A Glance, A Chance

Good Tuesday, my friends in the blogosphere! Raining cats and dogs over Hampton Roads area this evening, we're now feeling the pinch or effects of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac that's heading to the Gulf of Mexico, particularly New Orleans (one of the famous cities of Louisiana). Well, we hope and pray that we're all okay. That the State of Louisiana won't experience the same predicament they had when Hurricane Katrina devastated and flooded the city, seven years ago this month. Now, we're praying, too, for those people affected by Isaac's power and performance.

This morning, I went out after my wife left for her school-work. I had to do what she told me to do: to mail cards (thank you and sympathy) for our friend in California whose beloved relative in the Philippines passed away unexpectedly. We learned the news last night. So, at the post office today, I had to express mail our card of sympathy so our friend receives it tomorrow afternoon prior to departing for the Philippines on Thursday for her aunt's funeral.

After going to the post office, I went to one of my favorite chain restaurants to have breakfast. There, I had egg-bacon biscuit sandwich and just a cup of water, and a copy of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper. While enjoying my food, something caught my eyes that prompted me to write about it.

Here's what I wrote on a piece of paper that my wife left me this morning with the complete address of our friend in California (where we're sending the thank you and condolence cards. Why a thank you card? Well, we just wanted to send them our card of thanks for the warm hospitality they extended us while we're "vacationing" in California lately.). I titled it A Glance, A Chance, after writing the whole poem. That's me, sometimes, I start writing the body first, without a title to my poem that I'm supposed to write about. But I got the topic on my mind that I have to develop. How's that, you ask? I don't know. But that's my way, sometimes. Anyway, here's that thing that I'd like to share with you, if you won't mind. Enjoy!

A Glance, A Chance

I saw two small birds

momentarily

sheltering underneath my van

parked prominently in a parking lot

of a chain restaurant that I frequently visit

then, suddenly

they're gone, out of my sight

after blinking my eyes

they're nowhere to be found

the small hopping birds

I don't know 

where they've gone

I long to see them again

but they quickly disappeared.

Ah, life is fleeting,

so ephemeral...

Just imagine, a while ago

I was talking 

to Mr. Reggie, a middle-aged white man

I happened to come to know there

in that chain restaurant

while busy enjoying his sandwich

when I disrupted him

to please watch my food

when I went to the restroom to pee

to try to empty my bladder, I mean

which he agreed with a nod and a smile

then, after a few moments 

after a brief conversation 

after returning from the men's room

and thanking him, he's gone

out of my sight, without a word

he left his table and his chair

and out the door he's gone...

Ah, people come and go

like friends, relatives, they do, too.

Life is momentarily a sigh

a glance, a chance...

(c) 2012 by chris a. quilpa

Reading the daily local papers, after writing the above, and after breakfast, I came to know about this news alleging that 16-year old Olympic 2012 gold medalist gymnast Gabby Douglas, originally from Virginia Beach, VA, experienced bullying and discrimination while training at Excalibur Gymnastics in Virginia Beach prior to the Olympics. The young Olympian revealed the news when she was interviewed by Oprah lately.

With the above issue, I got inspired to write the following thoughts in verse: I didn't have a title when I finished it. So, I just probably title it It is Easy to Deny. Here's the text:

It is easy to deny

something that happened

or may have experienced

by Olympian Gabby Douglas

when she opened up to Oprah

(who interviewed Douglas, lately)

about her being bullied and discriminated

at Excalibur Gymnastics in Virginia Beach

where the 16-year old trained for the Olympics 2012.

Yes, it is easy to say 

or deny something that Gabby said

charging Excalibur Gymnastics

of bullying and discrimination.

Yes, it is easy to deny

when the owner of the gym, Dena Walker, said

that the allegation charge "is a blatant lies

and nothing factual that she wonders, "how could she do this?"

But, as for me, I believe

Gabby Douglas may have experienced

two important issues of race relations:

bullying and discrimination...

Why do I believe it so?

because as a brown man

and a minority in America

I have experienced it...

when I was new and younger

adjusting to life in America

while learning more about my life

and the people around me in America.

(c)2012 by chris a. quilpa