Post No. 307: My Haiku-Style Poem About The Way That You Feel...

(Image from QuotesGram)

The Way That You
Feel About Yourself...

The way that you feel
about yourself is the way
that you treat others.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

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My Writing About Who Is To Blame For The Way That You Feel About Yourself: The proverbial "they" are not to blame for the way that you feel about yourself; you are to blame for the way that you feel about yourself! Therefore, do not blame the proverbial "them" for how you feel: instead, figure out what is wrong with you (that is, what are your fears, your insecurities, your mistakes, your flaws, your wrongs, your misgivings, etc.), as a part of the larger process of changing yourself in order for you to do better in the future—and to stop blaming everyone else for how you feel about yourself. –Paul Whiting (written May 20th, 2016, revised September 18th, 2021, revised April 24th, 2022, revised April 25th, 2022 and revised September 1st, 2022)

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My Writing About The Way That You Treat Others: The way that you feel about yourself is the way that you treat others. –Paul Whiting (written September 9th, 2016 and revised August 1st, 2022)

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My Writing About Treating God The Way That You Wish To Be Treated By God: Your intentions for God are God's intentions for you! In other words, the way that you interact with God is the way that God interacts with you. And I think that is what Jesus The Christ was saying when He said the following: "Do unto others as you would have done unto you"; and "When you have done it to the least of these...you have done it unto me"; plus "Judge not, lest ye be judge"; as well as "For have I not said ye are gods?" You see, Jesus was explaining to us that we establish 'Godly Karma,' so to speak, through our intentions for God, and by our interactions with God. Phrased another way: "Treat God The Way That You Wish To Be Treated By God." –Paul Whiting (written May 15th, 2022, revised May 16th, 2022, revised June 23rd, 2022 and July 24th, 2022)

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My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: The way that you feel about yourself is the way that you treat others.

And this poem was published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 307 was edited on March 18th, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 277: For Democracy, Part 2 — The Word Of God Is Freedom!

(Image by Paul Whiting)

The Word Of God Is Freedom!

Democracy Is
The True Word Of God, Because
"God's Word Is Freedom!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

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My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "Democracy Is The True Word Of God, Because God's Word Is Freedom!"

And this poem was published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 277 was edited on March 21st, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 276: For Democracy, Part 1 — The Word Of God Is Liberty!

(Image by Paul Whiting)

The Word Of God Is Liberty!

The Constitution
Is The Word Of God Because
"God Is Liberty!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "The Constitution Of The United States Is The Word Of God, Because God Is Liberty!"

And this poem was published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" and "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 276 was edited on May 5th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 255: My Haiku-Style Poem About The Joyous Solitude

(Image from Idealist Careers)

Totally Alone
(Or, "The Joyous Solitude")

Totally alone!
I can finally be "me."
Totally alone!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing About Not Being Alone: You are not alone—you are lonely for your own good company! You have never been without good company: you are always there... –Paul Whiting (written March 23rd, 2015, revised November 20th, 2015, revised October 18th, 2021, revised May 18th, 2022, revised May 19th, 2022, revised September 18th, 2022 and revised September 20th, 2022)

My Writing About Feeling Lonely: If you are feeling lonely—like I feel lonely sometimes—you are lonely for your own good companionship. –Paul Whiting (written June 7th, 2016, revised May 18th, 2022, revised May 19th, 2022, revised September 18th, 2022 and revised September 20th, 2022)

My Writing About Feeling Alone In A Crowd: "Alone in a crowd" describes how it feels for you to be surrounded by others, but still feel lonely, since you are not alone in a crowd... For, not feeling like you have a good relationship with yourself makes the crowd feel like it's solitude, rather than the crowd feeling like it's companionship. –Paul Whiting (written May 19th, 2022 and revised September 20th, 2022)

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem to explain how being by yourself, or being Totally Alone, feels as if it is "Totally Heaven" when, in fact, in the beginning of the whole process of life—which is your existence as a God and/or a Goddess who is Literally Nothing—it feels as if being by yourself, or being Totally Alone, is "Totally Hell."

You see, when you begin as Literally Nothing, which is how we all are as Gods and/or Goddesses, it is really difficult being the only soul, or the only consciousness, in your reality—since you are Literally Nothing in its natural, potential state—which is how we are all born as Gods and/or Goddesses.

Therefore, as a God and/or a Goddess, who is the consciousness, or the Self-Awareness, of Literally Nothing, you design "Fantasy Realities" out of your consciousness, or you soul, which are Universes, in order to experience yourself as not being "Totally Alone!"

So, being Totally Alone as a God and/or a Goddess is how we are naturally born, since we are Literally Nothing that has consciousness, which is the main reason that it is extremely difficult to be a God and/or a Goddess, because We Are Literally Nothing That Is Self-Aware, so we are born lonely!

Thus, you design these Fantasy Reality Universes, out of your consciousness as a God and/or a Goddess (whose soul is Literally Light), in which it appears as if you are totally surrounded by more souls than you can possibly count! And the appearance of that many souls in your actual reality is simply a really cleverly designed fantasy reality.

In fact, it appears as if there are so many other souls (more souls than you can possibly count) that being surrounded, so to speak, by that many souls can be distressing, at times, because you can grow quite weary from having to deal with that many souls! And, again, the appearance of that many souls in your actual reality is simply a really cleverly designed fantasy reality.

And, in the end of this whole process of life—which is your existence as a God and/or a Goddess who is Literally Nothing—you are so totally overwhelmed by being in the constant company of so many other souls (so that you cannot even count them all) that you, finally, "just want to get away from it all" in order to "escape the crowds" so that—at long last—you can just be "you!"

