Thursday, December 04, 2025

 

POEM: WITHIN THE DARKENING WOODS

BY DONOVAN BALDWIN

DONOVAN BALDWIN
I sit among decorations of light and dark, dancing

And changing as sunlight peeks around, hides behind
Gray clouds, streaming through branches swayed by wind,
Varying the patterns on the hard dirt ground.

There is life all around, birds singing, wind
Blowing, trees swaying, shadows changing,
But, not too far away, dark woods standing,
Tree shadows blocking out the sun.

Among all this light, activity, and life,
I find myself reminded of boyhood memories,
When I lived my adventures, exploring woods
In sunlight, with the wind, surrounded by birdsong.

Aware even in that life, of dark woods full of peace,
And coolness, and silence. Silent as a tomb,
They like to say, and that is how I thought
Of the darkening woods somewhere else back then.

Now, so many years later, I am again aware,
Of the dark shadows underneath the trees,
Which stand over my shoulder reminding me,
It's almost time to walk into their cool world.

Copyright 2017 By Donovan Baldwin

-------------------

If you enjoyed this poem by the Fort Worth writer, Donovan Baldwin, you are invited to read his essay, Why Do I Write?

Tuesday, December 02, 2025

 

ESSAY - WHY DO I WRITE?

 BYDONOVAN BALDWIN

Donovan Baldwin
Why do I write?

Why does anyone write?

They have, they believe, something to say.

Right?

Well, for a "non-writer", that may be sufficient, but, the word "writer" is a slippery devil. It, of course, can be used to define anyone who takes up pen (or keyboard) and... well... writes.

Something!

Anything!

I have written standard operating procedures which were published and distributed to several sections of a military facility... made the "law of the land", if you will. Still, that, to ME did NOT feel like "writing".

Now, when I write poems, or even small screeds such as this one, I am, to my mind, a writer. In this writing, I am turning loose what a lady named Subi Nanthivarman so delightfully refers to as her "Writing Genie", or, apparently, "WG" to friends and coworkers.

Wonderful concept, I think.

For me, it's that weird little thing in my brain (in my case a Leprechaun-like creature), that has things to say and insists on sharing them with its human host in this symbiotic relationship. I don't control it, nor it me, yet, when it asks for pen or keyboard, I must comply.

For me, THAT is when I, with the aid of my faithful side-kicker, become a writer.

Why do I write?

Because as an obedient servant to the creature within, I must obey its demands or suffer the consequences... something like an addict suffering withdrawal.

------

Dis you like this essay by Fort Worth writer, Donovan Baldwin? Perhaps you might like some of his poems at Venus Has Been Born.

Labels: , , , , ,


Monday, December 01, 2025

 

VENUS HAS BEEN BORN, AND OTHER POEMS, DECEMBER 1, 2025

DONOVAN BALDWIN
BY DONOVAN BALDWIN


Venus has been born,

Beauty emerging from sea,

Ocean's salt liqueur,

Heralds the birth of goddess,

And the lust she shall invoke.


-----


accompany you

through dens of iniquity

where we share our love


-----


spank me she whispers

lays herself across his lap

awaits her reward


------


she won't hide from me

for our secrets are the same

needing to be shared


-----


she suspects i watch

her body starts to tremble

knowing whet i see


-----


brings him his belt

naked ass exquisite pleasure

she begs him for pain


-----


The daughter of Anne Boleyn,

Elizabeth first was so thin,

Her twenty-one inch waist,

So tightly was laced,

With a corset to squeeze her in.


-----


coiled about us

bindings made of love and lust

and silken desires


-----


on quivering skin

his invasive syllables

find their within


-----


sharing her pleasure

open to the world she walks

her mission is love


-----


she'd not dared to show

intensity of desires

that he'd praise her for


-----


ebony her hair

with gray cursive curls within

halo of passion


-----


caress on my skin

like a flowing summer breeze

touching all over


-----


lifetime of giving

among people who just take

till almost empty


-----


pierced by passion's spear

body burned by constant flames

swallows love's liqueur


----


hands on trembling pen

together we write of love

cursive lines that burn


-----


sin has not scarred her

good and bad created her

this woman you love


-----


greeted a stranger

welcoming him to her land

where all could share love 


-----


poems to someone

"beautiful and far away"

in hopes she reads them


-----


She stared into the night. So many secrets. So many hidden things. So much condemnation when she revealed herself. Then she met the poet. His words seemed not only to absolve her, but to praise the intensity of her loving spirit. Hesitantly, she revealed secret by secret, sin by sin... and he listen. He smiled. He nodded. He spoke quietly, "You're safe to be yourself. You're with me, now," and she felt the chains break and the cage doors open.


