THE OSTRICH AND THE DODO
Once upon a time about a million years ago, a verbal confrontation took place between an ostrich and a dodo bird. The dodo was lambasting the ostrich for the latter’s refusal to be aggressive when faced with adverse circumstances.
Said the dodo to the ostrich: “Ostrich, you big, foolish bird, don’t you know that sticking your head in the sand and being apathetic is no way to survive in this Dog-Eat-Dog world? You can’t go through life being a non-combatant.”
The ostrich looked at the dodo, smiled wryly, then poetically replied: “My dodo friend it may well be that what you say is true, let’s talk again in a million years or will that be too late for you?”
Jess A., 1980
OF DANDELIONS AND SPARROWS
The concept of “The Survival of the Fittest” suggests that those species and varieties that are strongest and are most adaptive will endure and flourish.
Is it not interesting that after having demonstrated evolutionary superiority, these species and varieties are despised and maligned, while those that are fragile and rare are cherished and prized?
Jess A., 1980
CULTURE GAP
You see
3 M’s
and
think of
Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing
I see
3 M’s
and
think of
Medgar, Malcolm and Martin
Jess A., 1981
IRONY
Late one night, strange noises were heard coming from the basement. I got up to investigate. Cautiously I opened the basement door. The sounds appeared to be raucous laughter and merriment. I tipped down the stairs, one at a time. In a distant corner there was a small, faint light. Quietly approaching the activity I was able to distinguish roaches, crickets, grasshoppers, ants, flies, spiders and other insects laughing and guffawing, many seemingly close to delirium.
I looked closer and there I saw a newspaper clipping whose headline read:
“HUMANS FALL VICTIM TO KEPONE POISONING.”
(for the young, Kepone was the most popular insecticide in its day)
Jess A., 1981
PERCEPTIONS
SOME
HEAR
I – C – B – M
AND
THINK OF
LONG RANGE MISSILES;
OTHERS
HEAR
I – C – B – M
AND
THINK OF
FRIGID FECES.
Jess A., 1981
EXODUS
How come most of the
Cubans
leaving Cuba
that I see
look MORE like
Desi
and
not like me?
Jess A., 1981
DEPRESSION
More and More
I care
Less and Less
About
More and More
Jess A., 1981
DIMINISHED PASSION
I saw her ankle
and I longed to see more;
I saw her calf
and I longed to see more;
I saw her knee
and I longed to see more;
I saw her thigh
and I longed to see more;
I saw more
and I yawned.
Jess A., 2017
THE WITNESS
I DIDN’T DO IT;
IT WASN’T ME;
MAYBE HE DID IT,
BUT, I DIDN’T I SEE .
Jess A., 1989
POINT OF VIEW
The other day I noticed,
As I walked out of the door,
A lady of the evening
We usually call a WHORE.
At her side, glancing
Now this way, then the other,
There pranced a joyful toddler
Who lovingly called her MOTHER.
Jess A., 1976
DESIRE
They act as though they don’t want me to
Have It
So I guess I really ought to
Want It
Jess A.,2019
REQUIEM
The last man died last night.
He was Dependable, Trustworthy, Honest,
Loyal, Peace-loving, and Helpful.
The last Man died last night.
He was Friendly, Courteous, Empathetic,
Thoughtful, Questioning and Creative.
He was Brave, Courageous and Just.
The last MAN died last night.
MALES remain in abundance
But
The last MAN died last night.
Jess A.,2019
ENLIGHTENMENT
Knowledge is the precursor to Understanding
and
Understanding makes Wisdom possible
Jess A.,2009
WASTE
Every Body comes with a brain
but
Everybody doesn’t choose to use theirs
Jess A.,2018
MORNING NEWS
CHIT CHAT
WEATHER
SPORTS
TRAFFIC
CHIT CHAT
COMMERCIAL
NEWS
COMMERCIAL
WEATHER
TRAFFIC
CHIT CHAT
WEATHER
SPORTS
NEWS
HAVE YOUR SMART SPEAKER TUNE IN FOR MORE NEWS AT NOON
Jess A.,2019
TRUMPING
WHEN CONSIDERING THE ISSUES OF
RIGHT AND WRONG
OR
WAR AND PEACE
WORLD VIEW AND IDEOLOGY
TRUMPS
GENDER AND PIGMENTATION
Jess A.,2016
QUERY
WHEN DID SPEECH MOVE FROM THE
DIAPHRAGM
TO THE
NOSE ?
Jess A.,2019
DANGEROUS COMBINATIONS
DRINKING AND DRIVING
GASOLINE AND OPEN FLAMES
WHITE SUPREMACY AND THE PROFIT MOTIVE
Jess A.,2018
Wasted Effort ?