That is why Universes Are Literally Fantasy Realities, created out of Literally Nothing, which are carefully engineered to make it feel as if being Totally Alone is not, in fact, "Totally Hell," but it is, in fact, "Totally Heaven!"

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 255 was edited on September 19th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 218: A Candle Can "Sing," So To Speak!

(Image from Teach Peace Now)

A Candle Can "Sing!"

A Candle Can "Sing,"
Like Simon & Garfunkel's
"The Sound Of Silence!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: This poem is about the "sound," so to speak, that a burning candle makes, which is like the song "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel!

Plus, this poem was also inspired by "The Sound of Silence," which was written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon & Garfunkel. (Please see the hyperlink below for the video.) By the way, "The Sound of Silence" was "originally titled 'The Sounds of Silence' on the album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M."

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

Watch "Simon & Garfunkel - The Sounds of Silence (Audio)" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/4fWyzwo1xg0

"The Sound of Silence" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

"'The Sound of Silence', originally 'The Sounds of Silence', is a song by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel. The song was written by Paul Simon over several months in 1963 and 1964. A studio audition led to the duo signing a record deal with Columbia Records, and the original acoustic version of the song was recorded in March 1964 at Columbia Studios in New York City and included on their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. Released on October 19, 1964, the album was a commercial failure and led to the duo disbanding; Simon returned to England, and Art Garfunkel to his studies at Columbia University.

In 1965, the song began to attract airplay at radio stations in Boston and throughout Florida. The growing airplay led Tom Wilson, the song's producer, to remix the track, overdubbing electric instruments and drums. This remixed version was released as a single in September 1965. Simon & Garfunkel were not informed of the song's remix until after its release. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending January 1, 1966, leading the duo to reunite and hastily record their second album, which Columbia titled Sounds of Silence in an attempt to capitalize on the song's success. The remixed single version of the song was included on this follow-up album.

It was featured in the 1967 film The Graduate and was included on the film's soundtrack album. It was additionally released on the Mrs. Robinson EP in 1968, along with three other songs from the film: 'Mrs. Robinson', 'April Come She Will' and 'Scarborough Fair/Canticle'. The song was a top-ten hit in multiple countries worldwide, among them Australia, Austria, West Germany, Japan and the Netherlands. Generally considered a classic folk rock song, the song was added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress for being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically important' in 2012, along with the rest of the Sounds of Silence album. Originally titled 'The Sounds of Silence' on the album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., the song was included in later compilations, beginning with the 1972 compilation album Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_Silence

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 218 was edited on August 12th, 2025.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 213: For Mother's Day, Part 2 — "No Mother Should Have To Bury Her Child"

(Image from Everytown For Gun Safety)

WARNING: THIS POST HAS CONTENT THAT MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!

"Dear Senator..."

Dear Senator, No
Mother Should Have To Bury
Her Child—Not Ever!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

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My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement, which is also the text from the image illustrating this poem:

Dear Senator,

No mother should have to bury her child.

This Mother's Day, my heart goes out to all the mothers whose children were murdered with guns.

The moms of Columbine, Virginia Tech, Tucson, Aurora, Newtown. And the mothers of the 33 people who are murdered with guns every day in this country.

Now is the time for Congress to stand with moms across the country instead of with the NRA. Support background checks for all gun sales.

Happy Mother's Day

https://act.everytown.org/sign/mothersdaycard

Also, on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog where this post was originally published, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion. And I decided to keep the poems in that series which were the most relevant to my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, of which this is one.

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

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May 13th, 2023 Update [My Writing About The "Mother's Day Of Action" By Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America]: Today, May 13th, 2023, is the "Mother's Day of Action" by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America! And I received several emails from Moms Demand Action over the last few days, outlining this "Mother's Day of Action as we call on Congress to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban NOW."

So, I have listed the emails in chronological order by the date in which they were received.

The first email that I received from Moms Demand Action was on May 6th, 2023, with the subject line, "We're demanding an assault weapons ban NOW. Join us for a Mother's Day of Action: On Saturday May 13, we're rallying to demand Congress reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban.", which stated the following:

Paul–

This Mother's Day Weekend, we're asking for what we all want: For our kids to come home safe and for our families not to be ripped apart by gun violence.

Join us Saturday, May 13 for a Mother's Day of Action as we call on Congress to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban NOW. Find an event near you.

FIND AN EVENT***

As a mother of four, inaction on this crisis leaves me terrified for my children. Gun violence continues to kill 120 people every day, and there have already been more than 180 mass shootings this year. In several of them, an assault weapon was used to kill children while at school, to attack people in acts fueled by hate and bigotry, and to retaliate at former workplaces.

The good news is that we already know that banning assault weapons works. In 1994, after Congress banned assault weapons with bipartisan support, rates of gun violence and mass shootings began to go down. But in 2004, the gun lobby prevented Congress from renewing the ban. That inaction has helped make this crisis as utterly devastating as it has become. We're not going to let the gun lobby win. Banning assault weapons worked before. It can work again now.

And as Moms Demand Action's first ever Executive Director, I know from experience that we can get the job done.

Last summer, we got Congress to pass a major gun safety law for the first time in a generation, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. That victory followed a decade of progress in statehouses across the country where Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers not only helped pass hundreds of good gun safety laws, but also blocked 90 percent of bills backed by the gun lobby.

This Mother's Day Weekend, we're asking our lawmakers to save lives—and we're going to make our voices heard in every single congressional district across the country.

