In an Ivory Attic

In an Ivory Attic

              In an Ivory Attic Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem  My ivory attic sees me writing lines Alone both day and night.  (It isn’t like Young Chatterton’s.’  The flash of light that...

As Strong as Steely Silk

      As Strong as Steely Silk Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem No hints are held in songs of birds about How soon their death will come.  The wren can sing Its aria but death will have its clout. The...

Obliterations

             Obliterations A world can disappear.  If it is one That you created on the purity Of pages white as Jesus’ diamond sun, This world can shrink to an obscurity Wiped out by fact.  Another world you built Upon the shock of beauty from blue eyes A woman...

Wretchedness is a sacred thing. ~ Seneca

Wretchedness is a sacred thing. ~ Seneca We miss the point unless we see that pain Is holy to the Odyssey and to The Iliad.  The deepest holy vein That runs right through them is the shouting clue As loud as shrieking over loveless death. Too late to yell when...

A History of Upswelling Poisons Unintended

A History of Upswelling Poisons Unintended Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem  e plants some seeds, some sentences and words In rows.  What might become of clauses, verbs, And paragraphs he cannot know. ...

Writing

                  Writing Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem We crave a piece of writing that has prow,...

Male and Female Negated

     Male and Female Negated Men weep.  That’s true, but when they weep, their tears Are not for little things or just to win An argument—unless they’re actors.  Sneers Come easier to men than crying.  In A rage they show their masculinity. Hurt men do anger best, far...

For the Aegenitan Lad Who Won the Pankration

For the Aegenitan Lad Who Won the Pankration “From every ship and boat, my song” ~ Pindar, Nemean Ode 5 We wonder if some ancient sailors sang The lines of Pindar as they crossed the seas Below their masts and not in seamen’s slang. They chanted lines from odes, or...