by phillipw | Jul 16, 2020 | CO, GO, JA, ME, OD, PE, SA, SO, WI
The Big Exceptions The women move in caged in places both In life and plays. In poetry they are Curtailed to Sappho and Corinna. Troth Constricts Penelope. It hems. No spar To take her seas away, she sits at loom, Is trapped at night unpicking her trapped work,...
by phillipw | Jul 6, 2020 | JA, MA, ME, MU, OR
Dissonance in Early Poetry Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse The primal poet sang at Jason’s feast, At Jason’s wedding to Medea. Gods Are vile: the marriage’s allure deceased As Orpheus’s melody, at odds With fate, began to fill...
by phillipw | Jul 5, 2020 | AN, ME, SY
Ancient Greek, Then Church Latin, Symposium, Scriptorium Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem “Readers of Greek poetry constituted an élite, as in the Middle Ages readers of Latin did.” ~ Michael...
by phillipw | May 20, 2020 | AL, AN, DI, GO, JE, ME
Some readers may find part of this pair offensive. If you might be offended, do not read these sonnets, please. “The Men of Ancient Hellas” and “Exodus 34:14”— a pair of sonnets Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem...
by phillipw | May 18, 2020 | DO, ME, TR
Trump and Melania, Liberace and Scott Thorson,Verlaine and Rimbaud … the List Goes On and On When men grow old, they suddenly can still Be caught up by cyclones whirling in their veins. The younger winds around them will not thrill To white-haired waterspouts. ...
by phillipw | May 18, 2020 | MA, ME, PO
“Man” His birth was over hidden shoals and shores So he was destined for a freedom in His living. Voices he could raise were roars Or singing. He could be a monk or sin With gold along his wings. His ways could sweep Wide continents or oar their ways on...