Ravensong Poetry And Writing Blog by Donovan Baldwin

BY DONOVAN BALDWIN

Happy New Year 2025

I'm 79 [80 in 2024], and I'm going to be a year older in March. I know that it's easy, and fun, to try to imagine the new year better than the old one, but, the fact is, and it took me years, decades, to learn this... not just know it, but to feel it in my being... each day is the start of a new year.

Labels: article, donovan baldwin, essay, happy new year

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 3:46 PM 0 comments

Arthur Conan Doyle

The shadows behind me,

Labels: conan doyle, donovan baldwin, milne, poems, poetry, Shaklee

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 9:35 AM 0 comments

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

SHAKLEE GLUCOSE REGULATION COMPLEX

Managing blood sugar involves a multi-faceted approach that focuses on:

• Diet:

  • Prioritize whole foods: Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
  • Limit processed foods: Minimize intake of sugary drinks, processed snacks, and refined grains.
  • Control carbohydrate intake: Carbohydrates break down into sugar in the body, so monitor portion sizes.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: If overweight or obese, even modest weight loss can significantly improve blood sugar control.

• Physical Activity:

  • Regular exercise: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
  • Strength training: Incorporate strength training exercises 2-3 times per week to build muscle mass, which helps improve insulin sensitivity.

• Medications:

  • Oral medications: Depending on the type of diabetes, medications like metformin, sulfonylureas, or thiazolidinediones may be prescribed to help regulate blood sugar.
  • Insulin therapy: In some cases, insulin injections may be necessary to manage blood sugar levels.

• Monitoring:

  • Regular blood sugar checks: Frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels helps track trends and adjust treatment plans as needed.
  • A1C testing: This blood test provides an average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months.

• Lifestyle Factors:

  • Stress management: Chronic stress can raise blood sugar levels. Practice stress-reducing techniques like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.
  • Sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep per night.
  • Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Important Note: This information is for general knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance on managing your blood sugar. They can assess your individual needs and create a comprehensive management plan tailored to your specific situation.

Disclaimer:

For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. This information is for general knowledge and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. This information should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions related to your health.

SHAKLEE GLUCOSE REGULATION COMPLEX

Labels: blood glucose, blood sugar, exercise, lifestyle, managing blood sugar, medication, sleep, stress management

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 3:26 PM 0 comments

whatever you've done

Labels: donovan baldwin, haiku, poems, poetry, words, writing

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 3:07 PM 0 comments

When heart attacks happen we often are not sure why.  Of course, we understand that certain conditions exist that can predispose us to them, but are there actual "heart attack triggers"?

Well, yes there are.  In fact, we are not surprised to hear this, as Hollywood has used the ploy for decades, and many of us either know someone who has experienced an episode after some event...or maybe have had our own experience.

One night a few years ago, I did a series of stupid things and a few hours later was in the emergency room at the local hospital with atrial fibrillation...not a heart attack per se, but close enough for me.  While I am at risk genetically for this type of event, it was probably precipitated by the stupid acts earlier in the day.

Not all heart attack triggers are the result of stupidity, however.  Sometimes life puts us in the way of the heart attack express, and a recent study, the results of which were reported in <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/" target="_new">The Lancet</a>, has looked into this.

So, what did the study find were the top six heart attack triggers?

1.  Traffic:  Wow!  Big surprise, right?  It doesn't seem to matter, by the way, if you are the driver, a passenger, or riding a bike.  Previous studies have shown that people who work from home and avoid traffic, seem to be healthier even though they may actually work more hours.  Now, don't skip the trip to the grocery, it's a matter of daily exposure and predisposition.  You have to be ready to HAVE a heart attack for traffic to cause it.  However, the daily "rush" (read: sitting in traffic) hour can produce cumulative stress, and, as one researcher has pointed out, in today's world, stress can be considered a universal risk factor for a hell of a lot of health problem...including heart disease.

2.  Physical Activity:  Okay, we're talking "exertion" here.  A stroll around the neighborhood is probably not going to be a deadly event.  In fact, regular exercise can help protect against heart disease and heart attack.  However, if your heart is NOT healthy, or if you are predisposed to a heart attack, physical exertion "could" be a heart attack trigger for you.