Join us on Saturday, May 13 for a Mother's Day of Action, as we call on Congress to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban NOW: Find an event near you.

Banning assault weapons will not end this crisis altogether, but with your support, we can make sure our country takes this huge step toward a future free from gun violence.

Thank you for being a part of this movement. I can't wait to see you on Mother's Day Weekend.

[Name redacted]
She/Her/Hers
[Title redacted]
Moms Demand Action

The second email that I received from Moms Demand Action was on May 7th, 2023, with the subject line, "Allen, Texas", which stated the following:

Paul–

Yesterday, we emailed you about our upcoming Day of Action to demand a reinstatement of the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Later yesterday, in Allen, Texas, a man walked into an outlet mall and used an assault weapon to shoot and kill at least eight people, leaving at least another seven people wounded.

We should be able to send our kids shopping, or to school, or to the movies, or a friend's house, without fear that they might not return home. Instead, we're stuck in an endless cycle of gun violence devastating our communities and families, all while our lawmakers do little to prevent it.

Mass shootings are not acts of nature—they are preventable tragedies caused by lawmakers' inaction and the gun industry's greed. We shouldn't have to live like this.

Join us at a rally near you on Saturday, May 13 to demand our lawmakers do something about this crisis by reinstating the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Thank you for being in this fight,

Moms Demand Action

The third email that I received from Moms Demand Action—and from Everytown for Gun Safety—was on May 10th, 2023, with the subject line, "We are fed up.", which stated the following:

Paul,

Every day more people are killed or wounded by guns. Our kids are being traumatized. Yet gun lobby-backed lawmakers are turning their backs on us. We've had it.

We are fed up and we will not accept the status quo. That's why, we are launching a Mother's Day of Action this weekend with events across the country calling on Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban.

Everytown and Moms Demand Action are organizing our communities and showing up in statehouses across the country to demand life-saving action—and we rely on your grassroots support to keep going. Donate today to help us fight for a future free from gun violence >>***

Thank you for being with us,

Everytown and Moms Demand Action

P.S. We just added more events across the country for our Mother's Day of Action this Saturday! Sign up to attend an event near you >>***

The fourth email that I received from Moms Demand Action was on May 12th, 2023, with the subject line, "We're rallying TOMORROW. Find an event near you: We're rallying to demand Congress reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban.", which stated the following:

Paul–

We've had enough. We're not going to let the gun lobby win. Banning assault weapons worked before. It can work again now.

We're rallying in communities across the country TOMORROW, Saturday, May 13 to demand Congress reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban immediately—and our volunteers have been adding new events every single day.

Will you join us? Find an event near you and help demand an assault weapons ban NOW.

FIND AN EVENT***

We've needed Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban for years. Our country had one for nearly a decade—and it worked. But in 2004, the gun lobby prevented Congress from renewing the ban, even though it had bipartisan support.

In the years since, we've become all too familiar with the consequences. Inaction has helped make this crisis as utterly devastating as it has become. Gun violence continues to kill 120 people every day, and there have already been more than 180 mass shootings this year. In several of them, an assault weapon was used to kill children while at school, to attack people in acts fueled by hate and bigotry, and to retaliate at former workplaces.

Assault weapons have no place in our communities, and we refuse to let our lawmakers continue to do nothing. Lives are at stake. Inaction is not an option.

Thank you for being in this fight,

[Name redacted]
She/Her/Hers
[Title redacted]
Moms Demand Action

The fifth email that I received from Moms Demand Action was today May 13th, 2023, with the subject line, "Join us in demanding action: Send [your representative in Congress] a message demanding an assault weapons ban NOW", which stated the following:

Paul–

We're rallying in communities across the country today to demand action. Will you join us by sending a message?

Tell [Your Representative in Congress]: Reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban NOW!

SEND MY MESSAGE***

We've needed Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban for years. Our country had one for nearly a decade—and it worked. But in 2004, the gun lobby prevented Congress from renewing the ban, even though it had bipartisan support.

In the years since, we've become all too familiar with the consequences. Gun violence continues to kill 120 people every day, and there have already been more than 210 mass shootings this year. In several of them, an assault weapon was used to kill children while at school, to attack people in acts fueled by hate and bigotry, and to retaliate at former workplaces.

Today, thousands of volunteers are showing up in their communities to make loud and clear that inaction is not an option. Assault weapons have no place in our communities, and we refuse to let our lawmakers continue to do nothing.

Be a part of this Mother's Day of Action: Send a message telling [your representative in Congress] to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Thank you for being a part of this movement. Together, we'll build a future free from gun violence.

Moms Demand Action

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Tell Your U.S. Representative: Oppose Gutting Our Gun Laws And Support Gun Safety Legislation

Gun lobby allies in Congress continue to attack the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)—the federal agency tasked with enforcing our gun laws, solving gun crimes, and keeping our communities safe from gun violence.

Just weeks after a school shooting in Nashville where the shooter used an assault weapon equipped with an arm brace, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee advanced legislation that would make it easier for dangerous individuals to get their hands on these modified guns.

Enough is enough. Common-sense gun policies on background checks, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and assault weapons can help prevent shootings and keep our families safe. Inaction is not an option, and these extreme attempts to gut our gun laws are shameful.

Demand the U.S. House prioritize gun safety. Our U.S. representatives must reject this extreme attempt at undermining the ATF, and take action on common-sense gun legislation like expanding background checks to all gun sales, passing a federal Extreme Risk Protection Order law, and reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban.

