Michael Bach

Poet Writer & Damaged Deviant Only bite on a contractual basis

[michaelbachwrit]

Euology

Eulogy For My Parents

Truth, it tasks us. It's also something I fear at times because it can hold both beauty and brutality. But, I was blessed to learn that a long life can bring both wisdom and balance to that dichotomy.

My mother and father both knew their days were coming to an end and both made efforts to share, what they could of that wisdom. That honest love redefined my understanding of wisdom. A very precious gift that I was allowed to share with them, and learn from them.

Wisdom is not an oracle, or proof against wrong - it's simply knowledge in the hands of those who can't always change their flaws. And so, wisdom is painful following a long life, knowing you can't always right the wrongs. But, in a near desperate sense, a desire to teach is as much as can be done, before the song ends and life is gone.

I was blessed to have that time with Mom & Dad when that poignance struck its cord. Wisdom shall never be the same for me. I love you both dearly and, I will carry on.

[michaelbachwrit]

Unaware Dare

She was completely unaware That the things she would dare Could elevate her mind beyond And of the potential misstep Of an inexperienced trek Into the void of ancient fire SenseWrds 88

[michaelbachwrit]

Pain by Night

People often say they understand pain and some do, but very few know it as I do…

I’ve suffered chronic pain for more than 37 years, the last 25 being severe and considered to be completely debilitating. Yet I’ve built two businesses with sweat and my own two hands.

No meds - I refused narcotics and quit smoking weed 27 years ago. I refused the drugs because I was a very serious and successful student who wanted to get his doctorate, possibly a combined doctorate.

When I was 25 and completing my undergrad degree I found I could no longer sleep. I tried the meds they gave me and they turned me into a walking vegetable - first prescription I returned to the pharmacy. I think it was Vicodin.

Because the pain was debilitating I opted for a painful series of injections into the area (shoulder) that was thought to be the cause. No reduction in pain and I had a thesis to complete. I was offered another option.

Stellate block injections to the basal ganglion - very dangerous. Any mistake by Doctor or patient could result in immediate death and or respiratory failure. I underwent a series of these injections until the last one.

My doctor and I had worked out a series of hand signals indicating stop, or I must swallow now - swallowing while the needle is in your neck, next to your brain, can kill you. There was a substitute doctor for my last injection.

The substitute doctor was in a hurry and wouldn’t listen to me. Told me to lay flat and don’t move. He put the guide needle (a guide needle is used because the needle that is used for injection is incredibly small and incapable of penetrating the tissue itself) through my neck and right into the ganglion. The ganglion is the most sensitive part imaginable in the human body.

I held as still as possible while experiencing pain beyond any description. I had a seizure and stopped breathing. They got the needle out in time or I would have died for sure. I couldn’t breathe but I balled my fist and punched my sternum three times quickly. I thought my chest would break. My energy was dropping fast, so my last blow to the chest was an open palm - I managed a small ragged breath and they shoved a tube down my throat and forced air into my lungs.

So pain I know better than most people can even imagine. It is a powerful tool and ultimate master of pleasure that can also kill you…

[michaelbachwrit]

You weren't wrong...

You weren't wrong About feelings strong Or the look My eyes couldn't disguise You were right That lonely night And I, Terrified Because being alone is what I know I want to be brave While there are days Not waiting for tomorrow With love, my heart to give...

[michaelbachwrit]

Me 😳?

Being singled out by a grammar Nazi…

Being singled out by a grammar Nazi, is either really bad or quite wonderfully good. It depends on your point of view, as much as the circumstance.

But when a grammar Nazi flashes those editing eyes in ways too public and excessively harsh, I will address it.

And did, reading an unneeded (not DM’d) You/your/you’re to/too/two, or some equally earth shattering critique.

I defended the writer and insulted the harsh critique. Something I suspect anyone in the creative community might do.

The critical opinion offered was correct, but sounded like a parent admonishing a child for being 60 seconds late.

