WORD SHOTS
A Book of Artisms and Aphorisms
by Arthur Weil
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Published By:
Arthur Weil Smashwords
Word Shots
Copyright 2011 by Arthur Weil
Smashwords Edition License Notes:
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.
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For other inquiries or to order additional copies in hardback format
contact Arthur Weil at aweil444@aol.com
or
208 Pala Piedmont, CA 94611
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Eat My Words Dare-Devilish and Divine, Have Fun While You Can, Words to Fly With Life, Love and Gems That Shine, Exploding Mind (or ‘Not Over the Hill Yet’), Poetry is for Sissies, Reflections of the Moment, The Fluid Word, Slice of Life, Theater of Thoughts, Love Always, Liquid Words, Not Shakespeare, Just Me, Wacky and Wonderful, Wireless Words, Word Missiles, Here and Now
Table Of Contents:
Chapter1 Family and Friends, Need I Say More?
Chapter2 Damned Conscience: Humanity and Morality
Chapter3 Sniff Those Daffodils; Nature Talks
Chapter5 Use it Or Lose It; Comments on Love and Sex
Chapter6 Am I Somebody? Mental Health and Self-Esteem
Chapter7 The Hell With Pain; Health, Beauty and Aging
Chapter8 Never Enough (Money That Is…)
Chapter10 The Observant Traveler
Chapter11 Affirmations, Food For Thought
Introduction
It's fun and an honor to tease your mind, in this, my eighteenth book. Congratulations on taking a few moments of quality time for yourself! Enjoy!
While you read a few pages here and there, don't forget to smile, to be stimulated. It's OK to let go and even be critical (but why waste time with that?), some phrases are nonsense and that's good too.
It takes guts and determination to be away from the busy world of texting, computers, duties and deadlines. Thank you again for sharing in your own corner of time.
Life is like an appetizer, an entree and finally a dessert... Imbibe!
Happy tasting!
Yours,
Arthur
aphorism (n)
a short pithy saying expressing a general truth; maxim
[from Late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos definition, from aphorizein to define, set limits to, from horos boundary] aphorist n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
= = = = =
Chapter One: Family and Friends; Need I Say More?
Over-protective mothers create neurotic children Who grow up, raise dysfunctional families and keep psychologists busy
-
My favorite shoes are most comfortable - like certain people that fit me better
-
Why didn't my mother tell me this stuff?
Or was I just not listening?
-
Your laundry list of things for me to do is meaningless, excessive and 10 years too late
Let
them curse, swear and accuse Ignore –
Remove yourself without excuse
Escape their darkness near and far Or drink galore at the nearest bar
We all have bad habits
And they’re all our parents' fault
-
I used to love my dog Nudnick and my wife too, in that order.
Things change in translation, That is why my grandchildren Don't seem to understand me Nor do I comprehend their Modern language and ways
But I love them anyhow
If your dearest friend betrays you, Join the crowd, get mad,
but hold onto the inner you
I used to love children Now I watch them with their gadgets, I don’t exist
I see them but they don’t see me
We often know where we go wrong but would still do it again
-there must be a "stupid" gene in all of us
If you think your parents were perfect, then you too must be perfect,
and it's not all a happy illusion
Born in pain, uplifted in youth, elevated by education,
loved by family, revel in old age. For what?
Too spoiled, pampered, the young person Butts head with reality Still untamed, the wild horse will eventually Be reigned, harnessed Most frustrated with the real world
I hear the echoes of my significant other But I don't want to hear it today…
How can I live longer? Life insurance will not guarantee or extend my life, Just enrich my offspring…
I used to blame my mother, but then she's been dead for years…
None of us are immortal until we have offspring
All our genes are inherited from ancestors we never knew.
Are we willing to thank or curse them?
The innate spirit does revolt
Tempered and disciplined by very old
As the future of our earth is unfurled
It's up to you, the younger generation
To save their precious world
A childish prank can lead to an adult disaster
Some teens do gravitate to good Some soon get wed into motherhood But those misfits in trouble Get locked up quick on the double And cause alarm Do us harm Too bad, too late, too soon Send them on a rocket to the moon
I love my grandchildren, I have much to offer on a platter
-but they want to learn their own (hard) way
Each generation has its own language and meaning
They have their own value system
And that's where the trouble starts
= = = = =
Chapter Two: Damned Conscience; Humanity and Morality
Not everybody's imagination runs rampant
Some of us are set in stone, dull and hard
The gentle soul gets hurt the most.
Obsessive people are hard to bear Some brainy, most full of hot air
And if you please them, let them score
They simply ask for more and more
It's easy to have the last word When you're the last one in the room
LET ME IN
My ego feeds the urge to write Expand my being, day and night Share some wisdom and inner thought My soul never sold and never bought I pour out treasure troves within I feel you close just let me in
Ideas, inventions and fads are fleeting, as is your life
My night table is crammed Sometimes my life feels damned Glasses, pens, pills and paper Like my inner soul in a caper Upside down Should I escape, get out of town?
