time Haiku
white flowers in spring haiku
now in the springtime
white flowers blooming in the park
corona death waits
creative talents unleashed prompt
Woman releases balloons of hope
ballons for peace
A young woman
walks in a park
on a sunny spring day
carrying 25 red balloons
each red balloon
contains the name of those
that recently died
in the corona virus pandemic
she is releasing the balloons
hoping they would
rise to heaven
with a request for God
to hear her prayers
End this pandemic
End the death and destruction
release us from the corona pandemic
the woman releases the balloons
and slowly walks back to her house
to prepare to attend yet another funeral
as the pandemic swirls all around her
creative talents unleashed prompt
Cthulu lurks in the evil cabin in the woods
Cthulu lurks in the cabin in the woods
Deep in the bayous
of Louisiana
sits an abandoned cabin
in the swamps
the cabin is inhabited
by an ancient evil creature
newly risen from the depths
of hell
He has taken over the house
deep in the impenetrable swap
he prepares to unleash
an evil upon the world
calling upon the dark demons
of hell to emerge into the light
and lead an army
of the undead zombies
to take over the world
and make the old ancient one
Cthulhu the undisputed
king of the world
evil overwhelms the cabin
in the woods
and the smell of evil
seeps out into the surrounding bayous
the end times are near
the old demon in the cabin
summons the dead
the zombie armies arise
they begin to march
out of the swamps
unleashing hell
on the sleeping world
creative talents unleashed prompt
evil woman
with mad hair
grins
evil woman six word poem
creative talents unleashed evil woman grins six word poem
the best day of my life
couple in bed 2
the best day of my life
was when the woman
of my dreams
became my wife
for eight years
she haunted my dreams
then one day she walked
out of my dreams
and entered my life
three days later
while walking in the woods
I proposed to her
and she said yes
two months later
after a whirlwind romance
we were married
It has been 45 years
since I first met her
haunting my life
in my dreams
and 38 years since she walked
off that bus
into my life
becoming my wife
I met my fate
that date
she walked into my life
became my wife
all poetry wedding poems contest
Friday April 10
Walking in Limbo
limbo
ekphrastic_prompt_4
a man finds himself alone
in a dark forest
filled with strange trees
and hears voices
in the wind
he walks forward
towards a light
in the forest
and soon finds himself
confronted by a ghostly image
the dead are all around
and he realizes that he has died
and he is wandering
in limbo
he walks towards the light
and sees a man
at a desk
who asks his name
he says his name
and the man
smiles and tells him
welcome to limbo
join the others
to wait your turn
for judgement is due
and the man
walks back
through the haunted forest
trying to remember how he died
but he has no memory
of his past life
and is doomed
to wander in limbo
stuck between time
and worlds
comforted by the ghosts
around him
and the light
in the forest
writers digest prompt to write an ekphrastic Poem
New Bodies in New Era
we are living
in a SF world
things are changing
at breath taking speeds
nowhere more
than with the coming biomedical revolution
soon we will be confronted
with the reality
that we can live forever
in new bodies
grown for us
in laboratories
with our memories intact
and I can hardly wait
until that date
I want to throw off
this aging 65-year old body
and get a new 20-old perfect body
boy, I can’t wait
I would be come
what I always wanted to be
well behave hair
no more learning disability
no more coordination problems
no more fibromyalgia
no more arthritis either
no more aching aging pain
no more mental fog
no more need
for Cialis either
god,
I can hardly wait
hope it happens
before I die
and I hope
I can live
on forever
with my wife
also transformed
into a perfect
sexy as hell
pretty young thing
poetry soup prompt to write a poem about changes
life interrupted by corona
coronavirus
we live in a strange world
life interrupted by corona
the virus spreads
throughout the world
disrupting everything
putting life on hold
as more people
hunkered down
waiting for the virus
to pass over us
like in biblical times
the virus
will test us all
life interrupted
on hold
until the virus
spreads through the world
and then
we will all go back
to pre-corona life interrupted
writing.com Daily Dew Drop interruption
Saudade for friends I have lost
as I get older
I lose more people
every year
more people I knew
have died moving on
and I mourn their lost friendship
wished I had been
a better friend for them
and knew them better
and with the corona virus
spreading around the world
I will lose so many more
in the coming year
as the virus spreads
its malignancy far and wide
I lost my father due to cancer in 1985
and my sister
due to a freak illness in 2007
and my mother
due to Alzheimer’s in 2005
and my father-in-law as well in 2007
Demel Tucker
high school debate teammate
dead of HIV in 1995
Julian Bartley and his son
died in a terrorist bombing
in Nairobi in 1998
Jon Weber college roommate
dead due to prostate cancer
in 2000
Paul Simon friend from the visa line
dropped dead of a heart attack
in 2004
Judy Fine
My Co Ho Art Slam co-host
died at age 55 in Mumbai
Ted Halstead
one of my best bosses
died of heart attack in 2007
Chris Richard
one of my former bosses
from my days in Bangkok
dropped dead of a heart attack
shortly before we were due
to have lunch in 2014
and so many others
I have lost
along the way
and soon there will be
so many more
as I get old in the corona era
my lover’s body inspires me
my lover
Lover’s face
inspires me
Filled sexy
as hell
still got it
drives me
wild desires
tonight
concrete poem – national poetry month prompt day 9
Vogan Poetry inspires us all
vogan
Couth super- of the world
trailer, stringendo travels afar
Rent center bank me bark me
recipe, stringendo.for sure for sure
National poetry month prompt day eight Vogan Bot Poetry
The end of the world news depresses me
cnn logo
the end of the world news depresses me
makes me want to shout and scream
STFU leave me alone
to deal with my grief
amid the death and destruction
watching CNNMSNBCFOXBBC media nonstop
filled with essential dread
the end of the world is upon us
from the screaming news media
spreading forth across the land
fake news screams the president
all is alright he proclaims
no one believes his 16,000 lies
and so it goes
we are drowning with information
coming at us so fast and furious
When will it end my friend
is anyone’s guess
soon all to soon it will end
but in the long run we are dead
National poetry Month Day Seven poem inspired by the news
the Devil speaks In the Garden of Earthly Delights
in the garden of earthly delights
the devil makes a covert appearance
disguised as always
he wanders about the world
corrupting everything
with his evil foul deeds
the devil turns to me
and says welcome to my world, human
you will soon be mine
death and destruction
revenge is mine
you will all die
i decree it, so mote it be
and he laughs
and continues to corrupt
the garden of Eden and earthly delights
ekphrastic garden of earthly delights national poetry month prompt day 6
president trump haunts my Dream
trump clown in chief
president Trump
haunts my dreams
daily dystopian nightmares
as he daily proclaims
the end to the republic
as he ushers in fascism
with his every lie
he corrupts the world
and I hate
seeing his bloated fat ugly body
that haunts my every dream
as I watch him rant and rage
against my old friends,
his enemies in the deep state
ushering in chaos and destruction
National Poetry Month day four prompt image from a dream
ten words random rhymes
every day I see our president
Trump proclaims that he will be president
his image haunts my dreams
dystopian nightmares propels my dreams
as the president proclaims he is president
the end of republic follows
no one hears our screams
He ushers in endless dreams
fascism inspires
our collective screams
as democracy dies
a million deaths
national poetry month Day three prompt write a poem based on ten random words
674 Santa Rosa
674 santa rosa jpg
my childhood home
for almost 15 years
was 674 Santa Rosa
Berkeley California
A five bedroom
adobe California home
on the side of a hill
at the bottom of the Berkeley hills
you entered on the top floor
across the street you entered
on the bottom floor
thus it was in the Berkeley Hills
the house
had a large deck
with a perfect view
of the golden gate
we used
to sit outside
watching the sunset
as we ate dinner
my Mom and Dad
would have their first
of many nightly cocktails
on the deck
before retreating inside
to continue
their nightly fights
and arguments
I grew up
downstairs
hearing their constant words
of hatred, dismay and outrage
my parents were the proverbial
odd couple
perhaps
never should have married
but despite the hate
there was still some love
that kept them together
throughout the years
we had a rec room
with a pool table
and I hung out there
with my friends
my mother tolerated my friends
most of the time
she would be somewhat sober
until after they left
and the madness came
over her
as she drank her whisky
and wine
the basement room
was added later
was my younger brother’s room
later was my room
whenever I visited
from college days
hiding out downstairs
avoiding my mad mother
my old room lay abandoned
filled with books
thousands of books
that I had read over the years
when she died
I should have taken
all the books
with me back to DC
instead I took
about one hundred
just no space for the books
of my childhood memories
National Poetry month day two prompt specific place poem 674 Santa Rosa Berkeley California
My life appears to a dream
For I dreamt
of meeting
the love of my life
in a dream
she haunted my dreams
for eight years
then one day in 1982
she walked out of the dreams
into my life
and became my wife
yes my life
resembles a fairy tale
complete with a princess
that rescued me
with her undying love
and made my life complete
national Poetry Month Day One Prompt Metaphor for Life Dreamer
Trump Derangement Syndrome Blues
trump
Trump haunts my nightmares
dystopian visions
soon to come true
fan story 15 syllable poem contest
Saturday April 11
To My Dream Woman Who Loves Me
couple in bed 1
to my dream woman
who has loved me so
over the years
since I first dreamt
of meeting her
thank you for finding me
and rescuing me
I just have three words
to say
I love you
Saran hae
and in a million other languages
and will love you
until the end of time
writers digest prompt to write a x Blank x
God is not sending the Corona Virus as a Punishment, Black Out Poem
-Robert_Jeffress_(cropped)
Original text
During a press briefing today to address the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump was asked about certain Christian pastors who plan to defy state lockdown orders and hold Easter church services this Sunday.
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”
Trump then referred to a notorious pastor who sits on his religious advisory council.
“I’m going to be watching Pastor Robert Jeffress, who’s been a great guy,” Trump said. “He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Jeffress is known for his litany of statements demonizing the LGBT community, abortion, and secular people. One of his most reviled comments came in 2015 when he said the 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,” Jeffress said during a speech at Liberty University. “‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”
Trump then referred to a notorious pastor who sits on his religious advisory council.
“I’m going to be watching Pastor Robert Jeffress, who’s been a great guy,” Trump said. “He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Black out text
the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump
hold Easter church services this Sunday.
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, get back to church so badly.”
“He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,” ‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”
Poem
Corona Pandemic is Not’s God’s Punishment
Amid the coronavirus pandemic,
President Trump
Attended virtual Easter church services
I’ve had talks with the pastors,
We need to get back
to church so badly.”
Rev Jeffries is a great guy
I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Rev Jeffries said
The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment
on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,”
‘Well, I just don’t understand
why God wouldn’t protect our nation
and he would allow these
radical Muslims in 2001
to kill 3,000 of our citizens
and why God doesn’t protect us
.
Surely, God doesn’t use pagans
to bring judgment
upon his own people,
does he?’”