It’s my personal opinion that such lack of encouragement be addressed in a manor equal to plagiarism. There’re beautiful new voice here and we need to protect them as well ❤️

[michaelbachwrit]

For David

Born to get me The day and night Born to get me Love's taking bites Remember those hearts Bleeding in open rooms Remember our last Greeting and cries of soon Come to get me The truths alright 😌 My attempt to honour in voice: https://youtu.be/hxtvpm0Nek0

[michaelbachwrit]

Writing

Writing is not for the weak, cause you've got to look at yourself every-time you create. That won't leave a lot of room for mistakes you can't face!

Writing is telling stories (all of which you create). Every non-fiction is a creation of your passions and your mind. Every fiction holds to what has truly happened in your life. To step beyond this, is the genius that most read. But, how many know why – that is what I seek. That is why I write...

[michaelbachwrit]

[michaelbachwrit]

Needs Saying

Like all other forms of social media, Twitter too can become dribble. Not a condemnation, but a reasoned observation.

Twitter has points in its favour that make me think it will outlast most. But, my presence here is about developing my skills and art, and encouraging others to do the same.

My previous attempts to “simply” unfollow some popular accts was met with hubris and a real lack of understanding. I do enjoy the work of these talented people, but they dominate what I see and that’s a real problem.

I’m a good poet, not great. I’ll likely never will be great, but I’d like to focus on those who might become, ‘a voice of our age’. I’d like to do so with less hate, that is egoistic at times and destructive.

My primary work is not poetry, but I love it and it has allowed my fiction to grow beyond any hopes I had ever held before. My chances at becoming a true force as a novelist are now a real possibility.

What I hope from this little diatribe is that this community remember why it’s existence is so important to art and the development of that art. It seems to be a quickly forgotten theme, in the gathering of stars - now hearts 😞

Some may have a better understanding of a stand I took earlier, that was less concerned with aggressive attempts to curb plagiarism, but more concerned with the attempts of people to express and share art. That argument was never properly addressed and I was personally attacked on multiple fronts. I’m sure no egos were involved 😞 I’ve no desire to reopen that issue, outside of my appeal to those who can help, or even teach - please do so 😌

[michaelbachwrit]

A very serious warning

Mystic Medusa is back. @givingyoutruth Don't underestimate this one. Great damage and pain lay in her/him/it wake. So many victims she's forgotten who. If that doesn't give you pause, nothing will do 😞

[michaelbachwrit]

[michaelbachwrit]

A True Horror Story

There's no blood here, as of yet. Not a Halloween trick. Just sad and true. My 94 year old father is in hospital approaching death. He's still cognizant, but that likely won't last long. Cancer suspected in three locations. That's sad enough of its own accord, but it gets worse. My ex who has been ducking a custody agreement, won't let my girls see him. She's been blocking access since long before our separation. No reason given, outside of flavour of the moment. So I suspect I've not only met the devil, but had children with him 😩

[valentynedreams]

”There was one summer that returned many times over there was one flower unfurling taking many forms

Crimson of the monarda, pale gold of the late roses

There was one love There was one love, there were many nights

Smell of the mock orange tree Corridors of jasmine and lilies Still the wind blew

There were many winters but I closed my eyes The cold air white with dissolved wings

There was one garden when the snow melted Azure and white; I couldn’t tell my solitude from love—

There was one love; he had many voices There was one dawn; sometimes we watched it together

I was here I was here

There was one summer returning over and over there was one dawn I grew old watching.”

~ Louise Glück, from Poems 1962-2012

Photo: Poppies In The Garden © Valentyna Holloway

[michaelbachwrit]

And for a moment you - I thought you were these words in essence and style making a plea to the past and revelry, but wrong in authorship yes. But, not in content 😌 not in content, which I understand 💐

[michaelbachwrit]

Do I smell bad? Good!

I’m not a conventional kind of guy, so cliques bother me. So when I realized that a mere half dozen personalities on Twitter had too much of my attention I knew I had to do something.

