by phillipw | May 5, 2020 | LO
Hang my Heart My mother used to sing a folksy song, At least a part of its refrain. I knew That it was sad, about how people long For love that they have lost. “Adieu, Adieu, Adieu” was part of it. But, funny now, I know I didn’t hear the words quite...
by phillipw | May 5, 2020 | AS
His Imperial Holiness That would-be king Ashoka, he was bad. Before Ashoka turned to mildest love And Buddha kindness, Brutal Boy had To do some grabbing. Kingship was above Him since his eldest brother had the right To take the throne. As luck would have it,...
by phillipw | May 5, 2020 | AS, DE, LO, RO
Ashoka Sees Devi for the First Time He fell in love with Devi in a blink, A fraction of an ancient second. She Was far too beautiful. Who would re-think His chest throb’s pang? The prince could not be free Of her (or love) again, no never, no. He did not ponder for...
by phillipw | May 4, 2020 | AS, GO, RE
Circumsised Sentiment “The famous love story of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala in the Mahabharata…became the theme of Kalidasa’s (c. fourth-fifth centuries CE) play Abhijanashakuntala, which brings love to life in the way that the best drama does. Unluckily,...
by phillipw | May 4, 2020 | AN, GR, Ho
The Blinded Poet Sang The ancient Greeks were heartless beasts. They loved The slaughter in the Iliad, the rape Of women captured and subdued. Greeks shoved Themselves between those thighs and hips agape For domination by triumphant men. They gloated in...