3.  Coffee and Alcohol Consumption:  Here's a twist.  In moderate quantities, these two popular drink choices can actually be good for you and protect your heart!  Two cups of coffee a day (early in the day so as not to interfere with sleep), or a couple of glasses of wine, can not only help keep your heart healthy but keep your body younger and your brain more nimble.  However, consumption at higher levels over some time can produce health problems and can precipitate a heart attack.

4.  Air Pollution:  Over time environmental stressors can produce negative health conditions.  The person who is already at risk for a heart attack, however, can be pushed over the edge by air pollution.  Studies have shown that air pollution triggers 4.75 percent of heart attacks among those vulnerable,  This is a relatively low percentage, but, since air pollution is pervasive, there are a great many people at more risk than they imagine.  It's not my fault, by the way, I have driven a Prius since 2006.  Oddly enough, some experts recommend eating the Mediterranean Diet to help cut down on risk from this source.  I'm not sure why the Mediterranean Diet is so important, although it is a healthy way to eat.  I'll have to look deeper into that.

5.  Emotions:  The funny thing is, you would think that positive emotions, such as being happy are a lot less likely to precipitate a heart attack than being mad.  As a fact, strong emotions, good or bad, increase adrenaline output, heart rate, and the stickiness of red blood cells.  These, when combined can trigger heart attack in a susceptible individual. There's still a good reason you should try to experience more positive emotions to ward off heart attacks.  More positive emotions will commonly result in more balanced heart rhythms than negative emotions.  Unbalanced, or disrupted, heart rhythms are a contributing factor in some heart attacks.

6.  Sex:  Hey, it's an intense physical and emotional activity that raises blood pressure and heart rate.  The risk is small, compared to some other heart attack triggers.  The good news is that being in good physical condition (hint: get some other regular exercise as well).

Story:  I had a friend whose husband was the night manager for a hotel in Austin, TX.  One night, he got an emergency call from a room occupied by an elderly couple.  The husband had suffered a fatal heart attack at...shall we say...a very stressful moment (see #6 above).  Later, the manager had to put together the bill and present it to the new widow.  He noticed that one of the last items was an X-rated movie the couple had apparently been "watching" at the fateful moment.

Moral?

Be physically fit and make healthy lifestyle choices.  Simple things such as regular exercise, healthy eating, good sleep, and stress reduction (think: meditation, yoga, or prayer) can help protect you from the heart attack triggers mentioned above. 

WHAT MAKES SHAKLEE PRODUCTS DIFFERENT?

Labels: donovan baldwin, heart attacks, heart health

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 1:24 PM 0 comments

-----

she said she'd turn me on

if i told her my desires

i whispered her name

-----

he's tried so often

to write words that tell the world

how much he's loved her

-----

the beauty's in you

you're the one who cannot see

what i try to reveal

-----

poet writes outside the lines

defies tradition

-----

with sweet ink she writes

poetry upon petals

meant to be tasted

-----

i long to hold you

have you stay within my arms

forever and more

-----

she is too open

for the others to accept

so she turns to me

-----

at others' beck and call

I've never belonged to me

wanted for who i am

-----

made aware so often

i accept my worthlessness

in the eyes of the world

-----

once wrote poetry

it began to sadden me

so the urge left me

-----

the last thing i love

has now become a burden

i can no longer bear

-----

wait beside the tracks

for the train that never comes

the one bearing love

----

no one can give me

what the fates have so decreed

will never be mine

-----

a whole life I've spent

wishing for someone to care

but it's too late now

-----

By Donovan Baldwin

REVITOL SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Labels: donovan baldwin, love poems, poems, poetry

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 7:20 PM 0 comments

I just read a story about 15-year-olds who didn't know their own address.

Labels: donovan baldwin, humor

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 9:55 AM 0 comments

the prettiest bloom

Labels: cat, donovan baldwin, mask, muse, nymph, poems, poetry

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 11:39 AM 0 comments

By Donovan Baldwin

Shaklee B-Complex

Do you need to take vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements for health? If you do, which supplements should you take?

Most of us are willing to concede the necessity of having a balance of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in our daily diet for good health, but many of us wonder if it is necessary to use vitamin pills and other dietary supplements to do this. Can't we get enough of the vitamins we need from our daily diet? 

I suppose that some of us might be in good enough health not to need additional vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements, but IF YOU FALL INTO ONE OF THE GROUPS BELOW, you might want to consider adding at least a daily multivitamin supplement to your diet. 

