By Bruno Talerico
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Integrity is the quality of being honestand having strong moral principles.Most Republican voters claim their values include:One: Individual responsibility, Two: Limited government,and Three: Moral integrity.Yet they elected (twice)and many continue to supporta leader with the lowest moral standards.Perhaps their real values also include:Four: Militant Ignorance,Five: Complicity,and Six: Self-Deception.Regardless of political orientation,at times, we all are…
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No honor is lostin accepting defeat. What kind of person endures such misery,then plans to return a few days later? Everyone has something that grounds them: a rocker on the front porch,a window overlooking the garden,a shelf of Kerouac and Hemingway. His solace is the inner gorge. Breaking camp before dawn,he trots to the trailhead.…
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In the scented kingdom,as they push through the snow,first time feeling the sun’s warmth, spring plants must rejoice.Soft, moist, malleable clay feels goodin the potter’s hands.Do the potter’s hands feel as goodto the clay?Peering through Venetian blindscovertly observing the drafting table,a good secret agent would findan Exacto-knife to be just as effectiveas a credit cardwhen…
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Reading dogeared trail guides,examining coffee-stained maps,mentally tracing the paths.You imagine vistas—the weariness, the blisters.You calculate:liters of water, calories of food,miles per hour adjusted for terrain,the weight of each boot.You wind duct tape onto a pencil stub,cut handles off toothbrush and trowel,paring every millimeter and ouncetrimming the backpack’s burden.You listen to stories of adventuresand challenges by…
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Even now, miles and years away from her,I hear her siren song.It was early July and I had just completeda 47-day bicycle ride from Seattle to Atlantic City.My fiancé welcomed me warmlyat the airport in Phoenix.I had already signed a contractfor a third season at the North Rim Clinicwhen she announced her decision.She wouldn’t drive…
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Nights begin in earnestwhen white light shimmerslike a satin gown. Lucy rarely makes sense,but in the big scheme, details don’t matter muchwhen the sky stareswith evergreen eyes that glimmerlike diamonds on velvet.Sterling silver souloffered in sanguine sacrifice.© 2025 Bruno TalericoStafford challenge 303/365.Inspired by two favorite songs:Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Soul Sacrifice.
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As the sun settles behind the mountainI know this is the last time I will ever sit at this tableoverlooking desert grasslands. Habits are lies that lull us into feelingthere is something lasting.Nothing really lasts.If I come to this place tomorrowoverlooking desert grasslands,it will again be the last time.There will be nothing lasting about it.Last…
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While living on the north rim,I woke each morning to gazedeeply into the heaven and hellthat is the Grand Canyoncarved by the mighty Colorado.Each week pedaling my bikethrough desert heat and desiccating windto Point Imperial and Cape Royal,my breath stolen by dry desert air,gazing through Angels Window a vertical mile down into the grand abyss,…
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Chant your longings into the mist.A kindred spirit will listen.It is folly to drift and hide desire.Instead—dig deep; uncover the Self.© 2025 Bruno TalericoStafford challenge 300/365.
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The universeisn’t a vast sea of compassion. Buddhism says: “Life is suffering.” Existentialism says: “We need to find meaningin inherently meaningless life.” Christianity proclaims: “Humankind is inflictedwith temptation and imperfection.” Other philosophies admitlife’s fundamental pessimism.Each in their own way concedessuffering is the breath of reality. The universe—a frozen lake—is indifferent to life’s tragedy. The unblinking…
Desert Dweller 