Dear Representative,

I am writing to you as a constituent filled with grief, fear, and anger. I am fed up. As countless acts of preventable gun violence continue to threaten the safety of communities across the country day after day, I am urging you to oppose the extreme attempts to attack the ATF, including efforts to repeal the ATF's arm brace rule, and, instead, support action on gun safety. I ask you to support common-sense legislation that would expand background checks to all gun sales, create a federal Extreme Risk Protection Order law, and reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban. This common-sense legislation can help prevent tragic mass shootings, as well as the 120 gun deaths that happen every day.

Please, I'm urging you to prioritize public safety. Take action and save lives.

Complete the form to send your message now:

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Prefix: Mr.
Email address: [redacted]
Street address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above to my representative in Congress, via the Everytown for Gun Safety website, I made a one-time donation to Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (via the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund) in order to do my part to "be a part of this Mother's Day of Action [by] send[ing] a message telling [my representative in Congress] to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban." –Paul Whiting (written May 13th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised June 12th, 2023 and revised September 7th, 2023)

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November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1 [My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In Any Way, Shape Or Form]: Due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in any way, shape or form, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, and no longer sending letters to my Representative and Senators in Congress, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes. Full stop! I am also unsubscribing from any of the emails that I used to receive from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations. In fact, I am even cancelling all of my monthly political donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations, as well as to the USO (United Service Organizations), in addition to cancelling all of my monthly news organization subscriptions, or news organization donations, because I am absolutely terrified of this second Trump administration. And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know it will be over! So, I am choosing to not engage in any 'activism' whatsoever—plus, I am not even sure that I will be exercising my 'civic duty' by voting in any upcoming elections because, as a (formerly) donating and a (potentially former) voting Democrat, I totally fear the retribution of President Donald J. Trump. Full stop!

P.S.: It's July 31st, 2025, and I feel like I need to provide an addendum (that is, "an item of additional material added at the end of a book or document, typically in order to correct, clarify, or supplement something") to this November 6th, 2024 'update!'

You see, a couple of days ago, on July 29th, 2025, I copied the text of this update to use as my reason for unsubscribing from a particular political email that I received that same day!

And so, I actually bothered to read this update—in order to verify that it made sense for me to use as a response to the request on this political email's unsubscribe page which stated, "Please tell us why you are leaving"—during which I realized there was a typo (that is, 'a typographical error') in the text of the update, as I have highlighted below, with the correction in brackets:

"And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know [it] will be over!"

Thus, I accidentally left out the word "it" in the sentence above. Hence, I corrected said typo on July 29th, the verification of which can be seen reflected in the addition of the date "revised July 29th, 2025" after my name.

However, as I got to thinking about the fact that I had originally said I may not be voting in any upcoming elections, I realized that, in fact, I did vote in Portland Oregon's Multnomah County Special District Election on May 20th, 2025, just like I usually do! [I always vote in every election (even 'special elections') and I always vote Democrat, which is why I was worried about voting in any upcoming elections given President Trump's clear disdain for Democrats.]

Therefore, I decided to write this "P.S." today, July 31st, as a way to clarify that I am still voting in elections (even 'special elections'), it's just that I am no longer engaging in any 'Online Activism,' during Trump's Presidency, as I explained in great detail above. (I hope that makes sense!)

–Paul Whiting (written November 6th, 2024, revised November 7th, 2024, revised July 29th, 2025 and revised July 31st, 2025)

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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 213 was edited on July 31st, 2025.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 209: For the 5th of May — "Happy Cinco de Mayo!"

(Image by Paul Whiting)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

They won the battle—
though they lost the war! Hurrah,
"Cinco de Mayo!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: What the phrase "They won the battle—though they lost the war" means to me is this: The Mexican army of 4,000 that was led by General Ignacio Zaragoza—which was smaller and not-as-well equipped or trained—defeated the larger, much-better equipped and trained invading French army of 8,000 that was sent by Napoleon III.

And although the Mexican army lost at the Second Battle of Puebla, to a French army of 30,000 troops, the Mexican army was still able to defeat the invading French army at the first Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862! Hence, the name of "Cinco de Mayo," which is Spanish for "Fifth of May."

And, by the way, Cinco de Mayo is not to be confused with Mexico's Independence Day—the most important national holiday in Mexico—which is celebrated on September 16th each year, commemorating the "Grito de Dolores" in 1810, which is Spanish for "Cry of Dolores." And the 'Grito de Dolores' initiated the war of Mexican independence from Spain—which occurred in Dolores, Mexico, on September 16th, 1810—when Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang his church bell and gave the call to arms that triggered the Mexican War of Independence.

Also, on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog where this post was originally published, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion. And I decided to keep the poems in that series which were the most relevant to my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, of which this is one.

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

"Cinco de Mayo" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

"Cinco de Mayo (...Spanish for 'Fifth of May') is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. The victory of a smaller, poorly equipped Mexican force against the larger and better-armed French army was a morale boost for the Mexicans. Zaragoza died months after the battle from an illness, and a larger French force ultimately defeated the Mexican army at the Second Battle of Puebla and occupied Mexico City.

More popular in the United States than in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. Celebrations began in California, where they have been observed annually since 1863. ... In Mexico, the commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades or battle reenactments. The city of Puebla marks the event with various festivals and reenactments of the battle.

Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexico's Independence Day—the most important national holiday in Mexico—which is celebrated on September 16, commemorating the Cry of Dolores in 1810, which initiated the war of Mexican independence from Spain. Cinco de Mayo has been referenced and featured in entertainment media, and has become an increasingly global celebration of Mexican culture, cuisine, and heritage."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 209 was edited on August 12th, 2025.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 174: For April Fools' Day, Part 4 — "Don't Be a Fool and Get Ready Early!"

