#899 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Friday April 12)
Good morning,
“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.” –Soren Kierkegaard
POETRY
As we head into the quadrennial time to elect a new president, I am reminded of the singular good fortune we all have to have been born in (or emigrated to) this country. And I got to thinking of Walt Whitman’s classic and the echoed response of Langston Hughes, also singing of America. I thought I’d share them both:
I HEAR AMERICA SINGING
By Walt Whitman
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
I, TOO, SING AMERICA
By Langston Hughes
I, Too, Sing America
I am the darker brother.
They send me into the kitchen to eat
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.
CHUCK NORRIS JOKES
Presumably you know the premise. Chuck Norris is an expert at martial arts. He’s a tough guy in the movies. These jokes, favorites of Brad’s and mine, bring back fond memories (and at least a few chuckles). Here are a few favorites:
Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Chuck Norris.
The dinosaurs looked at Chuck Norris the wrong way once. You know what happened to them.
Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
If paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, what beats all 3 at the same time? Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris can dribble a bowling ball.
If you want a list of Chuck Norris' enemies, just check the extinct species list.
Chuck Norris' calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd, because no one fools Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris can speak Braille.
10. When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris can slam revolving doors.
The dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.
Chuck Norris makes onions cry.
Death once had a near-Chuck Norris experience.
Chuck Norris once punched a man in the soul.
Chuck Norris can drown a fish.
When Chuck Norris enters a room, he doesn't turn the lights on; he turns the dark off.
Chuck Norris is the only person that can punch a cyclops between the eye.
When Chuck Norris does division, there are no remainders.
Have a great day,
Glenn