IF you are a woman:  Women are possibly deficient in such minerals as magnesium, folic acid, zinc, calcium, and in some cases, iron. If you are pregnant or using birth control, you may require additional vitamin or mineral supplements for good health. 

IF you diet for weight loss or follow a fairly limited diet or restricted nutritional regimen:  Important vitamins and minerals are scattered widely across a broad range of nutritional options (i.e. foods), and if you are limiting your intake by volume or by type, you are likely limiting your intake of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients vital to your health. 

IF you eat the normal American diet:  The "normal" American diet is not very normal, nor is it always good for your health! It is terribly lacking in the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, hormones, and other nutritional elements a healthy body needs. Additionally, if your diet does contain all of these in optimal quantities, you are possibly eating way too much food - Catch 22! 

IF you smoke or drink alcohol often:  Smoking and excessive drinking (roughly more than two drinks a day - which some say is GOOD for you), depletes certain vitamins and other nutrients. 

IF you are already NOT in good health, physically or mentally:  Your body may not be processing the vitamins, minerals, etc. that your diet is providing. Also, the EXTRA vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you provide with supplements may have a positive affect on the condition. It goes without saying that an appropriate supplementation program MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED or lessened the impact of the health problem in the first place. 

IF you love junk food and it tends to be a major part of your diet:  Once again, you are probably not getting the dietary balance of vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements necessary for good health. Sadly, some constituents of these types of food, particularly refined sugar, actually leach vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from your body, or prevent the effective use, transport, or absorption of these nutrients. 

IF you cannot afford a steady diet of the foods that you realize are most valuable to your health:  A multivitamin pill costs only a few cents a day, and without changing another single fact of your life, can contribute significantly to your health and well-being. 

IF you are over 65:  You have specific dietary deficiencies and needs, as well as a possible array of health problems. There's a good chance you are lacking in B-12, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, folic acid, zinc, Vitamin C, and other vitamins and minerals. As our bodies age (I'm 80, so I can talk), they become less efficient at processing nutrients of all types, so even if your typical diet contains all the nutrients you need, your body is probably not getting the complete benefit from them. I mentioned some possible deficiencies above. Let's look at only one - Vitamin D deficiency - as this is very common in folks over 65. This vitamin deficiency may contribute to some forms of cancer (including breast and colon cancer), muscular weakness, joint pain, and the well-published one - osteoporosis. Again, a daily multivitamin can go a long way towards promoting health in the years both before and after age 65. 

OKAY, WHO'S LEFT! 

IF you are male, under 65, in excellent mental and physical health, exercise regularly, have a nutritionally rich and diverse diet, do not smoke or drink, and are NOT QUITE CERTAIN that YOUR DIET contains all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements necessary for good health:  You MIGHT want to tilt the odds in your favor with a good daily multivitamin supplement. 

EVERYBODY ELSE CAN LEAVE! 

Your health is fine. You don't need to supplement your present diet with vitamins and minerals. 

---------

The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, and has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He became interested in health and fitness in the '70s after reading numerous books, including Dr. Kenneth Cooper's "Aerobics", and beginning his own lifelong fitness program. This has led him to continue his personal research into health and fitness for over 30 years and to pursue coursework on health and fitness. 

----------

NOTE: You have full permission to reprint this article within your website or newsletter as long as you leave the article fully intact and include the "About The Author" resource box. Thanks! :-)

Labels: daily multivitamins, donovan baldwin, Health and Wellness, minerals, supplements, vitamins

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 10:46 AM 0 comments

,

Labels: donovan baldwin, poems, poetry

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 11:34 AM 0 comments

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the body either cannot produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone essential for regulating blood sugar levels, and its imbalance can lead to serious health complications. This article delves into the types, causes, symptoms, and management of diabetes.

Types of Diabetes

1. Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. It usually develops in childhood or adolescence and requires daily insulin therapy.

2. Type 2 Diabetes: The most common form, it occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or the pancreas cannot produce enough. It is often linked to lifestyle factors, such as obesity and inactivity.

3. Gestational Diabetes: Develops during pregnancy and typically resolves after childbirth, though it increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later.

4. Prediabetes: A condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes. It serves as a warning sign and an opportunity for early intervention.

