Suspended For What?

Happy Snow Day, Everybody:

Yup, if you're in or anywhere near me geographically (or not) you may already know that we got that good blast of snow this morning. I woke up to about 6-8 inches just sitting there laughing at me. Took me about an hour to get shoveled out, but I'm alive! Now that I'm back, I just wanted to share with you this crazy story that I saw this morning.



Now I'm no big fan of bagpipes or pipe marching bands or anything like that, but I have to say that this is the silliest reason for suspension in a professional environment that I've ever seen. They suspended the man for saluting OUR president. If we are now in a country where we are not allowed to salute our commander-in-chief, I think that I would be co-signed if I were to say that I will need a list of the new "do's and dont's" when it comes to acknowledging our country's leader ASAP!

I understand that there was a concern of security. And who's to say that some crazy individual were to do the same thing as some signal for some attack or something. But with all of that considered, I still find it incredu....ok, let me just say it - stupid for someone to be suspended for six months over doing something that I think many of us would be inclined to do in the same spot: saying hi to Mr. President.

On another note, I take this even more personally that it is coming from my home area of all places. Take it from me, everybody - we have more that enough problems on our plate in Cleveland. The lowest thing on the totem pole of priorites is a guy who is a community servant wanting to acknowledge his country's leader when the opportunity presented itself. I think it's safe to say that many would probably feel the same if this happened in their neck of the woods.

Well, let me know what you think. I still find it hard to understand how we can take a small occurrence and allow it to be a six-month suspension. I'm still lost in that confusion.

Leave some thoughts!


-W.A. Gordon

Can't Walk Away - NEW POEM...& Author Commentary

Hey Everybody-

I've been working hard today on some behind-the-scene stuff, getting this book together. Every day draws me closer to the release, and believe me, I've had more and more ideas come up that will make this dream even bigger than it already is. So anyway, I know that I said that I wasn't posting any poems for a while and I like to think that I say what I mean and mean what I say, but I had a piece come in my spirit today and I had to write it out. I have thoughts about it right after, so please feel free to read and respond how you feel. This is a poem that I wrote just off the cuff, so call me out where you see fit, I'll appreciate it. Thanks for stopping by and keep coming back for more. Enjoy!

Can’t Walk Away

I told myself I’d walk away
But the possibilities called me back
Anxiously awaiting if we’d talk today
But I never got a call back
And now I sit foolish
As foolish as I was after the last love mishap
Piling regret on top of regret
Making me look as if I love mishaps
Labeling me as a heartbreak glutton
Being punished for opening up
And now hope’s doors have once again closed
So now it should be understood why my hope isn’t up

I’m like Jordan when it comes to this
One of the all-time greats
But with no knowledge of when to quit
Common sense edges out my how much I dedicate
Aiming and striving for much more
Resulting in disappointment and much more
I dusted off myself again
And now I find myself here once more
Wanting what I can’t have
Or even worse-
Wanting but not being wanted – now that’s bad!
Sharing the gift of love only to be cursed

People may look at me and call me stubborn
Saying I’m unwilling to face fact and reality
But they can’t empathize with the feeling
Can’t comprehend the love that I’ve got in me
But then again, what has it gotten me?
True, I don’t have much to show for it
But love has to be real, it’s gotta be
Which is why I’m still naïve enough to go for it
In the past I substantiated my faith in things hoped for
Still didn’t walk away
For some strange reason my doubt went back to less
Outweighed by my hope and more

Please believe that I’ve turned my back before
Took the steps to walk away
But the hope for real love called me back for more
Opted to throw my better judgment away
And now I’m back to moving mountains
Odds insurmountable at best
My faith is again declining, inviting doubt in
Looks as if I’m preparing to fail another test
As reasonable as it is for me to walk away
Chances are I probably still won’t do what is best

Author Commentary:

So I'm sure that many will assume that this poem may be about me or my own experiences. While that is true, I also wrote it in reference to the people who we see or know who, for whatever reason, refuse to walk away from seeking relationships that are not likely to happen in their favor. When I say in their favor, I mean one of two things:

1. perhaps the person is persistent in trying to be in a relationship with someone who mistreats or disrespects them

2. or maybe they admire someone who doesn't feel the same way, despite obvious expression of admiration.

