Mark Baker

“War strips away the thin veneer applied slap-dash by the institutions of society and shows Man for exactly what he is.”

“The Dream by Mark BakerA man lay on his bed at the end of his life waiting to die.His dream came to pay his last respectsand bid farewell to the man who had never used it.As it entered the room the man looked down in shame."Why did you not realize me?" the dream asked."Because I was afraid," the man said."Afraid of what," said the dream."I was afraid I would fail.""But haven't you failed by not attempting to use me?"."Yes I did, but I always thought there would be tomorrow.""You Fool!" said the dream" Did it never occur to youthat there was only ever today? the moment that you are in right now?Do you think that now that death is herethat you can put it off until tomorrow?"."No", said the man, a tear gently rolling down his cheek.The dream was softer now, because it knew that there were two types of pain,the pain of discipline and the pain of regret,and while discipline weighs ounces, regret weighs pounds.Then the dream leant forward to gently wipe away the tear and said," You need only have taken the first stepand I would have taken one to meet you,for the only thing that ever separated uswas the belief in your mind that you couldn't have me".Then they said goodbye and they both died.”