Causes and Risk Factors

While the exact causes of diabetes vary by type, common factors include genetics, lifestyle choices, and certain medical conditions. Risk factors include:

• Family history of diabetes

• Obesity or being overweight

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Age (higher risk for Type 2 as people get older)

• High blood pressure or cholesterol levels

Symptoms

Recognizing the symptoms early can help in managing diabetes effectively. Common symptoms include:

• Frequent urination

• Excessive thirst

• Unexplained weight loss

• Fatigue

• Blurred vision

• Slow-healing wounds

Complications

If left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to severe complications, including:

• Cardiovascular diseases

• Nerve damage (neuropathy)

• Kidney disease (nephropathy)

• Eye damage (retinopathy)

• Foot problems that may require amputation

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests, including fasting blood sugar, oral glucose tolerance tests, and HbA1c levels. Once diagnosed, the treatment plan often includes:

• Medication: Insulin or oral medications to control blood sugar.

• Lifestyle Changes: A balanced diet, regular exercise, and weight management.

• Monitoring: Regularly checking blood sugar levels.

Prevention and Management

While Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, Type 2 and gestational diabetes can often be avoided through healthy lifestyle choices. Here are some tips:

1. Healthy Eating: Focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.

2. Regular Exercise: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.

3. Weight Management: Maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk.

4. Routine Check-Ups: Regular medical check-ups can help detect early signs and prevent progression.

Living with Diabetes

Managing diabetes requires a proactive approach and support from healthcare professionals, family, and friends. Technological advancements, such as continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, have made it easier to live well with diabetes.

In conclusion, diabetes is a manageable condition with the right knowledge, care, and lifestyle adjustments. Early detection and consistent management are key to reducing complications and maintaining a high quality of life. By understanding the condition and taking preventive measures, individuals can lead healthier lives even with a diabetes diagnosis.

MORE ABOUT DIABETES

Labels: diabetes

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 6:03 PM 0 comments

 BY DONOVAN BALDWIN

Until I learned German and went to Germany, I assumed that everybody had the same thoughts, the same way, just in their own language.

Labels: donovan baldwin, essay, German, hooplah, language, oops, opinion

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 7:17 AM 0 comments

By Ron Hicks

two sad lovers cursed

their most powerful desires

cannot defeat fate

-----

two tidal lovers

a sea of exclamations

a pounding of waves

-----

below the surface

it's so sweet resting down here

in your soul's ocean

-----

mid shadows of fire

there among the leaping flames

your image dances

-----

powerful her tides

strong the waves which cast about

we entwined lovers

-----

i cannot be one

my helmet and my rifle

as true as my pen

-----

kissing your closed eyes

telling you secrets with touches

smiling at your smile

-----

Donovan Baldwin

REVITOL SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Labels: donovan baldwin, love poems, poems, poetry

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 10:48 AM 0 comments

BY DONOVAN BALDWIN

Basically, th U.S. population is undergoing a quiet revolution, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  They predict that by 2030, the U. S. population aged 65 and older will reach about 71 million.  This is roughly double the present number.

As those of us who are already classified as seniors know, the CDC recognizes the increasing health and financial burdens which begin to accrue with age.  Also, there is a diminished quality of life and risk of disease and/or long-term illness.

However, as I have often pointed out in this blog and in other articles, many of which have been published on other websites, and on my website at nodiet4me.com, not all of the negative expectations, which are real, need be as negative as most people assume.

Again, the CDC and I are in agreement, they based on research and me based on my own life experiences.

A great amount of the very real illness, disability, and death which go hand-in-hand with the normal progress of aging can be controlled, at least to some extent, and, in some cases, be reversed.  The most common steps towards healthy aging do not require extreme measures or esoteric potions or nostrums.  

The CDC and I agree that some of the best steps to take include regular exercise, proper nutrition, avoiding dangerous habits such as tobacco use, proper sleep and rest, and regular medical checkups.

There are a lot of things about aging that make life hard, but we don't have to make life harder to effectively administer our own personally designed anti-aging program.

REVITOL SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Labels: aging, CDC, donovan baldwin

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 7:19 AM 0 comments

Boy of the wind and wave,

Bending trees beneath him,

Burning naked beneath the sun,

Taught poetry by nature,

By promises written on

The horizon of The endless sea,

Which became his mistress,

And, with words, his desire.

