Consider Opportunity Cost — Revolutionary Blogging Sonnet

When I consider
all that may be gained or lost,
I far too seldom
think of the opportunity cost.

Playing soccer or baseball
was never a bad thing,
but I never once asked
what eternal growth they’d bring.

I can think of many times
I went to play in the sun.
But the more valuable games
were those with more than just fun.

It’s the eternal things which must be considered and weighed
to decide if time is well spent, or just frittered away.

Based on a April 2019 General Conference talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

Ein Hoch Zu Willy Tell — Happy Swiss Independence Day (a Video)

Warm up your yodeling chords, break out your Alphen Horns and Swiss Cow Bells, and gather round while I (loosely) translate a funny poem I heard a long time ago, while serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Zurich, Switzerland mission.
The poem deals with, of course, the story of Wilhelm Tell, the famous patriot who found against the Habsburg (Austrian) empire and their evil representative, Gessler. I don’t know who the poem is by — having lost my copy of a copy of a cassette tape decades ago — but the funniest part of the poem, as I remember it, goes like this:

Sein Sohn rief
“Komm schiess
mir doch ein Apfel von die Birne!”

Der Pfeil traff toedlich …
einen Wurm,
der in den Apfel wohnte.

Erst still,
dann brach ein Sturm des Jubels los!
“Ein HOCH zu Dir, Willy Tell!
Jetzt geh’n wir ein trinken, gel?!?!!”

Roughly translated:

His son called
“Come on! Shoot
the apple from my head.”

The arrow was deadly …
to a worm
that lived in the apple.

At first, it was quiet,
then broke forth a storm of jubilation!
“Three cheers for Willy Tell!
What do you think!?!?
Three cheers! Now let’s go get a drink!”

What strange twist of fate reminded me of this poem? Well, first, it’s Swiss Independence Day (More Cowbell!) Second, as I was peeling and slicing my free freestone peaches (refer to my other videos and articles about the peaches and what I’ve learned here on NaturesGuy.com, and then this fruity article, and then this article on experiential writing on IdeaMarketers.com (since it has to do with writing and creativity), I discovered small worms in the center of the peaches. Yes, I cut them out. (At least I hope I did!) But that’s what reminded me of the phrase “der Pfeil traff toedlich/einen Wurm, der in den Apfel wohnte.”

Hopp Schwyz!

Isn’t The Answer Obvious? Revolutionary ImproVerse Haiku

Why is Hillary/
irrelevant in U.S.
politics? She lost.

What Should I? Revolutionary Blogging Poetry

So much to see.
So much to do.
So much to live.
So much to…
So what should I?

Good Lesson For All: Revolutionary Blogging Haiku

An adm’rals daughter,/
she still slept ‘neath bridges ’til/
she got herself straight.

Nike Rags Footware Honor: Revolutionary ConTEXTing Haiku

Some former football player (under contract to a shoe manufacturer) said that the “Betsy Ross” flag was offensive, so Nike removed shoes with the flag from their lineup. This is my response:
Nike’s new footware/
should be torn and blood-stained rags,/
like at Valley Forge.

Struggles Are Growth For Forevah: Revolutionary ImproVerse Free Verse

Each of my children
struggles
with what they should do
in their lives
and
with their lives.

They ask what purpose they have,
what greater good
they can serve.

It seems as though
they feel as though
there should be some
final
answer.

There’s not.

While I’m glad
(as their Dad)
they’re trying to figure out
how best to serve
and what purpose they have
in the world,
and while I’m glad
they’re searching for purpose,
how can I explain to them
that I have not yet,
(at over a half of century of age,)
found that answer?

And that I may never find it.

What do
I want to do
when I grow up?

I may never know.

How can I explain to them
that the world is changing,
and its needs,
and the people of the earth’s needs
are changing as well.

How can I let them know that,
while those needs are changing,
our own,
personal,
ability to help
to serve
to uplift
and to strengthen
is also changing,
morphing,
growing.

I’m a much different man
than
I was at 25,
at 35,
at 43,
at 50, (12 years ago),
at 60.

My skills are different.
My talents have changed and grown.
I now have wisdom
that I didn’t even think
I could possess
when I was 36 years old.

So while I encourage
my kids,
(now grown)
to keep trying
to figure out
how best to serve,
I also hope that they have learned
from me
that service
and life’s journey
is not a final destination.

Life is simply
a journey,
an opportunity
to find out
how best to help,
and then to do that
in the moment,
until such time comes
as you find another need
that the world has
an another talent
that you have
that helps fill that need.

And on
and on
and on.

Because only those
who don’t stop serving,
who don’t stop helping,
who don’t stop caring,
keep living.

Fill In Life’s Gaps With What? Revolutionary Blogging Iambic Verse

You may,
on the daily,
learn what He wants you
to do.

You may
obey
His call,
but that’s all.

Then what?
Do you sit on your butt?
Do you fill in your life’s gaps
with mindless crap?

I could delight
and write.
Creation
might bring my soul elation.

Or do I waste time
doing things less sublime?
Creating my inner “duuuuuhhhh”
with social media?

Or watch sports,
or comedy shorts,
or other junk to see
on TV?

When I do nichts
it makes my heart sick.
When I create
my soul feels great!

So why
don’t I
at least try?

Fill In The Gaps Despair: Revolutionary Blogging Haiku

You do what you should./
Then what? Do you stretch yourself?/
Or fill gaps with fluff?

Seeing Me As I And I Do: Revolutionary Blogging Free Verse Poem

To have what you believe
About you
Validated,
Verified,
Affirmed
And applauded;

To be told that what you think
God thinks
About you
Is correct,
True,
Right,
And fantastic;

To be substantiated
By others
Who see you
From different views,
And perspectives,
And elevations,
And like what they see;

To have your vision
Of you
And His vision
For you
Confirmed
By those who believe
Instead of debated
And denied
By unbelievers
Who can’t (or won’t) see
What He knows you are;

To have your group,
Your posse,
Your tribe,
Your true friends
Support,
Believe,
Honor,
Respect,
And sustain
YOUR (and His) truth about you:

This is a good thing.