Author: poetryfest

Feeling as though Feeling was something

That I no longer safely feel.

Only a few understanding the leaf attached

To the branch of a tree.

And like the tree so does life have

a multitude of mysteries.

Winter into spring and summer into fall

Emotions like a dry forest floor are in need

of mother nature tears.

Only a gentle wind can know what the forest fears,

And only a tree in its singing and swaying can

Hear its children cry.

Measuring the voids that are darker than the night

Watching the leaf caressed by the wind destine for

Its plight. Feeling as though feeling was

Something that I no longer safely feel.

It’s Christmas time
Or is it?
Men’s folly hatred fear and greed
Invade good purpose
Ideals…
Ideals that keep us believing in lies
Trapped in the jaws of deception

Come forth to see
Rotten to the core
The world I speak
Betrayal of the soul
When we open our eyes

Should we scamper to the far reaches?
Hide away crushed by imposing burden…
The diabolical subterfuge of thugs? …the oligarchy…
Or shall we fight?
Fight for what is right
In the face of mortal dread
Screaming fear to burst the ear

Through the ages men faced with these
Adversaries of darkness, ambassadors of iniquity
Lifted their hearts from the pits
Beyond enslavement to greed
Though crushed by the hand of those
Who exist in jungle law and far worse
Whose kindness is only to themselves
A seemingly impossible foe

Yet fight they did
These fools of faith
In the face of despotism
Burst from the gloom of apathy
Trembling in the shadow of doubt
Of fear itself
By the fortitude of mettle their minds did race
To great invention, to victorious battle

Rise once more all ye of faith
Take war against the folly of evil
With reckoning of angels… the wrath of light…
Watch darkness shudder in terror
Retreat in fear from the purity of innocence
Too powerful for the princes of darkness
This smile from the fools of faith

virtual gratuity
about 10:30am a
systems analyst seated
himself at the boardroom of
our exceedingly prestigious software company,
snorting isopropyl alcohol through a paper
mask while awaiting tech support for stressful
presentation. he continued to transmit his
intricate calculations between quick whiffs until
fainting forward and face smacking his laptop’s
steel lip. now creating his systems restore point
for better syntax disambiguation, he compressed
his1st environment, custom formatting a hard
digital headache only to download a bloody
nostril linked to a high speed so expanding
executive’s lunch break. failing to find a waste
shredder, his old floppy RAMmed forth a
rasterized bit shot of plasma warm bug glitch
right into the speechless dynamic contrast
monitor glass of a refurbished yet split screen
high definition pixel dense temp resolution
geekoff apprentice (website certified) whose day
would have SATA defragged for cyber friendlier
drives. onto pity phishing, the analyst worm
processed out his corrupt excuse files while
nozzle cleaning off his heads disc gusting red
reboot and viral boogers from his slimy bytes.
there leaves no recovery from our story. it
merely cites my blog on blathering of graphic
albeit circuitous gratuitous virtual realities!