You Can Lead A Man To Knowledge But You Can’t Make Him Think
Jess A.,2009
LETTER POWER
WHAT IF “L” HAD BEEN CHOSEN RATHER THAN “A”
AND THE NAME HAD BEEN
NALCP RATHER THAN NAACP
AND THE GOAL HAD BEEN
LIBERATION RATHER THAN ADVANCEMENT ?
(JUST A THOUGHT)
Jess A.,2017
WHERE’S THE LOGIC ?
BUYING WHAT YOU DON’T NEED WITH MONEY THAT YOU DON’T HAVE
Jess A.,2016
AMERICA
Why You Get Angry
When I Take a Knee
Don’t You Remember
You Took Me?
Jess A.,2017
AND WHEN YOU GET ANGRY AT MY TAKING A KNEE,
REMEMBER MY EXCEPTIONAL AMERICAN HISTORY.
I AM THE ORIGINAL
STOCK
THAT WAS
EXCHANGED
ON WALL STREET
AND THE WOUNDS FROM THE SHACKLES ARE STILL RAW AND PAINFUL.
Jess A.,2019
IMPOTENCE
How did it happen that the world’s population is being held hostage to the irrational behavior of one individual?
JESS A.,2017
GOD, THE TERRORIST?
Terror: Extreme fear
Terrorist: A person who uses or favors violent and intimidating methods of coercion.
According to THE BOOK, God employed famines, swarms of locusts, pillars of salt, floods, plagues, the murder of first-borns, etc….
…to persuade His CHOSEN PEOPLE to behave themselves.
If that ain’t terror ….
Jess A.,2019
THE ENLIGHTENED SLAVE
A MASTER, THREATENED BY WAR, SUMMONED HIS TRUSTED SLAVE AND SAID “TAKE THIS RIFLE AND KILL THE ENEMY.”
THE SLAVE SMILED, TOOK THE RIFLE AIMED AND FIRED .
Jess A,,2019
THE OTHER WAY AROUND
SH_ _ AIN’T NOTHING BUT
PROCESSED FOOD
AND
VICE VERSA
Jess A.,2017
LEAVING WELL-ENOUGH ALONE
RELIGION WAS FINE
UNTIL IT WAS ORGANIZED
Jess A.,2019
NEWSPAPERS
A LOT LESS NEWS,
A LOT MORE PAPER.
Jess A.,2019
WHATS IN A NAME ?
LOVE
HOPE
JUSTICE
C. LOVE
JESS HOPE
N. JUSTICE
CLARENCE LOVE
JESSE HOPE
NORMAN JUSTICE
GOOD MEN…ONE AND ALL
Jess A.,2019
THE DONALD
He GAVE YOU:
TAX CUTS
YOU GAVE HIM:
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Jess A.,2019
PATRIOTISM
PATRIOTISM IS THE LAST REFUGE OF SCOUNDRELS.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS:
WAVE THE FLAG and PLAY THAT SONG,
AND MOST NON-THINKERS WILL GO ALONG.
JESS A., 2019
De-ja-vu, All Over Again
FUN AND GAMES
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
THAT’S HOW EMPIRES END
Jess A., 2019
WHY?
Why did they begin making cars out of thinner and thinner steel
and then remove FUNCTIONAL front and rear bumpers ?
Jess A., 2019
SPEAKING OF HEROES
Un-Sung
and
Un-Hung
Jess A.,2019
Heavenly Cuisine
THE STANDARD FARE IS MILK AND HONEY
BUT, PERSONALLY, I PREFER
WELL-SEASONED COLLARD GREENS AND CORNBREAD.
I GUESS IT’S JUST A CULTURAL THING.
Jess A.,2019
How Much?
HOW MUCH ENERGY IS CONSUMED IN THE PRODUCTION OF
TRASH ?
Jess A., 2019
I SOMETIMES WONDER
HAD I HAD SOMEONE TO STEADY THE LADDER, HOW HIGH WOULD I HAVE DARED TO CLIMB?
Jess A.,2019
MAKE ROOM
DON’T SCHEDULE YOUR LIFE SO TIGHTLY THAT YOU LEAVE NO SPACE FOR THE JOY OF SPONTANEITY.
Jess A.,2019
YOU KNOW IT,WHEN YOU HEAR IT
MALE BOVINE FECAL MATERIAL
a.k.a BULL SH_T
Jess A. ,2019
A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION
In Recognition Of All You’ve Done For Us Over The Centuries
THANKS
F rom U s C olored K ids to Y ou
(NO OFFENSE INTENDED)
Jess A. ,2020