Stray Poetry

Once upon a time, I had a full day to work with. When I was running my garage, I could wake up,  and be in my shop around 7:30am or I would open it as late as 8:00am, then I would work the full day, and shut down around 5pm or sometimes a little later.

This would allow me to get all of my work done, and have filler time to work on personal projects, and to also sit a moment and take a breather if I liked. I was able to be hands-on, and it was possible to plan for events that would take me away from the shop from time to time.

Now that I work (a regular job) I only have about 2 hours to do the things that I need. I try to make the best use of them, but since I have to devote such a large block of time to my daily job, I am falling behind in projects, and am getting backed up with ideas.

It has always been a struggle, that when I have the time to work on my projects; I lack the funds, and when i have the funds, I don’t  have the time.

Would that it were as it was in days of old, I could find some wealthy sponsor to be my patron, and they could share in the glory of my inventions, and successes.

-ezra hilyer - http://www.straypoetry.com

Posted to: - http://www.straypoetry.com

It is the season for Political Signs. There are hundreds of them sticking up like uninspired flowers, all over the hillsides, and lawns of this town. They are for republicans, democrats, and for independents.

For national races, and for local ones. The names blend into each other, and the slogans blazoned on each sound like cheap fortune cookie messages.

They crowd out one another for space, as if vying for a better vantage point to shout their messages to passing traffic.

The colors are always dull reds, blues, and whites. I realize that those are the national colors, but when every candidate tries to paint themselves with these colors to try and prove that they are somehow ‘All American’ it loses something in the wash. Are they all afraid to break out, and to use other- more eye-catching colors?

If I were running for office I would look to make my signs as bright and bold as possible. Red and blues would be out, I would use colors that would draw the eye, and separate myself from the pack.

I am sure that there would be those who would see my lack of interest in the ‘traditional colors’ a red flag, but I would bet that there would be a balancing number who would mark my name on the ballot simply because I have the guts to push away from the political surface and take flight with my own wings.

-Ezra Hilyer -http://www.straypoetry.com

posted to http://www.straypoetry.com 

On a whim, I went searching for traces of my old website ‘The Amateur Writers Guild’.

Keep in mind, that is has been about 8 years since I last visited the site, and I assumed that it was long gone. But thanks to the Internet archive site archive.org I was able to go back in time and see some of it as it was in 1999, and 2000 (the height of its popularity) and was even able to find an old logo from that era (not my final revision to be sure) I put it at the top of this post.

This was at a special time in the history of the Internet, (when I started the site in 1996) where it seemed that users were starved for content, and there really were not that many sites online. I had tons of interest, and had submissions all the time. I should have been better at keeping up the site over the years, but after about 3 or 4 years, I let it die, and everyone just faded away.

I went to the URL (it was hosted on a free host, as I was a poor kid) and it is still there. There is really nothing other than the entrance page left, but oddly it is at the top of the Google search for the title of the site (even though there are others with the same name)

This makes me desire to re-start the venture, and get it back on its feet again. I have the experience, and the knowhow, I just don’t know if I have the time..

-Ezra Hilyer - posted to http://www.straypoetry.com 

My mm20 Notebook is starting to really show it’s age. I pondered that last night as I was using photoshop, and trying to play iTunes in the background.

I must admit that I have kept this computer longer than I have ever kept another one, but that is mostly because I have been as yet unable to find a suitable replacement. (it is a sub-2lb ultraprotable)

Oh well, I suppose it is time to start shopping.

-Ezra

Well, its my 100th post, and that said it really doesn’t seem as all that much when you think about it.

Anyway, I am working on my next Podcast, and the Title of this one is ‘Byron’  (as you guess it is about Lord Byron)

In any case, watch for that again on Saturday, and a larger post later.

-Ezra

Just listening to that song, and it struck me how like our times it was then. Sad, but really so little has changed in the world.

-Ezra

Well, I have been working on the first Podcast in my series. Launch date: Mar 1st!

-Ezra

Well, I am always getting into another interest before the previous one is over, but yet another is gripping me. I have always wanted to learn guitar. I have always wanted to learn an instrument, and the Guitar seems like the logical place to start. ( I did once try to learn the Violin, but I lent it to someone, and never got it back)

I will probably start with the acoustic guitar, and then later move to electric. I will try and hold off on this for at-least a few more months!

-Ezra Hilyer - http://www.straypoetry.com  

I am thinking of starting a daily Podcast about what else: Poetry. I would read a bit of poetry, and comment on it, perhaps a 10 minute episode each time. Perhaps I would also solicit listeners poetry? Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.

A matchstick on a precipice, I set my ladder against the strand,

Cutting knives of sleet tear, and knot in ice on my lashes.

Quaking, fighting against the wind, I climb the rungs,

Listening to the wind make pipes of the hollows.

-Ezra Hilyer - http://www.straypoetry.com