Author: Ian Hunter

I retired from the energy business in 2014 and started writing poetry. At first I shared my writing with family and friends. Then I set myself a challenge to write a poem every day for a year. After meeting that goal I just kept going and started this blog in 2021. I hope you enjoy reading my poems. Remember happiness is just a state of mind and poetry is great nourishment.

Red dress in Times Square – Part 6 Finale

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Egor met Emily at the bar

she told him it would be six thousand for the whole night

Egor’s minders were planning to wait for him in 2 hour shifts

when Egor arrived at room 407 she took him through to the adjoining room

a few minutes later two room service carts arrived

Emily and Egor left the adjoining room hidden in the carts

they were wheeled right by Egor’s KGB minder in the corridor

who was listening to the fake lovemaking sounds from room 407

early the next morning the US President was briefed by his National Security team

over 200 Russian agents were picked up in dawn raids

Egor provided a wealth of valuable intelligence

the Russians didn’t yet know he had defected

CIA agents switched the top secret missile data before the drop

the Russians thought their test went well but it was just a one-off

the test missile was uniquely matched to the fake software in the drop

bugs in the stolen software will soon cripple the Russian satellite

the Wall Street trading computer hack was intercepted 

Wall Street was shut down by the CIA to make the Russians believe they had control

all US infrastructure systems were hardened against further attacks

information from Egor was used by the CIA to locate and fry all the hacker’s servers

the pro Russian congressmen were all acting under CIA direction

the President was deliberately misleading the Russians by supporting the bill

the sanction lifting bill will soon be pulled from the floor of the house 

More that 10 billion dollars of Russian investment in Transoil has been frozen

Great job everybody said the President

I am looking forward to telling the Russian President of increased sanctions

Egor was given a new identity and moved to California

Emily got promoted but they let her keep the red dress

Red dress in Times Square – Part 5

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sanctions were crippling the Russian economy

Egor had masterminded a plan to remove them

this work started well before he met with Emily

since that meeting he was making significant progress

it all began when Egor brokered a huge deal

giving the US company Transoil exclusive exploration rights

to untapped Siberian oil reserves

all conditional on having US sanctions lifted

Jimmy Mason was the head of Transoil

a tough self made billionaire from Texas

with a rare talent for oil extraction in harsh climates

he was not afraid to take huge risks

Egor gave Jimmy a list of US congressman to lobby

Russian money was funneled into Transoil

Jimmy donated millions to the targeted congressional fundraising campaigns

he convinced them to support lifting sanctions against Russia

as momentum grew for lifting US sanctions

Russia was busy destabilizing the middle east

sponsoring terror groups to attack oil installations

encouraging Iran to attack Saudi Arabia

Russia was planning to be a world leader in oil production

this would generate huge revenues for Russian state owned companies

Moscow would have the cash to modernize its aging military equipment

Russia was on the path to being an economic and military superpower

Jimmy ran a creative congressional lobbying campaign

showing how the US economy would benefit from extracting Russian oil

while giving strategic alternatives to middle east oil

congress was close to passing a bill to lift sanctions

Egor was dining alone in an upscale New York restaurant

the waiter ran the check and returned his credit card

Egor noticed a hand written message on the receipt

Tomorrow, Intercontinental hotel bar 10pm- look for red dress

Red dress in Times Square – Part 4

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David was a sleeper agent

recruited by the Russians while at college 

15 years later he worked on US military projects

designing top secret missile guidance systems 

David met Egor in a public park

Egor told him it was time to deliver

David had copied top secret documents

stolen software was on thumb drives

Egor picked up David’s bag at the drop zone

he personally placed the contents in a diplomatic bag

it was all safely in Moscow a few days later

David was later found dead by his wife in an apparent suicide

a few months later a Russian satellite was launched

its purpose was to detect ballistic missiles

and lock onto their guidance systems

the satellite was successfully deployed 

all superpowers perform ballistic missile tests

they inform each other of all planned tests

to avoid retaliatory nuclear strikes being launched in error

the US gave the Russians notice of such a test 

A US submarine launched the test missile in the Pacific

it appeared to behave perfectly

landing harmlessly in the ocean

confirming the US capability to strike anywhere in the world

Russian military commanders were celebrating

their new satellite had locked onto the missile guidance systems

making very small but measurable flight deviations

they now had the capability to neutralize all US ballistic missiles 

Egor was confused and concerned

it was six months since his meeting with Emily

he had told her all about the new Russian satellite plans

he could not understand why the US had not intervened

Red dress in Times Square – Part 3

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Emily told Egor not to reach out to the CIA again

