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 […]
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ROMAN RUMINATION I went to visit ancient Rome, But found it never fell. Its buildings may seem crumbled stone, But it’s alive and well. Its mighty temples still exist Though in an altered form. Its rings of gold and amethyst Still fingers rich adorn. For in the City Vatican The emperor still reigns, Descended from Octavian, […]
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HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN (PART I) A shame to imagine how moon is just A memory distant we’ve almost lost. Appears that we only pursued in jest To travel in space — 50 years have passed. Today’s generation cannot conceive Of passionate fervor with which we strove To land first on moon — such a matter […]
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“FOUR” CAST The earth’s been here four billion years, But humans mere four million. How often has the atmosphere Received a “global killing?” Have comets many seared the skies, Volcanoes oft erupted? What oceans parched till desert-dry And climates left disrupted? How many times has planet warmed, Engorged with greenhouse gasses, While glaciers melted and reformed […]
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IF YOU THOUGHT THIS YEAR WAS BAD … (Based on “December 21, 2012: The Real Doomsday?” from http://www.viewzone.com/endtime.html) Doomsday forecasts I believe Offer humans no reprieve. But, unlike the common thread, Won’t be we who strike us dead. No atomic holocaust, Nor the melt of permafrost, Nor deforestation’s squeeze, Nor extinction of species. Happened to us […]
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AIR APPARENT Primeval atmosphere as dense As plant Venus has today Explains how Earth became the way We currently experience. Dioxide carbon was the prime Component as on Venus now. But, unlike Venus, Earth knew how To make it disappear with time. Because of Moon, there’s tidal force Which powers Earth tectonically. Together magma, rocks and […]
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AVERSION No rhythm, rhyme? That’s such a crime! Just passing prose Does not compose A poem. For such Needs structured touch For it to be Called poetry. To me, free verse Is just a curse Of laziness That’s patternless. For all it takes Is random breaks To be dispensed ‘Mid sentences. About Ray Gallucci: I am a Professional […]
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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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SMALL BEFORE THE SEA We have only pictures, A journal and rubble From what was a fixture To keep ships from trouble. A lighthouse, built sturdy, On Unimak island Around 1940, With Coast Guard as client. Five Guardsmen were manning The station that morning, Both horn and beam spanning The sea with their warning. At […]
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IN WILLIAMSBURG In Williamsburg we learn How freedom ours was earned, At least for lucky born Of alabaster skin. Their independence claimed By declaration famed That Founding Fathers framed, Though was still had to win. But if from continent Of African descent, Whatever effort spent Was not for likes of you. Four score and seven years Still had to bear […]
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