The Digital Dispatch

From NOEBIE.net

Brian K. Noe

Peace Can Be Louder Than War

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In May of 2024 I learned about this cool project from one of my favorite bands, Merry Hell. They crowdsourced a choir for the recording of this peace anthem, written by Virginia Kettle.

Each of us (representing five continents) sent in audio of ourselves singing along, and the band mixed them all together to form the “1000 Voice Choir.”

The recording debuted on New Year’s Day and rose to the Top Twenty of the Folk Alliance International Folk Chart shortly after its release.

The message is timely, and timeless. Here’s a wish that “some with their minds unconsciously blind” will be awakened by listening.

Peace.

Wind Horses

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I don’t know how

long the prayer

flags were down
before
we noticed.

Kid spotted them first.
What’s up with our flags?

I checked the calendar
for inauspicious
days for Lung Ta
before heading out back to reconnoiter.

The cord
was broken
   or cut
on both ends.

Left a little noose
or loop
around the Maple’s branch to the west.

Left the first flag
   – a yellow one –
to the east.

The rest of it
yellow blue white red green jumbles from Nepal
was strewn all about
the scratchy branches of an invasive bush
and wrapped around
the gentle old evergreen’s trunk.

Beyond my kin to repair.

I gathered the whole mess up
and offered it, carefully, respectfully, deliberately, ceremoniously

to the fire pit
on the patio
to rest ‘til spring

when the smoke
can carry our prayers.

My First Book of Poetry

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Don’t Walk | Walk: And Other Poems About Pretending to Sleep and Waking Up

Poetry Cover Art

Many years ago when I began writing for a living, I told my wife that I thought I would publish a book some day. Her response was to ask “Will this be an actual printed book, or one of those bullshit website things?”

Thanks to the revolution in self-publishing tools since then, it turns out to be an actual printed book.

I looked at several options for publication, and although I have reservations about Amazon, their KDP platform fit best with my goals for the project. I wanted wide distribution and low out of pocket costs to publish, but (most importantly) I wanted to be able to control the overall look of the finished product – in particular the fonts, and the layouts of the poems on the page.

The book is now available at this link.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRZJDMTC

These poems were written over the course of several decades, and capture some of my journey from a failing marriage to building a life with my true love, from deep cynicism to the first hints of spiritual awakening.

Should you decide to read it, I hope that you find something of interest.

Any More

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It’s a feeling
not quite like depression
not quite like longing
not quite like nostalgia

Not lethargy
nor anxiety
nor wistfulness

Quiet
    Still
       Distant

Neither pleasant nor
especially unpleasant

Anticipation

Anticipating
    Oblivion

Is there any more yet to do?

Watching

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It may seem as though we’ve advanced

We bring all of life’s
big rich pageant
to our
little screens

But some days I feel like
we’re all just
watching ourselves burn
on
YouTube

Surfers of Bali

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Urchin girl walks
with dog

Sun drenched boys
warm up and stretch
resolute
    dutiful
on the wet sand

Big round muscular
bottoms
paddle to the
lineup

Set as thumbnails
to draw
your click

Wave after
    Wave after
        Wave

Blue Sky

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What if I were to
only follow poets

How would that set
things spinning

Do they make an algorithm
for the soul

Would I miss the
Wall Street Journal

When All Else Lost

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Finding it somewhat
easier not to fly
into rage when the dog
soils in the kitchen
or circles endlessly
evenings in the yard
This is at least something

Sonnet 5

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Ninety-Nine and Forty-Four

While planting garden, very few will opt
To set aside space for a weedy spot
We till and tidy to keep the weeds out
Leaving greens and cascades of color popped
A stagnant pool into which leaves have dropped
Becomes a stinking brew of filth and rot
A consciousness into which anger’s brought
Becomes a life from which love’s flow is stopped
To seek the undiluted truth today
To focus without distraction on AUM
Welcoming beauty, calm and all good gifts
In unadulterated purity
Attention ever inward flowing on
Thought, word and deed aligned, and naught amiss