just to go about your normal business and wait to be contacted

he left room 407 a few minutes before another man arrived

Emily answered the door and let him in

he sat and watched TV with no sound

while Emily activated the speaker simulating their conversation

she removed the video recording device from the bathroom

plugged it into her laptop and downloaded the data

the recording was converted to a transcript

Emily checked it for accuracy

before encrypting an email to CIA HQ

her fake client left after an hour of watching silent TV

soon after another fake client arrived

the speaker played more fake conversations

 while Emily hacked into the hotel security cameras

she saw the listening device being removed from outside her door

she continued writing her report after the second fake client left

her back up team was in the bar downstairs

she read the text from them

The Russians just left we can stand down now

Emily wrapped up her report

recommending that Egor’s data be followed up

she noted his watchers had given up at 1.30 am

the lazy KGB agents concluded that Egor was just seeing a hooker

a few days later there was chaos on Wall street

a virus shut down all the trading computers

stocks were sent tumbling

Russian short sellers made millions

Red dress in Times Square – Part 2

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Emily whispered to Egor

just do exactly as I say

she waited until the bartender was in earshot

OK Egor she said are you willing to pay $1000 for one hour with me

Of course Egor replied

the bartender was listening intently

room 407 in 10 minutes said Emily

Egor is paying my tab she told the bartender as she left

Egor pulled out his wallet and paid in cash

as he left the bar he noticed the bartender texting

confirming Egor’s suspicions that he was being monitored

Emily opened the door and pulled Egor inside

she was wearing a bathrobe

she stood by the open window

come here Egor she said

she kissed him in front of the window

as she dropped her robe to the floor

soon after she moved away from the window and closed the curtains

that was for your watchers outside she said as she put her robe back on

Egor was disappointed that she had covered her naked body

we have to move fast said Emily

get in the bathroom now

she placed a small speaker on the bed

she joined Egor in the bathroom

closing the door behind her

Ok this room is secure she said

you can start talking now

a man placed a small listening device on the outside of the door to Emily’s room

he walked to the end of the corridor

put in his earpiece and tapped his phone

all he could hear was music and lovemaking sounds

Red dress in Times Square – part 1

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she wore a red dress

low cut and short

shockingly tasteful

classy but sassy 

she sat alone at the bar of the Intercontinental in Times Square

ordered a glass of champagne

putting red lipstick kisses on the rim

every eye in the room was on her

as she slowly sipped

she heard a voice beside her

Manhattan straight up please

and another champagne for the lady

she resisted looking at him

painting a picture in her mind

tall well dressed and handsome

perhaps well travelled and intellectual

she put down her empty glass

slowly turned towards him

he was indeed handsome 

thank you she said with a smile

he put out a hand

my name is Egor

she took his hand

a firm and lingering handshake she noted

she made eye contact

I am Emily 

pleased to meet you Emily he replied

she detected a slight Russian accent

what brings you to New York she asked

he looked around before whispering in her ear

we can stop playing games now

I have information for the CIA

the parlor

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step into the parlor

relax and enjoy lively parlor conversation

appreciate the parlor decor

feel the love that created the parlor

raise a glass in honor of the parlor decorator

feel the energy woven into the parlor fabric

admire the parlor artistry of the color and texture selections

listen to cool parlor jazz as you sip on fine wines

play loud rock music with your parlor Manhattan cocktail

cruise the blues with your parlor moonshine whisky

tell your tallest parlor tales as friends listen intensely

share your parlor secrets with trusted confidents

spill the beans in the parlor without staining your reputation

create your own safe parlor confession booth

sleep over and wake up contented

drift back into the parlor at dawn

watch the parlor sunrise

drink your parlor morning coffee and plan the day

chill a while in the parlor

take afternoon tea with the parlor ladies of leisure

read a good book in the parlor

write a parlor poem or a short story

the parlor hears all

but the parlor never tells

welcome to the parlor

planning the mountain climb from my chair

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somedays I wake up with low energy

feeling lethargic and unmotivated

particularly after a restless night

stumbling through the day in a fog

I used to push back hard on those feelings

forcing myself to get things done

desperately trying to overcome the lethargy

threatening myself with guilt for under achieving

I have learned to embrace the low energy days

when my body cries slow down l now take heed

I do not answer the door when Mr. Guilt comes knocking

no need to climb the mountain today

the list of things to do for today can be rescheduled

pushed onto a high energy day when I will get more done

besides its good to sit back sometimes and just look at the mountain from my chair

I will work out the path for the big climb tomorrow 

booze cruise

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Sunny day

Party planned

Friends arrive

Load boat

Party supplies

Lively conversation

Smiling faces

Boat launch

Calm waters

No wind

Booze cruise

Happy people

Loud music

Endless laughter

Motoring on

Slight breeze

Music louder

Crazy dansing

Serving shots

Inhibitions lost

Stiff breeze

Choppy waters

No panic

Party continues

Captain drinking

Radio blinking

Strong winds

Big waves

Boat heaving

Alcohol flows

Party continues

Skies darken

Big storm

Heavy rain

Lightning strikes

Party stops

Worried faces

Gales blowing

Massive waves

Boat heaving

Panic strikes

People overboard

Boat capsizes

Wind calms

Storm over

People clinging

Against hull

Boating rescue

All survived

Boat destroyed

Lives saved

Lesson learned

Check weather

Before boating

happiness recipe

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I came across this recipe recently. Its very simple and anybody can make it. Interestingly the ingredients do not include relationships, money or material possessions.  Note that it recommends serving to everybody you know which implies that you will achieve your own happiness by giving to others. 

Ingredients

2 heaped cups of Patience

1 heart full of Love

2 handfuls of Generosity

1 headful of Understanding

a dash of Laughter

an endless supply of Kindness

plenty of Faith

Instructions

Combine patience, love, and generosity with understanding. Add a dash of laughter and sprinkle generously with kindness. Add plenty of Faith and mix well. Spread over a lifetime and serve everybody you know.