PHANTOM-CIZING (A poetic tribute to the original story by Gaston Leroux, prompted by seeing Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Phantom of the Opera) His name is Erik, Though few who know This name by which Opera Phantom goes. Not burned by acid Or scorched by flame, His face cadaverous Born in shame. For years he traveled, A circus freak […]
Read more
Respitoration Can there still be irrigation Now the stem’s closed, dry? Can there still be imagination – When the bottom’s gone awry – When everyone can see Through every ancient icon? In spite of everything, maybe – When light floods all opacity, As every block of granite, Basalt, obsidian Melts into a stained-glass window; When experience […]
Read more
Bob’s Terminal Bay Wracked by cancer, Bob Marley told his friend, “It’s not me, Camille.” No, it’s never me when self-determination’s at an end. For, navigating pain, you cannot see but knots ahead. And you’re preoccupied with hoisting sails against prevailing winds. Bravado in your weary crew has died. A glance into the water shows the fins of sharks […]
Read more
Gasping on air and salt and though you can hear the soup cool an ocean deep inside the Earth is bubbling under your skull exhausted –it’s natural you wait for the soup to grieve louder and louder as if your arms were coming too close –wave after wave you scatter more salt and across the bowl […]
Read more
AT HOHENSALZBURG – By Ray Gallucci (in Salzburg, Austria) Upon this mountain high All comers I defy With walls that can’t be scaled And Gates in iron veiled. Above my Town of Salt, I, Hohensalzburg Fort, Defend where Mozart grew And Von Trapp legend too. And though I may be old, My fires’ embers cold, My memory is […]
Read more
Crowley (Parody of Eric Clapton’s song, Cocaine) by, Melissa R. Mendelson The boys wanna take him out, but they never take him out. Crowley. His accent’s a funny sound, commanding his loyal hell hound. Crowley. [Chorus:] He can’t fly, He will lie, He won’t die; Crowley. He gave the Devil his dues; Rowena’s a pain in his […]
Read more
Persona non Grata To the not good enough comments, I say, psshhhhhh. That was last week, a hundred years ago. Easily. I’m flushing, rinsing down the last backwash of badly- formed words. This week is triumph, so don’t mind that shadow you noticed last week. He has bloomed like a perrenial and will be back soon.
Read more
WINTER’S REPRISE (By Joseph Cavera) I see ways gray days of frost form within I see the expressions of people worn thin I see the frozen flakes fall coldly slow I see the winter winds seep and rise I see them waltz and meander like fireflies I see chilled places of wintry graces I see crystalline caps further from […]
Read more
When we hire people, we like to know their limitations, said Mr. Acre, commandant of personnel. Look at Phil with his arm and hook. We could see the problem when we hired him. We’ve hired others with limitations not as obvious and that has backfired. You and I have limitations no one can see. If ours were obvious, someone […]
Read more
Colorless There is no God Who prepared A heaven At the end of the book Nor are there holy ones Who brought us into the fifth world On corn pollen roads dusted with beauty No spirit no creators no love To watch over us or our deeds Nothing holy or sacred There is only the deliberate […]
Read more