Author: Rob Kistner

The Cast

Author’s note: I love fly-fishing the breathtaking Cascade mountain streams near my home. Native trout are plentiful, and very active. The sound of the rushing water, the crisp breeze in the conifers, backlit by sunrise, is absolutely intoxicating.

The body rhythms of fly-casting are so engaging, and when surrounded by such natural beauty — it’s mesmerizing! It is a Zen-like experience, in which I loose myself completely, escaping the stress and pressures of day-to-day life.

The fluid feel of the cast is exhilarating. I wrote this poetic homage to the experience.
Continue reading The Cast

I Remember the World of Tomorrow

The title of this post is a lyric from the Todd Rundgren song “Future”, which appears on his “Liars” CD from 2004. Being a child in the 50’s and a college student in the 60’s, that phrase struck me on a number of levels, beyond the paradox it represents. Without having to hear the lyrics I understood the song was a lament regarding the unfulfilled naive vision we all held 50 years ago of what the future would be.

UTOPIA

We envisioned a utopia of peace and freedom, flying cars, colonies on other planets, computers that existed in the background of daily life serving our every whim, eternal youth, and everlasting health. With robots liberating us from the grind of mundane or oppressive work, we believed we’d have time on our hands to pursue a life of art, culture, philosophy — in a clean, shiny, thriving, modern world of tomorrow. Space travel would be available to all.

The Jetson’s in 1962 may have been a television cartoon series, but it also spoke to a collective dream, a hope we here in America shared — even if we did so with a foolish innocence. Walt Disney’s Tomorrowland, which opened in 1955, the 1964 New York’s World’s Fair, and Disney’s Epcot Center, first conceived in 1966 — these were all hopeful visions of a future world that would be utopian in nature.

LOSS OF INNOCENCE

The problem with those particular perspectives is that they were not only absurdly innocent, they were dangerously narrow. We hoped that the emergence of technology itself would elevate the condition of mankind, perhaps even the very nature of man.

That foolhardy innocence of America has been dismantled piece by piece beginning in the 60’s, into the 70’s, and to now — the result of assassinations, riots, wars, terrorism, and global environmental decline that may in fact now threaten our very existence.

TECHNOLOGY: SERVANT OR MASTER

At the same time technology has advanced in ways we couldn’t even comprehend 50 to 60 years ago. It did not, in and of itself, elevate the condition of man. There are some who would say that today, the computer does not serve us — we serve the computer.

While I fully believe that certain aspects of technology have advanced well beyond man’s ability to keep pace, contributing to a great deal of the overriding stress in today’s civilization — I do not believe that technology is a bad thing. I am not a neo-luddite. I believe technology is capable of great good and great evil. The uncertain component is the human component.

CAN WE, SHOULD WE

There is a line from Jurassic Park, spoken by Jeff Goldblum’s character, the chaotician Ian Malcolm, that resonates with me in a similar manner as does the title of this post. Speaking in the midst of the catastrophe that InGen had created by cloning the dinosaurs, Ian said, “Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Today, like no other time in the history of mankind, I believe technology places that most critical inquiry at the very center of our lives: could we vs. should we? As we now pull back the veil on bioengineering, nanotechnology, brain-computer interface (BCI), we need to seriously delve into this “could we / should we” question.

I am not looking at this from a moral perspective, I will leave that to others so inclined. I am considering this strictly from a survival of the species point of view.

GREATEST ERA OR END OF DAYS

As James Martin, one of our great modern thinkers and author of the “The Meaning of the 21st Century” points out in his most optimistic and uplifting book, man stands on the threshold of either the greatest era in human history, or the end of life as we know it — and the outcome rests in our hands.

He acknowledges that this profound conclusion has been reached before in history, but he goes into most convincing detail to demonstrate why this was simply not true in the past, and prove, arguably beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is an absolute certainty today.

Martin’s book is engaging, compelling, and hyper-relevant. It should be required reading for everyone, especially every corporate, government, and academic leader in the world.