(Image by Paul Whiting)

Don't Be a Fool
and Get Ready Early!
(Or, "My Apartment Ready for an Inspection")

I try to always
"Plan Ahead and Follow Through"
with everything!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

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My Writing About How I Try To Always 'Plan Ahead And Follow Through' With Everything That I Do In Life [April 1st, 2014 Update]: I try to always "Plan Ahead and Follow Through" with everything that I do in life, especially when it comes to important things like apartment inspections! And today, April 1st, 2014, I had an inspection for my Section 8 rental assistance! So, I started "Spring Cleaning" my studio apartment right after March 17th, 2014. That way, I planned to have plenty of time to get all of the cleaning done before the inspection... And, thus, the theme of my April Fools' Day post for 2014 is "Don't Be A Fool And Get Ready Early," because 'it's the early bird that only has to have his apartment inspected every two years, instead of every year!' –Paul Whiting (written on April 1st, 2014, then turned into 'my writing,' as well as turned into an 'update,' in addition to being revised, on October 4th, 2023)

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My Writing About Finally Being Back In My Studio Apartment After It Was Repaired For Flood Damage [July 20th, 2023 Update, Written On July 21st, 2023]: As of yesterday, July 20th, 2023, I am finally back in my studio apartment!

You see, I was out of my apartment for a while, since it was being repaired for water damage due to a flood, which ironically happened on Christmas Eve 2022 at about 5:30 AM—and that is why I watched "It's A Wonderful Life" that night! (I actually purchased "It's A Wonderful Life" on YouTube, quite a few years ago, so that I can watch it at Christmastime whenever I wish, which I do every few years.)

Therefore, it has been five months and seventeen days since I temporarily moved to another studio apartment—which is located fairly close to the low income apartment building that I live in—while the flood remediation was being completed. (I moved on February 3rd, 2023, so as of July 3rd, 2023, that's five months; then, if my calculations are correct, July 20th is 17 days in addition to that.) Thus, it's been quite a long time since I have been in my studio apartment.

And the really nice thing is that my apartment now has new floors throughout that look just like real wood, which are made of something called "luxury vinyl." In fact, the new floors look so much like genuine wood floors that if you didn't know they were made of vinyl, you seriously couldn't tell the difference, which is why I wrote the following two advertising slogans:

Slogan No. 1: "Luxury vinyl has the look and feel of genuine wood flooring without the expense and upkeep of real wood."

Slogan No. 2: "Luxury vinyl has the breathtaking beauty of real wood without the breathtaking price and maintenance."

Anyway, it's good to be back home again!

–Paul Whiting (written July 21st, 2023, revised July 22nd, 2023 and revised July 23rd, 2023)

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(Image by Paul Whiting)

(Image by Paul Whiting)

(Image by Paul Whiting)

(Image by Paul Whiting)

My Writing About The Way To "Be 'A Wise Old Owl' And Don't Be Afraid" By Always Planning Ahead And Following Through [October 4th, 2023 Update]: I truly think that the way to "Be 'A Wise Old Owl' And Don't Be Afraid" is by always planning ahead and following through! Because always planning ahead and following through—especially when it comes to important things like apartment inspections—is how you take the fear out of taking care of your life! For, at the age of 56 years old, I am no longer 'an early bird'; now, however, I am 'a wise old owl.' You see, I had an inspection for my Section 8 rental assistance today, October 4th, 2023! So, I started "Fall Cleaning" my studio apartment right after September 13th, 2023. That way, I had plenty of time to get all of the cleaning done before the inspection... And, thus, the theme of my October 4th, 2023 'update' is "Be 'A Wise Old Owl' And Don't Be Afraid" By Always Planning Ahead And Following Through! For, it's 'a wise old owl' who had all of the cleaning done in plenty of time for his apartment inspection! And it is also 'a wise old owl' who was able to get his apartment totally packed up in preparation for having flood damage repair completed over a five and a half month time period, starting February 3rd, 2023 and ending July 20th, 2023! (Please see my 'July 20th, 2023 Update, Written On July 21st, 2023,' which can be found above, that also appears as 'My Writing About Finally Being Back In My Studio Apartment After It Was Repaired For Flood Damage' on some of my blogs.) –Paul Whiting (written October 4th, 2023 and revised October 5th, 2023)

P.S.: In addition to that, please see the current photos above of "My Apartment Ready for an Inspection" from October 4th, 2023.

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My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I try to always "Plan Ahead and Follow Through" with everything that I do in life, especially when it comes to important things like apartment inspections! And today, April 1st, 2014, I had an inspection for my Section 8 rental assistance! So, I started "Spring Cleaning" my studio apartment right after March 17th, 2014. That way, I planned to have plenty of time to get all of the cleaning done before the inspection... And, thus, the theme of my April Fools' Day post for 2014 is "Don't Be A Fool And Get Ready Early," because it's the early bird that only has to have his apartment inspected every two years, instead of every year!

Also, on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog where this post was originally published, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion. And I decided to keep the poems in that series which were the most relevant to my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, of which this is one.