-----

caught him watching

never thought herself sexy

until that moment

-----

merely a poet

who's learned to remain hidden

only his words wanted

-----

At my age,

It's seldom about

Feeling good.

More likely

Feeling better,

Than yesterday.

Since yesterday

I might have felt like...

Well, you know.

Feeling better than that,

Might still NOT be

Feeling good.

-----

dawn's sensuous rise

love gloriously displayed

over earth's oceans

-----

she brings me flowers

offering them with a smile

beside which they pale

-----

we smile together

when we hear the ocean's song

though so far apart

-----

touched so many times

gentle smile and loving words

i seek every day

-----

ocean or fountain

i seek out a water nymph

to share poetry

-----

the more words she read

the more that she realized

that he wrote for her

-----

was it you or me

first saw the written poems

as our love letters

-----

ocean between us

joining not separating

singing us its song

-----

some words frighten her

yet they fill his poetry

and make her wonder

-----

redder than a rose

she's more brightly blossoming

by singing waters

-----

i await your touch

even if only in words

to know you read this

-----

Only a story,

A tale on the night wind,

A dancer by the fire,

Or sitting with me watching,

As life unfolds and becomes poetry,

Unconventional images stepping

Into the light,

Summoning us into the shadows

Where we may make love in private,

With words and touches,

And sigh and moans.

-----

At first adrift,

She gathers speed,

Sailing towards

Her ocean's edge...

Drawing back,

Anticipating,

The next foray,

Each new adventure,

Again and again,

The next turn

Of her tide

Until...

The ocean swells,

And she, swept on,

By the power of each

Successive wave,

Falls over the edge,

Into ecstatic oblivion.

-----

Sometimes it's hard to care

Without someone to care with.

It's lonely among people,

Who have no clue of who you are,

And would stare at you as they

Backed away if they did know...

It's a life full of echoes, when,

Only you understand yourself,

Or care...

Comes back to that...

Understand,

Accept,

Care...

Love?

I've got lots.

Wish you had some,

Somebody?

Echoes again,

Just echoes.

-----

his cursive etchings

true love graven in her skin

delight in each curve

-----

ecstatic climax

as everything that she is

unites for pleasure

-----

quivers with pleasure

the  words thar stripped her naked

filling needs and wants

-----

takes hold of his words

in her mind they come alive

touching her inside

------

murmuring his words

like love's liquid in her mouth

tasted drop by drop

-----

she sacrifices

dies a little death for him

for herself as well

-----

Labels: donovan baldwin, ocean, poems, poetry, poetry blog

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 3:39 PM 0 comments

There are some things that cannot be changed, and your genetic inheritance is one of them.  If you are at risk for high cholesterol due to the genetic makeup inherited from your ancestors, then that is a fact.

This is of concern because high cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and heart attacks.  Often, cholesterol must be controlled with medications, However, at already at a high cholesterol level or not, on medication or not, you can usually lower your cholesterol levels by several points by making some simple lifestyle changes.  

1.  Get Regular Exercise:  Participating in regular physical activity such as gardening, walking, or swimming, or in a formal exercise program, has several well-documented health benefits.  Some of these benefits affect your cholesterol levels indirectly or from another angle, but exercise can reduce cholesterol levels itself.  Even something as simple as squeezing in a few short exercise sessions daily can help produce results.

2.  Lose Weight:  It has been shown that losing as little as 10 lbs can help reduce cholesterol levels, and exercise is one of the more effective strategies for healthy weight loss.  That's one of the indirect aspects of exercise mentioned earlier.

3.  Eat Right:  Hey!  Here we go again.  Healthy eating helps promote weight loss.  Healthy weight loss can help encourage interest in exercise, as can getting the proper nutrition.

A general rule of thumb for healthy eating is that the closer to the source the food is, usually the better for you it is.  Get rid of trans fats generally found in fried foods and bakery products.  Select lean cuts of meat, low fat dairy products, and exercise portion control.  Eat a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  By all means, read the labels!  Pick foods with lower cholesterol levels.  For example, I was buying one brand of a certain product I used daily until I read the label and found that it had a much higher cholesterol level than another brand which provided the same nutrients.

4.  Keep Alcohol Consumption at Low Levels:  It has been found that a low level of alcohol consumption, generally no more than one or two drinks a day, can be of some health benefit and can help increase "good" cholesterol.  Red wine has an ingredient, resveratrol, which apparently helps protect cells against the effects of aging.  However, high levels of alcohol consumption can lead to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke. 

