Carnival That peacock opulence, Swarming on strutting grime; That massed ecstasy, squeezing itself, Short-breathed, near suffocation; That sound-abandonment, seeming to plunge To deafness’s peace; Yet keeping those maimed faculties alive, Ever denying their last fulfilment. Maybe it’s only I and it, I, starting in the middle And it, commensurate with my idea Of my own size? Maybe I […]
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In Crowd I discover in myself this startling desire to fit in. As if I am some teenager in an afterschool special or training video. Listen, honey, don’t worry about those other kids. I am now looking for a new teacher than those crowding voices around me. An inner truth to tether myself to the world, eschewing the script, enveloped […]
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Dead, a Viking walked over the Rainbow Bridge. If he (and it always seemed to be a he) died in battle, then he had a 50% chance of going to Valhalla, ruled by Odin, for drinks. The other half went to Freya’s Field. I’d have liked the field. After an hour of snow followed by summerish sunshine, my partner […]
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Young Priest, Old Priest Everyone in the neighborhood was surprised when Bill McIntyre entered the seminary to study for the priesthood. He had been dating girls since early in high school and had been engaged since graduating from college to a lovely young lady. He often spoke about wanting to have a big family since he himself had been […]
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Tomorrow Things I have this list Started long ago Though I cannot recall when The paper’s crumpled Folded and stained With edges torn and thin From time to time I pull it out Allow my eyes to scan down through Before I click my pen And quickly Scribble a new word or two No lines mar These […]
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Take Two And this is why I love film. No one stutters unless they mean to. They represent themselves in the best take of all. I am a silent performer. When I drive down the road, I belt out music like a professional. I wish I hadn’t told you that. In my mind, there’s an auditorium. Figures from my past […]
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Courage (Getting Out of Bed) My heart grows restless, my limbs heavy The paradox of a frustrated mind The simplest things seem unattainable Before me There are mountains to climb I am eager, yet, sit motionless Failure the constant on my mind I sit and worry …and wonder Before me There are mountains to climb I long […]
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She Climaxed she starts with a song. suddenly, a dirge too limp with grief, like the skies in Pompeii. it’s killed the birds in my heart, ships stagger like a drunk, into the white-blush of maddened waves. the earth popped open as an old wine bursts froth; like a hungry lioness she opened her jaws separating families with […]
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At Midnight in New York It’s midnight in New York and in this tall building Herb and Molly are in bed making love. Molly is a virgin and it hurts. Olga’s upstairs in bed with cancer terminal and it hurts. Melvin’s downstairs in bed snoring. Nothing hurts because he doesn’t know yet he has multiple sclerosis. In the hallway a thief goes floor […]
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Why Are the Dead So Still – By Fern G. Z. Carr Arms crossed, lying motionless in an open casket, he gazes upward through closed eyelids. Maybe if I look hard enough I’ll see him flinch or wriggle his nose at the acrid smell of incense rising from the censer; holy water is sprinkled on his body – it […]
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