Here is an updated list of my Howling at the Moon poems, published on the wolf moon night.
Index
Howling at the Full Wolf Moon
Howling at the Moon Tanka
Secret Werewolf
Howling at the Blood Moon
On a Moonlit late-night
Howling at the Moon
Lunatic howling at the moon
One Crazy Moonlit Night
Full Moon Lunacy
The Pink Moon Inspires Lunacy
Howling with the dancing moon
The Pink Super Moon
Wolves howling at the moon
Woman Howling At The Moon
Maria Lee Off Balanced Madness
Moonbeam
Articles
Howling at the Full Wolf Moon
Sam Adams
went out drinking one night
ending up twenty drinks too sober
as the last call for alcohol rang
he looked up and saw
the lunatic light of the full moon
moonbeams beaming at him
he runs outside
howling at the moon
dying
When a drunk driver
ran him over.
Howling at the Wolf Moon Rising Over the Chao Praya River
As evening set in
On a typical Friday night
In Bangkok.
The denizens
of the cosmos bar
In Soi Cowboy.
A motley crew
from all over
The world, and locals too.
Lust the common
International language.
Began drinking
With their buddies.
the notorious
Jack Daniels Gang
Drinking with Mr. Daniels and his friends
Jim Baker, Jim Beam, Mr. Blanton
Mr. Booker, Elijah Craig, Jack Daniels
George Dickel, Thomas H. Handy, Basil Haydens
Henry McKenna, Old Mr. Forester, Mr. Jameson
Mr. Nester, David Nichols, Benjamin Prichard,
George T. Stagg, Colonel E.H. Taylor, Johny Walker,
Evans Williams, W.L. Weller, Pappy Van Winkle,
and his Old Grand Dad.
Drinking one scotch, one bourbon, and one beer.
As the destroyers
Sang on the loudspeakers
And porno played on the TV.
And naked women danced
With an attitude
That could kill
An elephant in heat.
The woman
circling the bar
Looking
for their eventual dates.
The scent of bad craziness
Hung in the air.
The wolf moon rose
In the sky
Over the Chao Praya River.
Casting its lunatic light
On the never-sleeping
City of lost angels.
The drinkers
20 drinks too sober
Ran out into the street.
The lunatic light
Of the full wolf moon
Transforming them
Into deranged lunatics.
They began
Howling at the moon.
Like escaped banshees
Freed from their alyssum
In hell.
They howled at the moon
As the moon continued
To overwhelm
The howling lunatics.
Howling At Wolf Moon Nocturna
Drinkers in the Cosmos Bar,
Twenty drinks too sober,
Staring at the lunar star,
Rising over the river.
On that night in October.
Running outside looking upriver,
Howling at the full wolf moon.
No longer stone-sober,
Will be very drunk soon.
Basset Puppy Howling At The Moon
In the late afternoon shadow
the red sunset darkening the sky
the basset hound puppy.
.
Stirs and gets up
hearing the distant sounds
of the train in the distance.
Scenting bad craziness
in the air
The dog begins
to howl in the night.
Howling as the moon rises
casting its lunatic light
on the mad scene.
Deranged lunatic dog
inspired to howl
When he sees
The super blue moon
The Pink Super Moon Tanka
More Pink Moon
The pink super moon
casts a cold baleful glow
over the sleeping world
inspiring the drunken men
to howl at the moon
Drunken Old Man Howling At The Moon
lovers in the moon light
A drunken old man down on his luck
was drinking in a nameless bar
in a disreputable, forgotten part of town
where decent citizens, and police feared to tread.
Twenty drinks too sober
he was drinking his way to hell
surrounded by his fellow low-life bums
outlaw scoundrels one and all
he looked outside
transfixed by the full moon
the lunatic light of the
Blood red super moon
inspired him compelled him
he stood up and growled
and ran out into the street
and started howling
at the full moon
the other denizens of the bar
the derelicts, drunken bums, barflies
rushed out and joined him
in howling at the moon
went back inside
and continued to drink
their way to hell.
Howling At The Full Moon In Bangkok
Sam Adams was feeling blue, down on his luck. He went to his favorite watering hole, the CosmosBar in Soi Cowboy, Bangkok, and began drinking with his buddies, the notorious Jack Daniels Gang.
Drinking with Mr. Daniels and his friends, Jim Baker, Jim Beam, Mr. Blanton
Mr. Booker, Elijah Craig, Jack Daniels, George Dickel, Thomas H. Handy, Basil Haydens, Henry McKenna, Old Mr. Forester, Mr. Jameson, Mr. Nester, David Nichols, Benjamin Prichard, George T. Stagg, Colonel E.H. Taylor, Johny Walker, Evans Williams, W.L. Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, and his Old Grand Dad.
Drinking one scotch, one bourbon, and one beer.
Drinking it all down, barely noticing the naked ladies dancing on the stage. Kuhn Lek smiled sadly at him, knowing that there was nothing that would change his mood. He kept drinking until, at last, he was twenty drinks too sober. Then he ordered fried fish Thai style for his midnight dinner.
He looked up and out at the street, noticing the full moon outside. The full moon shed its lunatic light on the streets of Bangkok.
Sam Adams stood up, and said,
The moon is full tonight. Let’s go out and howl at the moon. “
He ran outside onto the road, stripping naked and dancing, waving a feather, as he howled like an escaped banshee at the dancing moon. Inspiring others to join him in howling at the moon. He ran down the street and was run over by a drunk bus driver, ending his life as the moon continued to shine on the mad scene.
Moon over July
Pink Moon
In the middle
of the summer
in July,
midsummer madness
outside under the stars
the storm is abating.
The full moon comes out
The lunatic runs outside
Howling at the
strawberry moon.
Big Daddy Howls at the Moon
Big daddy was talking
to his best friend
Sam Adams
in the Cosmos Bar
in Bangkok, Thailand.
“Sit down and listen
to me.
God,
I wish I had
My yarn and needles with me
that’s my latest hobby
helps me focus.
In the end
it is all about money
it is all about the benjamin’s
nothing personal at all.
Hey, there is cool water in a jar
let’s drink some water
and a shot of Mekong whiskey
it is cocktail time, my friend”.
And as usual
they drank through the night
until o dark hundred.
Twenty drinks too sober.
When they joined
their fellow inmates
in their insane asylum
of a bar.
In going outside
howling like escaped banshees
at the strawberry super full moon
shining its lunatic lights
over the Chao Praya river.
Blame It On The Moon
“Blame it on the moon.”
That is what
Sam Adams said
to the police
after they picked him up
leading a pack of rabid
“farang”
men and woman
running naked down the street.
They had met in front
of the infamous Cosmos Bar
in notorious Bangkok
at o dark hundred.
They were heading
to the riverbank
when the police arrested them,
for disturbing the peace.
They were all incoherent
just staring at the blood-red
full moon overlooking
the Chao Phraya river.
Looking like escaped banshees
howling at the lunatic lights
of the full super blue moon.
The cops laughed
saying on full moon nights
they had a lot of such incidents
On the night of the blood-red super full moon
I sat in an evil, depraved, godforsaken bar
drinking drams of demented, fermented dream dew
washed down by endless rounds of whiskey
rum, tequila, vodka, soju, and of course beer
drinking with my buddies, the Jack Daniel’s gang
drinking my way to hell and beyond
just as fast as I could
Twenty damn drinks too sober
For today’s prompt, write a persona poem. A persona poem is when you write in the voice of another person, real or imaginary. So maybe a sonnet in the voice of Mickey Mouse, or a stance narrated by the Wright Brothers (yes, both of them), or a haiku from the perspective of Amelia Earhart. And yes, inanimate objects are fair game too (if you want to craft some free verse in the voice of a toothbrush). Have at it!
——————————————————————————————————
Hay(na)ku is a very simple poetic form, and it’s also one of the newest. It was apparently created in 2003 by poet Eileen Tabios.