5.  Don't Smoke:  As an ex-smoker, I cannot beat on this drum enough!  If you already smoke, stopping smoking can improve your HDL cholesterol level. The health benefits don't end there, either. Only 20 minutes after your last cigarette, your blood pressure decreases. Then within 24 hours, your risk of a heart attack begins to decrease. Within just one year, your risk of heart disease is already down to half that of a smoker. It gets even better.  Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is similar to someone who never smoked.

Generally, lifestyle changes don't cause huge decreases in cholesterol levels, but, given time, they will, in most cases, produce results.  However, as mentioned earlier, some people may need medication to actually reduce cholesterol levels effectively.  Even in those instances, it is still in the individual's best interest to include the lifestyle choices as a part of their plan for good health overall and cholesterol control in particular.

Labels: article, donovan baldwin, health, lower cholesterol

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 9:06 AM 0 comments

Ask the wind to sing for me,

Take me back to boyhood

In the woods beside the bay,

Climb those trees once more,

Contemplating in boyish ways,

The rhythm and adventure of

Life and the endless sea,

Progenitors of poetry,

And the future poet.

-----

Never call me broken.

Bent and crushed,

Crumpled and thrown away,

Stitched and sewn

Back together so much

My very soul looks

Like the Frankenstein monster...

But still walks, talks, growls,

And spits out poetry, so,

Don't ever call me broken...

-----

exposing myself

trying to speak the simple truth

others can't believe

-----

never ending roar

wind ceaselessly stings my skin

memories replayed

-----

let poet love you

write you into poetry

a few hundred times

-----

many love letters

well disguised as poetry

to adored goddess

-----

below soul's surface

she is like an ocean tide

drawing me with her

-----

best i stay unseen

remain poet who exists

as mere words of love

-----

heart beats and hand moves

while all the rest is dying

love remains alive

-----

gown about her feet

most revealing pose at dawn

watercolor orchid

-----

sharing our hearts' smiles

with our souls dancing naked

to our poetry

-----

a lovely morning

poetry over coffee

the look in your eyes

-----

morning's mist glistens

sweetly drips from her petals

dawn's enticing dew

-----

endless waves and wind

begetter of poetry

always the ocean

-----

dream she knows i'm here

knows of words i wrote for her

expecting nothing

----

seems a shy flower

yet hidden petals glisten

with love's fiery dew

-----

DONOVAN BALDWIN

REVITOL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

Labels: donovan baldwin, poems, poetry

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 7:13 AM 0 comments

BY DONOVAN BALDWIN

Actually low energy levels can have many causes.

Sometimes, the cause, and the solution, to low energy is simple.  Sometimes, however, the causes are more complicated and may be more difficult to combat.

Four things which can leave you feeling dull and without energy are easily rectified.

1.  Sleep:  This is obvious.  If you are not getting enough GOOD sleep, you will probably feel it during the day.  I'm not talking about one or two bad nights, either.  Many of us have terrible sleep habits, and we pay for it...more than you imagine.  

A Carnegie Mellon University study published in 2009 in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that Of 153 healthy men and women aged 21-55, those who got less than seven hours of sleep were almost three times more likely to catch a cold than those who slept eight hours or more. 

Lack of sleep not only leaves you tired, but opens you up to infections...and stress!

2.  Stress:  This is a real energy thief.  Not only can chronic stress attack you physically by weakening your immune system, and interfering with sleep, by the way, but it also robs you of the desire to do anything about the situation.

3.  Nutrition:  Many people will turn to high-calorie, high-sugar foods and snacks in hopes of raising their energy levels.

I remember a few years ago in which actor Robert Blake (Baretta and other classics such as The Return of Rin Tin Tin), said that he kept going on junk food.  Not necessarily a good idea.  Trivia, by the way, Blake, who was still acting in the late 90's started out with the "Little Rascals" in 1939.  HMMMM.  Maybe junk food IS a good idea.....NOT!

4.  Overall Physical Condition and Health:  I sort of lumped a lot of things under this topic.  However, so many things combine to keep us healthy, and good health is often key to having energy.  Additionally, physical activity, codeword "exercise" is one of the most practical things we can do to stay healthy.