“America is More Than a Place” — (Original) Poem
By Ben Neuberger

The strength of this country doesn’t just come from the force of our might;
Or the power of our bite
It comes from what we represent
And the horrors we choose to prevent.
Our power isn’t defined by the weapons at our disposal,
Our power is defined by how we choose to use them
So with that, I’d like to make a proposal.
We aren’t strong, Just because of what we possess,
We’re strong because of who we are and how we’ve progressed.
Our prosperity isn’t just a product of where we’ve been and what we’ve overcome,
it’s a sign of what we can become.
America is more than a place,
It’s an idea worthy of embrace.
This land was meant for more than just you and me…
Beyond he and she
America is for people trying to become free,
For those who need a degree
And those who seek a better life
One without misery, one without strife
They come here
With their children and with their wife
All because they want a better way of life
One that’s not threatened by corruption or the edge of a knife.
There’s a reason people choose us above any other
We were founded by those who refused to shudder
By those who fought with every breath
Just so they could be free, despite the face of death.
We’re the only nation that has insisted we can do better
Perhaps that is why I am writing this letter
To remind those who have forgotten
That we should never be like those who controlled all the cotton
To be better means to treat those with the utmost respect
Without any prejudice or bias and without neglect.
Because We’re all Americans with the same goal in mind
We’re Just searching for a better mankind.
But creating a perfect union like we’ve discussed
It’s an ideal destined to bust
Although it’s never too late for us to adjust
It’s important to know that perfection is an unobtainable state
The goal isn’t perfection
The goal is less hate
The intent is to improve as many lives as we can
There is no other objective, this is the only plan.
Now, there’s something I’d like to say
You’re our equal in every which way
I don’t care how you pray
I don’t care if you’re gay
I don’t care if the color of your skin is brown, black or grey
You shouldn’t have to be society’s prey
But to this day,
Those who see you as less
They’re the ones playing checkers
While the rest are playing chess
Because with time comes something inspiring
Progress that’s never tiring
The People with backwater ideals
They might dig in their heels
But sooner or later, time will do its thing
Hopefully, in the way preached by Dr. Luther King
We will no longer tolerate racist notions by any means
Nor will we see others based solely on their genes
We will strive for kindness and compassion, perspective and common ground
This is far from impossible, it’s just a far bound
But united in this common endeavor
The ties of racism are something we can sever
It’s not enough to say never say never
One must become truly better
After all, Human progress is measured by only one thing
The value we place on a life,
Especially A life that’s considered inconsequential
According to a world that doesn’t question their potential
To see others as we hope to be seen
To treat others as we hope to be treated
These aren’t just the golden rules we’re taught when we’re young
They are the laws that bind us together as one.
Change will come if it is demanded
But It isn’t something that can be handed
It requires a united voice
And an essential choice
To be a part of reform that represents the end of oppression
It is for those who are faced with societal suppression
Which is why they require social progression
This is the right thing to do, and that’s the only reason we need
This endeavor is too important…I know this because people will lead
They’ll plead, and they’ll bleed
Just like those in the past
The Activists who massed
When the Protests were vast
They were the sound of the alarm that woke everybody up
To acknowledge racial inequality and how it’s corrupt
They won their fight because it was a united endeavor
Striving for something that’ll last forever
A change occurred to our nation’s morality
After equality was made a matter of legality
Bringing an end to generations of accepted brutality
With the introduction of a new normality,
Created a society with a newfound vitality
One that transformed our perceptions of reality
Into not discerning supremacy with nationality
We were the good guys, that was our mentality
The world saw first-hand what a racist nation accomplished
After 6 million Jews were killed and their lives were abolished
All because one man decided to adopt racist beliefs rooted in fiction
Because he saw his defeated nation was in need of conviction
So, in an effort to unify the majority
He made an infliction on the nation’s minority
Making them the enemy they could all detest
As a means to Restore the idea that they were chosen and blessed
Because otherwise, they’d be under arrest
Thrown into a cage with the gas they’d ingest
We see them as evil because of what they did and what they represented
We know their ideals were insanely demented
And they had no remorse for those they tormented.
In their eyes, Each was an abomination
And, therefore, due for damnation
But just like a lot of racism it had its duration.
The good guys prevailed
Freedom overcame oppression
We saw that evil is ethnic digression
And with that, it raises a very important question
How can we further our own racial progression?
Just because something is better than it was — Doesn’t mean it can’t be better than it is
Progress is continual
Because it’s habitual
History has shown, that regressive ideals are destined to mature
Because progress is the product of time and, so, time is its cure.
Racism is a wheel, and with its destruction
This nation could be the ideal
We could be the example that others will follow
We could heal so many who have grown hallow.
This mission isn’t just about saving our soul…it’s about making sure others remain whole.
It’s about the future we wanna create, so why wait…why not start now…
why not build a world based on a vow…
We are all different, yet we’re the same
No matter the nation, no matter the face
We’re all human…We’re one race
This is the truth that we need to embrace.
No matter where you come from you…there is no shame
That is not our aim…We should celebrate what makes us unique…
That’s what makes us human. Understanding that, that is the peak…
We’re not less because of how we are bred
It’s all about the life we’ve led…
When you look back on the kindness you’ve spread
Are others better off because you intervened?
Did you step up against every single fiend?…
How do you stop those from preying on people’s pain?
You simply change the rules of the game
With enough people, with a loud enough voice
You can force a choice
To support a noble endeavor
That’ll last a lifetime, which no one can sever.
It is the venture to fulfill this country’s oldest dream
Of a United Nation with a peaceful society
Where people act with a moral propriety
All while possessing all kinds of variety
Where we don’t judge each other for the things we can’t control
Because that isn’t what defines a person’s soul
We’re all born different, but we all start the same,
With a blank slate, playing the same game
While some are born at an advantage
The divide between those who aren’t is something we need to manage.
(So), The first step to solving any problem, is first recognizing there is one.
Our work is not done, nor will it be, by using a gun
We need to do better, as a people, and as a nation
Spreading moral reform, that is our station
Building a world for everyone to thrive
That should be our drive
Because…America is more than a place
It’s an idea that we need to embrace.

