Loneliness by Professor Pasley

The Christmas holiday approaches and I should be happy and gay; I have everything, but I am not. Why you ask?

First let me tell you that I am not a famous person or a beautiful woman, but I am a human being who feels. That's the only important thing that matters here.

You may say that I have everything that I could possibly want. However, I don't have love and affection and the caring of another human being. I am lonely.

I understand why loneliness can kill you, why so many are driven to commit suicide during this time. You can belong to all the right clubs, social groups, have all the funniest friends to make you laugh,, but if you are lonely you feel like you are surrounded by a windstorm and you are a grain of sand that did not get caught in the storm.

You want to go to sleep because that's the only thing that gets rid of the pain you are feeling. When you are sleeping nothing bothers you. You can dream, sometimes good sometimes bad.

A lot of people who will possibly read this will say why don't you get some male companionship or a few. Is that the real answer, to just sleep around.

Oh! I forgot to mention there are a lot of lonely people right at this place. Sleeping around is a band-aid; it's not real and will eventually lead to destruction if you are not careful.

There is no reason I should be sitting in the workroom with tears in my eyes when I have so much to look forward to.

So why am I so lonely? Why am I alone?

Why are there so many others like myself (professional, none, loved by most, respected by all) Why am I lonely? Why do I not want to go to my beautiful home? Why do I not want night to come knowing it's only me?

The holidays are a terrible time to be alone more people commit suicide than at any other time. People will say I would not let anybody know that I was lonely. Well I will and I am a professor at this college who is lonely and who cares about all the others who are too.

There are so many other things I could say to let you know what being lonely is, but all I am going to say is that if this holiday you find yourself lonely like me, remember there is a God and he will send someone to make you smile and to let you know you are seen and that someone cares about you

To every person in this place be they student, president, or professor let's make an effort to let loneliness not be in our holiday or anyone else's. Happy Holidays.

Art by Ms. Carmen Welsh

I start with an illustration in mind. Then I lay out all the materials: white cardstock for background, transparent glue, scissors, and the regular- -to-postcard-size cardstock for that particular piece.

Afterward, I sit and begin to cut out pieces for the body, the clothes, the setting, and lay these aside in different piles.

I use the corners to focus the picture, almost as a semi-frame, and then begin to paste the background setting first, and then paste pieces as a layer to show foreground.

TRADITIONAL MARRIED COUPLE

OUTRUNNING THE TYPHOON

CARRYING A LANTERN

Nature V. Nurture or Bravo, College Prep by Prof. Bert Lorenzo

I think I have proof to abate

the nature versus nurture debate.

Every semester former students visit me

and tell me about their experience at university.

They tell me of the struggles they face

in their new, lonely place.

They say professors balk

at students’ need to talk.

Many think they won’t make it past the first semester or two

because the people willing to guide them are so few.

They miss how in college prep

we guided them through any situation

that could get in the way of their graduation.

One thing that helps them cope

is that we taught them about hope

and gave them mastery

of the most important skill-literacy.

So bravo to my every college prep colleague.

You help our students succeed

by giving them the nurture they need.

Copyright Bert Lorenzo, 2010

My Cousin from Cuba by Prof Bert Lorenzo

My cousin from Cuba came to visit me.She lived a month in liberty.

Martha was born into a collectivist ideology where they only share brutality. Those communists with ideas so repugnant can only manage to make misery abundant. And that degenerate Moore criticizes my land of milk and honey and gives praise to my enemy.

She asked me to buy her some things to make life more bearable for her return to that place so terrible. She couldn't believe what she saw at Kmart.

Rows of riches lined so smart. I bought her what she thought was a treasure.Then we went to Publix where shopping is a pleasure.

I never appreciated what that slogan meant until my cousin wept.She wept from the shock of choice and because at home she can’t even own a voice.

When Martha left I cried. She couldn’t stay with me no matter how much I tried. She had to return to her daughter in the land of sorrow to a place with no hope for tomorrow.

Maybe I’ll never see her again. She left behind freedom and a friend.

Copyright Bert Lorenzo, 2010

Another One’s Here by Prof. Bert Lorenzo

Another one's here.

We started a new academic year.

You have a chance to redo yourself

and put the old you on a shelf.

Learn and make your life your kingdom.

Read to expand your wisdom.

Experiment with science to understand nature.

Explore the arts and high culture.

Ponder history

so the past and future won’t feel like a mystery.

Practice a valuable skill

to make with your life what you will.

Don’t waste time.

You have much to gain

and remember study should bring pleasure not pain.

So be of good cheer

because another one’s here.

Copyright Bert Lorenzo, 2010

The Storm by Ms. Yasmin Moses

In the outside view everything seemed magical,

Transitions were difficult to be self-motivated,

Allowing the wisdom of others to carry my dreams through,

The storm cast its rain, thunder, and lighting…

Pushing and pulling my every move.

Careless I ran onto the unknown,

Careless I thought it would be smooth,

Taking risk and never looking back I thought I came prepared,

Shielded from the sun and clouds,

The storm caught me through the worst moment,

Blinded by satisfaction of the sun and the clouds,

Never thought the storm would come and tear me into pieces,

Broken into the thunder of wisdom, the lighting of others, and the rain of tears.

Lost and confused the storm has yet to ease for now.

Search for the rainbow at the end of the storm has not been found…

Fog seems to never clear up; when all possible seems impossible the storm comes!

Live Lean by Prof. Bert Lorenzo

Live lean and save.

Live lean and don’t be a debt slave.

Live lean and don’t buy this and that.

Live lean so you don’t make someone else a rich, fat, cat.

Live lean and build your wealth.

Live lean. You owe it to your mental health.

Live lean and well.

Live lean and leave others to their credit card hell.

Live lean and laugh all the way to the bank.

Live lean. In old age your good habits you’ll thank.

Copyright Bert Lorenzo, 2010

Lake Side View by Mr. Michael Silva

The sky was blue,

The sun was beating down,

Shortly after the clouds came around.

The air smelt like fresh cut grass,

A guy was reading a book across the lake to let the time pass.

The breeze was blowing,

The lake was clear enough for the orange and grey fish to be showing.

SUV’s and Cars pass the lake,

Diving ducks came to the shoreline for a break.

Students walking by were talking loudly,

A helicopter flew by even though it was cloudy.

The leaves of the palm tree ruffled in the breeze,

A snapper turtle popped out of the water to breathe.

Cigarette smoke was in the air,

Grey birds flew around without a care.

There were ripples in the shiny lake’s surface,

Many students were writing with a purpose.

There were students on benches passing time,

It was a beautiful day, Ever so fine.

Order by Maria Balcelo

Abstract inspired by the many beautiful abstracts online, acrylics on canvas board