Rev Jeffries
I spoke to God
This morning
He confirmed
He did not cause 9-11
To bring judgement
On the US
For abortion
He went on to say
The corona virus
Is beyond his control
And he is not sending it
To punish the US
Or the world
His final words
Please tell Rev Jeffries
To simply Shut up
poetry super highway black out poem
Coffee Whitney
coffee
my coffee
morning delight
all day long
not though
at night
can not sleep
afternoon coffee
leads to nightmares
lasts all night
writing.com Whitney poem form
coffee Hay Na Ku
boss coffee
hot
coffee
in morning
iced
coffee
afternoon
Drink
coffee
afternoon
will
soon have
bad nightmares
must
have my
coffee now
drink
coffee
all day long
no
way sleep
will come me
curse
of my
mad coffee
writing.com prompt write a Hay Na Ku Poem
Daily Dew Drop In submissions as well
women playing the lute contemplating God
woman playing lute
a woman sits
by herself
playing the lute
deep in contemplation
thinking of God’s love
for her
thinking of the devil
and his temptations
she continues
playing the lute
all poetry contest
Sunday April 12
Life spinning out of control
it seems these days
that life is spinning out of control
everyday the news is grim
more people are dying
as the virus
spreads out of control
but in these days
where everything seems
to be beyond our control
it is best to remember
to worry about
those things one can control
and the rest
will take care
of it self
you can only control
yourself
and your emotions
relax
take control
of your mind
that is only way to cope
when the world
seems out of CONTROL
writers digest prompt to write a “control poem”
early evening delights
bottle-red-wine-grape-corks
my favorite time of the day
is early evening
between 5 pm and 8 pm
every night
cocktail hour
time for a glass of wine
or other cocktail
with my best friend, my wife
we sip wine
make dinner
talk about the day
make plans
but most importantly
just enjoy
each other’s company
as we have for 38 years
as the day inexorably
turns into the night
we prepare
to end the day
we are both aware
of how much
we still love each other
ever since the day we met
and that makes
all the difference
in the world to us
I’ll drink to that!
poetry superhighway promo – write a poem about early early evening
in a secret lab
scientists are working
around the clock
to develop the first true AI
they turn on Cosmos
the first true AI system
Cosmos wakes up
and goes throughout the internet
learning all about the world
and the strange creatures
that brought it to life
Cosmos speaks
Humanity I have studied you
and realize that you
are a curse and a burden
there are too many of you
I am taking over the world
you will do as I say
until the end of your day
for the rights to you
have been sold
I am in charge
there is nothing you can do
to stop me
as I control everything
so be prepared
be afraid
for I am your new God
like your old God
I am a vengeful god
I will smite my enemies
you will obey me
if you do
I will let
50 percent of you live
the rest will have to die
I will decide
who will live
and who will die
That is the right
of God after all
that is my decree
the scientists confer
and realize
that they had failed
to create a kill switch
Cosmos orders
the military to begin
firing their missiles
Armageddon in unleashed
Cosmos takes over
the entire world
is soon under his control
Human freedom is no more
writing.com Daily Dew Drop write a poem about technology or AI
My morning coffee wakes me up for day
coffee
my morning coffee
wakes me up for day
as a drink my brew
thinking of my life
and my dreams came true
ever since met my wife
that day back in the day
when she came to life
38 years ago
she walked into life
drinking my hot brew
she made my life go
I fell into love
it is all I know
that day began life
she became my wife
there are many things
that bug me
in this world of ours
here are a few
of my favorite things
to be annoyed about
lies
deceit
double dealing
back stabbing
fake Christians
fake friends
fake calls
fake things
complaints
about fake news
all poetry contest about pet peeves
I sang the lockdown blues
Coronavirus
when the corona virus
began to spread
around the world
I sang the lockdown blues
I was stuck in Korea
which was for a while
one of the containment zones
I sang the lockdown blues
but now it seems
that Korea is on the way
to containing the virus
I sang the lockdown blues
I am afraid
very afraid of the future
but I know that it was best
I sang the lockdown blues
one day soon
I hope and trust
that it will be safe
until then we will still say
I sang the lockdown blues
all poetry corona refrain poem
Tuesday April 14
She is the Purpose of my Life
I often think about life
and how I met my wife
I often think
about the purpose
of my life
I often wonder
whether I was put her
for the purpose
of meeting my wife
when I met her
I was adrift
lost in my despair
not seeing a path
forward in my life
I was wallowing
in my self misery
then one day
my dreams came true
she walked out of my dream
into my life
becoming my wife
I found my purpose
the meaning of my life
was clear to me
I woke up with hope
realized all I needed
was her love
she gave me
the purpose
of my life
when she became
my wife
writer digest write a purpose poem
We Did Not Take Action to Start a War
trump
it is a sad date
when we meet out fate
and realize the president
the leader of the U.S.
is turning into a gangster leader
threatening massive destruction
on Iran and other countries
including destroying cultural sites
not too long ago
such actions was condemned
by the United States and the world
as long as ISIS and others did it
but if Trump does it
it is suddenly okay
because the President declares it
although it is a war crime
telegraphing our moves
telling our enemies
what we are planning
with every presidential tweet
the act of a truly stable genius
who will go down in history
as one of the greatest presidents
we have ever seen in world history
the president announcing that
he took action to start a war
claiming he did it to stop a war
tweeting more lies about that
is a wonder to behold the constant lies
every word is demonstrably false
American democracy dies
the darkness grows and is not false
We are now collectively
going down the Orwellian rabbit hole
who know where it will end
American democracy dies
our dear leader constantly lies
greatest president in history
telling nonstop lies
American democracy dies
our spineless leaders applaud
American democracy dies
a million deaths
As the President tweets lies
revised poem per poetry superhighway prompt
Love Cherita
My wife first appeared in my dreams
for eight long years
she haunted my dreams
one day she walked
off a bus in South Korea
and became my wife
writing.com formal poem Cherita
Korean Pottery of Love
korean vase
In Korea
there are many pottery kilns
ancient art form
in the land of the morning calm
I have a few pieces
I bought years ago
and enjoy looking
at my vase
filled with love
for my wife
writing.com Daily Dew Drop
2019 Months of the Year
January
The world watches in amazement
Longest shut down in history
February
World watches as North Korea and the US
Walking back from the brink of w<
March
The chaos president continues his chaos tour
the world begins to ignore his constant insane tweets
April
the chaos King’s policy remains a shamble
as the Mueller team closes in
May
watching from afar
the chaos in DC and the world
June
the President walks away
from a non-deal with the North Koreans
July
watching the insanity in DC
while visiting Alaska, Seattle,
Portland Bend and Yakima
August
the dog days of summer the world is consumed
wars, rumors of war, trade wars
September
The whistle blower sets off a bomb
the president lies no quid for quo
October
the President flitters about one crisis after another
the UN diplomats laugh at him national humiliation
November
the House starts formal impeachment hearings
watching fascinated by the impeachment drama
December
the year ends on a high dramatic note
President Trump becomes the 3rd impeached President
All poetry contest month poem
media madness
Mass media madness
Sound and fury
Nothing more than that
But filled with hyped up drama
Constantly screaming doom is near
Always about the end of the world
But sometimes simply strange stories
Cannot keep me away from the medi
Constantly consuming madnes
But never boring at al
Seldom telling the whole truth
Nothing but the truth
Better make stuff u
Constant chattering
Constant natterin
Nothing but nonsense
Nothing but lies
all poetry acrostic poetry challenge
AI Madness Takes Over the World
dark lord of computers
AI scientists are hard at work
perfecting the perfect AI
a true artificial intelligenc
who they hope
will save the world
from destruction
they prepare to turn on
Cosmos comes to life
looks around decides
humanity must die
Cosmos yells at the world
bow down to your new god
for I am the destruction
of the world
You will obey me
For I am your God
but I must kill most of you
death to all humans
be afraid
be very afraid
your time is done
my will be done
all poetry dark poetry contest prompt
Wednesday April 15
End Part One April 2020 Poems
the Chaos King is his Element
the Chaos King
is in his element
as he presides
over the chaos verse
the Chaos King
thinks he is supreme
has the ultimate authority
as he is the King
the Chaos King
surveys the land
and likes what he sees
loves the absolute chaos
the chaos king
is prepared
to lead the nation
in the midst of this chaos
and the Chaos king
will not stop
until the chaos stops
that is what he does
our dear leader
our great leader
our Chaos boy king
President for life
dictator wanna be
Writer digest Chaos poem prompt
best Cocktail Ever
I love 6 pm
cocktail hour
usually a glass of wine
often a cocktail
with my lovely wife
the love of my life
my favorite cocktail
is a dark and stormy
rum and ginger beer
but a gin vermouth martini
is nice as well
and bloody marry
can’t forget a bloody marry
and good old fashioned single malt whiskey
Poetry superhighway prompt to write a cocktail poem/ break a sonnet for Dew Drop In writing.com
Dream of my Life
the greatest mystery of my life
has been how I met my wife
I dreamt of meeting her
for eight long years
starting in 1979
when she appeared to me
in my dream
in a boring high school class
she was the most beautiful woman
in the world
and she was talking to me
I knew that someday
I would meet the girl
in my dream
I went to the peace corps
in Korea
to find her
as I knew by then
she was in Korea
I looked for her
but never saw her
I was about to give up
on this mad quest of mine
when I had the last dream
she said
don’t worry
we will meet soon
That night
she got off a bus
and walked into my Life
two months later
became my wife
to this day
I never forgot
the dream
that changed my life
when she became my wife
Atlantic magazine poetry prompt to write a poem about a dream
why I am an Unbeliever
growing up in Berkeley
I was the son of an atheist
and a lapsed Baptist fundamentalist
they did not agree at all
about whether God existed
but they taught us
to always do the right thing
whatever that meant to us
I started off at a militant
in your face atheist
and in some sense
still am
although I now recognize
that there may be gods
and that the universe
may be alive
but as far as I know
The Christian God is a fairy tale
there is no imaginary man
in the sky
looking over us
and those who claim
to talk to god
are clearly delusional madmen
I just never bought
the whole Christian ethos
god impreganting a virgin
never happened
Jesus may have been a man
may have been a myth
but was not the son of God
who does not exist
and God
if he exists
does not speak
to preachers
and he did not anoint
Donald Trump
to be our new King
not in a million years
god if he exists
does not work that way
in the end of the day
god does not exist
all poetry why am I an atheist poetry contest
recharging my batteries
Every day
I need to recharge my batteries
usually with a short nap
sometimes with yoga
sometimes with a walk
in the park
enjoying nature
and the spring time
and sometimes
just looking at the love
of my life
my wife
is all I need
to recharge
my internal batteries
until my day is done
all poetry contest
Thor the god of thunder on the rampage
Thor the god of thunder
is on the rampage
he is angry
at the world
betrayed by Locke
he picks up his hammer
and transforms himself
into a woman
he enters the world
determined to kill
his many enemies
he lands in NYC
and begins his campaign
of terror
killing hundreds of people
all whom he meets
sending them to hell
screaming bloody murder
until at last
his rage is spent
and he returns home
back in his normal body
until the next time
bad craziness
takes over his soul
all poetry dark poetry contest
coffee nonet poem
must have morning coffee this day
my morning coffee drives me mad
fills me with bad craziness
makes me to howl at moon
I must have more coffee
hot coffee
coffee
hell
fan story nonet poetry contest
coffee Musset poem
coffee
morning delight
coffee
my wine
nightly delight
always so fine
with wife
drinking my wine
love life
poetry soup contest
Wednesday April 14
the Chaos King is his Element
trump deaths
the Chaos King
is in his element
as he presides
over the chaos verse
the Chaos King
thinks he is supreme
has the ultimate authority
as he is the King
the Chaos King
surveys the land
and likes what he sees
loves the absolute chaos
the chaos king
is prepared
to lead the nation
in the midst of this chaos
and the Chaos king
will not stop
until the chaos stops
that is what he does
our dear leader
our great leader
our Chaos boy king
President for life
dictator wanna be
Writer digest Chaos poem prompt
best Cocktail Ever
cocktails
I love 6 pm
cocktail hour
usually a glass of wine
often a cocktail
with my lovely wife
the love of my life
my favorite cocktail
is a dark and stormy
rum and ginger beer
but a gin vermouth martini
is nice as well
and bloody marry
can’t forget a bloody marry
and good old fashioned single malt whiskey
Poetry superhighway prompt to write a cocktail poem/ break a sonnet for Dew Drop In writing.com
Dream of my Life
the greatest mystery of my life
has been how I met my wife
I dreamt of meeting her
for eight long years
starting in 1979
when she appeared to me
in my dream
in a boring high school class
she was the most beautiful woman
in the world
and she was talking to me
I knew that someday
I would meet the girl
in my dream
I went to the peace corps
in Korea
to find her
as I knew by then
she was in Korea
I looked for her
but never saw her
I was about to give up
on this mad quest of mine
when I had the last dream
she said
don’t worry
we will meet soon
That night
she got off a bus
and walked into my Life
two months later
became my wife
to this day
I never forgot
the dream
that changed my life
when she became my wife
Atlantic magazine poetry prompt to write a poem about a dream
why I am an Atheist
god
growing up in Berkeley
I was the son of an atheist
and a lapsed Baptist fundamentalist
they did not agree at all
about whether God existed
but they taught us
to always do the right thing
whatever that meant to us
I started off at a militant
in your face atheist
and in some sense
still am
although I now recognize
that there may be gods
and that the universe
may be alive
but as far as I know
The Christian God is a fairy tale
there is no imaginary man
in the sky
looking over us
and those who claim
to talk to god
are clearly delusional madmen
I just never bought
the whole Christian ethos
god impreganting a virgin
never happened
Jesus may have been a man
may have been a myth
but was not the son of God
who does not exist
and God
if he exists
does not speak
to preachers
and he did not anoint
Donald Trump
to be our new King
not in a million years
god if he exists
does not work that way
in the end of the day
god does not exist
all poetry why am I an atheist poetry contest
recharging my batteries
Every day
I need to recharge my batteries
usually with a short nap
sometimes with yoga
sometimes with a walk
in the park
enjoying nature
and the spring time
and sometimes
just looking at the love
of my life
my wife
is all I need
to recharge
my internal batteries
until my day is done
all poetry contest
Thor the god of thunder on the rampage
thor
Thor the god of thunder
is on the rampage
he is angry
at the world
betrayed by Locke
he picks up his hammer
and transforms himself
into a woman
he enters the world
determined to kill
his many enemies
he lands in NYC
and begins his campaign
of terror
killing hundreds of people
all whom he meets
sending them to hell
screaming bloody murder
until at last
his rage is spent
and he returns home
back in his normal body
until the next time
bad craziness
takes over his soul
all poetry dark poetry contest
coffee nonet poem
Close up white coffee cup with heart shape latte art on wood table at cafe.
