Enlightened Continuum: 249 Topics Illuminated by a Trio of Lanturnes

By Donald Alan Straub III and Francisca Shannon Bouchée-Flores

ENLIGHTENED CONTINUUM, the third and final book in the Lake Parking Trilogy, is a collection of lanturne poems that when written on the page look to be in the shape of lanterns in using their 1-2-3-4-1 syllables per line structure. A trio of lanturnes are used to illuminate each of the 249 topics. The book is about youth and their search for understanding, their inquisitive nature, their desire to conquer, and sometimes being trampled upon. It draws upon the dark and light of life, taking notice of ideas both small and large. It is a way of working toward balance. These poems are food for thought, combining the yesterday and today as indicators of tomorrow’s trajectory. They are slices of time that allow us to contemplate. It is specifically about people who inspire me and issues that excite or trouble me. I draw material from the day’s headlines and pop culture. Some themes are uncomplicated, and others are heavy in nature. The poems are candid in language and play out against the backdrop of history. It is about capturing the subject in a straightforward manner, bringing a clear focus to the work. The goal is to get back in touch with our greater humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664133167

Donald Alan Straub III

Donald Alan Straub III, born in Lakewood, California, was raised in Long Beach, California. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Film/Radio/Television from CSU Long Beach. While attending film school and since graduation, he has directed, produced, written, and edited a number of films. Don has pursued other various interests in recent years. Currently working in Commercial Real Estate. Now he’s chosen to broaden his scope and attempt a trilogy of books titled the Lake Parking Trilogy. This is the third book in the trilogy and his fourth book published. Don married his beautiful wife Karrie in 2011 and considers himself blessed to have an immensely smart stepson in Ryan.  Francisca Shannon Bouchée-Flores was born in Seattle, Washington, and raised in Redmond, where she lived through her first year at the University of Washington. After meeting her now husband on a road trip to San Diego, California, Francisca transferred and graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a Bachelor of Arts in Film/Radio/Television from CSU Long Beach in 1996. Francisca has continued to capture life's smiles and memories through her work in the school picture industry since 1998. She enjoys spending time with her husband Matthew and their three children—Mahlia, Liahna, and Maverick—in their hometown of Huntington Beach, California.  

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COPYRIGHT © 2020 BY DONALD ALAN STRAUB III.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Photography by

Francisca Shannon Bouchée-Flores

Poetry by

Donald Alan Straub III

Rev. date: 03/24/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

819796

I

dedicate this book to my

Father,

Donald Acton

Contents

The Lake Parking Trilogy

The Collaborations

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Francisca Shannon Bouchée-Flores