TECHNOLOGY & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

This post is not intended as an infomercial for james Martin, nor is it a negative doom & gloom condemnation of today’s world. However, I cannot ignore the social responsibility we all have with regard to technology.

Rest assured that we have no way to comprehend the magnitude of that which we do not know about the future. Compared to the 1950’s, we have far less leeway today with regard to the naiveté we can afford to carry forward into time. It could prove devastating.

Those who create, manufacture, and distribute technology, as well as those of us who use it — we must all remain mindful of the balance between “can we” and “should we”, and vigilant that we do not tip that scale. If we pay prudent attention to these two questions, and take the responsible steps to restore what imbalance we may have created to date — our future will be a great era of humankind.

The Patient Sea

“I offered this post for OLN #250 to celebrate September on the Oregon Coast.
This was originally written and posted in 2007.”

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Indian Beach, Oregon Coast

 
The Patient Sea

~

roaring in
the chest of the wave
slams the massive boulder

the great stone rocks back
undetectably

with a deep thud
more felt than heard
it bumps solid
against the face of the cliff
to which it crowds

as the spent wave recedes
the hulking mass settles again
immovable as bedrock
defying the next swell
and the next
and the next

but the sea is patient

this steadfast giant
in the ebb and flow of time
will acquiesce
becoming the grains of sand
upon which it now rests

9F04F545-1E80-4B93-BB4B-2C7B99C8099B
Indian Beach sunset, Oregon Coast

~ ~ ~

rob kistner © 2007

 

  • Click below to check out more poems at dVerse:

    OpenLinkNight #250

     

    More Oregon Coast September images.

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    indian-beach-sunset-web.jpg

    The two photos immediately above I captured years ago in the month of September. The top photo is the Heceta Head lighthouse on the Oregon Coast. I loved the powerful visual impact created by the tiny lighthouse, beside the vast Pacific Ocean. The bottom photo is of sunset at Indian Beach, also on the Oregon Coast. I digitally rendered both originals into giclée on dappled canvass. “Lighthouse” measures 36″W x 46″H and “September Sunset” measures 60″W x 24″H.
    NOTE: below are two tighter shots of the Heceta Head lighthouse pictured in the giclée above to give you a better sense of scale. The people pictured in the photo at the very bottom below enhance perspective of scale even further.

    20A3B8A7-B053-436C-B1C8-29F0DF92A32D

    • Jazz

    jazz-web.jpg

    Rob Kistner © 2007

    This is a new piece I created as an abstract representation of what jazz might look like if it could be seen with the eye. The shifting colors depict the moods that evolve and change during the improvisational playing, the vibrating lines are the riffs, and the geometric points are the percussive licks. Part of my 3D Geometric series, “Jazz” is a giclée on Arches textured stock, and measures 48″W x 24″H.

    Remembering — Poems For My Family

    NOTE: I am sharing these poems today on OLN, so that I can remember. A significant family event occurred this past week, which I will not share here. It made me wang to be a fly on the wall to my own past. You can join me if you wish.

    Here is a suite of four love poems I’d written to my family. “A Clearing” is written to my wife, Kathy. “Remembered” is written to my daughter, Jennifer. “Tough Love” is written to my son, Justin. And “The Picture” is written to my departed son, Aaron. Click below if you would like to read this suite of poems.

    Authors note: I wrote this following piece in honor of my wife, Kathy, on the occasion of our 20th anniversary as a couple, our 18th wedding anniversary, which occurs next week. Kathy, like me. is an artist. Her discipline is contemporary fiber art. Her work is unique, and her craftsmanship is quite splendid. We are just beginning to set up a website for her Fibrations Studio.

    A CLEARING

    •

    (For my wife Kathy)

    Often, when you’re away,
    a calm settles over me.
    I’m filled with a warmth, a peace,
    a joy that is my love for you!

    The fog of life’s distractions dissipates.
    The veil of pride and insecurity lifts.