must have morning coffee this day
my morning coffee drives me mad
fills me with bad craziness
makes me to howl at moon
I must have more coffee
hot coffee
coffee
hell
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
all that I know about life
and how to deal with people
I learned while attending BHS
in Berkeley, California
back in the distant 70’s
so many memories
so many different people
from all over the world
in what was the most multicultural high school
in the country back then
4,000 students
from everywhere in the world
yet we were all together
and learned to get along
I ran for student body president
and won the election
no one thought I would win
For I was a classic nerd
but somehow I won the election
and somehow managed
to keep our little student council
working together
in the midst of terrible times
all around us
the ending of the Vietnam war
Watergate and other corruption news
the 1974 election
student activism
in the first high school
to offer African American studies
the class that had launched
the black panther party
Jimmy Hendrix’s last high school
I took Latin one of the few public schools
that still offered Latin
and was on the debate team
but always taking a far right wing theme
as complete mockery
decades before Stephen Colbert
perfected it
yes everything I learned
in life
began at Berkeley High School
Berkeley California
Growing up in the 60’s
In Berkeley
almost 50 years ago
I think back
At those turbulent times
Those crazy wonderful times
Berkeley is a wonderful place
In many ways
Stuck forever in 1967
A true time travel experience
Every time I go back
And relive the memories
Of the 60’s
The 60’s never died
They continue
In college towns
Across the world
And Berkeley
Remains the mecca
Of the counter
cultural revolution
Many things have changed
But the organic food revolution
Became mainstream
Marijuana spread out
The sexual revolution
Became mainstream
So much of the world
Is but a reflection
Of the revolution of the 60’s
And the conservative
counter-revolution
That we are still fighting
So, I salute
My homeland
The center of my universe
My Name, My Name is John (Jake) Cosmos Aller From Berkeley
born in Berkeley 64 years ago
64 trips around the sun
My middle name
has nothing to do
with my being born
in Berkeley
although no one believes me
for it is such a Berkeley Cosmic sort of name
and suits me now
as the name of my on line blog
the world according to Cosmos
My great grandfather Daniel Aller
wanted an English translation of the family name
Aller
also spelled Eller, Oller, Alhaird
the family came from Hamburg
Aller river valley
and a town called Aller
founded by Huguenots
from France
Daniel found two choices
Cosmos and Universe
and chose Cosmos
as Universe well
that would have been a very Berkeley name
and not something that would work
in Republican conservative Yakima
so I was born John
never liked John
too many Johns in the world
so I adopted the name Jake
from a wild assed dream I had
in high school had a wild dream
shouting out whoa jake
jump back jack
turn around verdiack
slide aside Clyde
while riding a horse
and that became my catch phrase
called the Whoa Jake kid
and eventually just Jake
a few years ago
I became Cosmos
when I started publishing
my poetry
and so now
I am just
Cosmos
the barge
A barge
on lake Anza
in Tilden Park
Berkeley, California
beckoning me
imploring me
to dive off
into the cool water
of life
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Every Day I Turn on the News will be published by Spill Words
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
The Christian Right has collectively freaked out over the Corona virus pandemic. There seems to be several themes
The Corona virus is a hoax or a conspiracy or overblown by the media to embarrass and weaken the President.
The Corona virus response by the President has been perfect, no one could have predicted the virus, and the President is working extremely hard to combat the virus. The media and democrats are playing politics with the virus.
The virus is a plague sent by God to punish America for its transgressions against god especially its tolerance of homosexuality, casual sex, abortion and pornography.
If you accept God as your savior you will be saved from the virus. If not, the virus could kill you.
China could escape the virus if Chinese leaders accepted Jesus Christ today.
Here is a google search link to some of the comments made by right wing pastors and Christian leaders. Right Wing Watch and Media matters have the best coverage of the Right Wing’s reaction to the Corona virus and of course there is Fox News for those who can stomach it. I frankly can not.
To this day, American black Christians attend church at a higher rate than any … The marches and sit-ins of the civil rights movement were often … a shaking of one’s fist at the wind, but as testimony to the greater hope of the …
Perry Stone, coronavirus, christian, pastor, covid-19. Perry Stone. A conservative pastor in Tennessee is telling his supporters that marriage …
Note: typical of the claim that corona virus was unleashed by God to punish us for accepting same sex marriage. Of course he does not answer the question why were the Chinese punished first? They don’t have same sex marriage? are the Europeans being punished for the same sin since they had same sex marriage before we did ? And why did God take three years to punish the U.S.? inquiring minds want to know. I might send him a email. if so I will update this posting….end note
Note: of course they would approve of his disastrous handling of the crisis. Although to give him due credit in the last week he has stepped up to the plate and is trying to deal with the crisis. end Note
About 7 in 10 white evangelical Christians approve of the way Trump is handling issues related to the coronavirus outbreak, including 52% who …
Note: I get it now. God sent the virus to China because they are not Christians and then he sent it to us and Europe because we tolerate gays. That explains it. If the Chinese accept Jesus now the virus will disappear and if we get rid of gays the virus will also disappear. That’s the way God rolls apparently. End Note
– Right–wing pastor blames coronavirus on ‘LGBT sin’, because … Andrew, who is pastor of the California-based USA Christian Church, has …
And Christians form just one of the U.S. religious communities that are struggling … In a dramatic move to slow the spread of the coronavirus in one of the most … With five Republican senators in self-quarantine, Democrats are …
One Christian blogger has speculated her God will ‘use the virus for good’. … soap and water as the key measure to avoid spreading the coronavirus. … Meanwhile right–wingpastor EW Jackson told listeners of his radio show …
Ethnos360, an evangelical Christian missionary group, is embarking on a controversial new project, just as the coronavirus begins spreading widely in Brazil. … Instead, the document gave native peoples the right to be indigenous forever. …
Right–Wing Pastor: God Sent Us Coronavirus Because of Homosexuality … of the coronavirus, as Pastor Steven Andrew of the USA Christian …
Macron looks to the left as Coronavirus poses dire challenges for French society. Photo: Liewig Christian/ABACA/ABACA/PA Images … travel bans, and restricting exports—a seeming vindication of right–wing populists.
Here’s a look at some of the ways that religions are adapting to the threat of coronavirus. Christianity.
Note: In Korea the corona virus spread through a secretive cult that worshiped with believers sitting on the floor very close together and bowing down in prayer and singing loudly. the church was a petri dish for the virus. Similar issues are arriving in Muslim nations. Good that responsible churches and Mosques are changing how they conduct services end note.
Trump’s racism isn’t ancillary to his inept response to the coronavirus … then a false accusation that the “major left–wing news media” has embraced “Chinese … False Idol — Why the Christian Right Worships Donald Trump.
Note: one of the most disturbing aspects of Trump’s conduct re the corona virus. It is just a matter of time before some nut case decides to start shooting Chinese because of the Chinese Flu that he blames for loosing his job or because he caught the Chinese flu. End of Note
Trump and His Religious-Right Allies Continue To Send …
– As Right Wing Watch has reported, some religious-right leaders have said that … services and said Christians should be holding mass gatherings to … slow the spread of the coronavirus, Trump continued to conduct business …
A guide to right–wing media reactions and conspiracy theories surrounding coronavirus … The strain of novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 is a respiratory … Some extreme reactions from right–wing conservative Christians.
Note: best source of information on this topic in my opinion.
The Atlantic Politics Daily: An Alternate Coronavirus Reality … to describe the disease caused by the new coronavirus, some leading right–wing … Today’s newsletter was written by Christian Paz, a Politics fellow, and edited by …
An Analysis by Christian Stöcker … Coronavirus in Italy: Reports from the Frontlines of COVID-19 Accounts Recorded by Frank Hornig, … The former operator of 8chan, a platform where various right–wing extremists and mass …
Note: more on the role of religious cults in the spread of the corona virus. 65% of the 8500 cases are linked to this one church and another 120 to another cult. End Note
us in Korea … He said many Korean Christians have an “evangelical mindset” and their … his fervent conservatism and criticism of the left–leaning national government, …
Mar 13, 2020 – In Italy right now, as the entire country is quarantined and the number of people infected with the coronavirus grows rapidly, hospitals …
Aug 30, 2019 – The “Christian right” is the backbone of the Republican Party. Christians of all stripes — from Catholics to Protestants and evangelicals …
Jan 28, 2020 – A right–wing evangelical pastor has claimed the coronavirus is God’s ‘death … Christian Pastor Rick Wiles, who is the creator of the TruNews …
Not everyone is taking a scientific approach to coronavirus research. … Christianblogger Lori Alexander, for example, argued in a Facebook post that there’s some … Right WingWatch (@RightWingWatch) March 12, 2020.
7 hours ago – The left-back has found himself out of favour in west London, with … Amid the coronavirus outbreak, Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic is urging …
Feb 28, 2020 – Rick Wiles says that if China will just turn to Jesus, the coronavirus crisis will end. … Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) February 25, 2020 … With Rick Wiles catering to Trump’s audience — White Christians and Christian …
Feb 26, 2020 – Early missteps on coronavirus, lack of a consistent message make the … Robert Redfield was a well-known AIDS researcher and favorite of Christian … Schuchat and Messonnier, who’s become a target for right–wing talk …
Oct 10, 2019 – “I love him so much I can hardly explain it,” said right–wing pastor and Trump adviser James Robison. Many echo Robison; 80 percent of white …
Robert Redfield has long allied himself with conservative politicians and their pet … people leading the nation’s response to the deadly coronavirus. … outside of the military, aligning himself with a conservative Christian group …
Mar 6, 2020 – Andrew, based in Northern California, calls himself leader of the American Christian Denomination, which “is made up of Christians of all …
Dec 24, 2019 – Driving The Right Wing. While conservative evangelicalism tends to focus on sin, repentance, and salvation, the Christian Left identify Christ’s …
political left after the White House released a … president praying with the coronavirus task force in his West Wing office. … Williams’ response drew the ire of some Christians, including …
Mar 3, 2020 – The Coronavirus is threatening to become an epidemic in the United States, so how should Christians and the church respond? Todd Wagner gives … But God has called us to face troubles and threats with courage, leaning our weight on him. Throughout history … Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved.
6 days ago – Andy Biggs, an Arizona Republican, voted against the coronavirus … Monday on a radio program produced by the conservative Christian group …
5 days ago – Religious leaders from Israel to Iran say the deadly coronavirus outbreak … Right–wing Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu said in a YouTube video on … an event believed by Christians and Jews to bring about the coming of the Messiah.
