Quality Control By Chanacee Ruth-Killgore This, not that. No, the other way. Fix it! Turn it around; make it the same. Shh… don’t speak! Don’t question or think. Remember, conformity is the name of the game.
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Mid-Life So much happened; So much didn’t – So nice to remember; So painful to recall Now nothing is all, The power to recall Is an anaesthetic – Past strength Is pathetic. In the middle, What’s kept still here What was and is gone, What never was – All levelled. All comes to ground, abrades, That’s […]
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Big Bang for Little Billy This was the first Christmas Billy was old enough to speak when he saw his gifts under the sparkling tree. His parents were waiting to hear what he’d say. Billy laughed and jumped and clapped his hands. With a big smile, he shouted “Santa brought me these!” Then Daddy picked Billy up, bounced him on his knee and whispered […]
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Delusions of Grandeur – By Chrystal Berche Stoned streets at dawn Emerald pavements undulating with restless movement the denizens and the damned all hurly-whirly mixed together a macabre dance of pleasure and pain Jaded eyes shimmer dollar bill green basking in the glow of capitalism the meaning of life measured in yields and gains Lies roll off forked tongues as […]
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Living Outside the Box – By Mankh The Empire likes to put people in boxes, from airy crib to nailed-tight casket and in-between in psychological boxes, wrapped identities with ornate bows but never bowing with humility, packages to be delivered, opened, liked, disliked, discarded, shelved for coffee table conversation starters scripted performances fearing surprises yet jack-in-the-box can provide pleasant giggles […]
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I Want to Be in a Comic Book From the flashing pages of my youth, I have wanted to be in a comic book. I designed my suit, considered my powers and weapons. I imagined a damsel in distress. Even thought of my perfect lair. On my swing set, I would consider this universe of my making. I set about […]
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INDUSTRIAL ZONE (By Joseph Cavera) Eight pieces click in consistent fashion, The body, none the wiser No freedom to smash in The function of the creation Which eases and tenses, Drops and rises, Its next move? There are no surprises The command decides its day And its life, without guises A narrow existence awaits In the curious factory, for […]
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VEXED OF KIN You pick your friends, but not your kin. Once stork descends with you, you’re in Whatever group that Fate selects, Who’ll mold you to what they expect. To some degree, your genes decide What you will be, who you’re inside. But those you’re with through early years Upon your pith their likeness sear. […]
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INTER ARMA SILENT LEGES* (Based on the movie “The Conspirator,” about the trial and execution of Mary Surratt, one of the convicted conspirators of the Lincoln assassination) “In war, the law falls silent,” As Cicero first said, For when the times are violent Emotions trump the head. No “habeas” of “corpus” Or “sparing of the rod” Can […]
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Shining Through The Echo (For Robin Williams) – By Melissa R. Mendelson And Tragedy takes a bow for it has silenced the world under void, and hearts are now left shattered, shaken by news that such brilliance, such life has vanished too soon. But it does not go quietly. Tragedy might have its hands upon the laughter and tears once […]
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