Evening Journal: October 2026

 

Leaves in summer heat
preparing burial robes–
Autumn approaches

10/04/2026

Classic Fall baseball
no Yankees, no Dodgers–
hope springs eternal

10/15/2026

"1415: Strike Drones on Target 
(THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS
WILL DEFINITELY DROP)"

–Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, unsecured group chats, March 2025

"Leakers should be dealt with very, very strongly...To me, 
they're the scum of the earth. In my opinion, 

leakers should be shot." 

–Donald Trump, Arizona Campaign Rally, October 2026

"People need to understand that there's 
serious consequences for these types of things."

–Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on live streaming 
the firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, October 2026

10/17/2026

As I finished reading the poem 
the wind reached down 
and turned the page 
and I wondered 
who was reading 
with me

10/18/2026

I never imagined
relentless political ads
could have me looking forward 
to Shen Yun season

10/21/2026

I have no energy
to figure out why
I have no energy–
a nap might help

10/22/2026

This morning
just outside my window
a small sparrow stayed 
to watch the sunrise
and sing me a sad song
about you

– In memory of Randy Lee Odell

10/27/2026

"You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that, I commend you, and I thank you again."

–Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy under Donald Trump, to Vladimir Putin

The Work of a "Humanitarian"

Ukrainian Civilian: ~17,000+ killed; ~54,000+ injured 

Ukrainian Military: ~150,000 killed; ~370,000–475,000 injured 
Russian Civilian: ~1,000+ killed; ~3,000+ injured 
Russian Military: ~450,000–500,000 killed; ~950,000–1,000,000 injured 

10/28/2026

I realize now that voting
is like sending a 'Reply STOP to end' 
to the current White House occupants 
so we don’t hear from them again

10/30/2026