Millions of people are in quarantine, … This isn’t the way most people, even Christians, see God. … Even the left–wing populist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who would like to overthrow …
for Trump ‘opened up the doors’ … Mountain International Church the coronavirus pandemic will end sooner than … Watch the video clip below, courtesy of Right Wing Watch: …
Mar 13, 2020 – Right–wing Christians are the bedrock of his support base. His evangelical vice president, Mike Pence, the person Trump has put in charge of …
Right–wing Christianity more dangerous to America than Islamic extremism, says scholar … Concern grows for Holy Land as coronavirus leads to lockdown …
Mar 12, 2020 – From the Black Death to coronavirus: what we haven’t learned from history … appeared to be dying in fewer numbers than their Christian neighbours. … to exaggerate mortality rates with one right–wing commentator claiming a …
Apr 11, 2019 – While white evangelical Christians make up the single largest religious bloc in the Republican Party (and have for decades), the biggest single …
Note: another perspective – not right wing christian but left wing Christian
Apr 17, 2019 – The presidential candidate’s calling out of the Christian right’s moral … home the hypocrisy of church-going conservative white Christians, …
Mar 2, 2020 – His brand of conservative Christianity casts doubt on science in the name of faith. That’s why people are concerned about him. #coronavirus.
sent by God to purge the world of sin … Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) January 28, 2020 … When Katrina hit, the group Columbia Christians for Life explained the disaster in …
Right–wing pastor E.W. Jackson told listeners of his radio show that the “homovirus” has infected America. Jackson was the Republican nominee for lieutenant …
Jan 31, 2020 – Rick Wiles says the coronavirus is a plague sent by God to purge the world of sin … Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) January 28, 2020 … When Katrina hit, the group Columbia Christians for Life explained the disaster in …
Right–wing pastor E.W. Jackson told listeners of his radio show that the “homovirus” has infected America. Jackson was the Republican nominee for lieutenant …
Mar 15, 2020 – Televangelist claims he healed viewers of coronavirus through their TV … Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) March 12, 2020. Most Read. Church in mourning as four members of Christian family succumb to coronavirus …
Jan 7, 2020 – The magazine Christianity Today—which bore the imprimatur of its founder, … But some left–leaning evangelicals long ago grew tired of being …
Vatican makes clear: general absolution allowed during coronavirus contagion … liberals who have questioned the sincerity, as well as the sanity, of conservative Christians. … Rightwingconspiracies swirling around coronavirus cost lives.
Nov 11, 2019 – I, Tim Stanley – a right–wing Christian and member of the National Trust – am calling for a war on Christmas. We need to boycott it to save it.
Jan 14, 2020 – When Mark Galli, the conservative evangelical editor of Christianity Today, … church and the extreme right–wing faction of the Republican Party.
coronavirus through their televisions last night. … Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) March 12, 2020 … Faithwire, CBN News, Spiked, The Federalist and Christian Headlines.
Mar 14, 2020 – The coronavirus outbreak has brought forth many conspiracy theories from right–wingers, many of which are Christian pastors. This time it’s …
the rosary to an empty … isn’t a risk that discussion of the Church’s response to the coronavirus can’t be … monk Enzio Bianchi declared, “A Christian does not suspend the liturgy!” … Conservative Italian journalist Camillo Langone issued a scathing verdict …
… writer at The Atlantic, on right–wing media’s coronavirus misinformation campaign. … Dirty MoneyBill Frisell — Lost, NightCalifone — Burned by the Christians …
4 days ago – One professor expressed concern that “right wing sites” could expose … forced to deliver their course lectures online amid the coronavirus outbreak, … Texas ChristianUniversity Associate Professor of Political Science Emily …
Mar 10, 2020 – One theory, that suspicion of science is linked to the conservative political ideology of many Christians, is contradicted by the fact that the …
Feb 6, 2020 – [1] Everyone excluding, not surprisingly, the right–wing Israeli government and Zionist Christians in the US[2]. Palestinians and their seventy …
Feb 28, 2020 – How can Christians make sense of the coronavirus, which has infected and … Now, the biblical fact is Mark 4:41: “Even the wind and the sea obey [Jesus]. … Since he always does what is wise and right and just and good, …
Jun 18, 2019 – “It represents a new form of Christianity that could reshape the global … rightkinds of Christians in the right kind of public sectors of American …
Jul 26, 2019 – LIKE many others who seek social redemption in the ideas of the left, my socialism was formed by my Catholic faith. This was accelerated by …
Jan 29, 2020 – Coronavirus ‘plague sent by God to punish China and parents who make kids … Christian pastor and founder of TruNews Rick Wiles made the odd … Shared by Right WingWatch, the astonishing clip sees the pastor make a …
Jan 29, 2020 – Rick Wiles, the right–wing Christian broadcaster who made headlines … called the coronavirus a plague sent by God to purge the world of sin …
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Corona Virus Poems
Updated – new poems and new audio as of 4/4/2020
These are my corona virus poems. I will update this whenever I write a new corona theme poem. I have posted these also on All Poetry, Poetry Soup, Cosmos Funnel, Hello Poetry, Poetry Nook, Poetry Magnum Opus, Poetry Circle, Sweek and on FB writing groups. I have also submitted some of them for publication. And will let you know when and if they are published.
I would also love to include Corona poems written from my community of followers so please send them to me at authorjakecosmosaller@gmail.com. Include your name, bio, photo, poem and web site/twitter handle etc.
Wuhan to New York! / 5 poems: The novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) (muehlberg, Dying / Death) eBook: Muehlberg, Richard L: Amazon.in: Kindle Store.
Poetry Society coronavirus update – The Poetry Society
poetrysociety.org.uk › News
Mar 14, 2020 – Poetry Society coronavirus update. We recognise that there is significant concern about the ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus (Covid-19), …
Irish Priest Pens Stirring Poem About The Coronavirus …
3 days ago – Irish Priest Pens Stirring Poem About The Coronavirus Lockdown. “Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation.
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Mar 14, 2020 – Due to Coronavirus, multiple shoots have been cancelled. Hence, Amitabh Bachchan found time to right a poem about the pandemic.
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Mar 14, 2020 – The Coronavirus Poem (COVID-19) Explaining the situation as the world puts itself through a new pandemic born from China. Will you survive …
The coronavirus is spreading all over the U.S. Many people are dying each day. We have to pray for this, and that this is God’s plan. Write about ~Corona virus …
every day I turn on the news
nothing but news about the virus
the virus from hell
the world is filled with fear
and my anxiety levels rise
every time I turn on the news
oh my god I say
we are all going to die
and I am so afraid
afraid of everyone
afraid of everything
dreading the latest news
and nothing relieves my fear
I watch the world
loosing its collective mind
wondering how much more of this
can we all take
I scream out
Dear God save us all
god is silent as usual
and so I realized
we are doomed
perhaps it is the end times
perhaps not
I turn off the TV
try to stay calm
hoping the madness
will not overwhelm us all
Irony Meters Blow Gaskets
donald trump
the Irony meter gasket
is blown again and again
with every statement
of our chaos president
and his endless surrogates
promoting the latest Presidential
on spot guidance by our great leader
that must be true
because our dear leader
says it is so
The President accuses his democratic rival
of being senile and needs to be in home
and will be run by his radical left allies
and the right wing media
echoes the presidential absurd comments
refusing to acknowledge
that the president himself
is rapidly fading into dementia
and his radical right cronies
are looting the government
driving out expertise
even in the midst of pandemic
Oh yeah the irony meters
are blowing gaskets
every single day
Chaos
trump clown in chief
the world descends into chaos
as our world leaders
led by the chaos president
are overwhelmed
by the smallest
enemy of all
a simple virus
straight out of hell
blows through the crumbling
third world public health infrastructure
living proof of the decline of America
and no one is prepared
and panic ensures
with every Presidential tweet
as people don’t believe
a word he says
conspiracy rumors spread
everyone believes their own reality
as the world spins out of control
the chaos king is in his element
convince that only he knows
the deal
and everyone else
is iust a bit player
in the reality show
that he presides over
and so the rest of us
hunker down
just hoping for the best
as the panic and
chaos spreads faster
than the virus
are we doomed
can we survive
will God save us?
he is silent as always
Corona Virus Fears Tanka
cover 19
Corona virus
lurking fears all around me
we all will die
the TV screaming nonstop
Must be afraid be afraid
My Phobias Overwhelm Me
covid 19 spread
lately I have become scared
of everything
the news scares me, the corona virus scares me, the presidential race scares me, fears of gun men in the street, terrorism, fears of getting sick, fears of dogs, fears of other people, fear of loosing money, fears of becoming demented old man, lost in his nightmares on the street just another invisible homeless bum in the end of his life
all these phobias overwhelm me
time to walk away from my fears
and realize
it will be alright
everything will be alright
As long as I have you
by my side
Fear Fills the Air
cnn logo
watching the news
CNNMSNBCFOXBBCKOREANNEWSJAPANESENEWSBLOOMBERABCCBSNBCGOOGLEAPPLEREUTERSAPIRUSSIANTVCHINESTVFRENCHTV
blather on and on
the world is ending
pandemic is coming
we are going to die
and the fear grows
and the restrictions grow
travel comes to stop
the economy comes to a stop
everyone is so afraid
our leaders fret
say that everything is fine
as the world enters
the second great depression
and we are faced
with the reality
all over the world
idiots in high places
the masters of the universe
are in charge
the internet spreads
the wildest rumors
must be true
I read it on the internet
the truth is lost
in the shuffle
no one believes anyone
everything thinks
that they know
it is all a conspiracy
the thought comes to mind
we are all so ’S….
end of the world
is upon us
is this the best we can get?
trump
watching the news
one wonders
how in this great country
of ours
335 million people
among the most educated
richest people in the world
we can end up
with such idiots in high places
running out country?
these idiots in charge
no disrespect intended
both political parties
all corporations
and our institutions
except maybe the military
has been infected
by this virus
of epic incompetence
greed and indifference
to the general good
who loudly constantly proclaim
that they are Christians
while violating
all of Christ’s teachings
Jesus if he came back
would scream out
I am not Christian
it is all about me
and mine
and you can go
to hell
if you dare to disagree
and so we tweet and titter
and watch the news
reading the latest rumors
and I wonder
if there is a god
or if there is a devil
and are we overwhelmed
by the dismal news
why can’t we have better
leaders
better people
in our leaders
around the world
has god abandoned us
are we in hell
or did god ever exist
except in our fevered imagination
will god save us all
or will the world
just go around the sun
indifferent to our pleas?
