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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Shaping the Internal Of course it’s about the words… their weight, their meaning. Stringing them, placing them, cutting them. Wielding them with passion, fury, and sometimes… regret. With careful measure given to every syllable, every pause. For words are both weapon and salve. Love and hate. Kind and malicious. Words take root deep within. They linger long into […]
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when they are gone, mourn them as you knew them soluble as the elements they were- water soil fire air. sat at the bar in smoke whiskey pint- slow craic drifting in out of banter in stories someone’s laughter turning to songs. her and him dirt in their fingernails voices in mist memories mounted in dry stone walls left […]
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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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At a Party I spoke with two people at the party Saturday. A young police officer, short-haired, fit, chiseled face who had two young children. He felt constrained by the law, without discretion to question mopes (perps) aggressively or to let go those who were obviously no threat. Even at a family function he seemed straight-backed, correct, devoted to his […]
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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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PENULTIMATE for David Ferry (July, 21, 2015) At 91, David tells me that he is nearly finished with his Aeneid translation and that he has started his next book which he has tentatively called Underworld, and he is already three poems in, and when the Aeneid goes to press he’ll focus more on this newest book, but not […]
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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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