The Great Disappointment - 2011

This world was a cesspool of sin for Christians in the early 19th Century, as Satan threatened the souls of the White Race through race miscegnation and women's demands for equality were an attack on the eternal domination of men over the weaker sex. The United States was losing its religion to Mammon the filthy idol of money. The Millerite movement chose to defend Christian values with the Second Great Awakening, but in August 1844 their Baptist leader, William Miller, interpreted the Bible writing of Daniel and declared their Saviour would return to Earth on October 22, 1844.

His followers gave away their houses, horses, and possessions in preparation for the Rapture.

On the predicted End of Days some of his faithful climbed church steeples to leap into the air, so angels could seize them for a flight to heaven. Thousands of Millerites gathered for the moment on October 22.

Dawn passed without the horns of salvation blaring from the heavens. A few of the devout jumped from their perches and struck the ground with a thud. None died, but many suffered broken bones. Noon passed without the appearance of the Man from Nazareth. Non-believers ridiculed Miller's flock throughout the rest of the day and the sun set on what would become known as 'The Great Disappointment'.

William Miller re-predicted the 2nd Coming for 1845. The preacher was wrong yet again. His flock examined the text of the Bible and the Millerites fragmented into different camps. Many joined the Quakers, but two camps arose from the wreckage of the Great Disappointment. The 'shut door' camp believed that the door to heaven was closed to foolish virgins and only the wise virgins would be accepted through the Pearly Gates. The majority of the remaining Millerites rejected this theory and convinced their leader that heaven was open to all believers. William Miller died in 1849 without achieving his much desired rapture. His followers evolved into the Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses and Advent Christians.

Madmen and madwomen.

I'm disappointed that their Messiah hadn't taken them away on October 22, 1844.

The world would have been a better place without them.

Maybe this time.

The Second Coming of Whom

A diatribe of the last book of the New Testament and the Great Disappointment of the Millerites.

The Great Disappointment in the Millerite movement was the reaction that followed Baptist preacher William Miller's proclamation that Jesus Christ would return to the Earth in 1844, which he called the Second Advent. His study of the Daniel 8 prophecy during the Second Great Awakening led him to conclude that Daniel's "cleansing of the sanctuary" was cleansing the world from sin when Christ would come, and he and his devoted thousands of followers prepared for the Second Coming. When Jesus failed to appear by October 22, 1844, Miller and his followers were disappointed according to Wikipedia. Many left the movement to form the Seventh Day Adventists The spiritualist announced that his math was a little off and Jesus was on his way. he died without seeing that day,

Someone on the Maine side of the family mentioned Miller and we were related. I can't recall who.

Film by Jack Haven.

Crossing the Inner Harbor - 2025

I haven't stepped on the continental United States in over a year. A world traveler health, finances, and a job in Montauk have stranded me on Manhattan and Long Island, basically Clinton Hill and Montauk, where I work as a jewelry salesmen at Winick Jewelry at 771 Montauk Highway. occasionally I ride the East River and Staten Island to take a break from the land. A pleasure albeit short voyages. Thirty minutes each. Not really going anywhere, but for traveler travel was never about the destination. At least not until the arrival to wherever was there, although crrtainly not the St. George terminal. I know it well.

The State of the Pine Barrens

After leaving Amagansett station the Montauk train picks up speed through the Stretch, a narrow isthmus of the Pine Barrens. These yellow pines have existed forever in the minds of generations of those living or visiting The End. No more. An invasion of pine beetles have ravaged the trees as they have across North America. There was no defense. No clear cutting or insecticide delayed the sap ravagers. The pines are either dead or dying. Their dessicated trunks toppling to the forest floor, a serious fire danger. For now I stare out the trrain's window at the bleskness of an apocalypse, however the local teachers have told their young students that the seedlings are safe from the invasive species and years from now the Pine Barrens shall rise again. Time will tell.

NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship - Artist Statement

This week I applied for a New York Fine Arts fellowship after fifty years of writing. This step was long overdue, but two requirements were for artistic and cultural statements. Inhad never considered those necessary for writing for my pleasure. Undaunted by these requests I wrote the following

At the age of 24 I was asked by a young women what was philosophy of life. I had taken Philosophy 101 at university. I faintly recalled the professors' teaching, but I was stumped to find an answer. Nothing? Then I said, "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

The woman shook her head and said, "So you have none."

"No, I also believe in Live for Today," quoting the the 1968 title of the Grassroots hit.

Was I troubled by my shallow replies? Yes, but throughout the years I strove for more understanding through Rilke, Taigu Ryokan, but not Joyce's Ulysses, although I carried a hardback edition during my numerous travels through Asia. I finally abandoned it in Bali. At my favorite homestay. When I returned the following year, it was serving as a door stop and I realized that even the greatest meaning is irrelevant in the right circumstances. I took it to my room, planning to read the first page. It sat on my desk overlooking the Ubud River and the emerald rice fields stretching to a volcano. I laid my hands on the book. Osmosis failed to penetrate Joyce and I realized that I was traveling the world to open my senses.

To see, not look. To listen and not just hear. To feel to taste to breathe every fragrance and smells and nothing.

Always back to nothing, because it is everything.

ps I have dyslexia

Cultural Statement

Wherever I have gone far from New England, my Yankee and Irish roots have followed me. Rebellion against injustice. The thirst for knowledge not to know, but to understand that knowing is not enough. I realize that not matter how long you live in another land, you remain a stranger to the culture. A stranger to yourself as well, but not if one creates a commonality with those around you. Listen to people. See the way they live. Change all about you necessary to stand welcome thanks to your knowing you don't know everything.

