Intrusion Forced entry into caves, mud huts, castles, log cabins, condos, has been a constant, despite best efforts of self defense, violent penetration usually resulting in looting, rape, slaughter, violation of the dwelling, yet more survive in modern times, courtesy of better law and order. Gary Beck/Ignition Point ‘Ignition Point’ is an unpublished poetry collection that looks at […]
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When I pile up cut tomatoes, red onion, and radishes on top of romaine lettuce, I think of the hands that picked, cleaned, packed, and loaded them on trucks, carried them to cold rooms arranged them on shelves. As I remember stories of my father, a new comer a child-laborer in another era in another country, I say a […]
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DO-OVER (Inspired while watching “United 93,” the one flight that was prevented by its heroic passengers from fulfilling its mission of murder on September 11, 2001) If you could go back To one time and place, Stop accursed attack On the human race, Could you simply choose (Knowing what you know) Holocaust of Jews? Nine-eleven’s blow? […]
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QUESTIONABLE CHOICE Gathered at the water hole Primates lacking hair. Cover selves from neck to toe Lest reveal what’s there. Feeding till they’re satisfied, Drinking till they’re full. Elders showing sagging hides From the planet’s pull. Try imagining these apes “Masters of the Earth,” Guzzling down fermented grapes, Adding to their girth. Evolution must have […]
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I. As suspicious of the morning as I am thankful for the night, I no longer follow bird flight, the sinking of the violated sun. Mouthing a dialect of short checks and charity wards, I stare at a wasting life, unhappy, aging, unhealthy. Sympathies have been trained out of me. The elegance in a sniper’s logic is what remains. […]
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A Nuclear Childhood What if your parents had never met had never married had never yelled at each other and instead had wed someone they loved and lived peacefully all those years. That would have been their Eden but you shaking there now decades later wouldn’t be with us cursing the tremors of a […]
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King Me The heat is on, and the race is gaining speed. Yet, a quiet falls, brushing against that worrying question, “Will we make another mistake,” and the serpent will wrap us warm. But she will suffocate us cold. He too may carry a forked tongue, but is there heart inside the tin man? We beg to linger on […]
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The Blessing way many a time have I been told that the way to God was one’s heart & and that money has no place in the kingdom of God. I still wonder if the sight that my dazed eyes witnessed wasn’t enough for me to turn myself into the heart of thr devil because I saw a preacher glueing […]
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CLICHÉD Beggars can’t be choosers, For there is no choice for losers, And as paupers we must stand with open hand. Seeing is believing, But can also be deceiving When you’re grieving that you’re down and out again. Cruising for a bruising, If you’re thin-skinned, makes excusing Your intrusions not so simple of a chore. Striking while […]
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Blood and Tears. War and Hate. Death and Destruction. Hell and Fate. I am dead because I’m not you. What you said? Hate is not true. Why cleanse me? Are you blind? We are brothers. Open your mind. Why ignore that? It’s a fact. We’re both human, so don’t attack. I pity you with your dead. […]
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