Hitting Back is something that originated a decade ago. A way for me to connect my observations on life, music, poetry, and sports.
“The Moon”
By Derek Felix AKA DFlex
The moon watches over in full view
An image of gold above
Bringing us something new and cool
That shines brightly full of love
It creates a different vision
Painting another world in plain sight
Altering our life’s mission into wishing
What would it be like to be up in the moonlight
Would it change our perception
By seeing a very small place beneath
Things would be interpreted differently by our reception
What lies beneath is quite deep
“Dreams or Fantasy”
By Derek Felix AKA DFlex
We all have dreams
That we picture over the stars
Turning us into kings and queens
Driving through the air in futuristic cars
Into a galaxy far beyond
That captivates us into a flashy daze
Like the sun magnifying a pond
Flying faster than a legendary Mays
We track things we don’t often see
Then, catch a glimpse of intrigue and mystery
Creating an illusion that becomes a fantasy
Something that’s a great escape from reality
It’s the subconscious state that runs parallel
As our minds journey into a unique place
There we are at the bottom of a wishing well
It’s everything we’ve ever dreamed, like outer space
These are what dreams are made of every night
As we admire the full moon overlooking our world
It’s an electrifying light that makes it out of sight
Or something fancier like golden diamonds and pearls
It’ll make your eyes blink in admiration
Is this the real thing, or a beautiful odyssey
How we all have wandered into a dreamy vacation
That’ll always make us wonder about making real the fantasy
“Freedom From Within” By Derek Felix AKA DFlex
One day
Things will be okay
A breath at a time
From darkness to sunshine
Time will no longer stand still
Where I’m dependent on a pill
The overwhelming thoughts will disappear
I’ll finally be able to think clear
Peace will come at last
And this shall finally pass
Freeing my mind to a better place
Where my heart won’t race
I’ll finally escape the dark path
That’s tortured me so full of wrath
From crawling on my knees
Begging for mercy from God please
To walking and enjoying nature again
Full of sunlight that’s far away from where I’ve been
I can move the clock back to 2005 when I felt alive
Minus the stress, I was truly blessed and full of drive
Free of negative thoughts able to fully smile
And hold onto the moment and enjoy it for a while
Like the old park days when anything was possible
To feel young at heart and unstoppable
Let the air be breathed in and feel the ocean breeze
Play a cool beat that I could magically squeeze
And I can really see your mesmerizing vision again
I’ll finally say the words I always wanted to to begin
We can start fresh and be reintroduced as if it’s a new world
Bringing the passion and energy as I admire your shiny diamond pearl
You complete me and take me so very far
Just like the magical true shining star you always are
This is dedicated to the families in Buffalo and to cities every day who face senseless tragedies.
By Derek Felix AKA DFlex
“Please Stand Up For Ukraine”
By Derek Felix AKA DFlex
“All I See”
By Derek Felix AKA DFlex
I’m lying awake in bed and it’s late
Once again, I can’t quite checkmate
Thoughts and ideas are all in my mind
As I ponder if you’re one of a kind
There are different things going on for a change
It’s like a novel I started and try to turn the page
Overcoming writer’s block that’s lasted what seemed like forever
Only now I’ve opened my eyes and know it’s now or never
There’s a whole other world out there
To be explored and experienced as I see what’s near
In my view, I can see the ice cold coast in the distance
The thing is it’s always been there in existence
All I see are unique pictures of art
All I see are endless possibilities at the start
It’s like I finally awoke from a bad dream
To discover that not everything is a crooked scheme
Now, I know where things truly stand
I no longer need to draw a line in the sand
From stars to shining sea, there’s a special key
A unique place where we can truly be pure and free
All we gotta do is take a closer look at the world
And we’ll find the answers in another dimension of priceless pearls
The best place that can answer our wishes
It’s like sea water full of wonderful fishes
Swimming around underneath enjoying their paradise
In wonderment of all that makes it unique and nice
All I see is the light at the end of the tunnel
All I see the darkness evaporating into a rainbow funnel
“Somewhere”
by Derek Felix aka DFlex
Somewhere deep
Lies another world
Full of hope and peace
Where dreams are real
Instead of imagined
A unique place
That brightens our day
Without the confusion
Of misguided leadership
That gets us nowhere
It’s another dimension
Above heaven
Beyond our comprehension
You can see it
If you just look closely
Reach ahead
And you’ll be there
Full of happy tears
Where there are only cheers
“Oh Beautiful World”
by Derek Felix
Oh beautiful world
How we need you now
More than ever
To keep us altogether
In a place
Full of lies and deceit
That tell half truths
And look away in retreat
We need a better place
Than what we have
For common good
And all lives shared
I hope one day
This shall pass
And find a better way
Like dust in the wind
Of our past
Meet the new boss! The same as the old boss! But as I channel Pete Townsend and The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, I’m here to tell you that I’ve made a few subtle changes to Hitting Back. This way it improves things over time.