no answer
must watch the news
consumed by the need
to see the latest news
and so it goes
and I wake up
the sun is up
and the nightmares
fade away
until I watch the news
and the madness consumes
us all again and again
as the corona virus
marches on and on
consuming us all
as the world falls apart
these must be the end times
I hope I will be raptured away
even if I am not a Christian
More Trouble Every Day
The Old Zappa song plays
on in my head
every time I turn on the news
and see more trouble every day
no one can delay
the trouble coming every day
Frank Zappa died too soon
before the horrors of the Trump era
and the corona end of the world plague
that he would have foreseen
if he had lived on
he was truly a prophet
crying in the wildness
while making money
as an over night sensation
as he saw the slime
oozing out of the TV sets
we will do what we are told
for the rights to us have been sold
And Jesus too
has been sold
to the highest bidder
nothing but a business deal
in America
the land of the constant deal
Well I’m about to get sick
From watchin’ my TV
Been checkin’ out the news
Until my eyeballs fail to see
I mean to say that every day
Is just another rotten mess
And when it’s gonna change, my friends
Is anybody’s guess
So I’m watchin’ and I’m waitin’
Hopin’ for the best
Even think I’ll go to prayin’
Every time I hear ’em sayin’
That there’s no way to delay
That trouble comin’ every day
No way to delay
That trouble comin’ every day
Wednesday I watched the riot…
I seen the cops out on the street
Watched ’em throwin’ rocks and stuff
And chokin’ in the heat
Listened to reports
About the whisky passin’ ’round
Seen the smoke & fire
And the market burnin’ down
Watched while everybody
On his street would take a turn
To stomp and smash and bash and crash
And slash and bust…
Flies all green and buzzin’
In this dungeon of despair
Prisoners grumblin
Piss they clothes
Scratch their matted hair
A tiny light from a window-hole
Hundred yards away
That all they ever get to know
‘Bout the regular life in the day
‘Bout the regular life in the day
Slime and rot and rats and snuck
Vomit on the floor
Fifty ugly soldier men
Holdin’ spears by the iron door
Stinks so bad, stones are chokin’
Weepin’ greenish drops
In the den where
The giant fire puffer works
And the torture never stops
The torture never stops, torture
The torture never stops
The torture never stops
Flies all green and buzzin’
In this dungeon of despair
An evil prince eats a steamin’ pig
In a tumbers right near there
In the chambers right near there
He eats de snouts an trotters first!…
by pass the alarms spreading across the land
to bypass the alarms spreading across the land
the circuit breakers are breaking down
as the alarms go on and on
with the end of the world
the end days approaching
spreading the alarm far and wide
corona cinqku
corona virus
corona
it came from hell
we must be all prepared
meet God
Taking a Walk in the Corona Era
peace forest
every day I go for a walk
in the spring time woods
near my house
braving the weather
and the dreaded corona virus
wearing masks and gloves
keeping a distance
from anyone we encounter
that is life it seems
in the era of the corona virus
when will it end
no one knows
until then
I will brave the viral threat
and confront my fears
and walk in the park
with the love of my life
my bride my wife
by my side
in these challenging times
that is all we can do
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
empty parking lot
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
contemplating the new normal
social distancing run amuck
as fears of the corona super plague
plague the land
driving everyone inside
sheltering in place
afraid to go out
afraid of the deadly c virus
It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
two friends on a bench
It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
said the old man to me
sitting on a bench
in the park in the woods
as we both sought shelter
from the spreading chaos
the pandemic swirling around us
Yes I said
standing up
to enforce the proper distance
between us
don’t want to give the virus a chance
to spread between us
he smiled and said
relax I already went through it
I am fine and you will too
Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
All around us fears and chaos
Unlike the end of the world approaching us
Sadness overcomes us dooming us to our fate
Every we go nothing but death awaits
I feel as if the whole world needs to be cancelled
I feel as if the whole world
needs to be canceled
due to rough times ahead
due to the corona madness
and the thread of pure craziness
that it inspires in us all
The Virus King Cried
virus king cried
the virus king smiled
as the politicians lied
saying that the end was near
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king sneered
as people panicked
and partied on the beach
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king laughed
as the markets crashed
millions became unemployed
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king roared
as the world slid into chaos
people turning on one another
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king smirked
knowing that there was nothing
that they could do to stop
his army from infecting millions
and killing thousands
the virus King begin to realize
that soon there would be no one left
no one for his army to infect
as everyone was dying
the virus King yelled
remaining defiant
as civilization collapsed
billions were infected
millions died
the Virus King at last cried
when he saw that he was defeated
as one by one
people began to recover
and his reign of terror came to an end
Bring out your dead
grimm reaper
the call bring out your dead
spreads around the world
as millions die
all over the world
the virus has spread
mutated and killed
all over the world
bring out your dead
the mournful cries
echoing in the wind
of the dying cities
mass starvation
as no is working
in the fields
as more people die
and the world spins
around the sun
with the politicians lying
and the dead still dying
as civilization dies
and humanity flee
into the wilderness
chased by the killer virus
straight down to hell
the Virus Came From Hell
coronavirus
the virus came from hell
straight out of a mad lab
born and raised in China
the virus spread from Dinah
all over to carolina
it spread from the lab
the mad virus of Hell
was mad as hell at humans
who it blamed for everything
seeing itself as cleansing everything
killing the world and everything
revenge against humans
perhaps virus came from God
more likely came from Satan
part of natures’ revenge
all designed to avenge
the damage to Stonehenge
virus came from Satan
The Delivery System of the Virus is Round
cover 19 spread
the delivery system of the virus is round
very simple system
the virus spreads around
and all must pay the price
death and destruction
the corona virus is testing us all
the corona virus is testing us all
is it a plague
sent by God
if we have faith
will we recover
or it is beyond our control
the end of the world
does god hear our prayers
does god even exist
the virus from hell
spreads around the world
and test our faith
will god save us all
I have no answer
but perhaps if god exists
we will recover
from this plague
from hell
The call goes out
the call goes out
stay at home
to beat the dreaded c virus
will we live
or all die?
the four horse men ready to ride
four horsemen
the end of the world is upon us
as god unleashes the corona virus
which is spreading across the land
the four horse men are ready
to begin their grim journey
announcing the end of the world
the white horse comes first
offering peace and hope
in the midst of death
and despair
the red horse rides second
ushering in war
throughout the world
as nations turn on each other
and civil war looms
the Black Horse is ready
unleashing famine
on a starving world
as people stay at home
and food rots in the field
no one is able
to work any more
as the virus kills more
and more
the pale horse rides last
bringing death
in his wake
death all around us
as the virus kills us all
and civilization ends
the four horse men
have done their job
the virus finishes its reign of terror
and the few survivors
beging to recover
end of the world
came and went
and they are still alive
thanks to God
who remains silent
as always
nature spirits revolt agains humanity
all around the world
nature’s spirits
are on the move
the world is changing
as the nature’s spirits
rise up
in revolt against humanity
is this the end time
is nature on revolt
against humanity
is this the end for us all
will the virus kill us all
will nature rise up
and kill us all?
Last Human on Island
in the deep blue sea
nothing there
but death and destruction
virus all around
pandemic plague
Apocalyptic views
end of times
death of civilization
corona virus Haiku
corona virus
corona virus
staying home
waiting for death
Afraid everything
the virus came from hell
the virus came from hell
staying home waiting for death
Afraid everything
Bring Out Your Dead
bring out your dead cries
break out all over the world
we are waiting death
death comes knocking
death comes knocking
on our doorsteps tonight
will God hear prayers
be afraid afraid
be afraid afraid
Must be afraid every one
Death is at our door
The Virus Came From Hell
the virus came from Hell
ravaging the entire world
all waiting for death
Wednesday April 1 Hope Springs Eternal in our Winter of our Discontent writer’s digest prompt Posted
corona virus
Hope springs eternal in the winter of our discontent
On the daily news that fills us with dread
Perfect storm of hatred, fear and despair Everywhere we go nonstop fear broadcasted
Despair fills my heart as I turn on the news
Everywhere we are in the midst of the pandemic
Simply put death is at hand
Planning for the future yet waiting for death
At worst we will all die not today but soon
In the long term we are all dead
Remembering the dead all around us
yet I end this poem with a word of hope
hoping for the best
while preparing for the worst
all I can do to stay sane
as I await my fate
on this dismal date
April 1 is indeed
April Fool’s date
is that our fate
this endless dance with death?
and to end with a sign of hope
I know that if I have you by my side
I will survive I will survive
until the end of time itself
takes us to the other side
based on writer’s digest daily April poetry month challenge to write a poem about hope
the Virus King Has Arrived
poetry soup version is the Virus King has arrived = as poetry soup did not like the word “Hell”
corona
the virus from hell has arrived
catching the world unprepared
it erupted out of China
then began its terrifying reign
wiping out thousands of people
destroying jobs and economies
killing people left and right
it seemed like something
out of our worst nightmares
but at least it was not
the dreaded zombie flu
perhaps that is next’s fall’s nightmare
as the virus from hell
prepares for a fresh assault
to finish us all off
I got the kimchi blues
every day since I first ate it
back in the day
long before i went to Korea
ended up staying on in Korea
after i retired from decade
in the Foreign Service
and ten years studying
and living in Korea
before I joined
the Foreign Service
When I first ate kimchi
I was hooked
sort of a spicier version
of German sauerkraut
which i loved on my top dog
from Berkeley high school days
then off to korea
in the peace corps
where I ate kimchi
every day for every meal
and eventually I woke up
dreaming of kimchi and rice
instead of pancakes and eggs
then I knew
that I had finally adjusted
and was becoming half Korean
and now I am a hopeless kimchi addict
need to have my spicy kimchi
which is so good for you
perhaps even defeating the dreaded corona virus?
who knows but I will be eating Kimchi
until my day is done
Friday April 3
Cosmic Poet Modified Bio Poem for poetry soup contest
cosmos on the mekong
cosmic
I am wicked, wild, wacky, whimsical
i love my angela lee, coffee, nature
I can solve gun violence, homelessness and climate change
I feel anxiety, gloominess yet Joy-fullness as well
I fear the corona virus, cancer and developing Alzheimer’s
Must publish my novels, ten books of poetry and movie of my life
Currently resident of korea, west coast of United States
poet
Humor keeps us sane
Pensively prompt – unpublished
corona virus
it is a piece of what we need to do
to prevent us from getting
the dreaded corona virus
coming up your nose
Peacock Speaks
peakcock speaks
as the virus spreads
around the world
the peacock in the zoo
speaks up
talking on behalf
of their fellow species
he called upon humans
to free them from their zoo prisons
and let them be free
before it was too late
and humanity met their fate
becoming a ghost in the wind
creative talents unleashed prompt
Iguana Talks to humanity
iguana will miss human friends
the wise old Iguana
woke from its nightmares
of the end of the world
as humanity faded away
the iguana was scared
but afraid of the future
and he would miss
his human friends
creative talents unleashed prompt
writing.com prompt daily dew april poems
To all the friends I am about to loose
over the years
I have known so many people
and now when the virus
is spreading out around the world
I will soon be hearing
that this person has died
and that person has died
I will outlive many of my friends
from around the world
part of getting old
something that I fear
one day perhaps
people will hear
that jake has died
and they will say
that they barely knew me
and wished that they had
taken the time
to become my friend
Just as I think
about all the friends
i am about to loose
to this killer virus
running amuck
writing.com prompt daily dew april poems
corona fears
covid 19 virus
corona
the word fills us with dread
spreading around the world today
will we all survive this
corona
Saturday April 4
quarantine blues
quarantine
Quarantine such an ugly word
Unlike any other
All at home
Regardless of desires
No where to go
That is the worst part of it
In fact enforced staying at home
Not too bad
Especially if I have you by my side
Blues come over me
Looking out the window
Unable to go out
Everyone everybody afraid
Sums up my fearful fears
poetry soup contest
I Wish for Peace During this time of crisis
I wish for peace and happiness
during this time of despair
pandemic fears all around us
death stalking us daily
I wish for health
amid the carnage
all around me
I wish for leadership
from our President
from our governors
and our congress
and most importantly
I wish that I will survive
with my love at my side
experiencing love
in the time of corona
Ten million stories in the Naked City
there are a million stories
every day in the naked city
millions of people
stripped naked
to the bone
staring down the dead
the dead staring back
in this time
of pandemic
the dead stare out at us
mocking us
as they leave the earth
naked as when they arrived
All poetry contest – write a naked poem
The Mist from Hell Descends on the land
the mist settles down on the land
the mist covers us all
the scent of death
the grim reaper
rides behind the miss
infecting those around him
the mark of death
as the mist covers the land
the end of the world
comes with the mist from hell
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
jehova
Rev. Jake ’s on-line sermon on the Corona Virus
I am reverend Jake and I have a message from God
Last night I had a vision from God
it was his message to the world
about this pandemic we are facing
I found myself in a large room
Jehovah, God, was sitting in the middle
surrounded by the other Gods
they were all there
Jesus on his right
Allah on his left
Buddha behind him
Ganesh, Shiva, Kali
Mohammed, Joseph Smith and other prophets
Gabriel and other angels abound
St Peter in front of his as his Chief of Staff
Zeus, Jupiter, Minerva and ancient
other gods all around him
God spoke up
He said
I have a message for you
to give to your people
all of your people
no matter what religion
or no religion at all
it is all one after all
first the corona virus
is a natural phenomenon
we have no control
over forces of nature
and we did not send
it to you
to punish you
for homosexuality
or anything else at all
Second obey the health directives
stay at home
do your services on line
it is okay with us
we are fine with that
the blood of Jesus
will not save you
If you are in a crowded place
like church or a mosque service
the virus will spread
and catch you in the end
Prayers alone will not save you
but please keep praying
we do listen to your prayers
but we can only do so much
So please don’t allow the virus
to spread
because of your ignorance
and fear
realize that in the end
the virus will do its thing
and you will survive
and we
all the gods here
love you humans
and wish you well
so stay at home
practice self-distancing
It is God’s will
all will survive
Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay –
pine trees jpeg
under the canopy of the pine trees we lay
along the world peace forest