I tried the “block unfollow” which is a block unblock causing unfollow with both parties - DMs remain intact now-a-days, which leads to immediate whys.

My reasons for change had little to do with most any of them personally, but starting fresh without killing my accts.

But my choices had consequences I’d not imagined.

As of this writing some things appear to be Twitter glitches and others true. The point is simple. If you choose to unfollow me I'll continue to follow you if I see value. If you block unblock me I might inquire, but I'll never try to block your voice - on my honour 😌

[michaelbachwrit]

Blocked

I once had a friend here, who's left the community. We were becoming close, but it was impractical and a more one sided attachment. I said something terse once in response to her post. She felt hurt and blocked me (she cared). I felt hurt and blocked her back (I cared). Over the course of a number of weeks we unblocked each other and became friends again (we cared). That's friendship. For various personal reasons I've recently blocked some I care for and some I respect. I gave no reason for my actions, nor intend to. At some point in the future I'll unblock most and I will see if the friendships were ever mutual. I do care, but need to make sure I care enough to include myself.

[michaelbachwrit]

Understand Not?

Much to do about nothing - is the title I first thought of when I chose to share these thoughts. While appropriate it would have been misleading. The point behind my "attempted communication" this morning has to do with communication - predominately on Twitter. Misunderstanding is obvious, but also complex in a textual communication medium. What you write will be misunderstood by at least one person and if it includes a response based on an initial misunderstanding the 2nd take/response could easily be exaggerated 😳 The above is an obvious description of what occurs every day on social media, but it becomes more complex when you enter into/become involved in communities. For the purpose of clarity I define a social media community as: A group of individuals sharing an interest in a theme/viewpoint/art or conviction. Two simple examples of communities would be theistic and anti-theistic - which are often at odds with each other, but it's worth noting these communities subdivide into smaller groups still. At this point (assuming the reader is not bored to death) you'd likely be wondering what point I'm trying to make. In essence, social media and Twitter in particular has changed the nature of our fundamental understanding of communication in ways that increase subjective interpretation and reduce the flexibility that leads to a full understanding of another viewpoint. A simple example from my point of view: I find the mute button the worst option in the Twitter arsenal, predominately because it's dishonest, but know it does have limited value - when a friend goes on a tiraid about a single subject and litters my TL with an unending barrage of posts and links (essentially preventing me from reading anything beyond the single subject) I break out the mute button for short term use. Yes dear friends, I do try to protect my sanity at times 😂 Back to the point and the community that garners most of my interest - poetry. I'm no great poet and it isn't my primary creative medium, but I love it, support it and have created a prompt account to help contribute to the diversity that grows there every day. This subset of the literary community has the advantage of brevity/truth and expansion of my understanding of people. Not all works are brief, nor delving for truth, but do lend toward a more succinct expression of ideas in a pleasing artistic way. What could be wrong with that? 😳 Well... As I alluded to above this new form of communication has drawbacks. The first and most obvious is this is an entirely new paradigm in communication - one having the advantages of near instant response (like a face to face conversation) but lacking all the subtle cues that evolved side-by-side with communication. Our poor brains are now attempting to synthesize understanding without all the parts 😞 Further, we become confused because the medium resembles a first person interaction. Though I'm no expert, I suspect the average brain is attempting to process Twitter much like a face-to-face conversation. People with literary education and talent are not immune. So, is there a cure - short answer no. Either our brains develop/evolve a higher capacity to accurately read between the lines, or everyone engage in the same kind of social experiment my personal account has become. I resist anonymity and am blatantly honest about myself and my opinions (within reason). Anonymity is essential for some (in this world wide medium) so our capacity to understand/resisting our natural/biologically inherent tendency to draw conclusions from limited information must evolve. Because trying to mute people in real life will likely get you a (non-Facebook) poke 😂

[philia23]

On the road to Damascus the bones of buildings, shrapnel shredded lives, a child’s body.

Conversion is from the living to the dead.