by phillipw | Jun 28, 2021 | BO, EN, EP, HA, IN, RE, SA, UN
They Hold their Hats in Deference in their Hands Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Two men are bowing at the crossroads to Each other. Though already distant they Grow fainter even as they set off...
by phillipw | Jan 16, 2021 | EN, EP, PE, SA, TR
Insights The pint-sized Jamie held his arms out wide To show how big the peony had spread Those petals. “Big like this!” he smiled. He tried Hyperbole the first time. He had shed Mere factuality for larger truth. Young Yank, he aimed for...
by phillipw | Jan 5, 2021 | AU, BU, EP, KO, MO, MY, PA, RE, SA
“Autumn Revelations”; “Monistic Meditation”; and, “Comprehension”: a Trio of Sonnets Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Samaras wirble down. One hits the pond. The silence and the ripples...
by phillipw | Jan 3, 2021 | EP, MY, RE, TR
Who Can Know? Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem It seems that God (or gods) goes moving through The dawn invaded by exhaustion in The night. The hormone tentacles construe The twilight...
by phillipw | Dec 23, 2020 | AC, AN, EP, Ho, IL, ME, MO, PO
Absence Forbidden by Anamnesis Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Pure absence is unknown—as long as mind Retains the memory, absence is denied. An ancient poet, wandering and blind, Can see that fact. ...
by phillipw | Dec 15, 2020 | CH, EP, FL, FR, JO, OT, PH, RO, SP
Epiphany not Abruptness A mamba crosses paths with you. A shark Fin heaves to view in nearby waves. A plague Ramps out across the world. A winging lark Explodes from cover at your feet. No vague, Uncertain certainty like fate explains The threat, the...
by phillipw | Nov 29, 2020 | AL, AN, DE, EP, GR, HE, IS, LU, MA, PH, PL, SE
Healthy Hedonism; and, Holy Hedonism, Paired Sonnets Healthy Hedonism Tattoo upon yourself this perfect law— The sacredness of pleasure is above The other, puny principles. The awe That it deserves, like God in love, Confirms that thrills, inviolate and...
by phillipw | Oct 24, 2020 | AN, EP, Ho, PA
Prime Poet “Again Sarpedon’s bright spear missed, the blade passing over Patroclus’ left shoulder, leaving the man unscathed. But Patroclus hurled his bronze, in turn, and the spear sped from his hand and not in vain, striking Sarpedon where the ribs...
by phillipw | Oct 21, 2020 | AN, EP, HE, Ho, IL, LO, PO, RO
He Lost, was Slaughtered, but Only He and She had Triumphed Prince Paris was the winner. Every day For years he woke up to his perfect love. He knew where perfect love and beauty lay Because she lay beside him. Far above All other beauty and above the race Of women,...
by phillipw | Jul 18, 2020 | EP, HE, MY, TR
The Poetic Kind of True Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem “The stories begin in kinds of truth. As events recede in time, they grow not smaller but larger in language. The ancestor who fought...
by phillipw | Jul 7, 2020 | AN, EP, IM
Ever Newly Old Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Each time that Homer spoke his epics, they Were new. His improvising made the old A new creation slightly. He could play With ready-made...
by phillipw | Jul 7, 2020 | AN, EP, PO, PR
Epicinian: Poetry Is a Victory if We Do Not Bastardize It “The continuous efforts of English poets in every generation to rediscover a ‘language really used by men’ would have been incomprehensible to a[n ancient] Greek.’” ~ Michael Schmidt, The First Poets, 15,...
by phillipw | Jun 19, 2020 | AN, EP, Ho, IL
Homeric Similes “These similes serve to take the reader away from the battlefield for a brief while, into the world of pre-war peace and plenty. Often, they occur at a moment of high action or emotion, especially during a battle. In the words of Peter Jones,...
by phillipw | Jun 16, 2020 | AN, EP
A Sacred Prize Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Gods used to care about men’s singing love And poetry. A victory in song Made up of music and male words above The rest in contests was akin to...
by phillipw | May 18, 2020 | EP, KN, PH, PO
Seldom Pure and Never Simple: Fawlty Thoughts There’s freedom in the speaking of the truth. I know we’re not supposed to think that such A thing exists. It’s stylishly uncouth, Post-Modernism says, to use the crutch Of common sense. Too many minds...
by phillipw | Apr 10, 2020 | EP
Epicinian: Poetry Is a Victory if We Do Not Bastardize It “The continuous efforts of English poets in every generation to rediscover a ‘language really used by men’ would have been incomprehensible to a[n ancient] Greek.’” ~ Michael Schmidt, The First Poets, 15,...
by phillipw | Jan 23, 2020 | EA, EP
A Simple Silver Cross, Swirled with Purest White .Baby’s Breath, Lead Out in the Easter Morning Service at the Episcopalian Cathedral, ……..Orlando, Florida The men were in Givenchy suits, the young Ones, too, or in their top-notch blazers, pale Blue...