    I see, with great clarity,
    how real – my love for you,
    how true – my bond of fidelity,
    how remarkable – our relationship,
    how certain – I would give my life for you!

    In these precious moments
    emotions overwhelm me.
    I vow I will share with you
    the depth of these feelings,
    holding nothing back – baring all!

    Then the fog creeps back.
    I am again shrouded by insecurity.
    Expressions of love falter – I fall mute.

    So, my love, see these words as a clearing,
    where you can visit and be nurtured.
    A private, wonderful place you can go,
    to know these treasures in my heart!

    …

    Rob Kistner © 2007

    ______________________

    Author’s note: This following piece is written to my oldest child, my daughter, Jennifer. She lives in another city, in another state. I seldom get to see her. She is active in her financial career and travels the world. However, she always remembers my birthday. I genuinely appreciate the present she will send, but I look so forward to the arrival of the accompanying card — word’s can’t explain. It’s the card in which she takes pen in hand, and puts pen to card to write me some words of love. The note always starts with my most favorite word!

    Remembered
    •

    (For my daughter Jennifer)You’ll Ii

    After all these years, she hasn’t lost the magic,
    to transport me through time and space.

    As I open the card that found its way
    across the lonely miles between us,
    I see it, the magic word,

    Daddy!

    Like a brilliant sorceress,
    she’s cast her spell.
    I find myself in a wonderful dream.

    She floats into my arms,
    wrapping me in warm embrace:

    pure,
    absolute,
    unquestioning,

    LOVE!

    “Daddy!” She smiles into my eyes.
    She is my little girl again,
    my firstborn, my beautiful daughter!

    So I cry.

    …

    Rob Kistner © 6/25/95

    ______________________

    Author’s note: This following piece is written for my youngest child, and only surviving son, Justin. It is my great joy to have raised him, and to know him now as a man.

    Tough Love

    •

    (For my son Justin)

    Ours is a tough relationship,
    tough love, no room for timid.

    It is so easy to find fault,
    for there in you go I.

    Your imperfections glare at me.
    I have them all within, and more.

    Photos from my past, uncanny,
    they might as well be you.

    But it’s where we’re not alike
    that your miracle begins.

    You shine more brightly than I do,
    or likely, ever did.

    You care for people, honestly.
    I feign, in truth, I’m distant.

    Your strength in facing life,
    man — I just stand and marvel!

    You’ve accomplishments in hand, right now,
    I never will attain.

    I do envy you, my son.
    At times, I’m even jealous.

    It’s this acute familiarity
    that can cause the sparks to fly.

    We fight, but greater is my love.
    I criticize, but you make me proud.

    My love for you is true and deep.
    My pride is vast and lasting.

    It’s impossible with these words I craft,
    to tell you what you mean to me.

    But every word for love and pride —
    I feel in my heart!

    …

    Rob Kistner © 2007
    ______________________

    Author’s note: This following tribute was written to my son, Aaron. He would be 30 years old today, but his life was tragically cut short at the age 18, when he was killed in a traffic accident. The individual who hit Aaron had fallen asleep at the wheel.

    The Picture

    •

    (In loving memory of my son, Aaron Kistner: 11/4/76 – 7/3/95)

    It may be my favorite picture of you, son,
    the one I cherish most since your passing.

    A simple snapshot,
    taken at the airport,
    upon your return
    from having run the New York City Marathon.

    A gentle, triumphant smile,
    eyes beaming behind those “way cool” shades,
    jacket sleeves rolled in casual hip-ness,
    bag thrown so carefree over your shoulder,
    medal dangling proudly from your strong neck.

    The victor: gentle, cool, hip, carefree, proud, and strong,
    — fiercely handsome!

    How profound this captured moment proved to be.

    Taken just before the finish line of your 18 years,
    it said it all.

    Your race is run,
    your bag is packed,
    your reward’s in hand.

    Fly my sweet angel – fly!

    …

    Rob Kistner © 7/3/05