Hay(na)ku is a 3-line poem with one word in the first line, two words in the second, and three in the third. There are no restrictions beyond this.
A really basic example:
Boys
chase girls
on the playground.
There are already some variations of this new poetic form. For instance, a reverse hay(na)ku has lines of three, two, and one word(s) for lines one, two, and three, respectively. Also, multiple hay(na)ku can be chained together to form longer poems.
PSH April 19, 2025
Really, Whom Am I, really ?
Really, whom am I, really?
Everyone knows who we are
Lies we tell ourselves
Lies that define us
All that we are
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Ellen Sander:
Spell your surname backwards
Line the letters up vertically
Write a poem in which each line starts with a word that begins with the letter on each line.
So ya wanna dump out yo’ trick bag
Ease on in a hip thang
But you ain’t exactly sure what is hip
So you started to let your hair grow
Spent big bucks on your wardrobe
Somehow, ya know there’s much more to the trip
[Chorus]
What is hip?
Tell me, tell me, if you think you know
What is hip?
If you’re hip
The question, “Will it show?”
You’re into a hip trip
Maybe hipper than hip
What is hip?
[Verse 2]
You became a part of a new breed
Been smoking’ only the best weed
Hangin’ out with the so-called “Hippie set.”
Seen in all the right places
Seen with just the right faces
You should be satisfied, but it ain’t quite right
[Chorus]
What is hip?
Tell me, tell me, if you think you know
What is hip?
If you’re hip
The question, “Will it show?”
You’re into a hip trip
Maybe hipper than hip
What is hip?
[Break]
Come on
[Refrain]
Hipness is. What it is
Hipness is. What it is
Hipness is. What it is
Sometimes hipness is, what it ain’t
Note: you probably have guessed my favorite band by now….
Happy Saturday, everyone. We hope you’re ready to write some poems!
Today’s featured participant is Sara Hardy, who took me back to my 1980s childhood with her driving-and -singing poem for Day Eighteen.
Our resource for the day is a bit goofy. It’s the Gallery of Strange Museums. Some of the museums here don’t strike me as all that strange – more very local or specific. But the Wingnut Museum is definitely a bit odd, as is the World’s Largest Spool of Thread (less a museum than a roadside attraction), while the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is a testament to the fact that people can – and do – make their own fun.
And now for our daily prompt – optional as always. This one is inspired by Brigit Pegeen Kelly’s poem “Song.”
The word “tragedy” comes from the Greek for “goat song.” The song in Kelly’s poem is quite literally a goat song. The poem also describes a tragedy, both in the modern sense of an awful event, and the ancient dramatic sense of a play in which someone does something terrible, and the play’s action shows the consequences.
The poem has a timeless, could-have-happened-anywhere/any when quality that I associate with blues and folk ballads – including murder ballads (a subgenre of song dealing with a gruesome crime, first arising from broadsheet ballads sold at English executions, and which later came to America in forms like “The Knoxville Girl” and then morphed their way into country music).
Today, we’d like to challenge you to write your own poem that tells a story in the style of a blues song or ballad. One way into this prompt may be to use it to retell a family tragedy or story, or to retell a crime or tragic event that occurred in your hometown.
What with time’s way of time marching inexorably on, we suppose it was inevitable. We’ve come to the 2/3-way point of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Our featured participant today is Anna Endom, whose tragedy/ballad poem for Day Nineteen is less tragic (thankfully) than it could be.
A dark theme keeps me here,
Though summer blazes in the vireo’s eye.
Who would be half possessed
By his own nakedness?
Waking’s my care–
I’ll make a broken music, or I’ll die.
2
Ye littles, lie more close!
Make me, O Lord, a last, a simple thing
Time cannot overwhelm.
Once I transcended time:
A bud broke to a rose,
And I rose from a last diminishing.
3
I look down the far light
And I behold the dark side of a tree
Far down a billowing plain,
And when I look again,
It’s lost upon the night–
Night I embrace, a dear proximity.
4
I stand by a low fire
Counting the wisps of flame, and I watch how
Light shifts upon the wall.
I bid stillness be still.
I see, in evening air,
How slowly dark comes down on what we do.
So, let’s face it: this poem is weird. The rhythm is odd, the rhymes are too, and the language is strangely prophetic and not at all “conversational.” Despite – or maybe because – of this, it has a hypnotic quality, as if it were all inevitable. Your challenge is, with this poem in mind, to write a poem informed by musical phrasing or melody, which employs some form of sound play (rhyme, meter, assonance, alliteration). One way to approach this is to think of a song you know and then basically write new lyrics that fit the original song’s rhythm/phrasing.
2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 20
Rest Poem
Today I need to take a rest
Today I need to take a rest
I am just getting so tired
Of watching the constant chaos
Every time I turn on the news.
——————————————————————————–
I need to scream, enough, no más! *
Today I need to take a rest
Watching the news gives me the blues
I have to turn off the damn news.
————————————————————————————
There’s just too much bad news and gloom
Too many talking heads spinning lies
Today I need to take a rest
They keep telling alternative facts.
I must tune out, turning it all off
—————————————————————————————-
I sit down and do my yoga
Listening to sweet chill music
Today I need to take a rest.
*Spanish for more “no mas” is a common expression meaning no more, or even we are out of something
Today, I tried my hand at a new (to me) French poetic form named the quatern that incorporates a refrain like in the villanelle and eight-syllable lines like in the kyrielle. Since I’m a big fan of refrains, I think this poetic form rocks.
Quatern Poetic Form Rules
This poem has 16 lines broken up into 4 quatrains (or 4-line stanzas).
Each line is comprised of eight syllables.
The first line is the refrain. In the second stanza, the refrain appears in the second line; in the third stanza, the third line; in the fourth stanza, the fourth (and final) line.
There are no rules for rhyming or iambics.
PSH April 20, 2025
I knew it was time to go.
I knew it was time to go.
I saw the writing on the wall.
I could see there would be a fall.
Things would soon come to a great blow.
Saw that soon there would be madness.
The country may not grow.
had to go before the sideshow.
I knew it was time to go.
Note I retired from government before Trump 1.0, Trump 2.0 is far worse in my opinion.
The Octavin Refrain is an invented form by Luke Prater.
This poetry writing prompt was submitted by Diane Barker:
Time to pull the plug. Write about knowing when to walk away, changing direction or coming to terms with a hard decision. It can be literal or figurative.
Trochaic tetrameter also acceptable. The latter yields a more propulsive rhythm, as opposed to iambs, which tend to lilt.
As the name suggests, the first line is a refrain, repeated as the last (some variation of refrain acceptable).
Rhyme-scheme options as follows –
option 1 – Abb ac aaba
option 2 – Abb aca ba
option 3 – (A bbba cab A)
option 4 – (Abb aca ba Abb aca ba) (high octane)
April 21
Time to pull the plug. Write about knowing when to walk away, changing direction or coming to terms with a hard decision. It can be literal or figurative.
Dew Drop Inn
April 20—Easter eggs (hide something delightful in your poem!)
Ricciardone. Irish quatrain form with 5 syllables in first line, 6 in the others.
Quatrain (or four-line stanza) form
Five syllables in the first line; six syllables in the other three lines
Each line ends with a two-syllable word
Lines two and four rhyme
All end words consonate
Comments:
“Govbot” is a pejorative term quite popular on the right, dating back to the Clinton era, to refer to government workers who are seen as slow-witted drones who could not make it in the free market, which is why they were “govbots” (short for government robots).
The DOGE stands for Department of Government Efficiency, which the President tasked to root out fraud, waste, and abuse and cut the Federal government’s budget and staff by 50 percent in the process, shutting down agencies, moving many out of DC, etc. The team led by Elon Musk lacks any clear mandate but has acted quickly, causing lots of turmoil, anguish, and litigation by Govbots and others who are opposed to their attempt to slash and burn the government, or to quote Elon Musk, “ take a chainsaw to the Federal government.” This is not just my biased opinion, it is shared widely in the US, where there are massive protests daily against the destruction of the Federal Government, the ending of DEI programs, the shredding of civil liberties, and mass deportations without due process. End my editorial opinion, sorry for the rant.
