Are We Betting on Breaking Even or Betting to Win?

Winners Don't Quit

by Rachel Hoyt

image by Stuart Miles

No fear.

The end's not here.

We'll fix it tomorrow.

One more bet, then no more sorrow.

All clear.

Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

We are gambling with the environment and economy every day.

The question is, are the bets we're making ones that show promise to pay?

In my opinion, these headlines mean the answer is obviously, "No way!"

We've Used Up Our Annual Supply of Resources and It's Only August

America Is Frying the Planet With It's Corn Fields

What Does $60 Trillion in Debt Look Like?

Soda Executives Are Just as Evil as Tobacco Executives

Want your company to remain innovative? Think twice before going public.

Technorati Tags: Bet, Gamble, Poem, Rhyme, Risk, Poetry

How the Brain Perceives Time

Tick Tock Cacophony

by Rachel Hoyt

image by digitalart

The ticks click by quick

as the tocks slowly knock,

then slick as a trick,

they meet up at the dock -

one moment, one prick,

a single time block.

The trick is quite slick -

all ad hocs turned flock,

while still ticking ticks

and chock full of tocks -

the tune coos and clicks

as time turns the clocks.

Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

This poem was inspired by brain timing research which

found there are many internal clocks from which our experience is stitched.

Technorati Tags: Brain, Time, Poem, Rhyme, Memory, Poetry

What Does Your Brain Say When You're Feeling Depressed?

Blooming Thoughts

by Rachel Hoyt

image by Stuart Miles

You're such a late bloomer

you may never bloom.

You think like no other.

You're prob'ly a loon.

You haven't kept up with

the Joneses or Smiths.

You reach for the stars

and chase after myths.

Why can't you just accept

your way's not the way?

Perhaps, if you did then

I would go away.

I'm sorry, but I think
my ship's yet to sail.
My journey's quite complex,
but has yet to fail.
No matter what Jones or Smiths think
I'll fight on.
We agree on one thing:
one day, you'll be gone.

 Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

This poem was inspired by a study of depression

and how ruminations can lead to further regression.

Technorati Tags: Depression, Ruminations, Poem, Rhyme, Thoughts, Poetry

Should it Be Illegal for Supermarkets to Waste Food?

What a Waste

by Rachel Hoyt

image by hyena reality

We waste and we want,

always so hungry

to taste more, to taunt

our grumbling tummies.

Always so hungry

to feel satisfied,

our grumbling tummies

crave un-humble pie.

Still unsatisfied

won't taste all we've got,

like the humble pie

by Waste Not Want Not.

Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Did you know that France recently decided to ban

supermarkets from throwing good food into the trash can?

Technorati Tags: Waste, Hunger, Poem, Rhyme, Food, Poetry

Do You Ever Feel Like Everyone Wants Your "Spare" Change?

Pocket Change

by Rachel Hoyt

image by hin255

My pockets are always empty.

I never have any spare change.

I pinch and pinch, but my pennies

all seem to roll straight down the drain.

Banks helped me to have 'cash' a plenty

which, at first, seemed a little strange,

then the plastic began to appease

my pockets by pampering their pain.

Perhaps my pockets now envy

the plastic - they asked for your change.

They said, if I steal all your pennies,

my dreams will crawl back up the drain.

Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

_______________________________

I wrote this poem in response to many
news stories which make me think we
prefer to play games with our money
to see what we can get for "free":

How Manufacturers Make You Think You're Saving Money When You're Spending It

Maine Innkeeper to Give Property Away to Essay Contest Winner

Houston Homeowner to Sell House in $150 Essay Contest

Atlanta Couple to Give Away Goat Cheese Farm

Forbes List of the 6 Top Crowdfunding Sites

What Does Freedom Mean To You?

Freedumb

by Rachel Hoyt

image by Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee via freedigitalphotos.net

It's not enough to be free to do.

I cannot feel free when bothered by you.

It's not personal. It's not! I swear!

I just that freedumb can't be fully fair.

Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Quite a few stories recently have made me wonder if we know anymore what it means to be free?

1. New Arizona Law Requires Doctors to Say Abortion is 'Reversible'

2. Frat Lobby Wants Congress to Block Schools From Investigating Rape

3. Hobby Lobby Made Indiana's Religious Discrimination Bill Possible

4. CA Lawyer Proposes Ballot Initiative to Kill Gays and Lesbians

Technorati Tags: Freedom, Laws, Poem, Rhyme, Initiative, Poetry

Does Your Heart Help You Remember?

My Heart Thinks

by Rachel Hoyt

image by Keerati via freedigitalphotos.net

My heart has a way

of helping my brain

recall all memories

it felt should remain.

My heart is to blame

for all that I know -

the chats my mind changed,

the scenes it won't show.

My heart's in control -

it's a blessing and a curse.

It taints all I know,

for better or worse.

Copyright © 2015 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

What if emotional engagement doesn't make women's minds weaker?

What if, without it, our memories' potency is meeker?

