Douglas Colston – who finds himself approaching his mid-50s and living at the Sunshine Coast in Australia – has played in Ska bands, picked up university degrees, supported his parents during terminal illnesses, married his love, fathered two great children, had his inheritance embezzled, transitioned into Counselling as a vocation and experienced chronic mental and physical illnesses consequential to workplace harassment. Now, among other things, he is pursuing a PhD. As for his publishing history, in addition to appearing on a number of  occasions in Impspired, his fiction, nonfiction and poetry has been published in traditional and online anthologies and journals including: POETiCA REViEW; Otherwise Engaged Literary and Arts Journal; Written Tales; Inlandia; The Antonym; Rue Scribe; The Seattle Star; Revue {R}évolution; and New Note Poetry.

Superstition and blind faith

Getting lost may be associated with
confusing others (and becoming confused),
being obsessed or fanatical and
even charm and infatuation.

Some may even conflate truth with belief,
trust with evidence
and expression with information.
	
The region ‘superstition’ or ‘blind faith’?

The state of wandering, stupefaction,
being consumed or narrow-mindedness
if
expectation, certainty, hope and communication
befuddles, mesmerizes, misleads and is bigotedly dogmatic.

Death and the lie

Had he already died?

He wondered 
if his life was over before he had finished his grand work.

He even questioned 
whether his creations were particularly worthy.

He thought
of when he had asked her, “When did I die?”

He also considered 
her reply: “I don’t know”.

In quick succession 
he identified the former question as foolish as the response. 

Not 
for the reasons that may be expected.

After all,
the query was really about a metaphorical death.

The query 
was foolish because it was seeking external confirmation 
of a self-evident truth.

The answer 
was foolish because it was seeking to hide the truth 
from her and him.

He knew it 
and she knew it –
he had died 
when he realized the lie.

Then he remembered
he had COVID,
it was all fever-induced ravings
and he had plenty of life left. 

Joyful agenda: lost specks

Speed, anxiety, repetition or extrēmīs
treating, healing, appreciating or loving
discussion of rules, standards, limitations, judgement or journeys?

Measurements, fleeting, minute and scattered everywhere.

A metaphorical star
loses, discards and dismisses
violation, neglect and wrongdoing.

Bliss:
the optimal potential of each emerging moment;
the aim, standard and criterion;
the target;
and winning the lottery.

The immovable, firm and certain?

Pleased, happy and glad
gatherings and discussions
produce the transit of bodies
through views from a certain perspective.

Fate and destiny
shun defeat, submission and loss.

Paradise?

This, as you know.

Of course, 
happy discussion causes superlative methods –
an illustrious person
empties chaos and permits what is true and genuine …
that is bliss.

At any rate,
concerning that which is happy, fortunate, fruitful and auspicious,
examine, review and muster the most stellar.

That which is most apt
relinquishes loss and failure –
that is felicity and beatitude.

About safety, security, happiness and fortune?

By way of stellar processes,
stellar people facilitate
the bliss of those who are less fortunate.