WE’RE NOT A LOVE SONG

We’re not a love song
We’re not gonna dance in the rain
When you leave me there will be no stain

We tried our best
We put us to the test
We knew and so did the rest

Our chapters over
But the story’s not done
In fact, I think it’s just begun

We’ll give It another go…in 10 or so years
when we’ve learned to live beyond our own fears
And by that time… we’ll be buying our own beers

We’ll start to talk
Like nothing has changed
Not your smile, not your eyes
It’s making me deranged

We drink, we laugh, we reminisce
And I can feel your love,
taking me away from the abyss
Till’ all that’s left,
is just a sense of bliss

Then a song gets played
That we can’t resist
So we head to the dance floor
Where I give you a little twist

We’re the only ones dancing
Not that we notice, nor do we care
Because moments like these, are truly rare

For a longtime,
this moment existed only as a dream
And every time, I’d wake up with a scream
But as I gaze into your eyes,
with my arms at your waist
I realize, for the first time
I’m in the perfect place

I’ve been all around the world
Trying to outrun my past
Foolishly believing That I can (actually) go that fast

But now that you’re here,
And I see you with my eyes
It’s clear what I feel
It has no disguise

You’re the missing piece to the puzzle that is my life
And now I know what I’ve been feeling…it’s pain…and it’s strife
Like a wound made by a blade or a really sharp knife
But now that you’re here, We could have a real nice life

(Cuz) You’re the best of me, and I’m the best of you
Even back then, this is something you knew
Like, it was destiny…if that were a thing
maybe I was always meant…to give you this ring

(But) I don’t wanna be a love song
Not with you
(Cuz) they always end the same,
(With) two people in rue

(But) you’re the love of my life
Of that I have no doubt
so let’s ride into the sunset
Are you in…or are you out

Your hesitant
I get it, I understand
But trust me, (and) give me your hand

(Cuz) After years have gone by,
When we’re old and gray
We’ll think about our life
and remember this day

The Master and his Work
by Patricia Poulos

One, was this Master with his work;
his hands, his mind, his eyes in unison
to create each sculptured masterpiece
of white marble which lived
Nicholas,
the greatest scuptor of our time
whose gift of design and craft,
brings a cold white marble slab
into a living masterpiece
Only Greek and Roman Gods, or
God in his graciousness,
could bestow such a gift
which separates a Master from man.
Each piece is carved with his sweat and soul,
and as if in the days of ancient Rome where
such magnificence was hailed,
as was the Master
The gift of life
through the Master’s hand compelling,
in his presence and,
in the presence of these
monumental masterpieces of his work.
To be given the privilege to touch
the life of the Master through his work,
as one’s fingers run down the spine
of his beautiful white bodies
which adorn the Master’s room.
But not all, are of beauty.
Some signify ‘injustice’
as does the ‘one-eyed-Judge’
in his full-bottom wig.
The Master is a man of principle; a father,
who adores his five children and
kept them close with home-schooling
with exposure to the Arts a close second.
He married a girl who would share
his every passion and, together in love,
they raised their growing family
But the ‘evil-one’ intervened
with this God-gifted creator
and separated
his mind from his eyes and his hands.
And so, struggling to combine his gifts,
it is his loving wife who stands
beside the Master and asks herself,
“What would Nicholas do?”
now unable, to impart instruction.
And so, the greatest Master of our time
is unable to give to the world any more
living masterpieces
and we, will have to be content
with what he has given us and marvel,
at the work
the Master brought to life.

The Corps of Discovery, by L. J. Martin

A President named Jefferson, he had a big dream.

It would take special men who could act as a team.

Jefferson picked Lewis, Lewis picked friend Clark

From a camp named Dubois, now to make their mark.

You can search for an answer, then find at your feet,

men who’ll not stop till the country’s complete.