Since I am back, there’ll be more fun content coming as the autumn kicks in. We’re only a couple of weeks until my brother’s birthday, which means Halloween is right around the corner. Michael Myers is lurking. I definitely need to get out to the movie theater and check out the brand new Joker movie. It’s gotten rave reviews. Of course it has. Joaquin Phoenix was an excellent choice to play the tortured soul.
My advice to panicked people who are afraid to see it is then don’t. Everyone overreacts these days to anything that’s not their cup of tea. Or so they’ve been warned told by the mainstream media, who are responsible for a lot of half truths in their reporting. So much for being professional. I don’t recall the world going crazy over Heath Ledger’s legendary Joker character in The Dark Knight. That was in 2008. What changed?
“Did your balls drop off?”
There’s never a bad time to reference one of my favorite scenes. It’s really very simple. If you’re a parent and don’t want your teenage kid to see a movie, fine. The same should apply to the kind of risque programming that too many kids are influenced by today. Ditto for the dangerous world of social media. Where are all the parents who aren’t paying attention to what their kids are doing on Facebook and Twitter? Out to lunch like most. And they wonder why suicides and school shootings happen. Too much technology is toxic. Even grown adults don’t know how to act without name calling.
It’s rather easy advice here. I live by one rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated. It works. Don’t listen to others because they are what’s wrong with society. Like Ellen DeGeneres said regarding her enjoyable experience at the Packers vs Cowboys game with President George W. Bush. Just because you don’t share the same views doesn’t mean you can’t respect them and enjoy each other’s company. People need to be more accepting. Not intolerant like the false lie that’s irresponsibly been spread like wild fire.
Hatred isn’t healthy for anyone. I often refer to this famous quote from Robin Williams in one of my all-time favorite movies, Dead Poets Society.
“Carpe Diem! Seize The Day!”
His Mr. Keating character remains legendary. He emphasized to his English class that there would be no measuring of poetry. To paraphrase, ‘In my class, you will be taught to think for yourself.’
That’s become a lost art. For those unique individuals who do, my hat is off to you. If we all applied it to our daily lives, the world would be a lot better. Much healthier too. By that, I mean the stigma attached to Mental Health. There are many of us who suffer from anxiety or even worse issues. It’s why there needs to be more compassion and better understanding. Not everyone is the same. Words really do hurt. We must be more self aware.
Do better than the corrupt politicians and crooked media, whose goal is to create hate and spread divide. Be the best person you can be. Like Robin Williams’s Mr. Keating character was!
The emotional final scene is one of the best. His students believed in him even as he was unjustly outed from the fictional prep school Welton Academy in Vermont. Unfairly blamed for Neil’s tragic death by suicide due to an overbearing father, who wouldn’t allow him to live his dream of being an actor. A flawed and tragic character wonderfully played by a young Robert Sean Leonard.
I always love how Todd (Ethan Hawke) stood up on the desk and stuck up for Mr. Keating to create a touching moment of tribute that will never get old. His classy response of, “Thank you, boys. Thank you”, was perfect.
That is how it should be. No matter what. Let’s enjoy our lives and see the good in things. There’s a whole other world out there for us to explore. You just have to take a moment to breathe it in and see it.
Happy Yom Kippur to my Jewish friends who celebrate.
Derek Felix is the author of all the views expressed in this space. Hitting Back can be found at our new domain:
https://hittingback21.wordpress.com
Follow me on Twitter @Kovy274Hart
HITTING BACK 