Commit Poetry: "Overhead."

November 30, 2022 in Poetry, Writing

A million years ago (well, a decade or two in the past) I often felt compelled to commit Poetry. Just for me, see? Very little to share here, except, perhaps, for a few forays into Occasional Poems—poems for someone’s birthday or some such. Whichever, wherever, those and other private poems came from a place of listening, which evolved into the urgent need to share what I had heard through words written and tangible. The need to commit Poetry, for me, dictates a crunching up of words, a need to ask myself what I am listening to, or just have listened to, or have listened to enough that the thoughts demand attention. A while ago I shared my poetic thoughts on the Seven Virtues and the Seven Deadly Sins. Today it’s … Overhead:

Poetic License

October 23, 2019 in Poetry

Where is Philip K. Dick when we need him? Where’s Carl Hiaasen? Like, I suspect, many, I’m tired of saying “You can’t make this stuff up,” while laughing nervously and expecting to hear that a red button has been pushed. I’d really like my time, brains, and emotions back. Could we have the election tomorrow?

The Disastrous Septet Concludes with Wrath and Sloth

August 06, 2019 in Poetry

So what’s left? We’ve visited the villages of Greed Hollow and Gluttony Gorge, had a picnic on Envy Green, toured the Palace of Pride, and looked around the Land O’ Lust. Our tour continues with a quick stop on the Isle of Wrath, followed by a very slow trek through the Slough of Sloth. Happy Trails!!!

Two More of Those Seven Deadly Sins

July 19, 2019 in Poetry

As we wait for a few of the Virtues to, please, show themselves, we shall continue looking further at The Sin-ly Septet. It seems, as noted previously, lying is not a sin. In the same way courage and bravery don’t seem to meet the Virtues Threshold. Which, one might think, would make them easier to attain for un-saintly politicians. Mental fodder to chew over as we consider the next two transgressions in our Pantheon of Immoralities: Pride and Lust.

Pride

What on earth is wrong

With having the best?

I’m not at all bragging.

It’s a statement of fact.

I do not need or require

Your presence to know

Where I stand, what I am,

How I am, where you stand

In relation to me and my

Station, I earned it,

Entitled, a bit, but not

Being snobbish, just

Truthful.

Better is better.

And best is best.

What can I say?

Lust

I need flesh, I mean

Luscious flesh,

Young skin, please

Younger I said,

To touch,

To take me in

Thrust and thirst

And thrust and Thrust

Who are you who you are

Is consequential-less,

Consequence-less

You are there for me.

Orifice to satisfy

Except

That’s all? That

Was it? I mean

Maybe over there,

The other flesh

Will be the one

Yes I must have

The other flesh

To thrust and Thrust

Except

I mean

Is that

All?

When

Enough?

Those Seven Deadly Sins

July 11, 2019 in Poetry

I rarely commit poetry these days. However, something in our current zeitgeist filtered through the Erato mist, and I found myself, almost unbidden, using verse to try and come to terms with all the anti-truth that every day dribbles through our consciousness.

"Icarus"

October 02, 2018 in Poetry

Later, after the vise is open,

Rough old hands—

Gnarled fingers, calloused thumbs—

Invoke the plan.

"More"

September 05, 2018 in Poetry

What’s enough? Why

Isn’t enough enough?

Why more?

Five Poems, after Edward Hopper

December 18, 2017 in Writing & Pictures, Poetry

Hopper’s work is all about the space between people and things, space that is usually filled with light that never really illuminates, space that exists on its own plane, space and light that create their own tension.

Janine

January 01, 2014 in Fiction, Lovers & Other Strangers, Poetry, Writing & Pictures

I loved her before I met her. It was this freak deal. She had lived in this place where I lived, but she lived there two or three people before I came.