Men like cougars, tough, strong, who will live off land,

who’ll work together, forged as a team they’ll stand.

The Louisiana Purchase had doubled the size

but a route to the Pacific now Jefferson’s prize.

The Corp of Discovery was the chosen name,

forty five souls, with luck, destined for fame.

Cook, du Pratz, MacKenzie teased of the goal.

But the route itself was an unknown black hole.

Forty five brave men and a hound named Seaman.

A Newfoundland hound that could be a demon.

A keelboat, two pirogues, packed bow to stern

Flora, fauna, tribes, and route, so much to learn.

Into the unknown, they pushed off from shore.

Forty five and a hound, made up the Corps.

It was May of 1804, and the water ran high.

Up-stream was a feat with death always nigh.

Not long on Big Mo Sergeant Charles Floyd died

Did this foretell of more, many corpsmen cried.

So on they charged, into a muddy roiling river.

Jefferson’s prize, they were determined to deliver.

They reached the great plains, bison, elk and deer,

for many a day hunger pains were nothing to fear.

The first to say no passage were the powerful Sioux,

But the Corps bowed backs and passed on through.

With winter’s first gale built a fort named Mandan,

They survived in good stead losing nary a man.

At Mandan Lewis hired guide Charbonneau.

More important than him was what would accrue.

His young wife Sacagawea, even ripe with child,

would lead the Corps, and help conquer the wild.

An expedition with a young handsome girl,

said peace, where hate and suspicion whirl.

The Mandans taught lessons that eased,

the Corp headed upriver, more than pleased.

Soon with a babe by Clark nicknamed Pomp,

Ahead of the men, she’d continue to stomp.

The captains watched, but continued to doubt,

Alas, Sacajawea, in the lead, matched any scout.

And soon only Charbaneau about whom the worried,

His wife, a treasure, babe on back she scurried.

Lewis stared at the horizon, wondering what he done,

Then forced doubt aside, always into setting sun.

The Mandans proved friends, helpful and kind,

from the boredom of winter, now it was grind.

Now it was sweat, walk, pole, pull and row,

few forces on earth top Spring’s mighty Mo.

Sand bars, log jams, snags say you damn fools,

with strong backs, determination, your only tools.

The good was plains, buffalo, ducks and deer.

The bad was in every way, danger was near.

With flora and fauna they sent the keel boat home.

Now with pirogue and canoes they would roam.

Now to the heart of darkness, the total unknown.

Hope and fear was with them, deep to the bone.

For Lewis, this unknown was a lifelong dream;

country, he said, “beautiful in the extreme.”

Grass belly deep, buff and precious beaver,

walk, paddle, and pull, advance now a fever.

Almost daily a new discovery, flora and fauna,

to explorer Lewis, the plains were nirvana.

West, west, now the Corps a finetuned team.

Now the wide Yellowstone on the left abeam.

But Jefferson instructed follow Mo to the end,

And west was the result, bend after wide bend.

With each discovery, Lewis made careful notes,

Now with iced paddles, charged on in small boats.

From buffalo fat cook made a fine puddin’ dish,

And plenty of wild meat, birds, even fish.

Nice Mandan ladies, plentiful buffalo meat,

Scurvy, syphilis, ailments that must be beat.

Hard winds and dust irritated the men’s eyes,

Still they charged on intent on Jefferson’s prize.

Ahead alone, Private Bratton shot a griz bear,

Arrived at the boats out of breath but not prayer.

A pirogue under sail was attacked by a squall,

filled an inch from the gunnels, about to lose all.

Bailing with kettles they paddled to shore.

Drying precious goods, as Mariwether swore.

Journals, maps, instruments, and equipment,

If destroyed there could be no new shipment.

Calm, collected, maid Sacajawea saved them,

Not first nor last time Corps was proud of the femme.

Upstream, hard labor, they were into the breaks.

Cliffs of bare brown, onward, whatever it takes.

But now, encouraged by Rockies seen far distant,

Driven now by new fervor, a goal more insistent.

The big Mo now rocky, danger near every turn,

Negotiating rough water, a challenging task to learn.

Collecting, gathering samples, much new to science,

Weather, Indians, animals, all showed defiance.

Now white cliffs, Lewis claimed a romantic sight,

Reminiscent of stately buildings in changing light.

Now a cloudy large river flowing in from the north.