Either way, it can be a difficult time for both the relationship seeker as well as those who care about that person.

The people on the outside looking in can often see the bigger picture. They are able to see that the effort that their friend is making to either keep a negative relationship open or trying to gain the affection of someone who does not have mutual feelings as a waste of time and energy. In their position it is easy for them to call out their friend and wonder why they are so blind to the facts. You know, like when you catch yourself saying "I can't believe you don't see this! It is plain as day!" The problem in this situation is that it is often so easy to give an opinion simply because they are not in the midst of the situation, which makes it even more difficult to relate or empathize as a good friend should aim to.

The relationship seeker can often be a "glutton", as I mention in the poem. Time after time they go for what they feel is the right thing, only to repeat the same cycle of disappointment. In going through these trials, the seeker is at risk for having a bad taste in their mouth about what a good relationship looks like and their potential to have one. They'll be quick to say to people, "You don't get it, you just don't understand. I'm cool!" While blame can be assessed on them for being stubborn to leaving bad situations alone, some consideration has to be given to their desire to want to establish a positive relationship. On the positive side, they are bold enough to have hope that there is a brighter day ahead. The only case that I digress is when the person is involved in an abusive (physical or mental) relationship. In that case, the last few sentences don't apply as much.

As I write this, I am asking myself what it is that encouraged me to post this blog. I think it is a combination of things, but I know that there have been times when I have been the person that is at the center of this poem. Sometimes I catch myself watching close friends in similar situations and I am able to so easily be on the other side of the table, as well. If you happen to be someone who does not have any first-hand experience with this topic, you've got all kind of media that shows this stuff in different ways (i.e. Maury Show, "He's Just Not That Into You", etc.). I'm sure that I may have missed some relevant points or counterpoints in the midst of all of this, and that's definitely where you come in. Either way, I pray that this holds some value to you in some way. Please drop me a line and share your thoughts. Thanks for visiting!

-W.A. Gordon

Back To My Space

Hey Everybody-

I'm doing my nocturnal thing again. It's for a purpose this time, I promise ;-) I just rejoined mySpace.com (not a personal choice, trust me). My screen name is W.A. Gordon.

Add me as a friend here: http://friends.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=invite.addfriend_verify&friendID=444368034&MyToken=ea07b788-1546-4d9b-afc3-e5fa375ab62b

Hope to be able to connect with you and others. Send me a note, autograph the wall....JUST GET AT ME!!! LOL!!!

'Til next time...

-W.A. Gordon

Looking At My "Reflection"

Hey Everybody-

I'm having a break from my sleep tonight and just wanted to talk about my last piece that I posted, "Inauguration Reflection".

I've gotten a few comments from some people (Thank you all!) and they are all well-received. To make it clear, I can't stress enough how much I'm still amazed by what happened to start this past week. We had a double-event, celebrating the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the inauguration of President Barack Obama. It was this once in a lifetime feeling that inspired me to try to translate into poetry.

I wrote this piece at almost 2:00 in the morning on the night before the inauguration and just let the words flow. Putting my feelings to paper, I feel the biggest concept above all was the fact that this inauguration was not only for our new president, but for myself and any others who felt the same way (hence, the reference to "Reflection").

In the first stanza, I focus on the road traveled to get to this moment. I try to foreshadow the event and build up anticipation to the excitement that is on it's way. You'll notice the references to Dr. King's vision and the slogan for President's Obama's campaign "Yes we can!" placed in the early lines setting the tone for anybody who can relate to this feeling.

The second stanza builds on the anxious feelings from before. I use words to escalate the feelings of anticipation, using hope to descibe the internal and tears to describe the external. The final three lines are an attempt to grab more of an audience, using the universal desire to not only have more hope, but how great it feels to see it within reach.

The third stanza is the culmination of this thought process. I try to simulate what it will feel like after the swearing in is done and how the people think in their minds. I also try to create a to-do list moving forward, compelling people to not just sit in this moment, but to use it as inspiration to continue to do even more in this world. Finally, I draw it to a close by explaining how this event has ultimately become a reflection of me and many others.