And I forgot to write my will
The doers of the world are the movers and shakers
Mostly earned, self chosen, big egos and dominant personalities
The good ones are the heroes of tomorrow
And then there is Me and You
- Thought of the Moment “Gratitude”-
Some of us have a hard time saying thanks. We feel appreciation that Mom, Dad, our siblings, our friends all showed us love, dedication and affection. We'd like to hug and embrace them for their efforts. Some of us wait for holidays, Mother's Day or Father's Day to express our appreciation.
In all languages we have the word "thanks”, yet often we are too busy to acknowledge a gift of deed and love given to us by others.
It's never too late to offer a special, heartfelt "thanks", be it with flowers, an honest note of appreciation or sharing a personal success story in which the other helped. Or say "That's a wonderful compliment," from my best friend who stood up for me. "Thank you, James," "Thank you, Mary!" Say it with sincerity and conviction!
Who are you? You are molded by your parents and peers from childhood every day with great love, care and attention. Sometimes with a bit of restraint, "No, you can't have this right now!" or "No TV tonight you misbehaved". The natural aspirations of your elders to "tame" you in your wild youth, was to show you respect, showing patience, without taking away their child's inner desires. Years of testing and trial and error made you who you are today. Be thankful!
And on a bigger playing field it is hard to identify with those who gave their lives for us and our country. The soldiers, whose graves in worldwide cemeteries sleep forever; "Thanks you guys and gals who sacrificed your lives for your nation. You, who were cut short in youth, in innocence and loyalty obeyed, are resting eternally. You can't hear me. But I, older, more mature, do honor and thank you.”
Generosity is when you extend more of yourself to others but
don't expect rewards
It's easy to say I'm sorry But harder to mean it
Man is quite sophisticated and knowledgeable today But our stupid stubborn egos get us into intolerable wars
Eyes closed perceived the show Vision - images profound A busy demanding world I see all around Then I must open more lies
I am not a hypocrite I simply have no conscience
The people who complain and moan Really get my goat
(one that I slaughtered long ago)
Even the brilliant Can't shine in the dark
Man can try to imitate god - but please leave me out of it.
The newer, smoother, quieter, ever-better functioning cars are improved with
every generation…
How about us homo sapiens?
Most ideas fizz like Coke so act before the effervescence dissipates
Wisdom is not only earned but painfully acquired
To be dishonest is to go out of your way With burdensome lies and excuses,
until you get caught And have to pay the price
If someone out of kindness offers you a hand Hold it gratefully in yours
Each man has his own language Never to forget the words But often the meaning
We relish the just defeat of our enemies, cautious that the pendulum
does not reverse
when their time comes
I congratulate the wise man who stops, listens. Keep it up!
(this from a listener-in-training)
In some societies you get away with murder And they elect you to high office
Better know your candidate!
Why can't we be the nation of happy, satisfied, contradictory, creative people
that we are?
I respect all the wise, gifted men of old But I don't respect the stupidity
that is rampant about us and causes us extreme conflict and consternation
To be famous or infamous does not mean to be great Just that more
is expected of you
Like the Tower of Babel we have a million colloquialisms
So many that we go to war to better understand each-other
Fondly favorite forward look
Divert creative not by the book
How else can we, humankind, integrate
Beat our competition before it's too late
No sooner do we wake up, there's another challenge, sometimes an inimitable obstacle Is that all life is about?
The rule of law is portrayed differently by different societies That is why what is yours is NOT mine But you think mine is yours…
We all have good intentions, but why do some of us stop there?
I rent out apartments: I can repair and fix them But not the tenants within
We have the largest prison system because we believe we are so peaceful and civilized
Some people simply can't be changed They, like leaden rocks engrained
Life for all of us is brief Days wanted, stolen like a thief It's up to you and me
To fill each day with worth and glee Find happiness and inner satisfaction
For how we spend this day Is our choice - our own election
Why can't I be an actor When all of us really are, Since all the world is our stage?
Most of us never reach our own potential We simply do not know how clever and bright we are And often fail from utter ignorance
Confused, quizzical, where to begin Baffled - all could be a sin Slow down, calculate, be wise Before you act and civilization cries Or you may be taken by surprise
Politicians are passing so many new laws that we all might as well plead guilty
when we learn to walk
Conflict can produce resolution, arguments and fights but can also determine who is the most brilliant, successful and who can run the fastest.
Opinions without substance and facts show dangerous ignorance tottering on
the precipice of a cliff
Be good, if you can't be good, be careful If you can't be careful, be yourself The odds are against you And the consequences you know all too well
I feel good about my last original idea, though I haven't turned the switch on yet. It is still percolating… are you watching?
If you want to impress someone,