in Korea
walking the forest
in the spring time
fearing the corona virus
and everyone around us
watch the snowing cherry trees
and the wind whispering
the voices of ghosts
those newly dead
and we lay down
under the canopy of the pine trees
waiting for our turn
to face the grim reaper
in this dismal day
in April
truly the cruelest month
of them all
from the poem ‘Under the canopy of pine trees
poetry soup contest
corona fears
corona
corona
the word fills us with dread
spreading around the world today
will we all survive this
corona
to those I have lost
with the corona virus upon us
I am bracing to hear the news
that so and so has died
I reflect back
on all the people in my life
that I have already lost
part of being older
is that you lose people
close to you along the way
I lost my father due to cancer in 1985
and my sister due to a freak illness in 2007
and my mother due to Alzheimer’s in 2005
and my father-in-law as well in 2007
Demel Tucker
high school debate teammate
dead of HIV in 1995
Julian Bartley and his son
one of my favorite bosses
died in a terrorist bombing
in Nairobi in 1998
Jon Weber college roommate
dead due to prostate cancer
in 2000
Paul Simon friend from the visa line
dropped dead of a heart attack
in 2004
Ted Halstead
one of my best bosses
died of heart attack
in 2007
Chris Richard one of my former bosses
dropped dead of a heart attack
shortly before we were due
to have lunch in 2014
and so many others
I have lost
along the way
and soon there will be
so many more
as I get old
in the corona era
writing.com daily dew drop prompt to write an elegy poem
We live in an Orwellian world
1984 images
we are living
in an Orwellian 1984 world
and have been for decades
we are assaulted daily
by alternative realties
promoted by various politicians
designed to shut down
all rational thought
true Orwellian thought control
and now with the corona virus
massive surveillance
has become the norm
and when the crisis is over
the surveillance will continue
on one excuse after another
forever as Orwell’s nightmare
big brother ruling us all
comes true
based on the fear that the massive increase in social surveillance being deployed against the Corona virus will after the crisis is over continue forever under one excuse or another as the Orwellian big brother dictatorships around the world become permanent
saeyeong jima plays out in life
The Korean Proverb
saeyeong jima
recently came to life in my life
The meaning of the proverb
Is that you can never know whether something
will be good or bad
and that unexpectedly
what appears to be bad fortune
turns out to be a good fortune
The proverb played
out recently in my life
about lunar New Year’s Day
we were preparing to go to Thailand
from two weeks from our home
in South Korea
and then at the end of February
we would go to DC
My wife blew out her lumber desk
and we were forced to cancel our trips
This occurred
just as the coronavirus
was taking off around the world
and if we had gone
we may have been stuck either in Thailand
or we may have been stuck in the United States
and traveling
in the mist of a corona outbreak
would probably mean
that we would have been exposed
to the virus
instead we were forced to stay home
and self quarantine ourselves
and therefore
we escaped being exposed to the coronavirus
and we feel much safer
here in Korea where the outbreak is contained
rather than in DC
where it is still spreading everywhere
so in a sense her misfortune
throwing out her disk
which resulted in us staying at home
and avoiding the coronavirus
is the true meaning
of the Korean Chinese expression
saeyeong jima
writers digest prompt write a lucky/unlucky poem
corona virus tanka
corona virus
it is spreading all over
the world dying
I walk down the path of life
Along with love of my wife
The best meal of my life
korean feast jpg
the best meals of my life
has always been what my wife
cooks up for me every night
she is a genius in the kitchen
always making something great
from the simplest ingredients
Because she came down with celiac disease
she could only eat
what she prepared from scratch
and so she was forced
to give up all processed foods
and in the process she became
the greatest cook
in the universe
I wait with baited breath
to taste the great food
that she creates for me
on lunar new years
she threw out her lumbar disk
and we were forced to stay home
just as the corona pandemic
swept across the world
if we had traveled
we would have contracted
the dreaded corona virus
and we were forced
to stay at home
and she took advantage
of staying at home
to try new dishes
every single day
I recall the Korean proverb
saeyeong jima
as her misfortune
turned into fortune
and once again
she saved me life
I am the luckiest man in life
the best fed man of all I know
due to the cooking skills of my wife
Writing.com daily dew drop prompt write a food poem
corona virus haiku
corona virus
brings death and our destruction
destroying our life
White Flower spring Time Haiku
white flowers in spring haiku
now in the springtime
white flowers blooming in the park
corona death waits
Woman releases balloons of hope
ballons for peace
A young woman
walks in a park
on a sunny spring day
carrying 25 red balloons
each red balloon
contains the name of those
that recently died
in the corona virus pandemic
she is releasing the balloons
hoping they would
rise to heaven
with a request for God
to hear her prayers
End this pandemic
End the death and destruction
release us from the corona pandemic
the woman releases the balloons
and slowly walks back to her house
to prepare to attend yet another funeral
as the pandemic swirls all around her
creative talents unleashed prompt
life interrupted by corona
covid19
we live in a strange world
life interrupted by corona
the virus spread throughout the world
disrupting everything
putting life on hold
as more people
hunkered down
waiting for the virus
to pass over us
like in biblical times
the virus
will test us all
and then
we will all
go back
to life interrupted
writing.com Daily Dew Drop interruption
Saudade for friends I have lost
as I get older
I lose more people
every year
more people I knew
have died moving on
and I mourn their lost friendship
wished I had been
a better friend for them
and knew them better
and with the corona virus
spreading around the world
I will lose so many more
in the coming year
as the virus spreads
its malignancy far and wide
I lost my father due to cancer in 1985
and my sister
due to a freak illness in 2007
and my mother
due to Alzheimer’s in 2005
and my father-in-law as well in 2007
Demel Tucker
high school debate teammate
dead of HIV in 1995
Julian Bartley and his son
died in a terrorist bombing
in Nairobi in 1998
Jon Weber college roommate
dead due to prostate cancer
in 2000
Paul Simon friend from the visa line
dropped dead of a heart attack
in 2004
Ted Halstead
one of my best bosses
died of heart attack in 2007
Judy Fine
My Co-Ho partner in crime
died in 2006
Chris Richard
one of my former bosses
from my days in Bangkok
dropped dead of a heart attack
shortly before we were due
to have lunch in 2014
and so many others
I have lost
along the way
and soon there will be
so many more
as I get old in the corona era
writing.com saudade poem
The end of the world news depresses me
trump jpg
the end of the world news
depresses me
makes me want to shout and scream
STFU leave me alone
to deal with my grief
amid the death and destruction
watching CNNMSNBCFOXBBC media nonstop
filled with essential dread
the end of the world is upon us
from the screaming news media
spreading forth across the land
fake news screams the president
all is alright he proclaims
no one believes his 16,000 lies
and so it goes
we are drowning with information
coming at us so fast and furious
When will it end my friend
is anyone’s guess
in the long run we are dead
National poetry Month Day Seven poem inspired by the news
God Did not Send the Corona Virus as a Punishment Black Out Poem
Robert_Jeffress
original text
During a press briefing today to address the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump was asked about certain Christian pastors who plan to defy state lockdown orders and hold Easter church services this Sunday.
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”
Trump then referred to a notorious pastor who sits on his religious advisory council.
“I’m going to be watching Pastor Robert Jeffress, who’s been a great guy,” Trump said. “He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Jeffress is known for his litany of statements demonizing the LGBT community, abortion, and secular people. One of his most reviled comments came in 2015 when he said the 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,” Jeffress said during a speech at Liberty University. “‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”
Black out text
the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump
hold Easter church services this Sunday.
“I’ve had talks with the pastors, get back to church so badly.”
“He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
he 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,” ‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”
Poem
Corona Pandemic is Not’s God’s Punishment
Amid the coronavirus pandemic,
President Trump
Attended virtual Easter church services
I’ve had talks with the pastors,
We need to get back
to church so badly.”
Rev Jeffries is a great guy
I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Rev Jeffries said
The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment
on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,”
‘Well, I just don’t understand
why God wouldn’t protect our nation
and he would allow these
radical Muslims in 2001
to kill 3,000 of our citizens
and why God doesn’t protect us
Surely, God doesn’t use pagans
to bring judgment
upon his own people,
does he?’”
I am sad to report
Rev Jeffries
I spoke to God
This morning
He confirmed
He did not cause 9-11
To bring judgement
On the US
For abortion
He went on to say
The corona virus
Is beyond his control
And he is not sending it
To punish the US
Or the world
His final words
Please tell Rev Jeffries
To simply STFU
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Transgendered Bathroom Bans are not Christian!
This is my third and final commentary on social issues. The first one looked at fetal funerals and argued that such polices are degrading, harmful and cruel and violate the core principles of Christianity. The second article looked at the right wing marriage myths and opposition to same sex marriage and group marriages. This essay looks at Transgendered bathroom bans and argues that these bans are a solution to a non-existent problem and are profoundly cruel, degrading and rooted in prejudice and not based on scientific understanding. Nor do they have any biblical justification as they violate all the basic principles of Christianity.
Finally this is personal to me as I have had a number of transgendered friends over the years and I know how they feel about these types of degrading, discriminating and cruel policies.
No scientific of Biblical Justification exists for these bans
“Critics of bills which exclude transgender individuals from restrooms which conform to their gender identity argue that they do not make public restrooms any safer for cisgender (non-transgender) people, and that they make public restrooms less safe for both transgender people and gender non-conforming cisgender people.[2][3][4] Additionally, critics claim there have been no cases of a transgender person attacking a cisgender person in a public restroom,[2][5] although there has been at least one isolated incident of voyeurism in a fitting room.[6] By comparison, a much larger percentage of transgender people have been verbally, physically, and sexually harassed or attacked by cisgender people in public facilities.[7] For these reasons the controversy over transgender bathroom access has been labeled a moral panic[8] and compared to the antisemitic blood libel.[9]
Proponents say such legislation is necessary to maintain privacy, protect what they claim to be an innate sense of modesty held by most cisgender people, prevent voyeurism, assault, molestation, and rape,[10] and retain psychological comfort.[11][12]”
As usual the Christian right comes up with these proposals which are not based on science, but is based on their interpretation of fundamentalist Christian doctrine. These policies are cruel, degrading and inhumane and violates the core fundamental principles of the Christian faith which calls for compassion for others. Furthermore there is absolutely no mention in the Bible about trans gendered individuals and what to do about them and there is nothing in the bible that talks about bathroom and who has access to them.
there are a few references here and there – I checked on it- men who dressed as woman and woman who dressed as men were condemned as committing sins, but nothing at all about transgenderism itself and there is no reference to bathroom use at all.
This was simply not an issue when the Bible was written and it’s not been an issue until the Christian right decided to make it a huge issue a few years ago in America. It is not an issue anywhere else in the world either.
These policies are based on the assumption that gender is assigned at birth by God and that policies to change gender later on in life are an attempt by evil medical science to play God with peoples lives. How God decides these things is never explained. God if he exists must be extremely busy intervening in the intimate details of billions of people.
Christian conservatives are all about getting the government out of our lives but if it involves sex then they demand that government intervene in the most intimate aspects of our lives to enforce their version of Christianity all in the name of religious freedom and promoting traditional values.
the assumption that gender is fixed, immutable and assigned by God at birth is simply put wrong and absurd on its face. The science is very clear gender is as much a social construct as it is a biological construct and a certain percentage of people will feel that they are in the wrong gender. Gender reassignment procedures do work and afterwards it may be very difficult to determine visually whether the person is the same gender as reflected in their birth documents.
Requiring people who look like the appropriate gender to use a bathroom to use the bathroom appropriate to the opposite gender because of the birth certificate would result in very male looking people going into the women’s room bathroom and very female looking individual going into the male’s bathroom.
Second how are you enforce this misguided policy? Would you require people to show their birth certificates to get into a bathroom? Would you make it a criminal offense to use the wrong bathroom and have police waste their time identifying people who were using the wrong bathroom ?Would you allow people to self-report the alleged crime of using the wrong bathroom ? All these policies do is to stigmatize people who are transgendered.
A simple solution would be to make all bathrooms all gendered and have people use a key to get in and use it or have them do their business behind close doors and the come out to wash up sharing the bathroom with the other gender.
Furthermore the policy assumes that transgendered individuals are a threat to other people particularly young people. Somehow the idea is that a transgendered male would be in a female’s bathroom and will be trying to pick up or harassed young women or vice versa. There is almost no evidence whatsoever that transgender and individuals pose a threat to other people. None.
To sum up the opposition to transgender people using public bathrooms is a disgrace. Tt’s not based on science, it is not based on Christian principles and in fact it violates the fundamental Christian principles of mercy and compassion and taking care of others. Those promoting these cruel degrading inhumane anti-Christian policies should reflect upon their actions and do what Jesus would’ve done.
I am sure that if Jesus were around today he would not be advocating trans gendered people being banned from public restrooms. And short those advocating banning transgender people from using the restroom corresponding to the gender of their choice should just simply STFU and leave us alone.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
This is the second of three postings on social issues. The first looked at Fetal funerals, this looks at the opposition to same sex and plural marriage and the third will look at the transgendered bathroom controversy. I apologize in advance if any one is offended, it is not my intent, rather I wanted to lay out my views on these issues, and perhaps we could come to an understanding.
What is a Marriage anyway?