End comments
Happy Monday, all, and a very happy twenty-first day of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Today, our featured participant is ray, whose Roethke-inspired poem for Day Twenty has an irresistible and friendly rhythm.
And now here’s our daily (optional) prompt. Sawako Nakayas u’s poem “Improvisational Score” is a rather surreal prose poem describing an imaginary musical piece that proceeds in a very unmusical way. Today, try your hand at writing your own poem in which something that normally unfolds in a set and well understood way — like a baseball game or dance recital – goes haywire, but is described as if it is all very normal.
This performance may take place over any duration of time, from zero seconds to many years.
A number of insects are placed in a clear container so that they are as comfortable as possible, given the circumstances. They are given oxygen and food and water, though they may not escape. The container of insects is placed on stage and a light is directed through the container and projected onto a large screen so that the audience may see the insects.
Each musician chooses an insect and plays accordingly.
If two insects begin fighting, the corresponding musicians should also fight, musically or literally.
If an insect dies, the corresponding musician should also die, musically or literally.
“Improvisational Score” from The Ants (Les Figures Press, 2014). Reprinted with the permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Very John Cagian! One of his more infamous pieces was a piano piece 4′33″ (1952) where the pianist mocked playing the piano silently for seven minutes, the music was the audience’s reaction.
For those who don’t know about John Cage, here is a Co-Pilot Bio and a bio for Sawka Nakayas as well.
John Cage
john Cage
John Cage (1912–1992) was an American avant-garde composer and music theorist known for his pioneering work in indeterminacy, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments. His influence on 20th-century music was profound, challenging traditional notions of composition and performance. Cage was deeply inspired by Zen Buddhism and Eastern philosophies, which led him to embrace chance operations in his compositions.
Notable Works
4′33″ (1952) – A silent composition where the ambient sounds of the environment become the music.
Sonatas and Interludes (1946–48) – A cycle of pieces for prepared piano.
Music of Changes (1951) – A work composed using the I Ching.
Concert for Piano and Orchestra (1957–58) – A highly indeterminate composition.
Oratorio (1979) – A piece inspired by James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake.
Sawako Nakayas is a Japanese-American poet, translator, and performer whose work explores language, performance, and translation. She has lived in Japan, the U.S., France, and China, and her poetry often engages with transnational themes.
Notable Works
Pink Waves (2022)
Some Girls Walk Into the Country They Are From (2020)
Hurry Home Honey (2009)
Texture Notes (2010)
The Ants (2014)
Mouth: Eats Color – A multilingual work blending original and translated poetry.
Nakayas has also translated works by Japanese poets such as Chika Sagawa and Tatsumi Hijikata, contributing significantly to cross-cultural literary exchange.
2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 21
The Day Of My Jogging Accident
Begin Poem
That morning I went for a run.
Fell down a path in the dark.
The run ended as a short run.
That fateful morning was pitch-dark.
14 operations – no fun!
end poem
prompt
We’re now three weeks deep in this challenge; way to bring it. Let’s finish strong!
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) Day,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: “Opposite Day,” “Green Day,” “Earth Day,” “The Last Ever Day,” and/or “The Day Before Yesterday.” Even “Holiday” would work honestly.
Criteria
The Quintilla is a Spanish poetic form that, as you may have guessed from the name, uses five-line stanzas. Here are the guidelines:
Five-line stanzas.
Eight syllables per line.
An ab rhyme scheme in which at least two lines use the “a” rhyme and at least two lines use the “b” rhyme…
But the stanza cannot end with a rhyming couplet.
Based on a true jogging accident, in 1996 I fell down a ladder in the dark, endured 14 operations over nine months, almost lost my leg and life as I developed an MDR staph infection that almost killed me. Fortunately, since was wife was a military officer and I worked for the State Department, I was covered under military health care, they took good care of me while the State Department was not at all sympathetic, and I did not have to battle insurance companies.
PSH April 21, 2025
Burma Shave Signs from the Past
For many years
From the 1920s to the early 70s
Burma Shave
It was shaving cream
Company
Sadly, it went out
Business
Decades ago
The Burma Shave
Advertisements
Often humorous
Or a traffic safety message
Burma Shave signs
Were a feature
Of the American rural landscape
The classic Burma Shave sign
It was a cowboy poetry
rhyming poem
ending with a tag line
“Burma Shave”
The modern interstate highway system
Banned them
As too distracting
To motorists
Perhaps they were
But they were still
An interesting bit
Of American poetic wit
And wisdom
Just a few
I remember
From road trips
In the late 60s
Before they faded away
Into American history
“Pricky Pears
Prickly pears
Are picked
For pickles
No peach picks
A face that prickles
Burma Shave”
“Substitutes
Substitutes
Resemble
Tail-chasing pup
Follow and follow
But never catch up
Burma Shave”
Co-Pilot provided background info
The Burma-Shave ads were a clever and iconic advertising campaign for a brushless shaving cream introduced in 1925 by the Burma-Vita company. These ads became a staple of American highways from 1926 to 1963. The campaign featured a series of small, sequential roadside signs, each displaying a line of a humorous or rhyming poem, with the final sign always bearing the brand name, “Burma-Shave.” The signs were designed to entertain drivers and passengers during long road trips, making them a beloved part of the driving experience.
The campaign’s popularity peaked in the 1930s and 1940s, with over 7,000 sets of signs across the United States. However, the rise of the Interstate Highway System and faster vehicle speeds in the late 1950s made the signs less effective, leading to their discontinuation in 1963.
note: you could still find them on backwater highways until the mid 70’s, they are all long gone now.
Prompt
THINGS YOU’D NEVER HEAR
–in a weather report
–over the announcement system at an airport
–as a public service announcement
–in a sermon
THINGS YOU’D NEVER READ
–in a romance novel
–in a science fiction book
–as a pamphlet in a doctor’s office
–on a get-well card
THINGS/PEOPLE YOU’D NEVER SEE
–at a yard sale
–on a sign at a protest rally
–on a menu
–on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list
*************************************************************************
Example–from Joe Kelty’s Poem: ROAD SIGNS WE NEVER SEE
NO TURN ON BLUE
SPEED LIMIT 46.24 MPH
PASS WITH ABANDON
WRONG RIGHT-OF-WAY
GO FOR IT
NEXT REST AREA 900 MILES. HOLD ON.
CRISSCROSS CENTER LINE
ROAD SLIPPERY WHEN PRESENT
FLOOR IT HERE TO CORNER
NOSEDIVE, 1 MILE
TAILGATING ZONE
MERGE OR BE SORRY
CAUTION: THREE-WAY TRAFFIC . . .
Dew Drop Inn
April 21—A country not your own
First Visit to Korea
In 1979
I first went to Korea
In those Peace Corps
After a long plane ride
My first international flight
I ended up in South Korea
At the old Gimpo airport
A chaotic crazy drive
Through Seoul
To the town of Chuncheon
Where we did our training course
For four months
First visit to another land
First foreign travel
To a strange land
Exotic people
Strange sounds and sights
And the smells of incense
And the food ah the food
korean feast jpg
But over time
Became my second home
45 years later
I returned to Korea
Ending up living
Next door to Gimpo airport
Where my journey began
45 years ago
Welcome back, everyone, for the twenty-second day of National/Global Poetry Writing Month.
Our featured participant today is Cutting Hail, who brings us not just one poem in response to Day 21’s “instructional” prompt, but three!
Today’s daily resource is the Uffizi Gallery, in Florence, Italy. If you are at all interested in Renaissance Italian masters, it’s the right place to get an eyeful of Titians, Caravaggio, Botticelli’s, Canaletto, and da Vincis.