Friends and agents have asked, "Why don't you write something people want?"

I have no choice to write other than what I write.

The words control my thoughts or lack of thought.

Several years ago I was walking in the Masai plains. Alone. My team of young Kenyan adults were standing on a cliff's edge. Dust rose from my footsteps. I was in Africa. Happy and I heard the team singing. A song we all knew, Bob Marley's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Tears wet my eyes. I was so happy. So apart from all I knew, but so close to this moment to want time to stop. It didn't, and later I explained that moment to the team and I sang the song alone and then they joined me. And then like now I realize that I have had a good life. ps I described my gender identity as a gender unknown to others and my sexual identity as sexual, my

Yulemas 2024 - With the tree elves

2025
The tree elves back for another holiday season
Elysaah, Ruth, and Bobby
Every year
Fir trees lined the sidewalk
On Vanderbilt Avenue
Clinton Hill Brooklyn New York__
Balsam firs
Chopped
Up north from New England forests
My homeland New England
Fraser pines from North Carolina
The home of the Tree Elves
To the Clinton Hill neighborhood
To celebrate Christmas
Me Yulemas
I am a pagan at heart__
I
Sit on a chair
Breathe the fragrance of evergreens
As the tree elves
Elysaah, Ruth, and Bobby
Hock trees and wreaths
Working hard
Every day 24/7
From Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve
Whilst I laze
On the yuletide throne
Afore their balsam planked shelter
Surrounded by Trees
Balsam and Fraser__
Eyes closed
Dreaming
Of 1958
My father walking
Into the woods outside Gorham Maine
Ax in hand
Snow on the ground
My older brother, Frunk, and me
The two of us
In tow
Behind my father
Ax in hand
In search of the perfect tree__
My mother and the younger other us
Back in the Ford Station Wagon
Heat running
Full blast
Windows closed
On a cold December afternoon
Our breaths hang on the air
Paralyzed by the chill
Us wearing red hats red parkas and snow pants
Red mittens too
It is deer hunting season
Always deer hunting season
In the north woods
With my father hunting for a tree__
The land and trees belongs to someone
Not us
My father is very honest
Except for tree hunting season
He born in Maine
As was his father, a doctor
And his father, a sea captain, before him
We the next generation know the rules
One tree a family
I remember
My older brother
Stopping before
A tree taller than my father
Our tree
My father born in Westbrook
Spit in his bare palms
Never swing an ax with gloves
We stand back
Swing
Thwock Thwock Thwock
The tree falls down
To the snowy ground
Sap bleeding from the stump
Leaking the scent of pine
Into the near winter air__
Breathe
The pine scent
On the corner
Vanderbilt Avenue and Myrtle
Hundreds of miles away from the Maine woods
Decades distant from my youth
Clouds overhead
Colder by the minute
My breath frozen on the air
The scent of a hundred pine trees
The same 2025
As The Maine Woods
1958
An Evergreen memory
From long ago
Now Winter
Coming Soon
As alway
sWintah
On Clinton
With the tree elves
Elysaah, Ruth, and Bobby
Vanderbilt and Myrtle 24/7 until 12/24
And up in Maine
Especially Gorham Maine
Merry Yulemas
One and all

From me and the tree elves___

This foto of Elyssa, moi, and Ruth dates from December 2024 I was walking down Myrtle and a local junior high school was letting out and a young teen boy ask, "Are you coming from a Diddy party?" I was angry, until all his friends started laughing and I got the joke. Happy Yulemas, The tree elves are back this year. Best trees in New York. Vanderbilt and Myrtle. 24/7 until 12/24

Greed # 1 - The Seven Deadly Sins.

AI Google lists Greed # 2 in the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. Pride is number one. The AI-generated list as follows:

Pride: Excessive belief in one's own importance.
Greed (Avarice): Inordinate desire for material wealth/gain.
Lust: Intense longing, often sexual.
Envy: Desire for others' traits, status, or possessions.
Gluttony: Overindulgence and overconsumption (food/drink).
Wrath: Uncontrolled anger, rage, or hatred.
Sloth: Laziness, spiritual apathy, or despair.

Today the Guardian's lead story pertained to a Jeff Merkley, a USA senior Democratic senator from Oregon calling for an investigation into potential insider trading by fossil-fuel billionaires close to the Trump administration, after a Guardian investigation raised questions about an unusual share buying spree. Both men bought $12 million of Venture Global, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company headquartered in Virginia, bought more than a million shares worth almost $12m each, just days after meeting with senior Trump officials in March.

Michael Sabel #91 with $14 billion on Forbes' 2025 Forbes 400 list along with Robert Pender, net wealth $12 million, are members of the wealth cabal ruling the economics of every facet of this world. A billionaire with a millionaire. Sabel's purchase was a hundredth of his fortune, while Pender pushed all his chips into the pot, since approval by the president seemed a lock. Not true. Venture Global's shares sank from $12 in March to its present $6. A loss of $6 million for both investors in their own company. A failure to recognize how pride ie we are the smartest people in the room, was trumped by greed. Even worse they have been spotlighted by an angry Democratic senator also aware of the $1 billion contributions from the fossil fuel industry dedicated to ending all life on this planet.

Not to worry.

We have been extincted before, but not as many times as the horseshoe crab.

They will live through anything and their only wealth are the eggs spawned each summer. They gift to eternity.