-----


dips into her pool

creates ripples of desire

over her lips' edge


-----


she craves the big sins

the i have done it all sins

with him at her side


-----


carefully she kept

collections of fine pleasures

he had shared with her


-----


face behind the face

a demon or a beauty

which is hiding whom


-----


my lover disrobes

a mature mortal woman

a goddess dancing


-----


finely tuned pleasures

internal vibrations

crystal arias


-----


make me no excuse

bring me your joys and sorrow

to share together


-----


anthem aria

words of a forgotten song

poem on the night


-----


Now I don't want any drama,

Because I have ordered a llama,

It comes from Peru,

And in a week or two,

I'll be a proud llama mama.


-----

If you enjoyed these poems by the Fort Worth poet, you might enjoy his essay, Living Like A Slave In The Modern World.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Thursday, November 20, 2025

 

ESSAY: LIVING LIKE A SLAVE IN THE MODERN WORLD?

BY DONOVAN BALDWIN

DONOVAN BALDWIN
I just read a post by someone complaining about "living like a slave" because they had to go to work for some large corporation, to buy the food they need to survive.


Just left me curious.

They DO realize, of course, that if they did NOT work for some large corporation to earn the money to buy the food they need to survive, they WOULD have to plant it, grow it, reap it, kill it, or whatever it themselves?

And, I haven't even gotten to soap, cars, clothing, cereal, Adidas, coffee, wine, insulin, and rocket ships.

People complain about people who worry about the stock market.

They DO realize, of course, that retirement funds and insurance companies get their money from the stock market, right?

People complain about "big pharma", but they DO realize, that without "big pharma', some relative or close friend might be dead, right?

Survival isn't free. We get the goodies we get because someone, somewhere, is willing to "invest" in it.

The best arrow maker in the tribe ate well, NOT because he was the best hunter, but because he COULD make damn good arrows.

Not everything is always "cut and dried", "black or white", or "right or wrong". To live honestly we have to face, and sometimes accept, uncomfortable realities. Complaining will not change things.

Just thinking out loud.

------

If you enjoyed this essay by Donovan Baldwin, you might enjoy his article: Is Fish Oil Good For You?

Labels: , , ,


Sunday, November 16, 2025

 

ARTICLE: IS FISH OIL GOOD FOR YOU?


OmegaGuardĀ® By Shaklee
That is an excellent question, as fish oil is one of the most popular supplements.
The scientific findings on its benefits are mixed, and the answer depends heavily on your current diet and health status.2

The main beneficial components in fish oil are the omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are essential fats your body needs but cannot produce enough of on its own.3


āœ… Potential Benefits

Fish oil supplements have been associated with a few key benefits, particularly for specific health concerns:

  • Lowering Triglycerides: There is strong evidence that high-dose fish oil can significantly reduce high blood triglyceride levels, a type of fat in the blood that can raise the risk of heart disease.4

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: Studies suggest fish oil may help reduce pain, morning stiffness, and joint tenderness due to its anti-inflammatory properties.5

  • Blood Pressure: Some research indicates modest reductions in blood pressure, especially in people with moderate to severe high blood pressure.6

  • Overall Anti-Inflammatory Effects: EPA and DHA possess anti-inflammatory properties that may benefit various chronic conditions.7


āš ļø The Primary Recommendation: Whole Fish

Most health organizations and researchers agree on the following:

  • Eating fatty fish (like salmon, mackerel, trout, and sardines) at least twice a week is the most effective and recommended way to get beneficial omega-3s.

  • The benefits observed from eating fish (like a lower risk of dying from heart disease) are often not as clearly demonstrated or are mixed when studying over-the-counter fish oil supplements for heart health in the general population. This suggests other nutrients in the whole fish may play a role.


šŸ›‘ Potential Risks and Considerations

For the general, healthy population, the benefits of over-the-counter fish oil supplements are often minimal, and there are some risks, especially at high doses:8

  • Bleeding Risk: High doses can increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you take blood-thinning medications (like Warfarin or aspirin).9

  • Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib): High-dose prescription fish oil has been linked to a potential increased risk of A-Fib (an irregular heart rhythm) in people with, or at high risk for, cardiovascular disease.10

  • Side Effects: Common mild side effects include a fishy aftertaste/burps, bad breath, heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea.11

  • Interactions: Fish oil can interact with blood pressure, blood-thinning, and contraceptive drugs.12

In Summary

  • For the general healthy adult: Focus on eating fatty fish regularly. A supplement may be a good option if you absolutely do not eat fish, but the benefits may be limited compared to diet.

  • For specific conditions (like very high triglycerides or rheumatoid arthritis): A fish oil supplement may be beneficial, but it's crucial to discuss it with your doctor first to determine the correct dosage and to check for potential drug interactions or risks.

Would you like to know which types of fish are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids?

-----

Did you enoy this article presented by the Fort Worth poet Donovan Baldwn? You might alsow enjoy some of his other works, such as We Flee To Eden, and other poems.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?