And now for today’s optional prompt! Did you take music lessons as a child? Despite having all the musical talent of a dried-out lemon, I took two years of piano lessons. I was required to practice for half an hour a day and showed my disgruntlement by playing certain very annoying songs – like Turkey in the Straw – over and over, as loudly as possible. But while
I thought of the lessons as a kind of torture, I’m glad as an adult to have taken them – if only for the greater dexterity it gave to my hands!
In her poem, Thanking My Mother for Piano Lessons, Diane Wakoski’s is far more grateful than I ever managed to be, describing the act of playing as a “relief” from loneliness and worry, and as enlarging her life with something beautiful. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem about something you’ve done – whether it’s music lessons, or playing soccer, crocheting, or fishing, or learning how to change a tire – that gave you a similar kind of satisfaction, and perhaps still does.
2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 22
Please Tell Us The People The Truth Soledad
Please tell us the truth
Hey govbots, no more lies, no mas! *
We don’t need any more half-truth
*Spanish for no more can be politically as here or simply we are out of something or stop doing something quite a flexible wording
Govbots pejorative term for government workers among the right, dating back to the Clinton era, meaning government workers who are mindless drones following rules and procedures
On the 22nd day of the 2025 April Poem-A-Day Challenge, writers are challenged with the fourth Two-for-Tuesday prompt of the month.
It’s time for the fourth (but not final) Two-for-Tuesday prompt:
Write a poem and/or…
Write a don’t tell me poem.
You get to decide what that means; you might even tell me in your poem.
The Soledad is a Spanish poetic form. It has the following guidelines:
Three-line poem (or stanzas).
Eight-syllable lines.
Rhyme scheme: aba.
Internal consonance and assonance.
PSH April 22, 2025
Reprograming My Mind
It is so easy
Watching the news
And following social media
To become outraged
Enraged and depressed
That is what they want
From us
Keeping us
From seeing
The beauty
The joy
And even happiness
That is still around us
Whenever I get too depressed
With constant doom-scrolling
I stop and think about
All the good things
In my life
And especially
How I met and married
The lady of my dreams
And day-to-day
Noise of the
perpetual outrage machine
The media has become
Fades away
Replaced by a sense
Of joy and yes
Even happiness
Which no one
can take away
From us
Reprogram your mind
Get rid of negativity
And concentrate
On the positive
And the things
You can do
To make this
A better world
So go forth
And find
Your inner joy
And happiness
Whatever form
That may take
Prompt provided, but I am skipping this one – too much of a headache to wrap my tired 69-year old brain around! Instead, I decided to write something positive for a welcome change to my otherwise gloomy poems
High above Sky City
near the Incheon airport
In South Korea.
I heard them
then saw them
Hideous black
Korean magpie
Krachi mocking birds.
Looking at me
Cackling at me
Laughing at me
Mocking me.
Calling me names
I asked
“Say birds,
What do you
Want from me?”
They laughed,
“Nothing
But your doom
human!”
And they flew
Around me
dive bombing me.
surrounding me
calling me names.
In Korean,
And English.
As I fled
The trail
With the demon birds
hot on my trail.
Note:
Korean magpies, sometimes called mockingbirds, are common in more rural areas, and they do often laugh as people walk by. Very eerie sound, and the birds are quite big. The above is based on a nightmare I had after a real encounter on a trail back in 2018, pre-COVID era, when I was living near the airport and often took long walks through the nearby hills.
Co-pilot background on Korean mockingbirds
Mockingbirds are not native to Korea, so there isn’t a specific Korean name for them. However, Korea is home to a rich variety of bird species, some of which mimic sounds like mockingbirds do. For example, the Eurasian magpie, known as “까치” (kka chí) in Korean, is a common bird that is admired for its intelligence and vocal abilities.
As for endangered species, South Korea has several bird species that are nationally protected due to their vulnerable status. You can find detailed lists of these species on resources like the Ministry of Environment’s website or the Birds Korea Checklist.
Happy Wednesday, everyone, and happy twenty-third day of National/Global Poetry Writing Month.
Today, our featured participant is Elizabeth Bouquet, who brings us a poem with a poem in it in response to Day Twenty-Two’s lessons-based prompt.
Our resource for the day is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum’s online image collection is practically endless, and to call it varied would be an understatement. There’s over 2,000 images just of baseball cards! To say nothing of candelabra featuring what appears to be a scandalized swan, a processional sword belonging to the guardsman of a sixteenth-century German duke, and a couch that I would very much like to fall upon in a melodramatic swoon.
And last but not least, here’s today’s (optional) prompt. Humans might be the only species to compose music, but we’re quite famously not the only ones to make it. Birdsong is all around us – even in cities, there are sparrows chirping, starlings making a racket. And it’s hardly surprising that birdsong has inspired poets. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write your own poem that focuses on birdsong. Need examples? Try A.E. Stallings’ “Blackbird Etude,” or for an old-school throwback, Shelley’s “To a Skylark.”
2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 23
Too Many Books
Have too many
Books
For me to read
Friends
I need to start decluttering
I own too many books and CDs to keep
My books
It is hard to say goodbye
To my friends
Love reading my old classics
So much I’ve learned from all my classic books
Each one, a friend through long years of my life
I’ll miss them
I can’t believe how fast we’re breezing through this month. One week of poeming after today!
For today’s prompt, write a poem book. Today is World Book Day, which may be one of my favorite holidays moving forward, because I love books. Your poem could be inspired by a book, an author, a character, a scene, and/or however you’d like to come to this one. Heck, write about a bookstore, library, card catalogue, or any other bookish thing you can imagine.
Criteria
You know Pi as the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. But Pi is also used as poetry form. I discovered a small explanation on the page of Jan Haag, who has written several poems in Pi form.
The Pi is built up in words and follows the mathematical number that stands for Pi:
PI = 3.141592653589793
In lines:
Pi Form
line 1: 3 words
line 2: 1 word
line 3: 4 words
line 4: 1 word
line 5: 5 words
line 6: 9 words
line 7: 2 words
line 8: 6 words
line 9: 5 words
line 10: 3 words
line 11: 5 words
line 12: 8 words
line 13: 9 words
line 14: 7 words
line 15: 9 words
line 16: 3 words.
Hey, once I was a boogie singer
Playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band
I never had any problems, yeah
Burning down the one-night stands
Then everything around me, yeah
It got to start feeling so low
And I decided quickly, yes, I did, heh
To disco down and check out the show
Yeah, they were dancing and singing
And moving to the grooving
And just when it hit me
Somebody turned around and shouted…
“Play that funky music, white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music, white boy
Lay down the boogie and play that funky music ’til you die” (heh, heh)
‘Til you die, yeah, uh
Here, here, ha
Well, I tried to understand this (yeah)
Heh, I thought that they were out of their minds
How could I be so foolish? How could I?
To not see I was the one behind?
So still I kept on fighting
Well, losing every step of the way (hey, what’d you do?)
I said, “I must go back there,” I got to go back
And check to see if things still the same
Yeah, they were dancing and singing
And moving to the grooving
And just when it hit me
Somebody turned around and shouted…
“Play that funky music, white boy (yeah)
Play that funky music right, oh
Play that funky music, white boy
Lay down the boogie and play that funky music ’til you die” (heh)
‘Til you die (yeah)
Oh, ’til you die
Gonna play some electrified funky music, yow
Ah, ha, ha
Hey, wait a minute, now first it wasn’t easy
Changing rock ‘n’ roll and minds
Yeah, things were getting shaky (yeah)
I thought I’d have to leave it behind, uh
Ooh, but now it’s so much better, it’s so much better
I’m funking out in every way
But I’ll never lose that feeling, no, I won’t
Of how I learned my lesson that day
When they were dancing and singing
And moving to the grooving
And just when it hit me
Somebody turned around and shouted
“Play that funky music, white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music, white boy
Lay down the boogie and play that funky music ’til you die” (heh)
‘Til you die (yeah)
Oh, ’til you die, yeah
Come on, let’s go!
