Parents Night Emma used to do real good in school her mother tells her new teacher. It’s Parents Night at Ryland Elementary. Mostly mothers in attendance. What’s the problem, her mother asks. Fifth grade shouldn’t be hard for her. Emma’s never had a grade lower than a B, her mother says. Teacher says Emma doesn’t do her homework and talks a lot in class. Her mother can’t believe it. Says her […]
Read more
More “Sold,” she said, as I stared in awe and wonder. But I had questions, important questions! Yet, I was silent in the face of her edict, her bright red and white sign. It was gone. So easily gone. So quickly gone. But how? Who decides what’s for sale? Who names the price? This place, this spot […]
Read more
MY COUNTRY SIDE {Where old misty mountains adorn the sphere competing with the sky in height and glory and boisterous antelope’s race and hide behind the shrubs from *ogún’s intrusion} ~Akeredolu Tope My country side Where unruly old vultures scavenge on hot excrement Threatening even the carriers Of the meal, the happy children Pouring out yesterday’s fill My country […]
Read more
AN OPEN LETTER TO GOD Dinosaurs lived on this planet for 165 million years and God was patient but then He said “This ain’t working out so good,” and He threw a big rock at the earth. Man has lived here for less than 10,000 years and we’ve done far worse than the dinosaurs did and God’s losing […]
Read more
Sometimes I wonder If I have anything left to give Any small pieces of myself left to share I feel too broken Too worn out Thread bare and bone-tired I search myself and find nothing worthy My emotions, my words are hollow My heart is emptier than my belly I feel it gnawing away within me Desperate for something to […]
Read more
Old Stag Giddy Elmer’s an old stag now shedding antlers snorting among the trees but sometimes Martha after her shower is a doe beckoning and he becomes giddy and heads for the salt lick happy in the breeze
Read more
EVER EXPANDING (By Joseph Cavera) I can not request the mercy of man, for it does not stem the tide which rages inside my expansive psyche. For it is the very same empathy which is the harbinger of further condescension, contempt placed between my closest friends and respected acquaintances, and I. In my aloof state of being, have I […]
Read more
“ONLITTLE CAT FEET”* Pussyfooting around the bush, Shoving not once beyond the push, Mincing words as semantic ploy’s Wanting hamburger, eating soy. Rather than a direct approach, We have Casper who’s milking toast, So afraid to communicate What exactly we like or hate. God forbid! We might give offense! Tell the truth, with B.S. dispense! Step […]
Read more
Willie in his 80s now hadn’t made sense in years. His wife understood his grunts from the recliner where she propped him up till bedtime where snoring was music in the night. His grandson told neighbors Gramps had Old-Timer’s Disease, an excellent diagnosis with which doctors agreed. It was time to move Gramps to a home so his wife began […]
Read more
CRIMEAN PUNISHMENT Apparently,once the gods had fumed Atgrowing decadence, they were doomed. Nolonger culture pre-eminent, Atlantisunder the sea was sent. Competingtheories have been put forth Ofancient civilization north Ofwhere the Black Sea has always lain Ononce quite fertile Crimean plain. Onefaction claims Plato had it right – Atlantisvanished in just one night Whenearthquake cracked geologic flaw Releasingdeluge […]
Read more