MAGNIFICENCE

      My great-grandfather had a bamboo hut,
      A mansion it definitely was not.
      Golden-hued light bamboo, its walls were made;
      Neatly thatched cogon grass, its roof gave shade.
      Its floors a-gleam from vigorous brushing,
      Fine coconut husks were for polishing.
      It snuggled down the foot of a small hill,
      Close by a dense growth... I remember still,
      Every uncle and male cousin hid there;
      No enemy patrol would ever dare
      Come to hunt us at that enchanted place.
      Escape with me now, we will leave no trace...

PREEMPTIVE ACTION

     Prevent NOW nuclear proliferation;
     Rogue nations seeking world domination
     Espouse and support senseless destruction.
     Enough with sanctions and toleration;
     Might is right, if there's no other option!
     Protect our world, our civilization;
     Those who spill blood to spread their religion
     Invite their very own extirpation.
     Vendettas start between rival factions,
     Expand ultimately to locations
     Around the globe with newer weaponry...
     Can we be sure what's in their armory?
     To trust a group inured in savagery
     Is difficult; therefore, we must forfend.
     Our helping hand in friendship we extend,
     Not once but thrice...then: - "All good things must end!"

AUDACITY

           A beggar in rags stood by the church door,
           Unshaven, unappealing to the core;
           Despite his unsteady voice and facade,
           Apparently a mere dime made him mad.
          "Come. come, be a good sport," he retorted;
          "I know WE have much more...  Be comforted;
          "Tomorrow, a real treasure will be thine.
          "You see, more than a trillion worlds are mine!"
          

Thy Will Be Done

                  The reason why we have evolution:-
                  He loves and sustains His whole creation.
                  You ask:-  Then why nova, star destruction,
                  Whole galaxies destined for collision,
                  In earth years left our Sun, just five billion?
                  Let not the above cause desperation;
                  Look, from supernovae new stars are born.
                  Births, deaths, rebirths--events we cannot scorn,
                  E'en now, we pray to see a brighter morn.
                  Divine energy cannot be destroyed;
                  Our resurrection, we cannot avoid...
                  New Age for homo superior, we forecast:-
                  Eternal life and bliss with our Lord, at last!

Al Qaeda, Awake!

                    A group of Muslims led astray by Hate
                    Left a trail of death indiscriminate;
                    Quranic prohibitions not to kill
                    Are totally ignored as they did spill
                    Even the blood of innocent children,
                    Dishonoring 'Islam', their own brethren,
                    And dealing unto themselves this grim fate:-
                    A short and certain path to Saitan's Gate.
                    Why not change course and follow the mystic;
                    A Sufi suggested this old technique:-
                    Kill not your foe, make him instead your friend;
                    Enemies to friends, then all wars will end.

The Playing Field

                   The Democrats' obsession  of providing a 'level' playing field
 for the citizenry is an illusory will-o-the-wisp. All men are created with
 imperishable souls, but no man is really 'equal' to any other individual.
 People have different ancestors, familiy ties, different upbringing, different
 cultural backgrounds, skills, inclinations, financial and educational or
 intellectual levels, biases, predelictions, even illnesses and destinies.
 Obviously, a baby born in Africa can hardly be said to be 'equal' to one
 born in America.  From birth, each of us is provided with an
 'unlevel' playing field. It is up to the individual to confront and
 surmount the obstacles in his course. If we play well and hard and cleanly,
 we may also race past life's challenges and hazards--
 and rise to eminence....      Isn't that so, Mr. President?
           

IMMORTALITY

                       I am a tiny point of energy
                      Made into this material human form;
                      My purpose is to work in synergy
                      Overtly with The Teacher to transform,
                      Renew, enlighten, and revitalize
                      The human race so that it may acquire
                      A clearer perspective, and realize
                      Life is not transient, but He would require
                      Intensive spiritual preparation...
                      Truth will prevail, so fear not oblivion;
                      You and I will have His benediction.