some of you may have seen this nugget
from george carlin, a comedian rugged
who apparently, from e-circulation received
wrote this after his first wife deceased
and who recently himself rested in peace

so circulating “carlinism” below to introspect
the paradox of life to inspect
faux or not, in honor of george and paying last respect
i left the prose intact
ramrom formatted for effect

the paradox of our time in history is that
we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
we spend more, but have less,
we buy more, but enjoy less.

we have bigger houses and smaller families,
more conveniences, but less time.
we have more degrees but less sense,
more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.

we drink too much, smoke too much,
spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry,
stay up too late, get up too tired
read too little, watch tv too much
and pray too seldom

we have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
we talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

we’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.
we’ve added years to life not life to years.

we’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
we conquered outer space but not inner space.
we’ve done larger things, but not better things.

we’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
we’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
we write more, but learn less.
we plan more, but accomplish less.
we’ve learned to rush, but not to wait.
we build more computers to hold more information,
to produce more copies than ever,
but we communicate less and less.

these are the times of fast foods and slow digestion,
big men and small character,
steep profits and shallow relationships.

these are the days of two incomes but more divorce,
fancier houses, but broken homes.
these are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throwaway morality, one night stands,
overweight bodies, and pills
that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

it is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
a time when technology can bring this letter to you,
and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete..

life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away…
george carlin (may12,1937-june22, 2008)

from carlin to berlin crooning in my head
in His time, all of us be permanently laid to bed
to be resurrected or in hell dwell, based on while-alive choices made?

watching every motion in this foolish lover’s game
haunted by the notion somewhere there’s a love in flames
turning and returning to some secret place inside
watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say
take my breath away
my love, take my breath away