(They shouted, “play that funky music”) play that funky music
(Play that funky music) you gotta keep on playing funky music
(Play that funky music) play that funky music
(Play that funky music) come on and take you higher
Play that funky music, white boy
Play that funky music right, yeah
Play that funky music, white boy
Play that funky music right, yeah
Play that funky music (white boy)
Play that funky music (right, yeah)
Play that funky music (honky)
Play that funky music (right, ha)
Play that funky…
Songwriters: Robert W. Parisi. For non-commercial use only.
Welcome back, everyone, to Day Twenty-Four of our annual poetry-writing challenge!
Our featured participant for the day is haphazard, whose birdsong poem for Day Twenty-Three places primacy on the “gaps in the music.”
Today’s daily resource is the Art Institute of Chicago, where just searching the collection for the word “stars,” I found this amazing quilt, a very fancy-looking Soviet plate, and an illustration of the constellation Leo from a medieval Arabic astronomical guide.
And now for today’s (optional) prompt. One fundamental aspect of music is its communal nature. While a single person can make music, of course, it’s often made in groups. Rock bands, orchestras, church choirs – they all involve making music together. And often, we’re playing or performing music that was written by, or inspired by, other people.
In her poem, Duet, Lisa Russ Spaar tells the story of two sisters making music together, based on two pre-existing songs by different artists. Today, we challenge you to write a poem that involves people making music together, and that references – with a lyric or line – a song or poem that is important to you.
PSH April 23, 2025 Poetry Writing Prompt from Franci Levine-Grater
Looking at my house filled with memories Kimo Poem
Look at an item, or a picture of an item, which is important or sentimental to you and write about memories and feelings it elicits. Do NOT describe the item. Rather, use it as an inspiration to access why it is sentimental to you.
3 lines
No rhymes.
10 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 6 in the third.
Also, the kimo is focused on a single frozen image (kind of like a snapshot). So it’s uncommon to have any movement happening in kimo poems.
With apologies for the delay (I’m traveling, and just plain fell asleep last night before updating today’s post!), today’s featured participant is Wren Jones, who brings us a flashback to Springsteen in response to Day Twenty-Four’s making-music-together prompt.
It’s a pleasure to browse through the images here. I particularly liked these anklets that aren’t just jewelry but a sort of personal piggy bank, this portrait of the fabulously mustachioed J.M. Curette, and this highly decorative flask, originally meant to hold gunpowder!
Finally, here is our optional prompt for the day. In her poem, Senzo, Evie Shockley recounts the experience of being at a live concert, relating it the act of writing poetry. Today we’d like to challenge you to write a poem that recounts an experience of your own hearing live music and tells how it moves you. It could be a Rolling Stones concert, your little sister’s middle school musical, or just someone whistling – it just needs to be something meaningful to you.
2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 24
O Dark Hundred Nightmares
Midnight
Insomnia takes hold of me
nightmares terrifying me
0 dark hundred
late nights
What if
What if nightmares take over
Replaying in my mind
What if what if
what if
Worries
Going down dark, twisted rabbit holes
Natural disasters
Fear of my death
The end
Comment:
Note: O Dark hundred hours is a military/intel slang phrase that refers to the hours just before dawn between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., depending on location and time of year. This is when bad things happen in the night, as military and intel special forces wake up for a dawn operation. Here and in other similar poems and short stories, it refers to when people most often have nightmares around 3 a.m. in the middle of the night, or O Dark hundred.
Bonus Poem
O dark hundred insomnia blues
Sam Adams had the insomnia blues
he could not sleep.
He stared at the ceiling.
That stared back at him
With an evil grin
Mocking him it seems.
His mind plays an endless tape
of fears doom, and endless fears
As he goes down the proverbial rabbit hole
Lost in an endless anxiety feedback freak out loop.
The latest dark SF series he saw
the latest scary news
Political dystopian futures
Endless possibilities play out.
The latest news of war
the latest fears of incipient fascism
The latest news about the stock market
climate change weather disasters
Monster storms and flooding
His town burning up around him.
What if I have the big Alzheimer’s, or dementia?
What if I have Cancer, Covid, Lyme disease, or Monkeypox?
What if World War Three breaks out?
4:30 a.m.
What if I am at the mall
When a mad gunman opens fire?
Or a terrorist bomb goes off?
Or I am the victim of a random act of violence?
5:15 a.m.
What if the zombie apocalypse starts?
What if, what if, what if……
6:30 a.m.
Until day-break blasts him awake
as the dawning sun fills the room.
Ending that night’s insomnia blues.
Until the next night’s episode begins
at O Dark Hundred.
Prompt
For today’s prompt, write a time of day poem. You can pick a specific time of day (like the songs “3 A.M. Eternal,” by The KLF, or “12:51,” by The Strokes), or it can be a more generalized thing (like “early morning” or “lunch time” or whatever). Snack time is one of my favorite times of day, for sure. (And don’t forget poeming time!)
Criteria
This poetry form is not a difficult one. The form finds its origin in Spain. Not much is known about the history of the form, so we’ll stick to the details.
How is the Cinquain set up?
xx
xxxxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxxx
xx
(2/8/6/4/2 syllables.)
If you center the poem, the shape looks like a top, quite cute
PSH Cut-up Remixed consular officers have the best stories
Bob Jones chief
Mumbai
9-11
oversee
immigrant visas,
adjudicator
fraud unit
“administrative processing”
Had best stories,
“So, what can we do for you?”
————————————————————————————————————
“ Yes, my father is dying
He said to her,
“Do you have any proof
And she said yes,
———————————–
that letter
It was fraudulent.
————————————————————————————————–
Mr Patel had died
about two weeks before.
“So, Miss Patel
when was the last time
you spoke to your father?”
————————————————————————————————– “Oh, I spoke to him just now
he is still alive
“OK well,
there’s just one problem.
Do you believe in ghosts?”
” What?”
——————————————————————————————-
“Well, you see here’s the problem.
There’s only one way you
could have spoken
to your father today
————————————————————————————————–and that is if you spoke
to a ghost
he died two weeks ago”.
Another day
in the life of a visa officer
—————————————————————————————————
doing his part
to enforce broken system.
Just another bad government gig
The immigration system has been broken for decades and is riddled with fraud, but most immigrants are decent, hardworking people. I disagree with the mass deportation campaign and the practice of sweeping people off the streets. Instead, they should have fixed the system, which would need to include a path to legalization for those who are otherwise law-abiding, long-term residents. It is far better for everyone if they have legal status rather than living in the shadows. I also believe we must make it easier for legal immigration and give priority to those who study in the U.S. and are poised to become the next innovators here. The current policy is shortsighted, cruel, and counterproductive.
Experiment with Cross-Outs and Cut-ups Using Old Drafts of Poetry as Raw Material!
This prompt invites you to rework forgotten/abandoned drafts by both/either redacting/covering up selected words (cross-outs) and cutting lines out of hard copies and re-ordering them on a piece of paper, gluing them down when you are satisfied (cut-ups). Magazines are also good raw material for cross-out and cut-up poetry and found poems. Either using intuition, or complete random selection. The point is not to overthink it. You’ll need scissors and glue or tape and some blank paper and a marking pen.
Lewis Carroll answered the question of “How do I be a poet?” in 1883:
“For first you write a sentence,
And then you chop it small;
Then mix the bits, and sort them out
Just as they chance to fall:
The order of the phrases makes
No difference at all.”
Tristan Tzara, in the 1920s, proposed to create a poem on the spot by pulling words out of a hat. In the 1950s Brion Gysin cut newspaper articles into sections and rearranged the sections at random. William Burroughs asserts. “Cuts ups are for everyone,” just as Tzara remarked that “poetry is for everyone.”
April 24—Duty
visa fraud stories
Bob Jones was an immigrant visa chief
for the United States of America
consular officers have the best stories,
and cases that will always be remembered.
