Autumn in Mississippi - Poem

10/4/2011

Lured by weather so cool and pure,
Seasonal callings to drift and envelop the sensations therein,
Only to be enriched by biking on the Long Leaf Trace.

Testing the effect of recently begun spinning classes
While letting internal musings flow to and fro,
Zeroing in on future plans and undertakings.

Fellow trekkers predictably friendly,
Naturally acknowledging each other’s shared presence in the bosom of nature,
Heightening feelings of connectivity with fellow travelers, young and old.

Noting increased strength and endurance,
Extending the effort beyond 20 miles became tempting,
Knowing ‘everything in moderation’ is best for living long and well!

Invigorated by the morning journey,
Realizing my newly formed exercise regimen
Will likely prevent knee replacement in the near run.

So blessed it is to have time and health to savor life,
A life held in retirement, where ‘bucket-lists’ can be fulfilled,
And the aging process augmented by expanding community of friends and family.

Nate Bender

Rappin' Duke lyrics

Rappin Duke

So you think you're bad, with your rap
Well I'll tell ya pilgrim I started the crap
When you were in diapers and wetting the sheets
I was at the Ponderosa rapping to the beat

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

Sure I rustled some cattle and tended the sheep
But my main concern was rapping to the beat
I don't bother nobody I'm a real nice guy, kinda
laid back like a, dead fly

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh
Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

I'm talkin, here and now
Later for the cattle and rustlin the cow
If I had a chance to do a repeat
You can bet your sweet dippy I'd be rappin to the beat

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

Que pasa amigos? Not a *pasa* I see
Two hundred punks well what ya gonna do?
I got two six shooters that'll see me through
That's, twelve dead...
and a hundred and eighty-eight pallbearers

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

What I do on your grave won't pass for flowers either

Now Kurtis Blow, Run-D.M.C.
You haven't heard of rap, til ya heard it from me
I'm the baddest rapper in history
And there'll be no more, after me

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

Meanwhile, back at the ranch
Santa Barbera that is
Swimmin pools, and movie stars
Well the first thing ya know ol' Ron's the President
The kinfolk said, "Ron move away from there"
Said, "In The White House is where you wanna be"
So he loaded up the Lincoln and he moved to D.C.

Washington, that is
Politicians taking a sip
Foreign dignitaries taking a trip
High tax and plenty Cadillacs

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh
Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

Now ya see me in my movies, doin my thing
But deep in my heart, I've wanted to sing
"Wayyyy dowwwn, upon the swannnny riverrrrrr
Farrrr, farrr awayyy
Titwillow, titwillow, titwillow"
I don't think, that's your style
But I'll tell ya pilgrim, I'm versatile
Aretha Franklin, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin let me rock ya let me rock ya Aretha Franklin
Let me rock ya Aretha Franklin that's all I wanna do
Aretha Franklinnnnnn

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh
Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

I'm feeelin the groove now pilgrim
Party, over here
Party, over there
There's nothin to it, the way we do it
Woop woop!
East coast, West coast
Texas

Every time I put on pants
I tell ya pilgrim I wanna dance
I put a quarter, in the juke'
Then I commence, to doin the Duke

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh
Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

It's pretty easy, if you can see
Just move your arms kinda freely
Do a pause, and take a step
And just make sure the beat is kept

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

I was at the Ponderosa rappin to the beat
Tryin to cool off from the desert heat
I discovered somethin, really neat
The Duke has moves, with his feet

Da haahh... da haahh
Da haahh... da haahh

I won plenty of ladies, with my charms
But they like me the most for the moves of my arms

Woahhh... woahhh

I'm gonna rap, in the East
Gonna rap, in the West
I'll show ya pilgrim, who's the best
Nothin to it, the way we do it
Skiddely-be-bop, we-bop, Scooby Doo
Guess what America we love you

Da hahhhh, da hahhhh, da hahhhh
Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh
Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh

Everybody

Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh
Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh
Da haahh, da haahh
Da ha-hahh ha-hahh haahh...

Father's Day 2011 - Sachin, Ariana, Sunil Collage

Father's Day 2011 of Gus

Recount of 50th High School Reunion - Poem

Though fifty years have passed
So much residue still remains
Of a time and place
Seemingly long forgotten
Only to be rekindled
In the gathering of so many ‘strangers’
Most holding no current-day connection
Resulting in regression to a long-ago memory bank
Complete with old patterns of communication
Evoking memories and sensations of alienation
Memories of ‘I don’t fit here’
In a region no longer tied to Home
Infused with customs most secular
Leaving religious doings quite separate
GMO Industrial Farming replacing sustainable methods
Corrupting the purity of by-gone days
Departing for Home in Mississippi
Became a relief
Embracing more suitable ties.

Nate Bender 7/9/2011

"To Be A Father" - from Jonathan

'To be a Father is to promise to open yourself up to the power of love and all the strength and growth that comes with it.

It is a promise to teach right from wrong by leading from example.

A promise to see the wonder and joys of the world through a child's eyes.

To be a father is to savor all the precious, little moments that add up to a lifetime of joy.......

And to know how incredibly special you are to someone who loves you very much.'

Happy Father's Day, Jonathan

'To Nate, the Father of my Children' - Poem from SGB

You had one child biologically related to you.
The other two children were spiritual births.
You fought hard for the three of them
To attain their maturity and wisdom.

Your reward has been pure gold--
The joy of witnessing the convergence of their families
And welcoming the babies. With them
Your fathering moved to a new level.

Wisdom is an evolving process
That trickles down through generations.
Our children look to you for the judgement
Won by your years and sterling intuition.

We do not know the future
But our children know their foundation
Resides in a father as strong as a tree
With unshakable faith that the universe is good.

By Sandra
Father’s Day 2011