by phillipw | Oct 19, 2026 | Sonnet
Purified Federico García Lorca Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem She thinks that Shakespeares shouldn’t have to shit. She thinks Keats’ poop should evanesce away As French perfume, or odes should be blue...
by phillipw | Oct 19, 2026 | Sonnet
Mystic Muddle Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Rice paper walls and peonies of white Are sacred in the alcove. They are pure As purity can be in any night. They imply that nothing needs a cure Or, if it...
by phillipw | Oct 18, 2026 | FO
Buddha vs. Micah 7:19 “wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” Both peony and quietness fulfill The night. The quietness seems larger of The two, though. Since the peony spreads frill On frill, the competition turns to love Inside the darkness like a...
by phillipw | Oct 18, 2026 | JO, KE
We Wait for Guests to Arrive with Profane Chatter Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem The peonies are still and not quite still. The lack of sunlight breath of breeze gives blush To beauty. Slightest petal...
by phillipw | Oct 18, 2026 | Sonnet
A Merry Fool Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem “The merry month of May” “The glory in the flower” ~ Wordsworth So, Shakespeare wrote of glory of a man (Act 2, scene 2) in “What a piece of work” (And so on)...
by phillipw | Oct 18, 2026 | AB, AM, IN, LI, NA
38 Ab The writer writes in sentences that she Repeats, repeats in part, repeats, repeats As rigid as an Indian brave we see Hanged out to die. The heart of bravery beats No longer, due to rigor mortis. These, The thirty-seven also by him, hang As rigid as America’s...
by phillipw | Oct 17, 2026 | FA, IM, Sonnet, WH
With the Utmost Violence the Mind Can Defy Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Peonies do not permit Clouds for one hundred miles to Ravage pink petals. ~ Buson [Englished by Phillip Whidden] The peonies...
by phillipw | Oct 16, 2026 | AL, DE, GA, GR, HE, Ho, MA, MO
Queer Colors King Alexander had two colors for His eyes, one blue, one brown. His hair hung blond In curls, blond gloss upon them. To adore, He chose his childhood friend. From far beyond Came sobbing. Blond of royal hair spread wide And crammed the world with...