———————————————————————————————————————–
On that November day,
an Indian American citizen
came to the consulate to see him.
———————————————————————————————————————–She had a request.
would he be willing to consider
her Sibling’s cases.
Her father had immigrated
to the United States
and become a citizen.
And she had become
a citizen as well.
She had four siblings
who were in their 30s
all of whom were living in India
and all of those visas
————————————————————————————————
were held up for “administrative processing”
on suspicion of marriage fraud,
or rather fake single status,
which was the biggest category
of visa fraud.
Her father had petitioned
for them and
as unmarried children of U.S. citizens,
the wait was
about three years,
whereas for married children of U.S. citizens,
the wait would be about seven years.
In this case,
he suspected
that they were committing
marriage fraud
by pretending
to be unmarried
and the case
had been held up
They knew culturally speaking
that rural Gujarati women
and men in their 30s
would all be married
and that they were faking
being single on paper
to speed up visa processing.
Once they were Green card holders
They would marry their spouses
So in five years
They would all be together
Instead of ten years
He understood
and even felt sympathetic
but the law was the law
-and he had to
enforce the visa law
even the insane rules.
– He asked her,
“So, what can we do for you?”
————————————————————————————————–
“ Yes, my father is dying
in the hospital
—————————————————————————————-
and it is his dying wish
to reunite the family
in the United States
could you please
reconsider issuing
the visas to them?”
He said to her,
————————————————————————————————
“Do you have any proof
that your father
is in the hospital?”
————————————————————————————————–
And she said yes,
and she pulled out
a letter written
by an Indian doctor
in New Jersey
saying that Mister Patel
was seriously ill
and that it
was his dying wish
to have his children
reunited in the United States,
and see him before he died.
and that the consulate
should reconsider
issuing visas
for the children.
There was something
about that letter
that struck him as fraudulent.
and so he called the hospital
and he confirmed
with the duty doctor
that Mr. Patel
had died
about two weeks before.
————————————————————————————————–
He called Miss Patel
and gave her the bad news.
He started by saying.
“So, Miss Patel
when was the last time
you spoke to your father?”
“Oh, I spoke to him just now
he is still alive and waiting
for his children to arrive
to see him before he dies.”
“He is alive right now?”
Oh, yes, he is still alive
and he’s waiting
for the immigrant visas
to be processed.”
“OK well, there’s just one problem.
Do you believe in ghosts?”
” What?”
——————————————————————————————-
“Well, you see here’s the problem.
There’s only one way you
could have spoken
to your father today
and that is if you spoke
to a ghost because
according to the hospital,
he died two weeks ago”.
And he showed
her fax from the hospital
confirming Mr. Patel’s demise.
————————————————————————————————–She started crying.
Then he said.
“Well, you know the problem
is that you and your siblings
just committed visa fraud.
They are going to be stuck
in India and not allowed to travel
to the United States
for the next 99 years.
But planes fly both ways
and you can go visit them
every year if you want
but they’re not coming
into the United States.
And you can file for them
And in eight years seek
A visa waiver for the ineligibility
It is sometimes granted.”
– She cried
and he entered them
in the system for visa
misrepresentation.
This one was
but one of the many
heart-breaking stories
illustrating
how broken the US immigration system was.
In this particular case,
if the father was still alive,
he might have
reconsidered the case
and issued the visas
for humanitarian reasons
ignoring marriage fraud,
which was always difficult to prove,
but when the father
died the petition died with him.
He said to himself
well that’s just another day
in the life of a visa officer
————————————————————————————————–
doing his part
to enforce
a broken immigration system.
But, thinking back on it all,
he felt blessed to be working
serving the country he loved
-and helping immigrants,
students and visitors
visit America
while deterring fraudsters,
and helping American citizens
who found themselves
in trouble in a foreign land.
Not bad for a government gig
He always said.
The immigration system has been broken for decades and is riddled with fraud, but most immigrants are decent, hardworking people. I disagree with the mass deportation campaign and the practice of sweeping people off the streets. Instead, they should have fixed the system, which would need to include a path to legalization for those who are otherwise law-abiding, long-term residents. It is far better for everyone if they have legal status rather than living in the shadows. I also believe we must make it easier for legal immigration and give priority to those who study in the U.S. and are poised to become the next innovators here. The current policy is shortsighted, cruel, and counterproductive.
With apologies for the delay (I’m traveling, and just plain fell asleep last night before updating today’s post!), today’s featured participant is Wren Jones, who brings us a flashback to Springsteen in response to Day Twenty-Four’s making-music-together prompt.
It’s a pleasure to browse through the images here. I particularly liked these anklets that aren’t just jewelry but a sort of personal piggy bank, this portrait of the fabulously mustachioed J.M. Curette, and this highly decorative flask, originally meant to hold gunpowder!
Finally, here is our optional prompt for the day. In her poem, Senzo, Evie Shockley recounts the experience of being at a live concert, relating it the act of writing poetry. Today we’d like to challenge you to write a poem that recounts an experience of your own hearing live music and tells how it moves you. It could be a Rolling Stones concert, your little sister’s middle school musical, or just someone whistling – it just needs to be something meaningful to you.
2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 25
April 25 I shall always remember
One night in early September
A night I will always remember
For on that date, my dream lady came to life
It was on that September date
I knew that I had met my fate
When I saw her, sparks flew from heart to heart
Tripadi Poems
The Tripadi is a Bengali poetic form. Here are the guidelines:
Tercets (or three-line stanzas).
Lines one and two end rhyme with each other.
Lines one and two have eight syllables.
Line three has ten syllables.
Poem may consist of one tercet or several.
f you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Superhighway Facebook Group.
As you can see, the original golden shovel takes more than a line from the poem. In fact, it pulls every word from the Brooks poem, and it does it twice.
This form is sort of in the tradition of the cento and erasure, but it offers a lot more room for creativity than other poetry found.
Jake, your collection for April 23 offers a rich variety of tone and subject, and there is real pleasure in the movement between them.
The mocking birds piece is wild and vivid, capturing a surreal sense of menace with a playful edge-the birds cackling in Korean and English is a brilliant, slightly absurd detail.
Your piece on “reprogramming your mind” is a warm, important counterpoint: it reminds readers (and perhaps yourself) that joy still exists if we choose to seek it, without falling into preachiness.
The short memory about your house feels quiet and grounded, and the Shakespeare piece is a real highlight: personal, affectionate, and tinged with a sense of time passing.
Your affection for the classics shines through clearly.
If anything, the different pieces might feel a little loosely stitched when read together, but as a daily writing project, this kind of natural shift between moods feels entirely fitting.
A heartfelt and honest set.
Tim thanks as always
Jake, your collection for April 23 offers a rich variety of tone and subject, and there is real pleasure in the movement between them.
The mocking birds piece is wild and vivid, capturing a surreal sense of menace with a playful edge-the birds cackling in Korean and English is a brilliant, slightly absurd detail.
Your piece on “reprogramming your mind” is a warm, important counterpoint: it reminds readers (and perhaps yourself) that joy still exists if we choose to seek it, without falling into preachiness.
The short memory about your house feels quiet and grounded, and the Shakespeare piece is a real highlight: personal, affectionate, and tinged with a sense of time passing.
Your affection for the classics shines through clearly.
If anything, the different pieces might feel a little loosely stitched when read together, but as a daily writing project, this kind of natural shift between moods feels entirely fitting.
A heartfelt and honest set.
Tim thanks as always
Happy Sunday, all – I hope you have an enjoyable thirteenth day of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Our featured participant today is Chronicles of Miss Miseria, where the response to Day Twelve’s symphonic, Stevens-inspired prompt fires on all cylinders.
