Poems by Doug William Benson

There once was a disk called a record
Played on vinyl with a stylus connector 
Known for hisses and pops
And scratches on top
Cryptic messages when they're played backward?

Next came the track with an eight
Only Boomers seem to relate
'Twas the first in a car
Played on loop; how bizarre
"Oh you liked that song? You'll have to wait!"

More popular, a tape called cassette
With a Walkman and skates you were set
You could finally rewind
But you'd oft lose your mind
'Cause the ribbons in knots they would get

Then came the disk that's compact
Just press "back" or "repeat" or "next" track
You would organize for hours
Thanks to cases and towers
Be careful! Don't scratch, smudge or crack!

MP3 was what followed next
"Pod," "Shuffle," "Mini"- all hexed
Though mobile and thin
Born too close to their kin
So their lifespan was set to be vexed

Then an Apple took its place on the throne
And from that point we'd never be alone
With a tooth that is blue
Meaning wireless too
Who'd of thought we'd have music on our phone?

So, truthfully, will it be that long,
Before our ears have the power of song?
With a light infrared
From the chip in our head?
Guess we'll see what A.I. brings along!

Deathly heat sets in
Choose windows or mountain tops
I become a slave

When choices present throughout the whole day
Enticing you to go this or that way
With convincing arguments that both sides portray;
I find answers are oft in the middle.

Screams to pick teams, we must choose from extremes
In a world which we live in with vitriolic themes
And haters both teeter and totter it seems;
Whereas balance is oft in the middle.

How unpopular it is to not pick a side
And a reach 'cross the aisle now seems to divide
Each end of the spectrum prompts feelings to hide;
When peace is oft in the middle.

Whether raised to critique with a skeptical eye
Or to simply believe without questioning why
Both can dangerously judge with a stubborn reply;
While curiosity is oft in the middle.

When a harm has been done and there's reason to hate
And it feels like they've won 'cause no one can relate
So you force out a smile hoping time will abate;
Yet forgiveness is oft in the middle.

When criticizing you is the best they can do
And you want to respond so that they feel it too
Let the pendulum swing for a moment or two;
Because love is oft in the middle.

The batteries of a flashlight
or a luminescent wristwatch
will die over time;
HIS light is immortal.

The bulb in the streetlamp
the headlight
the modern-day lighthouse
will all burn out one day;
HIS light will burn on forever.

The lights cast by
a small ember
the cozy chimney flame
or the raging wildfire
will at some point lose their power;
HIS light will never extinguish.

Even the celestial lights
the sun, the moon, the stars
all have their temperance
within a single rotation of the Earth,
HIS light is omnipresent.

HE is the only true,
Light of the World.

We're gathered together in tribute to pay,
A life that was lost, yet still paving the way,
And in spite of our mourning, all is not grey,
For heaven received a new angel today.

The lives that were touched by your marks will portray,
The memories created that forever will stay,
As those who've been blessed to know you would say,
That heaven received a new angel today.

So, thank you dear (loved one) for all that you gave,
Your time and your heart; Each sacrifice made,
Just keep moving forward and let your legacy stay,
As heaven receives a new angel today.

And into HIS arms may you run to this day,
Eternal embracing with tears wiped away,
HIS army's now stronger than it was yesterday,
Because heaven received a new angel today.