When Peace and Equality Are Stood Up

"Displaced"

Photo is courtesy of Don Johnson and fellow blogger Jessica Brooks Johnson.  Thank you very much for your permission to use.

https://storiesfromtomorrow.com/

Full version of this poem will be in my upcoming book. 

"Displaced"

By JStergis 

Do you see the orange smoke in the sky?

How can this be, do you ever wonder why?

Why can't we ever see the truth?

The flames that affects me, also affects you.

What does it take for me to get through?

How much longer do we wait until there's nothing left we can do?

We're not ready to be displaced.

We cannot find a planet to replace.

"We Always Find A Way" by JStergis L.E.S

We Always Find A Way

By JStergis L.E.S 

Every generation

Of every nation 

Eventually faces a challenge or foe

That will forever define them so

And when darkness holds the day

We always find a way

A way to rekindle hope in the night

A way to bring back our soul to the light.

Every woman and man

Has to try to comprehend 

When they must take a stand

When circumstances demand.

For fear will create unlikely heroes 

And fear exposes those driven

by weaker egos.

Yet when darkness holds the day

We always find a way

A way to rekindle hope in the night

A way to bring back our soul to the light.

My child hold up your head

Things are not hopeless or sad 

As they may appear to be. 

Remember good follows bad, 

After the tears and blood shed.

Just like the ebbs and flows of the sea.

Just keep your eyes focused 

Every inch gained a better prognosis. 

Remember when darkness holds the day

We always find a way

A way to rekindle hope in the night

A way to bring back our soul to the light.

"The Baron In The Tower" by John S LES

Photo by John S LES

"The Baron In The Tower"

By John S LES


Who's the baron sitting atop the golden tower?
He became a king wielding all kinds of power.
Stopping intellectual progress in just one single hour.
Sweet grapes of wrath, now suddenly gone sour.
So much greed and dirty deeds, makes you wanna shower.
We have local leaders, but to money they all cower.
We the People must take back our power.
Plant positive seeds with positive deeds
And grow them into flowers.
Stop the blaming and hate gaming -
Or our souls it will devour.
To give our children a future - we must empower!
Time to get busy doing,
Before we're in ruins -
Switching representatives is our choice.
Let Lady Liberty hear our voice
Time to stand up in this 11th hour!

"Downpour" by John S LES

Photo by John S LES

"Downpour"

by John S LES


Evil follows us, sometimes overwhelms us
Like a downpour, or a heavy heart's pain.
But, we must keep our heads up,
Put our best foot forward,
Cause the Sun will surely follow the rain.

"Love Was Here" by John S LES

"Love Was Here"

photo and article by John S LES


A recent visit to the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood, NY, formally the Pilgrim State Hospital, allowed me to look at how when love and positive direction work in unison, they are a powerful force.  When those two emotions divorce each other, they can leave nothing but ruin.  However, even in the ruins, you can witness the love, the life, the energy of people that used to exist.

Covering nearly a nearly 2,000 acres are numerous abandoned buildings and that once made this entire facility it's own, independent "city" within Brentwood itself.  In it's peak it housed some 12,500 patients, with a total campus population of some 16,000 people.  That's a larger population than many towns throughout the rest of Long Island, and across the United States.  Pilgrim State Hospital was created in 1931 to harbor the overflow of psychiatric patients from New York City.  Pilgrim State Hospital campus covered so much land and space t it's own independent operation so massive that it had it's own farm, complete with pigs, train station, police, firemen, church, water tower and cemetery.  It's campus borders touched four different towns on Long Island.

Today, only a few of main buildings remain operational.  The rest of the campus lays dormant, abandoned, slowly eroding to the laws of Mother Nature, vandals, trespassers, and forgotten life stories.  But, there once was love here.  There once existed a facility that for better or worse, for the good of the state of New York, housed working people, doctors, and patients.

Many will speak of the lobotomies and other medical practices that were done here.  Many of these procedures are no longer practiced and are now considered extreme and cruel.  However, there was a life here, a living campus of working people who were placed in a large and very isolated world.  For many who worked here in this small community - this wasn't just a job, it was a way of life.

Love was once here in these abandoned parts.  For more on this facility please view this website or this independently made YouTube video.  And of course enjoy my pictures below!

Photo by John S LES

Photo by John S LES

Photo by John S LES

Photo by John S LES

Photo by John S LES

Photo by John S LES

Photo by John S LES

The Real Life "Dance Moms" by John S LES

Jackie and Lauren Matthews.  Photo by John S LES

The Real Life Dance Moms

by John S LES

If you were to watch only watch "Reality TV" you would think that all mothers associated with dance are these self-absorbed, living through their children, dispirited women.  I will admit that there may be some adult mothers (and fathers) who do behave like that in dance - as well as in sports and other activities in which their kids are involved.  Such bad behavior on the parent's part is disappointing to see.  However, I am blessed in that with the particular set of "dance moms" that I personally know - in that they are all beautiful, kind and caring people.  They support each other, they support their kids as well as other people's kids.  So to my beautiful friends who happen to be "dance moms", this pictorial is my Mother's Day gift to all of you for raising such beautiful and positive young women - Happy Mother's Day!  

Front: Jasmine and Jade.  Rear: Kira and Tracy Chu.  Photo edited by John S LES

Mary and Shelby Rickard.  Photo by John S LES

Shayanne and Tara Stergis.  Photo by John S LES

Julia and Liz Giovinco.  Photo by John S LES

Many thanks to Mrs. Staci Nelson-Hoyt of The NY Dancers Studio located in East Meadow and Kings Park, Long Island.  Also many thanks to Tracy Chu and her daughters Kira, Jasmine and Jade.  And a special thank you to Jackie and Lauren Matthews!