Finally, here’s our prompt for the day (optional, as always). Donald Justice’s poem, “There is a gold light in certain old paintings,” plays with both art and music, and uses an interesting and (as far as I know) self-invented form. His six-line stanzas use lines of twelve syllables, and while they don’t use rhyme, they repeat end words. Specifically, the second and fourth line of each stanza repeat an end-word or syllable; he fifth and sixth lines also repeat their end-word or syllable. Today, we challenge you to write a poem that uses Justice’s invented form.
It comes from everywhere and from nowhere at once, this light,
And the poor soldiers sprawled at the foot of the cross
Share in its charity equally with the cross.
2
Orpheus hesitated beside the black river.
With so much to look forward to he looked back.
We think he sang then, but the song is lost.
At least he had seen once more the beloved back.
I say the song went this way: O prolong
Now the sorrow if that is all there is to prolong.
3
The world is very dusty, uncle. Let us work.
One day the sickness shall pass from the earth for good.
The orchard will bloom; someone will play the guitar.
Our work will be seen as strong and clean and good.
And all that we suffered through having existed
Shall be forgotten as though it had never existed.
“govbot” is a perjorative term for government workers popular on the right, dating back to the Clinton era.
Writer’s Digest Prompt
Full Moon Madness
Sam Adams
Was drinking
In his favorite watering hole
The Cosmos Bar
In Soi Cowboy, Bangkok.
Twenty drinks too sober
He contemplated life.
It was the evening
Of the pink full moon
The lunatic light
Of the moon.
Shown on the street
Outside the bar
Sam was soon transformed
Into a demented werewolf
Ran outside
Howling like an escaped banshee
At the lunatic light of the full moon
Shining down on his lost soul.
The Cosmos Bar is a fictional expat bar located in Soi Cowboy, Bangkok. Soi Cowboy dates back to the Vietnam war era when it was a popular drinking district or expats in Bangkok. Sam Adams is a fictional character that pops up in many of my stories and poems, a distant descendant of the famous Sam Adams, and beer brewer, from the revolutionary war period of US history.
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Full (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: “Full Moon,” “Full Throttle,” “Full Tank of Gas,” “Full Monty,” and/or “Full Tank of Gas.”
Here’s my attempt at a Full (blank) Poem:
“Full Throated,” by Robert Lee Brewer
I sound my long barbaric yawp
from every available hilltop
on my way to the barbershop
fearing I may never stop
while sucking on a lollipop
as the neighbors channel-hop
and the horses clippity clop
beside another bumblecop
which could be a malaprop
for the use of bumpercrop
as I find I flip and flop
like a price at a car swap
or the head of a wet mop
stuck inside a karate chop
falling like a sad raindrop
into a pond–a frog–kerplop!
Bonus Full Moon Poem
Pink Moon Lunar Madness Overcomes Old Man
The lunatic light of the pink full moon
Shinned on a lonely man in the Cosmos Bar
Who was a lost film star
Drinking from afar
The lunatic light of the pink full moon.
The man was a star
The light in the bar was bizarre
They sat there playing the guitar
The lunatic light of the full moon.
He thought to himself so far
Went outside, saw a squad car
Howling at the moon, looking at a sports car.
The lunatic light of the pink full moon.
Poetry Form: DANSA
Here are the guidelines for writing the dansa:
Opening quintain (or 5-line stanza) followed by quatrains (or 4-line stanzas)
The opening line of the first stanza is the final line of every stanza, including the first
Rhyme scheme in the opening stanza: AbbaA (capital A represents the refrain)
Rhyme scheme in all other stanzas: bbaA
No other rules for subject, length, or meter.
One additional PPC rule for this one: a minimum of 13 lines (3 stanzas per the above rules)
Poetry Superhighway Prompt
Driving, Walking or Travel Poem
Walking Along the Fake Venice Canal
Gimpo Grand Canal
I take a walk
Every day
Along the fake Venice canal
Near my home
In Gimpo, Korea.
It is lined with restaurants
And shops.
And this time of year
Flowering trees.
There are boats
For rent as well.
Someday I am going
To Venice
As part of a Mediterranean cruise.
And I will walk
Along a real Venice canal
And have dinner.
And think about
The fake canal
And the real canal.
Drive (or walk) down a familiar street or block. Pay attention to everything: the condition of the street, the signs, people, cars or other vehicles, and the trees, flowers and grass or lack thereof. Where are you walking? Maybe on a sidewalk or in the grass? Where are you driving? Maybe on a paved road or maybe a dirt or gravel road? Write a poem about traveling down this street.
Next, do the very same thing but this time go down an unfamiliar street or block. What do you see that’s different? What do you see that’s the same? How does it make you feel to be in an unfamiliar setting vs a familiar one? Write a poem about going down this street you’ve never traveled on before.
Then take both poems and intersperse the lines from the poem of a street of familiarity to the poem of the street of unfamiliarity to create an overall picture in a poem of traveling the known vs the unknown
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
Dew Drop Inn
April 13—Greenery
Green Trees Don’t Make It
70 lines
Everyday
I look out and see
The ugly green trees
Standing guard
in front of my house.
And I think to myself
Who owns the trees?
And what do they think of us?
Are we their friends?
Are we their enemies?
What do the trees think of us?
Do they silently watch us,
Spies to the celestial emperor?
I have pondered this question
Many a morning,
Who is the owner of these trees?
And why do they silently watch us?
I wonder if the trees don’t hate us
And why they don’t protest.
Every day as we drive back and forth
Emitting poison gases from our mechanical asses
Right into their unprotected faces.
And every night we eat our dinner
And then give the trees
Our polluted leftovers
And laugh as they silently die
From our acidic fallout
Constantly floating down on their skin.
Yes, I wonder about the trees
And the birds and the bees
And everyone else.
What are they thinking?
Are they plotting revenge?
Or are they merely there
Silently, watching, plotting,
Designing fiendish plots of revenge
Dreams of vast nuclear destruction.
Cosmic diseases wiping out everyone in the ass
Oh Yes, I wonder and dream and ponder
What is the meaning of those silent green trees?
Standing on the corner
Quietly condemning us
With their quiet tears, and falling leaves.
In the winter they stand
Naked and alone
Covered with ice-cold snow
As we drive by nice and warm.
And we don’t care
As they stand out in the cold
Shivering, plotting
warm plans of cosmic revenge.
Is it too late for us
To become friends
with the trees?
Or will the day come
When the trees will wake up
And gather together
All the other slaves of humanity.
I have a vision
One morning I will open the door
And see an army of wild things
Coming to arrest me
For crimes against nature.
And I will plead, I did not know
And they will laugh
and turn me all of my kind
Into silent tombs,
And we will stand out in the cold
Like the green trees
Plotting dreams of revenge
For ever and ever.
Until our day finally comes
And we can go out
and kill all the wild things
Perhaps we already have.
Today we are two full weeks into National/Global Poetry Writing Month. Hopefully you’ll all have fourteen poems under your belts by the end of the day and, if not – no worries! You can always catch up (or just cut yourself some slack).
Today’s featured participant is Glenn Mitchell, who really hit it out of the park with his take on Day Thirteen’s Donald Justic-inspired prompt!
Our featured resource for the day is the online gallery of the Rijksmuseum, where you may particularly enjoy their series on 100 masterpieces within the museum’ s collection. And here’s a little anecdote about how browsing an online collection of this kind can lead you to new and startling discoveries. While taking a peek at the museum’s exhibit regarding Meissen porcelain, I came across this slide show about a particular porcelain macaw, which in turn led me down the rabbit hole of learning about saxon elector and Polish king Augustus the Strong, who “died at the honorable age of sixty-two, his kingdom a financial ruin, with nine children from six different women, and a collection of thirty-five thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight pieces of porcelain.” I feel much less sheepish about my comparatively modest trove of knick-knacks and doo-dads after reading that.
And with that silliness out of the way, today’s (optional) prompt is inspired by a poem that’s an old favorite of mine, by Kay Ryan.
Crustacean Island
There could be an island paradise
where crustaceans prevail.