Not only that, but regular physical activity, whether in the form of a structured exercise program, or as daily lifestyle activities, can build your body's energy reserves and works to help the body deal with 1, 2, and 3 more effectively.

Regular exercise promotes good sleep.  It also relieves stress, and helps the body make more efficient use of the nutrients we provide it.  Regular "good" sleep, helps relieve stress and makes you feel like you have more energy to expend in exercise.  It also gives your body the opportunity to make use of the nutrition it has taken in.  Good nutritional choices can also help calm the body and the mind, increase energy, and help a person sleep better.

None of this has to involve extreme or alarming (more stress) changes to your present lifestyle.

Something as simple as setting a regular bedtime and not getting up until you've gotten your eight hours of sleep, taking a good daily multivitamin, avoiding foods which obviously contain empty calories (most of today's snacks, unfortunately), eating more natural things such as fruits and vegetables and judiciuous amounts of meat, and taking a brisk walk for a few minutes a day can turn a lot of low energy situations around.

If you really want to get into some good stuff, you might look into yoga.  Not only does yoga provide exercise, but tends to produce a meditative state and relieves stress.  People who practice regularly tend to sleep and eat better and have more energy.  I really like yoga.

However, even something as challenging as weight lifting or karate can still reduce stress and increase energy if practiced properly.  I train with weights, as well as doing bodyweight exercises, a little yoga, and using resistance bands.

Beyond these simple causes, and a few others, there are health conditions, such as diabetes, which can drag you down.  If taking care of the simple things doesn't seem to do the job, there is possibly something more dangerous or difficult causing the condition.  In these situations, your best choice is to get with your healthcare provider and work out the appropriate treatment.  While doing things to help "prevent diabetes" and other conditions is always going to be of value in the long run,  once you actually have a major health condition, stay healthy, but don't try to treat it yourself.  Get proper medical testing, diagnosis, and treatment.

REVITOL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

Labels: donovan baldwin, low energy, sleep, stress, weightlifting

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 11:45 AM 0 comments

How many moments of desire?

What magic power do you exert,

Over the passage of poet's hand?

Without awareness, you have caused

Hours of creativity, and quiet sadness,

As one who loved you held his tongue,

Pouring his love into poetry

You admired but did not know

Was meant for you.

-----

started as a kiss

became her teeth on my neck

oral tradition

-----

exposed self to all

and drenched by seminal words

a poet was born

-----

friction summoned flames

hidden below her surface

waiting to be wanted

-----

consulting desires

as she selects tonight's toy

evening's entertainment

-----

kneeling supplicant

attitude of worship

muffled orisons

-----

sweet pacific sprite

sharing secrets in a smile

and poems she likes

-----

secret she can't see

doesn't know she's beautiful

and so i tell her

-----

pelting of raindrops

fingertips on naked skin

arousing tattoo

she stretches arches

an offering to nature

and her lover's touch

raindrops and fingers

causing body to tingle

with desires for more

-----

her body love's storm

lightning flares within her breast

erupts as pleasure

-----

brought me her secrets

and that night we unwrapped them

trying each one out

-----

bring me your secrets

in the darkness of the night

we'll see how they fit

-----

look and you'll see me

night's lightning my lantern

as i look for you

-----

recalls the moment

when she became immortal

in the words he wrote

-----

aching in her loins

so painful her eager tips

in need of love's touch

-----

he did not touch her

in her mind memories did

what happened was real

-----

i cannot keep you

i'll give you wings teach you to fly

if only you'd stay

-----

pursues ecstasy

lips open as sighs escape

the body she's freed

-----

a voluptuous world

golden orgasmic sunsets

sensuously folded flower petals

-----

how it's always been

no one's ever wanted me

always been alone

-----

was it the candlelight

glow illuminating love

made me dream to much

-----

yes love passed me by

but the muses gave me words

for my tortured soul

-----

it's so odd you know

life dedicated to love

yet never been loved

-----

you cannot imagine

how that sweet smile of yours

has excited me

-----

did not mean to shame you

excited by your natural smile

and my desire to kiss you

-----

By Donovan Baldwin

Labels: donovan baldwin, love poems, poems, poetry

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 9:50 AM 0 comments

Interesting interview on the radio yesterday.  Unfortunately, I only caught a few minutes of it.  

It was actually about a novel.  The plot was about a doctor in Canada.  I don't know much more than that about the book.