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlink below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" and "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

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April 1st, 2014 Update [My Writing About How I Try To Always 'Plan Ahead And Follow Through' With Everything That I Do In Life]: I try to always "Plan Ahead and Follow Through" with everything that I do in life, especially when it comes to important things like apartment inspections! And today, April 1st, 2014, I had an inspection for my Section 8 rental assistance! So, I started "Spring Cleaning" my studio apartment right after March 17th, 2014. That way, I planned to have plenty of time to get all of the cleaning done before the inspection... And, thus, the theme of my April Fools' Day post for 2014 is "Don't Be A Fool And Get Ready Early," because 'it's the early bird that only has to have his apartment inspected every two years, instead of every year!' –Paul Whiting (written on April 1st, 2014, then turned into 'my writing,' as well as turned into an 'update,' in addition to being revised, on October 4th, 2023)

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July 20th, 2023 Update, Written On July 21st, 2023 [My Writing About Finally Being Back In My Studio Apartment After It Was Repaired For Flood Damage]: As of yesterday, July 20th, 2023, I am finally back in my studio apartment!

You see, I was out of my apartment for a while, since it was being repaired for water damage due to a flood, which ironically happened on Christmas Eve 2022 at about 5:30 AM—and that is why I watched "It's A Wonderful Life" that night! (I actually purchased "It's A Wonderful Life" on YouTube, quite a few years ago, so that I can watch it at Christmastime whenever I wish, which I do every few years.)

Therefore, it has been five months and seventeen days since I temporarily moved to another studio apartment—which is located fairly close to the low income apartment building that I live in—while the flood remediation was being completed. (I moved on February 3rd, 2023, so as of July 3rd, 2023, that's five months; then, if my calculations are correct, July 20th is 17 days in addition to that.) Thus, it's been quite a long time since I have been in my studio apartment.

And the really nice thing is that my apartment now has new floors throughout that look just like real wood, which are made of something called "luxury vinyl." In fact, the new floors look so much like genuine wood floors that if you didn't know they were made of vinyl, you seriously couldn't tell the difference, which is why I wrote the following two advertising slogans:

Slogan No. 1: "Luxury vinyl has the look and feel of genuine wood flooring without the expense and upkeep of real wood."

Slogan No. 2: "Luxury vinyl has the breathtaking beauty of real wood without the breathtaking price and maintenance."

Anyway, it's good to be back home again!

–Paul Whiting (written July 21st, 2023, revised July 22nd, 2023 and revised July 23rd, 2023)

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October 4th, 2023 Update [My Writing About The Way To "Be 'A Wise Old Owl' And Don't Be Afraid" By Always Planning Ahead And Following Through]: I truly think that the way to "Be 'A Wise Old Owl' And Don't Be Afraid" is by always planning ahead and following through! Because always planning ahead and following through—especially when it comes to important things like apartment inspections—is how you take the fear out of taking care of your life! For, at the age of 56 years old, I am no longer 'an early bird'; now, however, I am 'a wise old owl.' You see, I had an inspection for my Section 8 rental assistance today, October 4th, 2023! So, I started "Fall Cleaning" my studio apartment right after September 13th, 2023. That way, I had plenty of time to get all of the cleaning done before the inspection... And, thus, the theme of my October 4th, 2023 'update' is "Be 'A Wise Old Owl' And Don't Be Afraid" By Always Planning Ahead And Following Through! For, it's 'a wise old owl' who had all of the cleaning done in plenty of time for his apartment inspection! And it is also 'a wise old owl' who was able to get his apartment totally packed up in preparation for having flood damage repair completed over a five and a half month time period, starting February 3rd, 2023 and ending July 20th, 2023! (Please see my 'July 20th, 2023 Update, Written On July 21st, 2023,' which can be found above, that also appears as 'My Writing About Finally Being Back In My Studio Apartment After It Was Repaired For Flood Damage' on some of my blogs.) –Paul Whiting (written October 4th, 2023 and revised October 5th, 2023)

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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 174 was edited on October 5th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 173: For April Fools' Day, Part 3 — "Everybody Plays the Fool!"

(Image by Paul Whiting)

Everybody Plays the Fool

Each April Fools' Day,
"everybody plays the fool"
—just like we all do!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing About Those Laughing At, And Loving, Themselves: Those who can laugh at themselves can love themselves for being flawed. –Paul Whiting (written November 4th, 2009 and revised August 29th, 2022)

My Writing About You Laughing At, And Loving, Yourself: You can laugh at yourself and you can love yourself for being flawed. –Paul Whiting (written November 4th, 2009 and revised August 29th, 2022)

My Writing About All Of Us Playing The Fool: At one time or another, we all play the fool! For, whatever is true about life is whatever is true for you (in other words, 'perception is reality'), because our beliefs are our truth, since Our Subconscious Self—or God—is an Absolutely Perfect Mirror and is simply reflecting our true beliefs. –Paul Whiting (written April 1st, 2012 and revised April 1st, 2022 and revised September 1st, 2022)

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "Each April Fools' Day, 'everybody plays the fool'—just like we all do!"

By the way, this poem was inspired by the song "Everybody Plays the Fool" written by J. R. Bailey, Rudy Clark and Ken Williams and performed by Aaron Neville. (Please see the hyperlink below for the video.)

Also, on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog where this post was originally published, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion. And I decided to keep the poems in that series which were the most relevant to my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, of which this is one.

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

Watch "Everybody Plays The Fool" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/WS9Ky88P8KM

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 173 was edited on September 19th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 169: My Haiku-Style Poem About The Fact That We Are Oceans Of Souls

(Image from Sue Frederick)

We Are Oceans Of Souls

We Are Oceans Of
Individual Souls That
Embody All Things!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing About The Fact That We Are Oceans Of Souls: We are oceans of individual souls that embody all things! –Paul Whiting (written January 24th, 2014 and revised August 30th, 2022)

My Writing About How God Is Like An Ocean And All Of Us Souls Are Like Droplets Of Water In That Ocean: Being God is like being an ocean and being an individual soul within God's Creation is like being a droplet of water in that ocean. So, each soul is very much like one droplet of water and God is like the ocean—which is a combination of a lot of water droplets. Thus, that is why many souls believe that they are, in fact, God since they are quite literally one droplet of water in God's Ocean; however, they are simply an individual portion of God's Creation as a droplet of water. Therefore, God is the entire ocean, because He is every droplet of water, and not simply an individual droplet, since He is all of the water droplets combined. –Paul Whiting (written January 26th, 2023 and revised May 21st, 2023)

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: We are oceans of individual souls that embody all things!

