Dear Moonlite

Some might call a bad memory a flashback. Yeah. That's alright. I had a flashback. I had a flashback tonight.

I remember seeing heroin addiction. I guess the guy was having an overdose. He was my friend. I held him all night. He was cold. He was shaking and sweating at the same time. He was totally inside and trying to get out. He had been my guy.

It makes me want to fight, this flashback. The way my guy got like that. Middle class. Private school. Good grades. Mom and dad both in the home, as they say. Health care. A small barking dog. The American Dream and a life I had only seen but never had as a youth.

Violence. Beatings growing up. It was too much for my guy. How violence affected me is more puzzling than I can know or learn about. I do know it makes me want to fight. Who can I fight, though? Really.

How can I fight? I can vote. I can live with the faith I have. I can remember my guy. I can help myself. I can believe that anyone can overcome a major battle, one he or she grows up with.

11/20/2011

Mercy Is A Mother

Only to feel the soft brush of her hand
This will leave your calling, my
Dear Army.


To die for a cause so glorious
As one who will carry on in
Honor.

Feel her lips on your cheek.
She is here today, my men. Yes!
Here too.

Feel the breeze in her garments,
Those savored, light and airy. Smell
Of her.

Sanction a place in your own hearts,
For she steals the blade from opening to
Sour wound.

Believe she is with you, as I am here, too,
To help those of you who could die
In this war today.

Ann Klein
12.28.08

Internet for Everyone - Yeah!!

Washington Post
News Alert
9:59 AM EDT Thursday, January 21, 2010

Clinton: U.S. stands for a single internet where all have equal access to knowledge,
ideas Secretary of State calls for consequences and condemnation for those who carry
out cyber attacks, in excerpts of a speech expected to address Google Inc.'s concerns
about China.

Surviving An Abuser After You Leave

Read from every perspective. Include the field of health care, self help groups, psychological and sociopathic profiles of abusive people, biographies, practical security measures possible for all environments, effects of abuse on your home and those around you.

Live efficiently. This will help you during and after break-ins and other behaviors your abuser may use to try to corrupt your life.

Rely on yourself in so far as your ability and surroundings allow you.

Take measures to decisively award your own presence as a person of worth throughout each day and in your every circumstance.

Affirm reality, especially and as an exercise of belief.

Ann Klein
03.21.09

This is a Man's World

A Few Facts About Food Insecurity

52,911 people in Iowa qualifying for food stamps but not receiving food stamps.
*based on 2007 Iowa poverty level.
275,774 people in Iowa who are receiving food stamps.
*based on records, as of November 2008.
2,988,047 people who were living in Iowa,
during 2007.

A few months ago, I visited with my neighbors, David and Danielle, at the maternity ward of a local hospital. They were the new and proud parents of a little girl. David’s workplace had closed only a month before. This left his wife, Danielle, as the main breadwinner. David has been receiving unemployment, and is staying home with their new baby. Their car broke down a week ago, so they are relying on family or public transit for their driving needs. They are still making payments on the vehicle along with their other obligations. The stress on this young family is immense because of one reality, a business, that had been in this community for over 25 years, simply closed.

Another neighbor, John, has been unemployed for about a year. He is in the printing business. However, his workplace lost their largest account, therefore they had to let him go. He sold most of his new furniture and his car, and has been living on unemployment for quite awhile, being unable to find work in the area. John had taken training for his position and was very excited about his new career. He took it pretty hard - losing his job, after all that hard work and money spent for training. He hasn’t really gotten over it yet.

These are just a couple examples of the effects of our local economy. We, as Iowans, need to ensure that all of our community is able to eat nutritiously. Many people just don’t know they are eligible for food assistance. We need to better inform, better educate the unemployed or underemployed - our neighbors, family and friends.


*Figures are from Food Research and Action Center, FRAC.

Ann Klein
Winter 2009

Can Do Camping

What happens on this other side?
Where and how do I begin?
I hope no one is looking,
As I come out - as I start to begin
Again.

Do I roll, like a stamp, waiting
For someone to come along
And rip me off? Done that.
No. I can’t do that one ever
Again.

I got the freedom in my hands
To do what I’m about to do.
Can do.
Can do.
Can do camp.

Ann Klein
01.16.09

Living In Peace?

2,005,241 Afgan, Iraqi, US, Coalition, Soviet injuries and deaths .
$700,000,000 USD: Iraq and Afgan War.
$60,000,000,000 USD Equivelant: Soviet Afgan War.
$23,000,000 USD, UN Cash: Iraqi Civilians.

Number Unknown: Total Orphaned Children.
Number Unknown: Total Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Combatant and Non-Combatant.
As Classified: Total Number of Civil Actions, While Soldiers Are Fielded-Out, (divorce; loss of homes; loss of retirement savings, income and cash funds; loss of alimony and/or child support; loss of family whereabouts).
Number Unknown: Total Abuse by Soldiers affected with PTSD.
As Classified: Total Murders and Suicides by Soldiers In-Territory Post or in Own Homeland.

Ann Klein
11.04.2008

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britains-casualties-of-iraq-war-total-6700-mod-says-472169.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/the-iraq-war-will-seriously-damage-the-us/2006/06/08/1149359880350.html
http://www.opednews.com/articles/What-Cost-This-War-on-Terr-by-John-Little-080829-151.html
http://www.unknownnews.net/casualties.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/mar/20/usa.iraq

Peace, My Friend

I'm feeling my lover on the other side of
My eternity.
I see myself in the echo of his
Energy given me.
Oh, where you are, I may not get to
Be today.
Completely, though, I try, because
Inbetween reality
And what I believe, we are one together
Now and then.

Ann Klein
05.11.08

http://www.freedompondmoonworks.com/pb/images/img216914416e0136c412.jpg

Purpose

Where is the sigh I used to have
When you were in my sight?
Did I ever want you to
Hold me tightly all through the night?

I try to understand each time
I think of you or if I
Hear the sounding of your name.
But, tell me. I'd like you to
Explain

Empty jars of glass;
Terra cotta pots
Upside down;
Kittens swatting at the
Air;
Believing you still
Care for me.

These
Things take me down
A path of efforts made
In the past.

Who sang?
Who ran with me?
Why did you ever
Promise me?

All things end, it seems.
But, tell me.
How does purpose
Fade away?
Ann Klein
01.01.07
pic from: images.google.com,
www.jerde.net

Our Women Are Very Sincere

We are known to cry at injustice, as we hold our truths to be most noble. This woman was crying during a protest rally.