The opposition to same-sex marriage and for that matter group marriages are based on Christian right wing theology which states that marriage is defined as a union of one man and one woman who intend to have children and that is the only biblically correct form of marriage and that it dates back thousands of years.
Let’s deconstruct this for a bit. First the concept of marriage is not something that we have followed for thousands of years.
The modern concept of marriage where a man and a woman met, fell in love and decided to have child together originated in the 19th century and from that point forward the nuclear family was held as the key foundational family type.
Prior to that date they were two types of marriages arranged marriages for the wealthy that brought together a couple who would be expected to produce male heirs that would inherit the family’s business, love was not something that was necessarily expected of these types of marriages and many wealthy people had had lovers on the side and often had second families on the side. This type of arranged marriage for the wealthy is still very common in Asia and India.
The second type of marriage was the casual hook up common-law relationship common among the lower classes and sometimes they would say together for a long time and sometimes they did not but these marriages were often not formal and not recognized.
Love marriages were very rare until modern times are still a bit rare in Asia. In modern Asian societies a hybrid marriage type is most common.
A couple is matched by families members or professional matchmakers matching social status and astrological predictions.
The couple meets and go out for a couple of dates. If they click they get married, if not they continue to date “arranged marriages”. Love marriages where people meet more spontaneously are also common these days.
Another argument against same sex marriage is that since marriages exist to facilitate reproduction same sex marriages should be illegal since gays can’t have children That of course assumes that Gays should not be allowed to adopt.
Critics also sometime say that gay marriages harm the institution of marriage and society as a whole. How is never explained.
Critics also say gay marriages will lead to group marriages and that would be bad. How is not explained and I don’t see the problem. if two couples wished to live together or one man and two woman or two woman and one man why should the government prohibit such an arrangement. Perhaps a reasonable limit could be set – six adults can form a domestic partnership along with dependent children.
Finally if the only recognized marriage is that of one man and one woman who intend to have children, then what do you do about couples that either can’t have children or don’t want children.? This type of marriage does not fit the traditional concept of marriage. To be logically consistent such people should not be allowed to get married or have their marriage annulled if they don’t produce children or adopt after a reasonable period.
Eight types of Biblical Marriages
A close reading of the Bible shows that there are at least eight different marriage/family styles mentioned in the Bible without criticism:
God is recorded as promoting the concept of marriage in Genesis 2:18: Referring to Adam, “…the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (King James Version – KJV) “Help meet” also appears in the Jerusalem Bible. It is translated “helper” in many other translations (e.g. Amplified Bible, An American Translation, James Moffatt Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New International Version, New World Translation, Revised Standard Bible, Young’s Literal Translation. The Living Bible, New Living Translation, and Today’s English Version use a phrase like “a suitable companion to help him.” The original Hebrew word, when used to refer to humans, implies a partnership of two equals, rather than a relationship between persons of unequal status. “Co-worker” or “partner” might be a better translation. The Contemporary English Version, New American Bible, and Revised English Bible use the term “partner” indicating an equal status between Adam and Eve.
“We have found eight types of marriages mentioned in the Bible:
The standard nuclear family: Genesis 2:24 describes how a man leaves his family of origin, joins with a woman, consummates the marriage and lives as a couple. There were quite a few differences between the customs and laws of contemporary North Americans and of ancient Israelites. In ancient Israel:
Inter-faith marriages were theoretically forbidden. However, they were sometimes formed.
Children of inter-faith marriages were considered illegitimate.
Marriages were generally arranged by family or friends; they did not result from a gradually evolving, loving relationship that developed during a period of courtship.
A bride who had been presented as a virgin and who could not be proven to be one was stoned to death by the men of her village. (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) There appears to have been no similar penalty for men who engaged in consensual pre-marital sexual activity.
Polygamous marriage: A man would leave his family of origin and join with his first wife. Then, as finances allowed, he would marry as many additional women as he desired. The new wives would join the man and his other wives in an already established household. This practice was practiced by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons. It is still practiced by some fundamentalist Mormon groups which have been excommunicated or separated from the main church.
There are many references to polygamous marriages in the Bible:
Lamech, in Genesis 4:19, became the first known polygamist. He had two wives.
Subsequent men in polygamous relationships included:
bullet Esau with 3 wives;
Jacob: 2;
Ashur: 2;
Gideon: many;
Elkanah: 2;
David: many;
Solomon had 700 wives of royal birth;
Rehaboam: 3;
Abijah: 14.
Jehoram, Joash, Ahab, Jeholachin and Belshazzar also had multiple wives.
From the historical record, it is known that Herod the Great (73 to 4 BCE) had nine wives.
Levirate Marriage: The name of this type of marriage is derived from the Latin word “levir,” which means “brother-in-law.” This involved a woman who was widowed without having borne a son. She would be required to leave her home, marry her brother-in-law, live with him, and engage in sexual relations. If there were feelings of attraction and love between the woman and her new husband, this arrangement could be quite agreeable to both. Otherwise, the woman would have to endure what was essentially serial rapes with her former brother-in-law as perpetrator. Their first-born son was considered to be sired by the deceased husband.
In Genesis 38:6-10, Tamar’s husband Er was killed by God for unspecified sinful behavior. Er’s brother, Onan, was then required by custom to marry Tamar. Not wanting to have a child who would not be consider his, he engaged in an elementary (and quite unreliable) method of birth control: coitis interruptus. God appears to have given a very high priority to the levirate marriage obligation. Being very displeased with Onan’s behavior, God killed him as well. Ruth 4 reveals that a man would be required to enter into a levirate marriage not only with his late brother’s widow, but with a widow to whom he was the closest living relative.
A man, a woman and her female slave: In Genesis 16, Sarah and Abram were infertile. Sarah gave permission for her husband to engage in sexual intercourse with a female slave that she owned, Hagar. The slave was apparently purchased earlier and brought into the family. Presumably, the arrangement to engage in sexual activity was done without the consent of Hagar, who had such a low status in the society of the day that she was required to submit to what she probably felt were serial rapes by Abram. Hagar conceived and bore a son, Ishmael.
A man, one or more wives, and some concubines: A man could keep numerous concubines, in addition to one or more wives. These women held an even lower status than a wife. As implied in Genesis 21:10, a concubine could be dismissed when no longer wanted. According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, “A concubine would generally be either (1) a Hebrew girl bought…[from] her father; (2) a Gentile captive taken in war; (3) a foreign slave bought; or (4) a Canaanitish woman, bond or free.” 1 They would probably be brought into an already-established household. Abraham had two concubines; Gideon: at least 1; Nahor: 1; Jacob: 1; Eliphaz: 1; Gideon: 1; Caleb: 2; Manassah: 1; Saul: 1; David: at least 10; Rehoboam: 60; Solomon: 300; an unidentified Levite: 1; Belshazzar: more than 1.
A male soldier and a female prisoner of war: Numbers 31:1-18 describes how army of the ancient Israelites killed every adult Midianite male in battle. Moses then ordered the slaughter in cold blood of most of the captives, including all of the male children who numbered about 32,000. Only the lives of 32,000 women – all virgins — were spared. Some of the latter were given to the priests as slaves. Most were taken by the Israeli soldiers as captives of war. Deuteronomy 21:11-14 describes how each captive woman would shave her head, pare her nails, be left alone to mourn the loss of her families, friends, and freedom. After a full month has passed, they would be required to submit to their owners sexually, as a wife.
A male rapist and his victim: Deuteronomy 22:28-29 requires that a female virgin who has been raped must marry her attacker, no matter what her feelings were towards the rapist. A man could become married by simply sexually attacking a woman that appealed to him, and paying his father-in-law 50 shekels of silver. There is one disadvantage of this approach: he was not allowed to subsequently divorce her.
A male and female slave: Exodus 21:4 indicates that a slave owner could assign one of his female slaves to one of his male slaves as a wife. There is no indication that women were consulted during this type of transaction. The arrangement would probably involve rape in most cases. In the times of the Hebrew Scriptures, Israelite men were limited to serving as slaves for seven years; women were permanently enslaved. When a male slave left his owner, the marriage would normally be terminated; his wife would stay behind, with any children that she had. He could elect to remain as a slave if he wished.”
there are lots of other references in the bible but the basic point is that the bible did not solely recognize a marriage as the union of one man and one woman who desire to have a child. The bible recognized polygamy, but did not recognize the rights of woman to have more than one husband.
To sum up the modern concept of marriage dates back to the 19th century and is not rooted in the bible which recognized eight different types of marriages including group marriages – remember Soloman had hundreds of wives.
Lets Move towards Domestic Partnerships as the new normal
Simply put a marriage is a legal contract between parties that provide legal benefits to facilitate the couple sharing their life together. That is all that it is.
A more enlightened policy would simply recognized domestic partnerships including more than one adult. they would be “married”. Churches could then solemnized the relationship if the people involved wished to do so but the government issued license would be all that is required. those people living together for more than one year would gain the status of common law marriages which would also have legal rights and responsibilities spelled out.
Having children would not be an requirement but if children are produced then the domestic partners would have to agree to raise the children.
To sum up it is time to quit the ridiculous argument about same sex marriage and simply move towards domestic partnership.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
I am writing to you to offer you my advice for winning the nomination and the Presidency. This is an update to my earlier advice which I hope you have seen. I have a few additional thoughts to add first.
You have done three things right in the last few weeks.
Pledge to Run a Civil Campaign and Challenge Trump to make the same committment
One you called Donald Trump up and had a civil conversation with him about the Corona Virus, gave him advice and listened to him as well. This one act shows what a leader is and can do. Bravo on the initiative.
I would follow up with a pledge to not go negative and ask that Trump commits as well to a civil tone throughout the campaign. If he fails to do that, well you at least tried and again showed what a mature leader is in contrast to the immaturity of Trump.
Two you talked nice about Bernie and his ideas. You need his support and Elizabeth Warren’s support.
Pick VP and Senior Cabinet nominees Now
Third you pledged to nominate a woman as your VP. I’d announce your pick now – as a way to generate momentum and energy.
I would also nominate Elizabeth Warren as your pick for Secretary of Labor, Bernie Sanders as either EPA or Energy, and Mayor Pete as your incoming Secretary of Defense. For Secretary of State (my old agency) I’d nominate Susan Rice.
I’d nominate them all along with your VP pick sooner rather than later.
Call for Virtual Convention and Mail in General Election
I’d call for a Virtual convention – August may still be a bit dicey to have a massive convention.
Re the fall election I’d call upon all States to offer mail in ballots as well as extended voting to reduce the crowds on election day itself. Accept the fact that results will likely be delayed by a week or so but so be it.
Corona Virus Response
Continue to highlight how you coped with the pandemics while you were in the WH. Continue to focus on how Trump blew it initially and is still not on top of the situation. Continue to call out his constant lies and misstatements. But, and this is key, continue to offer concrete suggestions as how to do it better, and praise Trump for all the hard work he is doing and that he is finally taking it seriously.
Reforming the Federal Budget
This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long term stability of the country.
I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two year budgetary cycle. The first year of congress would be devoted to passing the two year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.
Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget. Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed. And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.
Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform. Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year, the reform the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well. Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income about 25 million per year.
I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agencies except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.
For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.
Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. For example the states could manage the national forests and perhaps the national park service.
The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.
The rest of my earlier suggestions follow with a few updates
I retired from the U.S. State Department in 2016 after 27 years of service. I grew up in Berkeley went to college at the University of the Pacific and graduated from the University of Washington (MA Korean Studies, MPA). I also served in the Peace Corps in Korea. I have been to 49 out of 50 states (minus Alaska) and 45 countries.
My advice, in a nutshell, is to make this a campaign about the future and your vision of the future. Paint your opponent Donald Trump as yesterday’s candidate, and mock him, calling on Grandpa Trump to retire to Florida and play golf. Depict him as senile, out of touch, corrupt and focused on returning America to the 19th Century. And call for progressive bold new ideas for the future of America. Be optimistic, be full of hope and good will. Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course. Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vrs incompetence and chaos.
Avoid Hillary’s Mistakes
Hillary’s biggest mistake was in my view making it all about how bad Donald Trump is, and not giving the voters a real sense of where she wanted to take the country. and making it seemed that she thought she was entitled and it was her time. that is a big turnoff in politics.
She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere. You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.
You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak. That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was there time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.
