Insignificance Late in life I struggle against my insignificance When I should enjoy the freedom from performance before an audience. Applause is happiness but if they withhold applause, embarrassment. When Da Liu put me to work crunching hexagrams and spreadsheet numerology Instead of ghost writing his books about T’ai Chi for longevity I was humiliated but freed. No need to […]
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Cremation I’ve always believed in cremation; Flames bleach the world, unclutter living things. Let scum survivors, grasshoppers Leave cemeteries a mess Of living impulses dismembered. Not knowing fire’s totality But sickly honouring it stunting In tortured carbon stench. I’ve always believed in cremation Ever since I read of great skull mountains; Those potash handfuls are so clean […]
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Oxymoronic Blues – By Mankh corporations legally persons while persons treated as illegals, Facebook and faceless corporations, home alone on social media, consumer confidence, industrial park, professional sports a game, state-of-the-Art, free press, politically correct, “…deriving their Powers from the Consent of the Governed”, peacekeeper missile, friendly fire, holy war, pre-emptive self-defense, virtual reality, false profits predicting a future based […]
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AT A DISTANCE Gently rolling, runneled hills, Colored like a daffodil. Rivulets to ocean spill Under cloudy skies. Atmosphere of shrouding haze Rising from the surface waves, Where beneath lie ancient caves Never brought to light. Yet this sky’s a different hue From what we’re accustomed to B Yellow, not a trace of blue, Dares to […]
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Prophylactic Measures Like any doctor versed in patient care, the campus carry, gun rights advocate had listened to the PhD’s despair. For students now bear guns, while poised to get an education in philosophy. She heard with empathy the gal’s concern that arguing could spell catastrophe, should prickly issues make the passions churn in those who have another point of […]
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Rhoda, I can’t say why Amanda was picked and not Tiffany for anchor of our Nightly News. I interviewed both because Mr. Smith wanted a woman’s opinion. I honestly don’t know. I made a recommendation and sent it to Mr. Jones who sent it to Mr. Smith who made the final decision. I found little difference between the two. A day […]
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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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On the west bound expressway I drive my silver Honda. Except for a few stars, everything is black, The road is black, and rear car lights seem like a meteor show going 80 mph. There are four lanes of road. I drive a short distance and the engine dies. My pulse quickens; My stomach tightens. Cars swerve around me. […]
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Stone Slate – By Melissa R. Mendelson They tell me that I am alive. If that were so, shouldn’t I breathe? Listen to your heart, and I’m stupid for listening once more. I don’t hear anything. Check your pulse. “I am checking,” I scream. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. How could they tell me what they tell me, and how could I […]
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Sandstorm Howling like a thousand wolves Throwing shadows that swirled around the walls The stand pounded and blinding Feels the stinging his arms and chicks To press the lips together to stop it entering his mouth Like bowing his head into his shoulder So that he could breathe The sand clung to them Coating over his skin Like a drop […]
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