A Book for Me to Read -- a Poem for Friday Writings

My Christmas tree blog is up now

https://jimmiehov7.blogspot.com/

    I Hope to Find 

When I read the book I checked out 

I hope to find some of the things 

Things that were not told of others 

Others you and I voted for 

They denied the fear and torture 

that came their way, afraid to tell 

They may loose their job 

We wouldn't vote for them again 

But one brave police officer 

Officer dared come with truths

Truths of their ill treatment given 

to them by the insurrectionists* 

My mind is made up 

I'll go with the author** 

"Standing My Ground" by 

Harry Dunn, police officer 

Full title, 
Standing My Ground: A Capitol Police Officer's Fight for Accountability and Good Trouble After January 6th 

  _ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Magaly for the prompt idea at Friday Writings #106, see below for information on the prompt 

    https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/

- Magaly has invited us to write poetry or prose which includes the full title of a book we are reading or plan to read this December. 

 - Notes: 

     *Insurrectionist defined:

    Time Magazine, https://time.com/6137604/history-insurrection-jan-6/

        An “insurrection,” by definition, is a “violent uprising against an authority or government.” It is clear that Capitol stormers who dissented against the election outcome, or even sought to obstruct Congress’ certification of the election, were rising up against the government. The crux of the contention among commentators, though, lies in whether the crowd was truly violent—an attribution that has faced resistance. This distinction determines whether those who breached the Capitol are to be accurately described as “rally goers” or “rioters,” “patriots” or “terrorists,” “peaceful protestors” or “insurrectionists.” (Time Magazine, 

    **Standing my ground : a Capitol police officer's fight for accountability and good trouble after January 6th / Harry Dunn, with Ron Harris.

[See "Blurb information,

 http://jimmiehov6.blogspot.com/2023/12/book-standing-my-ground.html

LCCN:	2023024764 --  ISBN: 9780306831133 0306831139  Call Number: 973.933 DUN 2023
	..

Book, "Standing my ground"

 

Title:	Standing my ground : a Capitol police officer's fight for accountability and good trouble after January 6th / Harry Dunn, with Ron Harris.
Format:	Book
Author:	Dunn, Harry (Police officer), author.
Edition:	First edition.
Publisher, Date:	New York : Hachette Books, 2023. ©2023
Description:	ix, 244 pages ; 22 cm
Summary:	"Walking the halls of democracy as a Capitol Police officer, Harry Dunn was a man slowly experiencing an awakening. It sparked after the election of our first Black president. It grew as his belief in the bravery and honor of law enforcement was shaken by Ferguson and countless other cases of police brutality towards Black people. It continued to burn brighter as he watched members of Congress, many of whom he had befriended, lose their way to partisanship, as political extremism intensified. And it exploded into a blaze when he fought side by side with his fellow officers on January 6th, when democracy and their lives were threatened. "Standing My Ground" provides a crucial, definitive, and first-hand account of what happened that day our world was shocked to its core. But it also shares the story of a man who refused to stay quiet when he learned that some of the men and women he had risked his life protecting, who knew him by name, would deny the horrors they faced. That's when he chose to speak up and to seek out what his hero John Lewis once termed "good trouble." Dunn's ongoing story as a witness willing to meaningfully engage with the media, lawmakers, and the public provides a backdrop for examining the political and racial divide in this country--one that we must overcome in order to demand accountability and preserve our precious democracy"-- Provided by publisher.
Subjects:	Dunn, Harry (Police officer) United States. Capitol Police -- Biography. Capitol Riot, Washington, D.C., 2021 -- Personal narratives. Police -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography. Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 2020.
Genre:	Autobiographies. Personal narratives.
Other Author:	Harris, Ron (Journalism professor), contributor.
Contents:	Prologue -- Protecting democracy -- Growing into the job -- The insurrection: part I -- The insurrection : part II -- The day after -- Our Blue lives didn't matter -- Racists, QAnon, criminals [do not equal] patriots -- Finding my way back from their insanity -- The fight is never over -- Epilogue.
LCCN:	2023024764
ISBN:	9780306831133 0306831139
Other Number:	1382340999
# Local items:	3
Control Number:	1127295
Call Number:	973.933 DUN 2023

a Classic tune -- Night Train

Press release!!  I have started posting on my Christmas Tree blog tonight.  Click here to see Tree # 01 for 2023.

"Whileling" the Nights Away 

The year was nineteen fifty-three, 

I had just dropped out of college 

A few months, I adjusted well 

a job in the watch factory  

Lincoln, Nebraska did me fine 

Father wanted his pickup back  

said "It's time for you to get a car" 

Nineteen fifty Studebaker 

Starlight Tudor was fine for me 

I soon joined a group, well two groups 

My favorite would carouse the streets 

Tire and go to one fellows home 

Another Jim, folks had left town 

A bunch, we'd entertain ourselves 

Boys, sometimes boys and girls, we'd meet 

Meet and drink, drink and dance or chat 

Play some games--when things slowed some left 

Others would nap, played some records  

One song we left playing all night 

'Twas a new tempo, made the charts 

"Night Train", played and played, played some more  

Over fifty years, Classic now 

Not ever sung, it has no words 

Memories brought to light tonight 

 - - - 

 

[click on the lower left, it will 'open' and play] 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with I am linked with Kim at dVerse "Without Words" at 

    https://dversepoets.com/2023/12/05/without-words/ 

   where she wants us to write about a "piece of instrumental song," not words having words.  She said Jazz is okay, I'm sure this one, Rythm and Blues #1 at one time, fits.  Play it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaFWKYqGrP0, good for sleeping too.

 - Click here to read more writing tonight on our prompt topic. 

[picture of my toy 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe, a cast iron model of my first car]

[I have quite a few cast iron 1:18 scale toy cars, this one included.] 

 - I did have more life than this back then.  My other group, yes, but some dating also.  I had a 'steady' for about a year and a half, until her former boyfriend came home from the Army.  She had worked with me, but left that day, I never saw her again, nor ever saw him.  I did see her little brother that we fished with at a tourist stop in Oklahoma, just talked a little bit.  Didn't mention her sister, I didn't ask. 

 - I also went back to college, also working at NASA Houston as a Ford Motor Company contractor Aerospace Engineer and ended up with three degrees.  Married too, five children. I left NASA in 1980 and taught in a community college for 22 years.  I retired in 2001.  Must buy that CD.  

..

[Our back yard after our snowfall] 

 

    Let the Snow Fall, Please 

I was where I am when the snow began, softly first, with inklings of a bit more.  The holly trees with red berries were welcoming a little storm; they love to dance when surrounded by snow.

The last snow we had then was several years past; it only snows here, maybe once every ten years. I make my wish for the snow to come stay again. We are expecting only a tiff here and there, most times those never last the morn.

So for now the snow I get will be in memory only. I'm getting years, our daughter doesn't want us to go where snow is common; that's because I would want to drive.

My memory is good, pictures albums help, the album in my head is about as good. My youthful sled hanging on a hook helps me too. I am ready.

_ _ _

 - Photos and Prose Copyright, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved

- I am linked with Merrill D Smith, at dVerse Prosery, Winter is Coming 

    https://dversepoets.com/2023/12/04/prosery-winter-is-coming/ 

 - Merrill has asked us to write not more than 144 words, mine is exactly 144 words long, excluding the title.  We were to include these words, "I am where I am when the snow began."  They were from a poem, "TheDead of Winter" by Samuel Menashe, found here.

 - The pictures are of our backyard, the snowy one the time it snowed and the snow stayed a while. 

- Click here to read what other writers have written

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