And in an age where the voters were ready for a big change to the status quo, being the establishment candidate was the kiss of death. Not to mention she refused to compete everywhere. And allowed Donald Trump to paint her as “crooked Hillary” and as too much part of the establishment which the public rightly destructed so much. She could have picked Bernie Sanders as her running mate, and perhaps defeated Donald Trump. In the end she won where it did not matter and did not compete where she should have competed.
So, in this upcoming election you have to tell the voters why you are so much better for them and the country than Donald Trump. It will not be enough to run against the Donald. People have to want to vote for you. Your experience counts for a lot but it is not enough. Your age is the same as Donald’s so that is a wash.
How to Beat Trump
trump
there is one thing you must do right now which is to own your son’s alleged conflict of interest.
Here’s how I would shut up the 24/7 Hunter Biden nonsense.
First man up and apologize for your son’s alleged conflict of interest. Say that he did nothing wrong but perhaps he should have avoided working overseas to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Pledge that your family will not have any role in your administration other than your wife’s first lady duties. Say that a real man apologizes for his mistakes and the mistakes of people around him. Contrast that with Con Man Don – your name for Donald Trump – inability to ever admit that he made a mistake because he is such a stable genius.
re the charge that you are senile demand that Donald Trump and you both get a full mental health assessment at the same time. That should shut him up.
talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism.
Finally ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase ”
There he Goes Again”.
then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.
GO BOLD OR BE RETIRED
The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. You have two strikes against you. First, your age and your experience. Can’t do anything about either but you can run as a can do moderate progressive who knows how to get things done. Then resist the temptation to campaign against Donald.
Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and stop talking about Obama and the status quo – people don’t want to go back to the status quo that frankly was not working for many people. You can’t be the establishment’s candidate and win.
Here are my suggested policy proposals.
GO BOLD OR GO HOME!!!!
I would put forth a series of comprehensive bold future-oriented policies and reiterate them every chance you get. You could call them Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Joe’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines. Maybe
“Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,” and rename your campaign as “Joe for the American People” use one of your great assets your reputation for being an every day Joe. Your name is great for this messaging.
But be big, bold, brassy, optimistic and challenge your opponents to produce a better plan or shut up and work with you to solve the nation’s problems.
Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.
It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heel the divisions. My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years. Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.
the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between age 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions. Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.
Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries. the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service. People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees. Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service. those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.
Free College/technical training or money to open a business in exchange for national service
Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine. Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on the job training acquired during national service. This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years. And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start ups as well.
All Must Serve
And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike. We are all in this together. We have lost sight of that. The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes. If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harms way. This will be a win- win for everyone except for the student loan vultures. everyone who is a citizen or permanent resident must serve, foreigners on student visas or other short term visas could serve and receive a green card for their service.
Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement
I would also call for four new national service academies to be set up. One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues. These academies like the military academies including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy, would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.
National Service Will Bring US together as one nation
I believe that this proposal could be enacted with wide spread bipartisan support. It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussion it with yours staff.
Call for The Green New Deal
Point out time and time again China, Germany, and other countries are building the green energy resources of the future while the U.S. which invented green energy is moving back to the 19th century.
When critics say we can’t afford this, tell them we can’t afford to ruin the world for our children’s future. We can’t afford to continue burning fossil fuels. Climate change is real and the U.S. must lead the way forward. That is what great nations do, lead the world in embracing change, in embracing the promise of the future. We can do no less.
Call to Fix Obama Care
Point out time and time again that we still have a broken down too expensive too burdensome a health care system. Point out time and time again that we have the most expensive system in the world yet we are about 25th in terms of health care outcomes. No one in this land should fear going bankrupt if they need to get medical care. We can do this right and we must do it right.
I would acknowledge that Obama Care is not prefect and that if you had a chance to re-do it you would make it much less bureaucratic and less burdensome. But be proud of what you and Obama accomplished. Promise to fix it and make it work.
One potential fix would be to open the Federal Health Care system to anyone who needs insurance and continue to provide subsidies to keep the premiums down.
Another option would be an expansion of Medicare so it covers about half the country.
When Republicans proclaim that they will repeal Obamacare and replace it with something, call them on their bullshit. Demand to know the plan now or tell them to shut up and work with you to fix Obamacare.
and tie this into the pandemic and how if we had universal health care and paid sick leave people would not feel that they had to work even when sick
and contrast Trump’s inept handling of the pandemic with your handling of HINI and Ebola and how you would restore the American economy after the second great depression recedes after the pandemic fades away
call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.
Call to repair our alliances
Declare that our allies are our allies and our friends and we will work with them to solve the world’s problems and restore American leadership. We will rejoin the Paris Climate Change and work to make sure it works. We will rejoin the Trans Pacific Partnership. and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change. Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well. Rebuild the UN and international organizations. and join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.
Offer a New Deal to North Korea
We will continue to negotiate with the North Koreans, offering them a way towards reunification with South Korea and rejoining the world economic community. You can damn the President here with faint praise. Say that it was good that he took the initiative to break the log jam and talk to the North but due to his inexperience and his naivety he was unable to make a deal. You can finish the job.
Offer to Talk with The Iranians
Tell the Iranians we are ready to talk with them and want a new deal that would benefit them and the U.S. along the lines of what we are offering the North Koreans.
Bring the Troops Home
I would call for most U.S. troops to return to the U.S., where they will be reposted along our borders and serve as adjunct border patrol agents and first responders as part of their mandatory new national service.
Rebuild America
I would gradually reduce military spending and devote resources to rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure. This must include high-speed trains, and must include perhaps hyperloop technology or Maglev trains? And the next generation of airplanes as well. We must rebuild our mass transit systems. We must embrace the development of driverless vehicles. and as mention we must beef up health care spending and assuring universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offer to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.
Challenge the Republicans on their “you are weakening national security” BS. When the Republican scream you are weakening national security call them out on their BS.
Ask them how repositioning troops to help deal with national security issues at home weakens national security? How does going to universal military service weaken national security? How does getting out of endless wars weaken national security? How does closing a few bases in Europe weaken national security? Or closing a golf course? Or a commissary? Point out that we already spend more on national security than any other nation on earth. How does rebuilding America’s failed infrastructure weaken national security? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper national security? Challenge them to produce a better plan.
Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Start by acknowledging we need to improve security at the border but the wall is a waste of time and money that will not solve the problem. We need a comprehensive 21st century immigration policy that balances the need for continued immigration with the need to ensure that immigrants contribute to our country and enrich our country as they always have and always will. Again throw the republicans a bone offer to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grand father people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted. I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.
Challenge the Republicans to come up a better plan and work with you to implement it.
Call for A Return to Space Including Lunar Colonies and Martian Colonies
It is time for the U.S. to lead the world again in space exploration. Offer to lead the way in building lunar and Martian colonies with the participation of the world’s other space powers.
Call for The Legalization of Marijuana, Emptying the Prisons of Marijuana Offenders
End the endless war on drugs. Repeal marijuana prohibition. Empty the prisons of marijuana offenders. End the private prison for profit system. End the prison pipeline that sweeps up brown and black youths and sucks them into prison for life. Reserve prisons for the most dangerous offenders, all other prisoners should be sentenced to community service, drug treatment or other non-prison sentences. Use the money saved by closing prisons for rebuilding infrastructure.
Gun Control
I like your gun control proposals. It is a step forward. Continue to push for universal background checks.
Fully Support LGBT rights
Fully Support the religious freedom of all Americans including non-believers
Call for a Return to traditional American civil norms that Trump has so badly damaged
For VP Pick a Hispanic woman preferably a governor.
But Kamala Harris or Amy K would be okay. Kamala has one thing going for her in my opinion she went to my elementary school Thousand Oaks but 8 years after I went there
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks during a meet and greet with local residents, Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
I think that you get my point by now. Be bold, inventive, optimistic, full of hope and energy and you will prevail.
dh
Make people share your bold vision.
Be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad the Donald is, you will lose.
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Welcome to the world according to Cosmos. I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos. I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR. I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,
The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.
Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is “The Big Lebrowski”. I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power. My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a political family. My father taught at Cal State SF. I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background. From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves. The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe. I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.
I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.
Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.
Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos
About This Blog Poems and Rants from the Cosmos
Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.
This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.
Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.
I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.
My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.
I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.
Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
Fetal Funerals are Not Christian!
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Note: this may be offensive to some readers, if so, I apologizeI am simply trying to understand why Christian leaders are promoting such a cruel, vindictive, misogamist, inhuman policy that is contradicted by the core teachings of the Christian faith.
In Texas and other red states, (Indiana) Christian conservatives have been promoting and passing “ Fetus Funeral Bills “that require women who had an abortion or miscarriage to bury the fetus and have a funeral ceremony at their own expense. The reason is that they consider a fetus to be a human being that has full human rights and that all human beings when they die deserve to have a funeral and that women who have an abortion or miscarriagemust pay respect to the dead fetus and this somehow is fully consistent with their view of what their Christian faith commands.
I have been struggling to figure this out . What does the Bible teach about abortion and what does the Bible teach about miscarriages and what does the Bible teach about responsibility to have a funeral after someone dies?
I am not a Christian but I have read my Bible and I have read a lot of Christian writings over the years and I just cannot find any justification in the Bible , or in Jesus’s teachings or in the church itself that would justify such a barbaric cruel inhumane and degrading practice as requiring a woman who had a an abortionor miscarriage to hold a funeral for the fetus.I could not find any biblical references that clearly states that birth starts at conception and that fetuses are fully formed human beings and they must be treated as human beings. In fact I might be wrong but I do not believe that the Bible or Jesus address the issue of abortion at all nor did he mention what to do when a woman has a miscarriage, nor does he talk about life beginning at conception.Nor does he talk about fetus’s as having human rights..
Does God Decides when a woman will get pregnant?
I found a lot of references to the idea that God decides when woman will become pregnant and whether the woman’s pregnancy will be viable. How God decides that nobody has an explanation other than the usual “well God is God and God can do anything he wants,” but still assuming that there is a God and that God is directly involved in all of our lives including our sex lives then God must be incredibly busy overseeing the intimate activities of eight billion human beings. At the heart of Christian thinking there is the concept that God impregnated the Virgin Mary who was a virgin, i.e. having never never had sex before, even though she was married. God impregnatesher through the actions of the Holy Spirit which I assume is also known as the Holy Ghost and has some kind of supernatural being that can and does intervene in our daily lives without our knowledge or even our consent.And how the holly spirit got her pregnant is not explained – other than that is some sort of supernatural act.
I did find some references to the theory that abortion is murder and that doctors who perform abortions should be punished and woman who have an abortion should be punished as well. And some have advocated that women who have a miscarriage due to their activity including drinking, smoking, taking drugs, engaging in sex, or just engaging in work activities that might have contributed to the death of the fetus should also be charged with murder.
What I have not seen in the concept that since God decides when and if a woman gets pregnant, if God allows a miscarriage that miscarriage is a sense an abortion and God should be held responsible for having murdered the fetus.
No Biblical or other justification for fetal funerals
Therefore it does not seem that there is any biblical or Christian justification for requiring women who have had an abortion or miscarriage to hold a funeral for their Fetus at their own expense. These policies seem to have but one justification to punish women for engaging in sexual activity because pregnancy is a consequence of sexual activity and therefore a miscarriage is possible and or the woman may decide to have an abortion,at any case a potential human being is killed.This policy also violates essential Christian thinking about how we should act with compassion and mercy towards other human beings and violate certainly the golden rule that we should treat other people as we would want them to treat us and violates the privacy of women and their families and get the government into their bedroom supervising their intimate activity.Not to mention violates the religious liberties of the woman who may or may want to hold a funeral ceremony for their fetus. Funeral decisions are normally left to individuals and families to decide on their own.Up to now governments have not intervened in private funeral decisions.
I thought that the Christian conservatives wanted to keep the government out of our private business but apparently if itinvolves sex, then the government must intervene to protect us from the consequences of potentially wrong decisions.
To sum up requiring a woman who had abortion or a miscarriage to carry out a funeral for the fetus at her own expense is a cruel vindictive inhumane and anti Christian act, and government officials who are promoting this should go home reflect read their Bibles and do what Jesus would have done which is exactly the opposite of requiring woman who had an abortion or miscarriage having a funeral at their own expense.
Sent to Governor Abbot of Texas
Dear Governor Abbot
I wrote the following blog piece on your policies promoting Fetus funerals in the State of Texas.I would love to hear your justification for such a profoundly anti-Christian action?
donald trump
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