Technorati Tags: Memory, Heart, Poem, Rhyme, Thoughts, Poetry

Might Music Transcend Cultures By Speaking From and To the Heart?

Note the Music

by Rachel Hoyt

image by luigi diamanti via freedigitalphotos.net

Some notes whisper

sweet nothings that charm.

Some notes shimmer,

send chills up your arm.

Some notes jumble

serious with schtick.

Some notes tumble,

dance, skip, jab, and kick.

They hide behind lyrics.

They build beside beats.

They tug heavy heartstrings.

They soothe sullen streets.

Listen, the notes

are speaking to you.

Listen, the notes'

wisdom will shine through.

Listen, that beat

came from someone's heart.

Listen. Listen.

That sound is pure art.

Copyright © 2014 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

This poem was inspired by two recent bits of news.

Read more by clicking below, if you so choose:

This study concluded that different cultures react to music in similar ways.

This study supports the theory that Beethoven's music may have been literally heartfelt.

Technorati Tags: Music, Notes, Poem, Rhyme, Thoughts, Poetry

Why Can't I Conceive of What I Don't Know?

Known Nescience

by Rachel Hoyt

image by samuiblue via freedigitalphotos.net

If only I'd known

to ask me tomorrow,

I wouldn't have sewn

that seed that caused sorrow;

but then how would I

have known what to tell me?

I suppose that blind eye

was what helped me see.

Copyright © 2014 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

BoingBoing explained why we are totally unaware

of the many things we can't know (and we don't even care).

Technorati Tags: Nescience, Ignorance, Poem, Rhyme, Thoughts, Poetry

From Wanderers to Drivers to Freight

Road Work

by Rachel Hoyt

image by sippakorn via freedigitalphotos.net

We walked the path less traveled

and found we liked the way.

We carved the earth with trowels

and oxen carts and sleighs.

We made wheels so we would roll

faster down dusty trails.

We smoothed the bumps, filled the holes,

to make our paths less frail.

We now use the less traveled

to make the journey great.

We set aside our trowels

and turned into the freight.

Copyright © 2014 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

This poem was inspired by A Brief History of the Road,

things in nature and inventions that help us move loads.

Technorati Tags: Road, Path, Poem, Rhyme, Thoughts, Poetry

Is Net Neutrality Just A Failing Fairytale?

A Failing Fairytale

by Rachel Hoyt

Image by cuteimage via freedigitalphotos.net

Once upon a time

Nothing changed on a dime

Because we couldn't hear

Or see the things not near.

We hardly knew the way

Others lived day to day

And rarely saw a view

Our shoes could not walk to.

Then one day, like a dream,

There came a way to beam

Data through outer space

To a digital place.

We knew not how it flew

Or burrowed its way to

Our screens, but we embraced

Sharing this neutral space.

Now he who plugged us in

Wants bribes or he will thin

Our vision, slow the speed,

Infuse neutral with greed.

We know that he will hide

The voices that abide

In cracks quite hard to find

And control poor great minds.

Copyright © 2014 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

Click here to learn how you can help the fight to save the net

from becoming the pay to play place small businesses fret.

Technorati Tags: Net Neutrality, FCC, Poem, Rhyme, Fight, Poetry

A Poem Which Ponders, Should We Subsidize Hollywood?

Hollywood Heart

by Rachel Hoyt

image by Salvatore Vuono via freedigitalphotos.net

Comfortable, yet not happy,

is hard to tolerate -

filled with dreams of a plush fate

that would yield greater glee.

Miserable, in poverty,

one rides the waves that come -

filled with dreams that some someone

could see what one could be.

When spring rain falls on the land

and blossoms rare treasures,

Comfortable foresees quicksand

and bumps to dodge ahead,

Miserable just bows his head

and prays for simple pleasures.

Every time it rains, a choice

falls into hands that could

hand out the gifts as they should,

listen to their inner voice,

or believe that none will rejoice

no matter where the fruits fall

and seek to distract one and all

with shows that mold every soul's voice.

Copyright © 2014 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

This poem responds to news that Hollywood subidies

are growing while the poor receive no remedies.

Technorati Tags: Hollywood, Subsidies, Poem, Rhyme, Poor, Poetry

Feeling Powerless Literally Increases the Weight of the World

The Weight of Personality

by Rachel Hoyt

image by njaj via freedigitalphotos.net

Perhaps the womb forgot to sow

Energy, the ability to see, breathe 

Rogue strength of the yeti, 

Snatched greatness lingering -  

Or maybe somehow, right now, woah 

Nabbed your whim, thatched a nest, 

And sat on your gusto.

Life finds strife under every leaf 

If driving with doubt in tow - 

Together forever as two 

Inside there's abiding power 

Ever ready to proudly sail  

Should your mind bind dread.  

Copyright © 2014 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.

A new study shows that the weight of the world rests

on the same shoulders where powerlessness nests.

Technorati Tags: Power, Strength, Poem, Rhyme, Emotions, Poetry