The Milk a surprise, one of many, henceforth.

Then another fork, a quandary, both equal in size.

Clark and Lewis, heads together, no else to advise.

After miles of exploration up both equal streams,

Naming north the Marias, on south with the dreams.

Should they be mistaken it was a fearful choice,

but on up the south, captains said, with equal voice.

They decided it propitious to abandon the canoe

And charged on afoot, the path ahead always askew.

Through mud called gumbo, they’d slip, slide and fall.

But hardened by long row and trek, they all stood tall.

A slippery gumbo precipice had Lewis near death,

It seemed new danger near, with every ragged breath.

But birds, robin, thrush, goldfinch, blackbird and wren,

Flatland more beautiful than ever seen by these men.

On up the river they killed four elk, barrels of meat,

for a good long while, the Corps had plenty to eat.

Then glory, a view of the Rockies, covered with snow.

Among all, the belief in their task continued to grow.

And now the great falls, Lewis said, a sight to behold.

Now, afoot, a steep hard climb ahead only foretold.

Lewis prayed for the Shoshoni, and herds of horses,

for across the Rockies they’d know all the courses.

To Lewis’s surprise against all that he’d been told,

It was falls after falls. Again, a spectacle to behold.

His Journal said “pleasingly beautiful, sublimely grand.”

Then he was charged by buffalo, made a brave stand.

Reminded again that in the wild, were constant dangers.

Reminded again, here all the Corps were strangers.

With five falls in the river, it was a great portage.

But thank the lord, good health with food no shortage.

Then the girl, Sacajawea, fell terribly, feverishly ill.

Valuable to the Corps, cure took all of Lewis’s skill.

With a babe to suckle, and the Corps to lead west,

Healthy again, she marched on, babe to her chest.

The portage challenged even hardened Corps men,

toughest trek yet Lewis recorded, on paper with pen.

All this long way, they’d hauled a rigid steel frame,

now to sew a hide cover, a boat, the river to tame.

To his great chagrin, when launched the boat failed,

best laid plans of men, ease of advance curtailed.

Not easily thwarted, a copse of cottonwood found,

trees large enough to carve canoes, safe and sound.

Now the Missouri became three forks, in acclaim,

Madison, Gallatin and Jefferson by Lewis named.

Known to the maid as it was here she was captured,

so close to home no doubt now totally enraptured.

Blessed by the Lord, the chief of the first tribe found

Was Sacajawea’s brother, a coincidence renowned.

With herds of horses, for bobbles willing to trade,

and a guide who knew a route across, they prayed.

Sacajawea had again proved her worth pure gold,

with babe in hand, none of the men were more bold.

But the Rockies ahead proved a formidable test,

lay over the winter, a spot named Traveler’s Rest.

For babbles the Shoshoni’s traded for horses,

and provided a guide who knew mountain courses.

Then the Bitterroots, eleven days of pure hell,

deep snow, horses and men stumbled and fell.

Steep country, deep creeks, rocks, blowing snow,

for the very first time, they feared nowhere to go.

Then the Shoshoni guide came thru, the Lolo trail,

then the Nez Pierce, new horses, they cannot fail.

Ahead the wide Snake, the hope of sound boats,

It must lead to the Pacific, new hope of easy floats.

Now they learned to make canoes by burning,

a short stay, for the wide Pacific new yearning.

The gentle Snake, no hiking ahead, easy floats.

Into the wide Columbia, thank God, new boats.

In places a glorious half mile from side to side,

To the Pacific, kick back, a flat easy ride.

But soon they discovered, wild rapids ahead,

this close to success, they could all be dead.

Falls, short narrows, some dangerous and long,

But good food, good rest, and all were strong.

They portaged, carrying heavy boats around,

again they were convinced, the Pacific bound.

November 7th, 05. Oh joy, tidle changes in view,

And they thought, easy living…if they only knew.

Hostile Indians, constant fog, nights soaking wet,

They hoped rest and food, but now constant fret.

But soon with new vigor they were headed home.

Familiar paths, even then they decided to roam.

Lewis one way, Captain Clark another path,

After all, discovery, sure fame the aftermath.

They met again far down the great Missouri,

Safe, they’d faced the far west in all her fury.

A great adventure, they only lost one man,

only shot one savage, against their plan.

