there’s a gun in my pocket
heavy with the essence of
another man’s soul
still swirling in the smoky barrel
in this dark corner of this lonely
and forgotten
bar is the man who played
Thanatos and brought to
inevitable conclusion the yearnings
of a single human life
in this corner, sipping cheap
whiskey
and smoking
foreign cigarettes is a
killer with a conscience
but you’d never know it
steady hands and
unwavering eyes
greet the bartender
I order another
shot
and pat my thigh, keeping
the soul in the chamber
for just a little longer
because, really, it’s my soul
that’s been stolen by that
gun in my pocket
-Ron Sparks 2015-06-02
the gun in my pocket (poem)
June 3, 2015 
1 Comment
Memorial Day 2015 Motorcycle Ride
May 25, 2015 0 Comments
A few minutes of my wife and I riding my 2004 Kawasai Vulcan 1500 in Western Pennsylvania, on our way from Pittsburgh to Ohiopyle State Park. This clip is a sped-up clip of a beautiful back road called Bear Rock Road.
Memorial Day: Lest We Forget (#noPoliticsToday)
May 25, 2015 1 Comment
In this time of hyper-partisan politics, with compromise and mutual respect seemingly things of the past, I find myself contemplating Memorial Day. Today. May 25th, 2015. Very few times in history have we been as divided as a people as we are now. Never before has the average man had such a huge voice. And based on what I am seeing on social media, a lot of people are using today to push ideological values and agendas forward. I am seeing it from people I know, celebrities, and politicians. But Memorial Day is not about them. They can’t have it.
Memorial day is a federal holiday where we remember those who have died in service of this country; the United States of America. Let’s take a moment and set aside our differences, our agendas, and our posturing, and come together today. Instead we should be remembering the sacrifice so many of our young men and women made; they died in service this country.
- If you don’t support President Obama’s policies, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you hate the Republican party that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you hate the Democratic party that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you didn’t agree with former President Bush sending us to war, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you are so angry at climate change deniers you could spit, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you are shaking your head at the socialist leanings of political figures, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you think guns should be removed from the hands of civilians, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you think the Earth is 6,000 years old, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you think the Earth is over 4 billion years old, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you think Hillary would make a terrible President, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you think it’s high time we have a female President, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you despise war, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you are a Muslim, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you are a Christian, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
- If you are an atheist, that’s ok; you should still feel humbled and grateful for the sacrifices made for you.
Bottom line, my friends, is that regardless of your personal, social, political, or spiritual beliefs – you live in a country where your right to have those opinions has been fought, and died, for for over two hundred years. Are we perfect? Of course not. Are we close to an ideal society? Hell no.
But you are here today, living the life you live, because of the ultimate sacrifice made by your fellow Americans. They died, in service of their country. We should respect, and be in awe of, that sacrifice that NONE of you reading this have had to make.
This day is not about veterans, civilians, the government, politics, politicians, or anyone alive. It is not about proving points and scoring against those you disagree with. It’s not about the BBQ you’re eating today. It is about those who have died so that you might be free.
Set aside your differences today and remember, and respect, those who have sacrificed all for you. Look at your fellow Americans and realize, at least for today, our differences shouldn’t matter. Today, it’s about gratitude for the chance to even have those differences.
#noPoliticsToday
The Binary Biker 