It was the author, and his comments, that caught, and held, my attention.

The author had been a Doctor in Canada and drew on his experiences for the novel.  He had also been a doctor in Afghanistan, again, I don't know the circumstances, but his experiences in both areas provided him with an interesting point of view on modern health dilemmas.

In Afghanistan, he found that the local people "never" in his words, required insulin for diabetes or to stabilize blood sugar.  Apparently, the use of insulin in other, more "modern" societies is quite common due to diet and lifestyle....which have contributed to high levels of body fat, particularly the insidious abdominal, or visceral, fat.

He also compared this to medical observations over just a few decades of the Inuit of Northern Canade.

Not too long ago, many of their "major" health problems were what you would expect from such a civilization...broken bones, cuts, etc.  These days, they can have Kentucky Fried Chicken from a fast food emporium, rather than whale blubber from a beast they chased for hours, or even days and expended huge amounts of calories to kill, butcher, and prepare.

The difference in lifestyle is reflected in medical problems.  They have fewer broken bones, cuts, and gashes, but have diabetes (once nearly unheard of), heart disease, and strokes...all conditions related to high accumulations of visceral fat.

Sure, they used to have subcutaneous body fat which helped protect against the cold and provided energy stores...which they drew upon regularly.  Now, they, like so many of us in the U.S. and other "Western" nations, have accumulations of abdominal fat which surrounds the internal organs and keeps the body in a state of chronic inflammation, contributing to heart disease, as well as diabetes.

Not a whole lot of conclusions here, but I think I will go exercise now.

REVITOL SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Labels: article, diabetes, donovan baldwin, health, opinion

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 3:35 PM 0 comments

BY DONOVAN BALDWIN

Labels: donovan baldwin, essay, opinion, thinking

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 6:50 AM 0 comments

more than a shadow

you are creature of magic

dancing in my dreams

skirt flares about you

naked legs so happily

molten in moonlight

excited cheeks flushed

your gaily panting bosom

promises on your skin

-----

daughter of no king

nor elfin sprite of legend

my mystic woman

-----

words about her wrists

naked to his sentences

lashed by poetry

-----

proudly she displays

secrets no one else may see

shameless in her love

-----

no maidens thank you

old poet warmed by matron muse

finds the sweetest words

-----

she turned me away

because she was too perfect

all i ever desired

-----

have you spotted it

what i wrote for you today

a smile on my lips

-----

she's got a secret

sweet gentle teddy bear

ferocious in bed

-----

came into my life

making me reveal myself

then she disappeared

-----

birth until today

no one's ever wanted me

words perhaps not me

-----

sometimes remembers

all the times that he was spurned

the one time he wasn't

-----

of all the women

only one ever loved me

one i left behind

-----

of beasts of the earth

useless sort of animal

this poet creature

-----

best done in private

this form of masturbation

writing of poems

-----

erotic poet

an amateur botanist

exploring orchids

-----

private festival of oral arts

delicious confections whipped up

sweet berries and dripping cream

-----

untroubled angel

in my arms as sin begins

sweet demonic grin

-----

first in our family

so odd he's a poet

try to ignore him

-----

intense the image

rainbow flaming black and white

stripped of its colors

-----

my one true lover

the woman who reads my words

knows that they're for her

-----

she seems innocent

and perhaps in ways she is

also sensual

both personas stunning

visible in poetry

which betrays her soul

fires that burned within

needs and wants they failed to grasp

love that caused her pain

-----

i'll not bother you

until you've invited me

back into your arms

-----

sweatshirt and flannel

believe me YOU are sexy

it's not the clothes dear

-----

boots and mini-skirt

and that sassy walk of hers

smile over her shoulder

-----

A soldier, a poet, an adventurer, yet how boyish he seemed in sleep. She looked at him and rolled up in her blanket, the saddle for her pillow. As she drifted off to sleep, he woke, looked at her... a soldier, a poet, and adventurer... how angelic she looked in the moonlight... the memory of their lovemaking flooded his mind and body... and he loved with a love he could never speak.

-----

ready for adventures

my body can longer handle

but i don't give a damn...

let's do it, baby

-----

i pretend you care

but no one has ever before

why on earth would you

-----

REVITOL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

Labels: donovan baldwin, love poems, poems, poetry

# posted by Donovan Baldwin @ 10:23 AM 0 comments