Hopefully, this gave some clarity to how I formulated this piece. As deep as I feel this piece is, I will admit that it was one of my easier ones to write because I just wrote what was inside of me. Another point that I want to make is that I know that as excited as I was about this event, there were some who were not on that level. However, for one moment, just think of the meaning of this event and what positive things it says about how far we have come as a country. If there is nothing else to be gained from this whole experience, just acknowledge the fact that dreams can come true and anything is possible!

Thanks for reading. Have a good night/morning!

-W.A. Gordon

Inauguration Reflection - NEW POEM

Hey Everybody-

This is the poem that I wrote last night, but didn't have the energy to put on the blog. This might be the last poem that I post for a little while since I have a lot of final steps to make with my book, but I'll still be active on the blog running my mouth piece on a lot of things, so keep following and commenting. I appreciate the dialog that I've had so far with some of you about my work and look forward to more. In the meantime, please enjoy my new piece and take the time to look over and leave some commentary for me about ANYTHING. Thanks again for visiting and be blessed!

Inauguration Reflection

Here I sit in anticipation
On the brink of history
A King’s dream brought to reality
Date of fruition no longer a mystery
The case is finally solved
Due to an unrelenting resolve
One man’s drive for optimal change
In spite of the many issues needed to be solved
And now “yes we can” is commonplace
A battle cry for the common face
Variation of color and credo
Hopeful smiles on each and every face

Watching transcendent history
My eyes bear witness
No way this moment in time is missing me
My mind will never forget this
A moment that epitomizes overcoming
Triumphing over roadblocks and negatives
So many eyes with tears overrunning
Still amazed that I’m seeing this as I breathe and live
The belief this gives
Restoring hope to the hopeless
Truly, I’m feeling the shift
Seeing what having faith and hope gets

I’m seeing a dream no longer deferred
A dream archived for forty-plus
A King prophesied what is about to occur
A selection approved by the majority-plus
Being a minority’s tough
But leaves no room for excuses and settling
Silver status is okay to some
But we only remember those who are gold-medalling
And so as we witness the passing of the torch
A new trail is blazed and scorched
Inspiring myself and others of my generation
Seeing my reflection in this special inauguration

-W.A. Gordon

An Important 48 Hours!!!

Hello Everybody-

I'm up late, but I just had to say something about this historical 48 hours that is taking place. Every year we commemorate the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and we've pressed on until the day we saw the dream that he proudly proclaimed would come to pass. I don't think that I am the only one that would say that this chain of events is still very surreal and just starting to set in.

Dr. King and President Obama are men of a different cloth. Their thinking is not paralleled to the thoughts of this world, nor did they conform to the status quo set for them by their society. Like the concept of this blog and my book, these men took thinking that was considered "different" and even "radical" and turned the whole world on it's ear. It is because of them that impossibilities are turned to possibilities and possibilities are turned to inevitabilities.

On behalf of generations of people who have awaited a day of this particular magnitude, I want to say thank you to both Dr. King and President Obama. For without your efforts, I dread to think of how far behind our nation would be in it's thinking and even more fearful of an unwillingness to change and grasp a new future.

***Special Note: I have a BRAND NEW piece that I wrote to mirror this blog, but I am running on "E" and will post it later. If you have time between all of the events of the day, come back and check it out.***

Thank you all and be blessed!!!

-W.A. Gordon

Still Fighting - NEW POEM

Good morning, Everybody:

Thanks for stopping through to see my piece. If you want some insight into what it's about, please check out the last post. Otherwise, if you want to just dig in, go right ahead, and, as always, drop me some feedback and let me know what you think. I appreciate your support and will keep working until the book release date (VERY soon, be ready :-)). Thank you all!