SIMPLE

GRASS ROOTS

COME TOGETHER

SUPERMAN

GAUGING

LIP-SYNC

MORALITY

CHANDELIERS

JOHN THOMAS SAYLES

HONOR

AFFECTION

MONSTROUS ACTS

NUMB

CONSIDERATION

SLURPEES

PUNCTUALITY

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP JACK JOHNSON

FREEWAY OVERPASSES

JOHNNY CARSON

REASONABLE DEALINGS

NEW BEGINNINGS

BREAST IMPLANTS

JAMES MAURY HENSON

UNIQUE

EUTHANASIA

BLAME GAMES

PELÉ

PUT DOWNS

BALANCE

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

BAMBOO

CHOLESTEROL

DAYDREAMING

MAURITS CORNELIS ESCHER

BLINDNESS

POLITICAL LOBBYISTS

SACRIFICE

SKELETON KEYS

STEREOTYPES

CINEMATOGRAPHER CONRAD L. HALL

ROMANCE

DANCERS

PROMISING

BOMBING INTERNATIONALLY

EXCESSIVE CARNAGE

SKYSCRAPERS

LACKING MOTIVATION

KNOWLEDGE

PREEMPTIVE STRIKES

HURRICANE KATRINA

DANIEL DAVIES GANS

BUREAUCRACY DISASTER

POTHOLES

PHARAOHS

PACK RATS

SHORT-CHANGED

STEPHEN WILLIAM HAWKING

ANCHORS

PROFITEROLES

BACKBONE

MAYA YING LIN

SNIPERS

VARIABLY RELIABLE

BLACK HOLES

MISHANDLED

DOMESTIC SURVEILLANCE

FRENCH YOUTH RIOTS

ONE MINING MIRACLE

TRANSITIONS

EGOTISM

INTELLIGENT DESIGN

COMPASSION

UNDERDOGS

HEALING

VICIOUS CYCLES

INTERVENTIONS

ROBERT ALTMAN

PARALYMPIC GAMES

WATER PRIVATIZATION

INTEGRITY

TORI AMOS

UNNECESSARY DRAMA

HUGH MARSTON HEFNER

CHERNOBYL

AN APPRECIATION

GOOD ATTITUDES

CRACK HOUSE

LIGHTER SHOULDERS

IMMIGRATION REFORM

ANGUISH

FORTITUDE

BOBBLEHEAD DOLLS

WANDER ABOUT

PARENTING

THE ABILITY

MILITARY USE

HEAT WAVE

JESSE OWENS

BASEBALL CARD VALUES

EXEMPLARY SERVANTS

PLUTO

KATRINA: ONE YEAR LATER

SUDOKUS

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

STEVE IRWIN: THE CROCODILE HUNTER

GROUND ZERO RECEOVERY AND CLEAN-UP

ATTACK ADS

DARFUR

300,000,000

GERRYMANDERING

DAVE MATTHEWS AND TIM REYNOLDS

REFERENDUMS

INDOOR KART RACING

IMPATIENCE

CARY GRANT

GARAGE BANDS

THE N-WORD

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

STRESS

DALE PATRICK CHIHULY

COMPLAINERS

LEGO

ANTHONY DOMINICK BENEDETTO

CENSURABLE

KOMODO DRAGONS

PAUL JACKSON POLLOCK

NERVES

ENDANGERED SPECIES

IRAQI TRANSLATORS

ANIMOSITY

HARRY HOUDINI

ADDICTS

HOSPITAL DUMPING

OVERLY USED ARTISTIC COMPARISONS

JACKIE ROBINSON

HAZING

ACUPUNCTURE

HONOR KILLINGS

POLITICS OF ART

CUTTING CORNERS

ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST CINDY SHEEHAN

GUNRUNNERS

SMILE

LA SAGRADA FAMÍLIA

ELECTRIC CARS

FRIDA KAHLO

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

AMBITION

ARMED FORCES

TRAIL OF TEARS

ATOMIC BOMB SURVIVORS

ANGER

ASTRONAUTS

KATRINA: TWO YEARS LATER

SIX-TIME WORLD CHAMP WALKER SMITH, JR.

VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTINGS

DOG FIGHTING

SUPER BOWL WINNING QUARTERBACKS MANNING, WARNER, AND FARVE

BULLYING

CHARLES MONROE SCHULZ

SAFFRON REVOLUTION

VALERIE ELISE PLAME AND JOSEPH C. WILSON

HONEY BEES

ROBERT REDFORD

WRITERS STRIKE

OVERPRESCRIBED KIDS

BLACKWATER

ERRONEOUSLY IMPRISONED

MITCHELL REPORT ON BASEBALL

ANDY ROONEY

RELIABILITY

BENAZIR BHUTTO

SUBPRIME CRASH

THE CONGO’S ATROCITIES

JOCKEYS

TRUE PATRIOTISM

YES, WE CAN

BIG WHEEL

DAME JANE MORRIS GOODALL

WATERBOARDING

ARMY RANGER PAT TILLMAN

QUANTUM MECHANICS

LEPRECHAUNS

CATHERINE ÉLISE BLANCHETT

40TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S ASSASSINATION

COLLEGE INCENTIVES FOR TROOPS

ABIGAIL ADAMS

PSYCHOTHERAPY

AFTER THE SURGE

DOMINOES

CYCLONE NARGIS IN MYANMAR

EPICENTER SICHUAN PROVINCE

RHINOCEROSES

DR. RUTH WESTHEIMER

LAKERS VS. CELTICS RIVALRY

TIM RUSSERT

CINEMATOGRAPHER VITTORIO STORARO

INGRID BETANCOURT

SPECULATORS

NELSON ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA

PROF. RANDOLPH FREDERICK PAUSCH

ALCATRAZ

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

MICHAEL PHELPS

KATRINA: THREE YEARS LATER

GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS

ISRAEL IZ KAʻANOʻI KAMAKAWIWOʻOLE

GUANTANAMO

BUYING KNOCKOFFS

FINANCIAL CRISIS AND BAILOUT OF 2008

STUMP SPEECHES

DISRESPECTED

POLYGAMY

SYLVIA PLATH

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA II ELECTED PRESIDENT

CALIFORNIA’S PROP. 8 TO BAN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

TABLOIDS

LAUGHTER

NIC HARCOURT

BLACK FRIDAY

SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS

SECOND CHANCES

JACOBUS FRANCISCUS THORPE

OVERSIMPLIFICATION

SÉANCES

PRONTO PUP

SPORK

GAME SHOWS

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

THE HEROES