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 169 was edited on May 3rd, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 154: For St. Patrick's Day, Part 3 — My Haiku-Style Poem About St. Patrick's Day

(Image by Paul Whiting)

Make Your Luck Happen

In order for the
road to rise up to meet you,
you must rise up too!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

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My Writing About The Road Rising Up To Meet You: In order for the road to rise up to meet you, you must rise up too! –Paul Whiting (written on March 17th, 2013 and turned into 'my writing' on March 17th, 2024)

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My Writing For St. Patrick's Day 2024 [March 17th, 2024 Update No. 1] (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

By the way, the proper shortened name for St. Patrick's Day is "St. Paddy's Day," NOT "St. Patty's Day," as explained below from Merriam-Webster.com:

St. Patrick’s Day can be referred to in informal contexts as “St. Paddy’s Day.” Paddy is the shortened form of the original Irish spelling of Patrick, which is Pádraig, and for this reason is usually preferred over “St. Patty’s Day,” which could also be mistaken for the shortened form of the name Patricia.

And the following is 'My Writing' for St. Patrick's Day 2024 (or, "St. Paddy's Day" 2024, as noted above).

My Writing About 'A Bit Of Irish,' Version No. 1: There's a little bit of Irish in all of us! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2024 and revised March 17th, 2024)

My Writing About 'A Bit Of Irish,' Version No. 2: There's a bit o' Irish in all of us! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2024 and revised March 17th, 2024)

My Writing About Luck Not Being An Accident: Luck is no accident! For, luck is based upon hard work and honesty, assuming calculated risk, facing your fears, planning ahead and following through, making mistakes, then learning from those mistakes, and doing better in the future. Thus, the reason that you can be lucky in the future is because you were hard working and honest in the past! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2024 and revised March 17th, 2024)

My Writing About Being Lucky In The Future: The reason that you can be lucky in the future is because you were hard working and honest in the past! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2024 and revised March 17th, 2024)

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My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "In order for the road to rise up to meet you, you must rise up too!"

Also, on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog where this post was originally published, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion. And I decided to keep the poems in that series which were the most relevant to my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, of which this is one.

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" and "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 154 was edited on March 18th, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 152: For St. Patrick's Day, Part 1 — For the Goddess Enya on St. Patrick's Day

(Image from The Hairpin)

The Goddess Enya

Enya's music is
like hearing seeds of hope grow
in the Irish soil!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

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My Writing For St. Patrick's Day 2024 [March 17th, 2024 Update No. 1] (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog): Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

By the way, the proper shortened name for St. Patrick's Day is "St. Paddy's Day," NOT "St. Patty's Day," as explained below from Merriam-Webster.com:

St. Patrick’s Day can be referred to in informal contexts as “St. Paddy’s Day.” Paddy is the shortened form of the original Irish spelling of Patrick, which is Pádraig, and for this reason is usually preferred over “St. Patty’s Day,” which could also be mistaken for the shortened form of the name Patricia.

And the following is 'My Writing' for St. Patrick's Day 2024 (or, "St. Paddy's Day" 2024, as noted above).

My Writing About 'A Bit Of Irish,' Version No. 1: There's a little bit of Irish in all of us! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2024 and revised March 17th, 2024)

My Writing About 'A Bit Of Irish,' Version No. 2: There's a bit o' Irish in all of us! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2024 and revised March 17th, 2024)

My Writing About Luck Not Being An Accident: Luck is no accident! For, luck is based upon hard work and honesty, assuming calculated risk, facing your fears, planning ahead and following through, making mistakes, then learning from those mistakes, and doing better in the future. Thus, the reason that you can be lucky in the future is because you were hard working and honest in the past! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2024 and revised March 17th, 2024)

My Writing About Being Lucky In The Future: The reason that you can be lucky in the future is because you were hard working and honest in the past! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2024 and revised March 17th, 2024)

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My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem as a homage to Enya, who is one of favorite musical artists, because she is an incredibly talented singer-songwriter! And Enya is her own economy, since she is Ireland's best-selling solo musician. Below is a sample song from her work! (Please see the hyperlink below for the video.)

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

Watch "Triad: St.Patrick / Cú Chulainn / Oisin" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/9e269FbWUuM?si=ZItwQmnMA3vc4NhY

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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 152 was edited on March 18th, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 144: My Haiku-Style Poem About Seeds Of Possibility,

(Image from Journey 360 Degrees)

Seeds Of Possibility
(Or, "All Ideas are 'Seeds Of Possibility'")

All ideas are seeds
and they only grow if you
help them to do so!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

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My Writing About The Harvest Of Wisdom: Fear is the hunger. Anger is the lightning. Expression is the thunder. Honesty is the rainfall. Understanding is the soil. Desire is the seed. Love is the nutrients. Joy is the sunlight. Wisdom is the harvest. –Paul Whiting (written on May 1st, 2009 and turned into 'my writing' on April 13th, 2024)