Still Fighting

My life is what I made it
It no longer makes me
Please don’t mistake me
Despite the close calls and pitfalls
Refuse to let the bad times break me
Much less, shake me
I’ve gotta "bend but don’t break" spirit
I no longer fear it
Flexible and able to adapt
I now know how to counteract
The times when my heart gets tested
My foes think they have me bested
Not knowing the worth of my sweat
Not to mention the blood and tears I've invested

To bring it all into full circle
Preparing to square off against adversaries
Those who aim to hurt you
Perpetrating to be very scary
But really scared within themselves
Creating internal conflict
They don’t want any conflict
At least with the likes of me
Little regard as to who's liking me
Since my "friends" of the past betrayed
Calling to bring out the fight in me
Trying to put out the light in me
But I continue and press
With only myself to impress
Singularly I raise the bar
With only myself to address

And so I know that I’ve slipped up
My warrior’s armor is chipped up
But I’m still standing strong
Still holding on
Dreams and hopes still held in firm grip
I refuse to let go
My net worth is on the horizon
And there’s no telling if I’m the next to blow
And those who have survived time’s test would know
If the first knockout in life was the be all and end all
Then I’m going out swinging
Never throwing in the towel, even if I then fall

-W.A. Gordon

Today's Fight

Hey everybody. Lately I've had a lot of thought circulated around the battles that confront us on a day to day basis. I have a personal battle myself, but I think a more general fight to take note of is the economic struggle that anybody who lives in the U.S. can testify to in so many ways.

This past week I was given a 2009 outlook report from my employer, and I have to say, I am grateful for what I have, because not only could I have less and worse, I'm seeing people around me catching it in all kinds of ways. I don't know about you, but I have people close to me who have been laid-off or, if they're lucky, demoted with less pay. It's getting cold out here, but feeling bad about it unfortunately won't alleviate the pain (but what a world it would be if it did).

This whole situation has moved me to write about the need to press on. We have a long ways to go before we get in a better position as a country economically. I'm sure with the events to come in the coming days that we'll see glimpses of that hope. I know that I have my own aspirations outside of just increasing my income, so for those on another thinking plane, I'm sure that you will make it relative to you, too. Be on the lookout in coming days for this new piece. I hope that you find value in it as I do in presenting it to you.

-W.A. Gordon

Thinking About "Leaving The Game"

Hey Everybody-

Thanks for taking time to visit my blog and read my work. I've been overwhelmed and appreciative of the support that I've gotten so far and will work even harder to keep your interest. In this blog I want to take time to speak to the comments and my own thoughts in regard to my poem "Leaving The Game".


In my previous blog, my intention was to let you read, interpret, and give me feedback (whether about my writing style, the meaning, or anything). Whenever I write, I usually can find my own meaning and tell those I share it with what I intended, but it's so cool to get a different persepctive from my audience. I want to share with you my intended meaning and a reader's interpretation.


Author's Meaning:
I initially wrote this poem about a man who was done "playing" the game. I used the term "game" to represent the relationship that he was in. I think oftentimes, maybe due to past experiences or examples taught while growing up, many people fall into the line of thinking that the Amy Winehouse song is true: Love is a losing game. If you pay close attention, I use a lot of imagery showcasing the mentally inevitable need for closure while his significant other explains to him how he is the best, but not good enough. In other words, to make it even more relative to readers, I was trying to capture the immediate feeling after being told "You're so great, but I've found (or think that there is) someone better".


The man is faced with a recurring conflict. He can either:
1. continue to be denied love in a relationship - ONCE AGAIN
2. call it quits, wait until the relationship he seeks comes to him, and walk out while he still has a heart to have feelings with.


Adding more insult to injury, it can be assumed that in his past relationships he has traveled similar paths. His companions may have bestowed upon him great compliments, but for whatever reason, they could never add up enough to be a reason for him to be the one to stay in a relationship with.


I wrote this for the "good guy". The man who may be the owner of all of the great qualities that many women say that they seek out. Now, I know that there are other things to consider. Maybe he picks the same "wrong" woman every time or perhaps he isn't as "great" as he thinks himself to be. These ideas are always possible. However, as it applies to this particular instance, the subject for this poem is the antithesis of those possibilities. And please feel free to consider the gender role reversal in this, as this can apply the other way around, too.


A Reader's Interpretation:
A reader made a very interesting observation that I never took into account. The reader spoke universally to how this poem could serve as an allusion to being at a career crossroads or a struggling family relationship. In both ways, I saw those interpretations in this poem.