Oh history, the Corps, what an epic story,

for Jefferson and Corps, nationwide glory.

One country, forever, from sea to shining sea,

a country Jefferson, and God meant to be.

Sadly, damn French, brought pox to the west,

Comely lasses and villages brought needed rest.

Clark would be successful, happy and wed.

Soon Lewis, infected, by this own hand dead.

A sad ending for a two-year magnificent tale.

A trek most said was destined, would surely fail.

But a country, forever on, from sea to shining sea.

A country God, and President Jefferson meant to be.

A Corps of Discovery, by Jefferson directed,

A country, for all, Corps and Jefferson perfected.

It matters. Leaders Lewis, Clark, and the Corps,

left a trail, eight thousand miles, none can ignore.

Lewis said when sighting the Pacific, Oh Glory

It’s a tale all should revere, for all a proud story.

They were men, hound, brave lady and baby,

who faced the unknown with hope and a maybe.

So, around the campfire or full supper table,

It’s a true tale to tell, better than any liar’s fable.

Don’t Listen to Harry, by Wayne E. Johnson

Business was slow,
I had nothing to do.
I sat in my office,
Tying my shoe.

I sat there in silence,
And stared at the clock.
And wished it were Friday,
Or at least 12 o’clock.

Too early for lunch,
Too late for a break.
I tapped on my desk,
No decisions to make.

So all I could do,
Was to sit, sit, sit, sit!
Put my feet on the desk,
And not give a…crap.

Then something went bump!
My chair crashed to the floor.
I looked up and saw Harry,
Peeking in through the door.

“Let’s take early lunch,
Don’t lie there like that.
Let’s go to that men’s club,
The Cat in the Hat.”

“The beers are twelve dollars,”
I said with a frown.
“But the girls,” Harry said,
“Are the best ones in town.”

“They have one named Sally,
At The Cat in the Hat,
Who spins both her tassels,
One this way, one that.”

“She does quite a pole dance,
I’m happy to say,
Will leave your head numb,
For the rest of the day.”

“She’ll give you a lap dance,
For ten dollars more,
We’ll have lots of fun,
So get up off the floor.”

Selfishness abounds (as water surrounds)

Me, me, its’ all about me (swim with abandon)

Mind wants it all – all the time, days/nights, consuming all

Sleeping, waking, dreaming, working, loving

Who am I anyway

How can he, she, them, do that

To MOI?

The great, the all-knowing, the perfect

(The small, the ignorant, the flawed)

Pat me self on me back

(Scourge yourself, you deserve whipping)

You’re so sane, yes, yes, yes

(Your so insane, no, no, no)

Beat back the tide, waits for…who ever waits…

Float. (no thoughts) Float. (Fully Free) Float. ( Sigh )

One can fully let go here (or anywhere)

Yet, the salt, the Aegean is

Mystical, magical, clear, clean calm

giving, forgiving, reliving, re…juvenat…ing

US ALL

Eyes close

Float – go with it. Float – go with it – Float

Eyes open – all full, full of

God. Above, white clouds form a sea, an old man of the sea

Against, surrounded by, the blue, blue sky

The All-powerful face looks down at me

Benevolently sheds a cloud

A tear for me, a helpless human

Compassionate first and last…

He speaks to me – short messages:

“Go apologize to your love.” This minute.

“I gave her to you!” “Cherish her, you child.”

(He didn’t say that. Ok, He did.)

I obey gladly.

Another breath of love

Another second of togetherness

Blessings abound

Sanity returns

The small-self steps back, grateful/peaceful.

The Self steps forward.

You’ve got no love,
And you’ve got no glory,
You’ve got nothing left to give,
So that’s the end of your story,
Well I’m sitting here,
And I hope that you listen,
As hard as it seems,
It’s just part of the mission.

The mission is a job,
It’s a duty, it’s a score,
It’s what picks you up,
Makes you stand up for more,
You don’t get rewarded,
It’s not about giving,
It’s all about goals,
And the will to keep living.

These things you know,
They’ve been there all along,
You just forgot the lyrics,
Lost the tune to the song,
You can’t give in,
Not even a fraction,
You have a legacy to pass on,
That can’t survive distraction.

You have to be there,
For anyone to hear you,
If you’re not there,
No one else will review,
So get this straight,
Assume the position,
Get off your back,
And get on with the mission!