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My Writing About The Seeds Of Possibility: All ideas are seeds and they only grow if you help them to do so! –Paul Whiting (written approximately on March 19th, 2011 and turned into 'my writing' on August 30th, 2022)

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My Writing About The Seeds Of Truth, Version No. 1: Every soul that exists is born as "A Seed Of Truth," so to speak, since we are all born as Literally Nothing. And as "The Seeds Of Truth," so to speak, all of the souls that exist are created from Nothing. For, everything that has ever been created began—literally—as Nothing! –Paul Whiting (written May 12th, 2013, revised August 31st, 2013, revised March 11th, 2014, revised March 28th, 2022 and revised August 30th, 2022)

My Writing About The Seeds Of Truth, Version No. 2: Every soul that exists is born as "A Seed Of Truth," so to speak, since we are all born as Literally Nothing. And Nothing has a vibration in the center of it—due to the pressure right in the middle of Nothing—that produces light, which is self-aware or, phrased another way, that light is literally consciousness. Therefore, all of the souls that exist are created as "The Seeds Of Truth," so to speak, from the vibration at the center Nothing. And that center vibration of nothing is The Light Of God, which is also The Consciousness Of God. And so, phrased another way, that Light Consciousness at the center of Literally Nothing is like a seed, which is what we are. –Paul Whiting (written approximately on August 9th, 2013 and turned into 'my writing' from my notes on August 30th, 2022)

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My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I came up with the idea for this poem while I was thinking about developing my new "The Oneness Of God" Spiritual Practice.

And I realized that an idea written down is like a seed: it is how you record a creative thought—and how you create the possibilty of that thought growing, blossoming, and bearing fruit someday!

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 144 was edited on April 20th, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 141: For Luna (The Moon) — The Goddess In Winter Light!

(Image by Paul Whiting)

The Goddess In Winter Light

The Goddess Luna
In The Winter Light Is Such
A Wonderful Sight!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: This poem is an homage to The Goddess Luna (The Moon).

By the way, the image illustrating this poem is what inspired this poem! And I took this photograph of the moon, as seen through a tree decorated with miniature lights, on February 19th, 2011, which is the same day that I originally published this poem on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog.

However, when I republished this poem on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog, I did not utilize the original publishing date. You see, I was trying to keep all of the republished posts from my various blogs in as chronological of an order as I could manage—while still grouping relevant blog posts together—and that is why I republished this poem on March 6th, 2022 on my new "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog, which I created in order to have "a place to place all of my best writing in one place!"

Thus, early March is still considered to be "winter," because the first day of spring is not officially until March 19th, or 20th, or 21st, of each year; but I consider February as the last month of winter and I also consider March as the beginning of "spring" with the Spring Equinox, or "The First Day of Spring," being the 'official first day' of spring, rather than the literal first day of spring!

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 141 was edited on April 15th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 109: To The Ones I Love, Part 18 — Other Musical Instruments

(Image from Top Creative Works)

Other Musical Instruments

Listen to the hum;
it's the music of "white noise."
Let its song sooth you...

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

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My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: This poem was inspired by the television special "Barbra Streisand...And Other Musical Instruments" along with the album of the same name which were both broadcast and released in 1973 and, specifically, by the song "The World Is A Concerto / Make Your Own Kind Of Music" performed by Barbra Streisand! (Please see the hyperlink below for the video.)

And this poem is also my way of paying homage to "white noise," which is "noise containing many frequencies with equal intensities" and, specifically, "television white noise."

You see, way back in the day—long before 24 hour television broadcasts, cable television, satellite television and, now, internet television—white noise was the kind of sound that televisions used make if you turned them on when they weren't broadcasting any shows, which used to happen sometime after midnight until early in the morning! You see, the only television stations that used to exist back then—which were ABC, CBS and NBC in addition to some PBS stations—used to stop broadcasting from after midnight until the early morning shows came on.

And I used to listen to television static sometimes when I was younger and couldn't sleep! So, I would turn on the television in the living room and listen to the "hum" of the white noise, which would sooth me, and it helped me to fall asleep on the living room couch. (Please see the hyperlink below for the video.)

Just so you know, I revised this poem, as I often do with my writing! And I changed how this poem was written when I was editing all of my blog posts that are written as Haiku-style poems. So, I wanted to show you how this poem used to be written, before I revised it as above.

And it used to be written like this:

Other Musical Instruments

Listen to the hum,
which is the song of "white noise."
Let its song sooth you...

Thus, I revised this poem to be written as it is above.

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

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Watch "The World Is A Concerto/ Make Your Own Kind Of Music · Barbra Streisand" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/sBvH3vbjiu8

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Watch "TV Static Noise For Smartphone | For sleeping, studying | 8Hours" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ubFq-wV3Eic?si=HCRBbMSAMf4DZ8vH

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"Noise (video)" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

"Noise, commonly known as static, white noise or static noise, in analog video and television, is a random dot pixel or snow pattern of static displayed when there is no transmission signal or being weak. The random pixel pattern is obtained by the antenna receiver of television sets, flat screen televisions, radio antenna, smart television sets, CRT televisions, VHS tapes and other display devices. The random pixel pattern is superimposed on the picture or the television screen, being visible as a random flicker of 'dots', 'zig-zags', 'macro' or 'snow', is the result of electronic noise and radiated electromagnetic noise accidentally picked up by the antenna like air or cable. This effect is most commonly seen with analog TV sets, blank VHS tapes, or other display devices."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise_(video)#:~:text=Noise%2C%20commonly%20known%20as%20static,transmission%20signal%20or%20being%20weak.

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This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 109 was edited on April 14th, 2026.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]