The career crossroad most people face include the possibility of leaving a position due to under-appreciation or lack of opportunity. Some people feel they may hit glass ceilings and have grown frustrated with bumping their head time after time. Ultimately, this leads to jumping to a new company in search of gratification or being totally disillusioned with career progress altogether.


The struggling family relationship takes the frustrations of trying to keep family bonds tight, while the other may not be as interested as the other. An example of this could be a broken parent and child relationship. Perhaps the parent did not fulfill their responsibilites to their child during their upbringing. In spite of the sour past, the child may reach out to that parent to embark on a fresh start, only to be given an unmatched desire for that relationship to be born.


I think that both my meaning and the reader's interpretation are good starting points for discussion. Let me know:

*Which one do you more connect with? Why?

*What other way could these interpreations be looked at?

*If you have a story to share that connects with your interpretation, feel free to share and let me (and anyone else you choose) know.

Hopefully, I've provoked some thought and will enjoy more visits from you on this blog. Feel free to leave the comment on here or email me at wagordon11@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping by. Be blessed!

-W.A. Gordon

My First Poem - FINALLY!!!

Hey everybody. This is my first poem that I am posting to the blog. I titled this one "Leaving The Game". I'm writing about...well, why don't I let you read it and you tell me what you think it's about. Please leave some opinions and thoughts for me. Hope that you like it. Enjoy!



Leaving The Game

Sitting at a table face to face
My expression is blank
Inside of me has become the emptiest place
Metaphorical tears cascading down my face
With Niagara Falls coming in at a close second
Can’t go another second
Being told that I’m the best
But not good enough
Not as preferred as the rest
How ironic!
Making me question if I did enough
Feeling like I failed
Sent out my feelings only to get returned mail
Returned to sender immediately
My pain is evident
Easy to see it in me
When she says that she don’t see herself being with me
Speaking to the intangibles
Obviously, not visible in me
Words barricaded in my mandible
Blocking any verbal response
Been filtered from the pros to the cons
Feeling like I’m being forced out of the game like my last name was Bonds

Extradited to a state of emergency
As I scribe these words, I wince
Each letter is piercing and hurting me
With hardship I push out these words in me
Expressing my pain verbally
She sits verbalizing my denials
I try to give back a numbed smile
Failing miserably
I ask her again if it’s me
I receive negative feedback
Saying that I was the best man
But if I’m being pushed away, I just don’t see that
So many contradictions
Want so bad for this to be a sample of poor fiction
Rather, this genre bleeds of non-fiction
I sit speechless without diction
At a loss in so many ways
A two-time loser being forced into technical loss
The purse at stake-
I sacrificed myself, feeling that it was worth the cost
The risk, I felt, was worth the reward
But, then again, I never considered if I would be the one who lost
So now I return to my own corner
Can’t help but to contemplate leaving the game
Down by a lot on the last inning, round, and quarter
Realizing that a comeback doesn’t appear likely
Especially if I’m perceived as the greatest of the great
And with all of that considered she still doesn’t like me

"I've finally made it..."

Thanks for coming to my blog!!! (Seriously - THANK YOU!!!) You have entered the heart and mind of W.A. Gordon. My profile will give you a snapshot of who I am, but the blog topics will show you the bigger picture. I have a poetry book that is quickly approaching in coming months and this blog is my way of opening the doors ever so slightly to my "flawed" world.

It's my opinion that everybody has something to say about life, but so many are so quick to point out what's wrong. I take a different approach: I know that I am wrong...but I'm willing to guess that there is someone who thinks that I am right.

I know that this is all vague, but I hope that I didn't lose you. LOL. The best part is that despite all of these words (me trying to sound all important - LOL), I bring a lot of fun and creativity to it. I've been writing seriously for almost 10 years and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. As it stands now (and believe me, this could change), I am planning to post a new piece probably once every week on Monday night. Don't be surprised if I interject from time to time with some random talk, too, just because. I'm new to the blogging world, so bear with me and let my writing compensate for my learning curve. LOL.

So, if you're still reading this, bookmark me, visit me, email me, comment...just show me some love!!! (I'll need it!) :-D

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

-W.A. Gordon