© MSK 1-31-2017
You can leave your eyes open
But you have to learn how to see.
Experience and perspective
Blinds us like the forest through the trees.
The banker filters Loss and Profit
The value in everything, no value at all.
Time wasted is time not making money
Some will rise but many more will fall.
A poet looks through other’s eyes
Ignoring their own feelings or thoughts.
We know every photographer
Measures life through memories lost.
Consumption of energy by every living thing
The hunter understands death has a price.
The farmer learned to replace what you take.
Knows the beauty beyond once or twice.
The brain reconstructs what the eye sees.
Colors, depth, lies or possibilities.
Culture reinforces common thoughts or beliefs.
Stealing and selling truth like common thieves.
Forget what you have learned
To know what others know.
Share knowledge you have earned
And watch humanity grow.
MidiMike 
So glad you shared this.
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You are more than welcome! Work is in high now and I have so little time to visit friends and followers, but I love to share my thoughts and writings. Thank you so much!
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Gorgeous work – the words and the photos.
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These are my favorite passions (music is way up there as you know). I am glad you enjoyed them. Thank you bunches for your comments!
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Nice pics! Are they recent? Are the leaves already turning there.
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Thanks! No, they are from my archive lol. The one with the bird in flight was taken out the window on vacation to the D.C. area. The other two are from a local park last year.
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Loved the words and the photos. As always, thanks for sharing!
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Great! I enjoyed writing this one and it seemed to fall into place. I just looked back at recent years and wrote what struck me as obvious.
The pictures I keep taking because I love what I see. No matter where I am, there is always something of beauty.
Thank you for the comments and visit. It means a bunch!
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I agree! I believe there is beauty everywhere. Sometimes it’s right in front of us and other times we might need to search for it. And that’s the great thing about being an artist – writer, painter, musician, photographer, whatever – artists can pull inspiration from just about anywhere. Anyway, hope all is well!
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Mike this is fantastic! I really enjoyed reading it and I am going to read it again! It’s got a few different ideas flowing through it, some tough but real. I feel like it removes the veil and it’s revealing what’s underneath, if that makes any sense. When you get a chance please go look at my goo goo dolls pictures; it’s my first post. It’s short and sweet. I just can’t stop looking at them. I know you spent years with bands,but this was so freakn’ fantastic!! Let me know what you think. Oh I almost forgot, your photos are incredible, especially the one with the bird. You are a quite a talented man!
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Thanks again! I would love to check out your pictures. I have not been in my studio or done anything much since mandatory overtime kicked in a month ago. It is hard for me to get motivated. It has been a long time since I have done any real physical labor for my day job, and it is taking me a while to get adjusted to it. I get better each week and no longer come home and collapse!
Your comments have a way of making me feel it is all worth while and that someone understands and appreciates what I do. I feel quite lucky to know you.
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I hope you’re getting paid for overtime. Yeah I bet it’s hard to get back to working and returning to physical labor. Glad to hear you are getting better each week. I hear you; I too struggle with motivation. It’s like I work out 6 days a week, but then I haven’t blogged in a while or meditated. Oh well, we can only do our best and be grateful. You just made my day; thank you for your kind comments. Happy to know you too! Yes, it is worth wile; keep moving. I watched an Ed Sheerhan interview and he used to sing in the streets of London and get money in his guitar case. He said he didn’t know where his musical talents would take him. He said he just did one thing and then the next and the next etc. and then he got where he is now. I found this inspiring because it takes the pressure off from trying to figure it all out. So that’s what I do; I just keep taking steps. I am teaching a meditation class at my local library in October. I joined meet ups and I signed up for the Color Run in September. Some days it sucks and other days it’s great. I framed the picture of Johnny and me in an 8X10 and hung it on my wall. I can’t tell you how many times I smile when I look at that picture. It’s the exact pose I wanted, and then the kiss. I asked for the extra pic and the kiss, because you know I’m all about seizing the moment!
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I just read it again. I love stanza 5. It makes me feel something. It’s all smoke and mirrors, but behind it lives the ugly truth; however, even though this is the case, it is part of humanity and life, neither good or bad; it just is. This reminds me of a lyric from one of Lana Del Rey’s new songs: “When I don’t feel beautiful or stable, maybe it’s enough to just be where we are.” Change from Lust for Life
I got tickets for Lana in NYC in October…happy dance!!
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Very cool. When I played in a trio, we used drum machines and synth or bass pedals way before other bands had them and the audience would come up and look at us to see where all the sound was coming from. We used to say it is all smoke and mirrors, LOL.
But the smoke and mirrors can also hide the ugly things they don’t want us to know about. It would be better for all of us if as you say, we could look at life as it is; the good and the bad.
I am not that familiar with Lana, so I will have to listen to her music.
Thanks for the re-read and comments! I always dig your feed back.
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That’ so cool about your trio. Smoke and mirrors, yep they do hide what lies beneath. So Lana Del Rey has a hypnotic voice and she sings about love, power, sex, California, and duality. This is her 4th album. I saw her last summer. When you put her music on, it just pulls you in. If I had to choose some songs for you to listen to I would say Ride, West Coast, Heroin, and Tomorrow Never Came featuring Sean Lennon. The presale sold out the whole show, which I imagine brokers and bots bought them. They are on resale for 800 dollars, and it’s all general admission. I paid 60 dollars; it’s crazy. Let me know what you think. The last time I told someone to listen to Lana he played it live on stage during his set. You’re welcome; I always enjoy reading your posts! Also check out the video for west coast; it’s quintessential Lana.
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Absolutely beautiful – very inspirational!
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Thank you! Sometimes I try to sum up years of observations and feelings into a single thought. Miraculously, once in a while it works! LOL. I appreciate your comment.
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Well it def worked!!
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