Click, click, go the lobsters
with their china mitts and
articulated tails.
It would not be sad like whales
with their immense and patient sieving
and the sobering modesty
of their general way of living.
It would be an island blessed
with only cold-blooded residents
and no human angle.
It would echo with a thousand castanets
and no flamencos.
Ryan’s poem invites us to imagine the “music” of a place without people in it. So today, try writing a poem that describes a place, particularly in terms of the animals, plants or other natural phenomena there. Sink into the sound of your location, and use a conversational tone. Incorporate slant rhymes (near or off-rhymes, like “angle” and “flamenco”) into your poem. And for an extra challenge – don’t reference birds or birdsong!
Writer Digest April 14
How to Lose Weight
They say
Inside every fat man
Is a thin man
Trying to break free.
Since, Janaury 2024
I have lost
Almost 15 pounds (7 K).
Dropping from a high
Of 195 pounds (88 K)
To a low of 170 pounds (77 K)
In about a year or so.
How did I lose
so much weight
And most importantly
Not gain it back?
First I came down
With a mysterious COVID
Like illness.
And lost 15 pounds
In one month
The doctors could
Not figure it out.
But ruled out bronchitis
Cancer, pneumonia
And TB.
Then I started
Daily workouts
Including
Walking up 16 flights
Of stairs six times
A day
That
Along with a strict diet
And no more daily
Glass of wine
Or whisky!
And hitting the gym
Led me to keep
the weight off
In any event
I feel great
And look great.
Not bad
For a 69- old man
I say.
no set form for this one, sort of a loose narative free verse poem
Whew! We’re two weeks in on this month and this challenge already. Go, us!
For today’s prompt, write a losing poem. Losing often comes with negative connotations, like losing a game or a family pet or socks (seriously, where do they all disappear to?). However, a person could also lose some weight, bad habits, and/or negativity. Of course, it could be argued these are still negatives (positives via double negatives), but I find I’m starting to lose my train of thought, so it’s probably best to get poeming.
Here’s my attempt at a Losing Poem:
“What I’ve Gained,” by Robert Lee Brewer
There’s nothing I’ve gained
that I won’t eventually lose;
not that I know how, but I
can decipher the clues;
so I don’t care much about
all the items I can gain
when I’ll eventually lose
and then lose them again:
better I think is to share
all the ups and the downs
with every loser who’ll
happily keep me around,
because everything I gain
I will eventually lose,
so abide if you can
to skip having the blues.
PSH April 14, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Eric Nicholson
May the Force be with You
In the Star Wars universe
The rebels led by Luke Skywalker
And Princess Lea
Are behind the curve.
The imperial storm troopers
Too powerful
A force.
All seems lost
To the rebels.
But the rebels
Still maintain
Hope.
That with the force
With them
They can overcome.
And defeat
The dark side
Of the force.
Represented by Darth Vadar
Luke Skywalker’s father.
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Eric Nicholson:
Use a series of sequences from a well known film and splice with more nature-based lines. Or political!
The idea is to either parallel each or contrast. The effect could be sereal, philosophical or lyrical.
Today is the halfway point of National/Global Poetry Writing Month! Hooray for poems!
Our featured participant today is The Cynical Optimist, where the place-sounds poem for Day Fourteen lets each creature in a particular park have its own solo.
Today’s resource is the online gallery of the National Museum of New Zealand. It’s pretty fun to just search for random words in their search bar, and see what kind of objects and art pop up. For example, I searched the word “butter,” and was presented with this photograph of a bracelet made up of butter and cheese exhibition medals, this stamp celebrating the wonders of butter production, and a teeny saucepan made for a dollhouse.
And now for our (optional) daily prompt. The MC5 was a 1960s rock band. If you’ve heard anything by them–and you likely have–it’s their 1969 song Kick Out the Jams.
Jesse Crawford, otherwise known as Brother J.C. Crawford, was the band’s stage MC and warm-up man. Below are the words with which he opened a concert in Japan in 1969 (you can find the recording on Spotify/Apple Music as part of the Kick Out the James [Live] [Japan Remastered] album, on the track titled Intro/Ramblin’ Rose).
Brothers and sisters
I wanna see a sea of hands out there
Let me see a sea of hands
I want everybody to kick up some noise
I wanna hear some revolution out there, brothers
I wanna hear a little revolution
[big pause]
Brothers and sisters
The time has come for each and everyone of you to decide
Whether you are gonna be the problem
Or whether you are gonna be the solution (that’s right)
You must choose, brothers, you must choose
It takes five seconds, five seconds of decision
Five seconds to realize your purpose here on the planet
It takes five seconds to realize that it’s time to move
It’s time to get down with it
Brothers, it’s time to testify and I want to know
Are you ready to testify?!
Are you ready?!
I give you a testimonial
The MC5
And now here’s a short little poem by Jane Kenyon:
The Shirt
The shirt touches his neck
and smooths over his back.
It slides down his sides.
It even goes down below his belt—
down into his pants.
Lucky shirt.
And now for your prompt! While Brother J.C.’s warm-up and Kenyon’s poem might seem very different at first, they’re both informed by repetition, simple language, and they express enthusiasm. They have a sermon/prayer-like quality, and then end with a bang.
Your challenge is to write a six-line poem that has these same qualities.
Here we go: Halfway through the month and time for another Two-for-Tuesday prompt.
For the third Two-for-Tuesday prompt:
Write a poetic form poem and/or…
Write an anti-form poem.
Criteria
The nonet poetic form is simple. It’s a 9-line poem that has 9 syllables in the first line, 8 syllables in the second line, 7 syllables in the third line, and continues to count down to one syllable in the final (ninth) line.
I couldn’t find an origin, but I did learn that the word nonet is used for a group of 9 performers or instruments. So I’m assuming this is one of those poetic forms inspired by music.
April 15, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from John Dorroh
Ode to My Piano Savior of My Soul
For the last few years
I have been playing
The piano.
Everyday from 5 to 6 Pm
I sit down at the piano
And play a piece of music
I have been working through
The classics
And have finally gotten
To where I can play
A Mozart Sonata
And nail it!
This poetry writing prompt submitted by John Dorroh:
Look around the room and select an object that speaks to you. If one doesn’t speak to you, pick an object that starts with the letters D, M, C, or P. Write a letter to the object addressing its value to your life. Next, write a letter from the object, expressing its connections, appreciation and/or dissatisfaction with things you have done.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
Music
Soul music
Funky music
The Tower of Power
Fill the air
The Tower of Power
Funky music
Soul music
Music.
New Prompt: Write a Palindrome. You can read an example here: “Palindrome”
Our Musical Street
30 lines
I grew up
In a very creative time
a very musical time.
The 60’s had the best music
Mot ruled the Bay Area
As well as Great rock music
Acid jazz
Acid Rock
Fusion Jazz
The Grateful Dead
Mamas and the Papas
Jefferson Airplane
Jimmy Hendrix
last high school
was Berkeley High School
Santana
And so many others
The best funk band
Of them all
Tower of Power
Beloved by all
High school students.
For their immortal classic
Make out song
“You’re Still a Young Man.”
Tower of Power rocked
Every party in town
On every street.
Music flowed.
On every musical street
In the city.
That was Berkeley
In the 60’s and 70’s.
Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:
“Our Musical Street”
Please select “Music” as one of your genres.
Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk-based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 19681. The band has had several lead vocalists, the best known being Lenny Williams, who fronted the band between early 1973 and late 1974, the period of their greatest commercial success1. They have had eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100; their highest-charting songs include “You’re Still a Young Man”, “So Very Hard to Go”, “What Is Hip?”, and “Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)”1.
The band was formed by tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo and baritone saxophonist Stephen “Doc” Kupka in 19681. The band’s soul sound appealed to both minority and counterculture listeners1. The band’s name was changed to Tower of Power after they agreed that their original name, The Mots, would not help them play at Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco1.
Tower of Power has released 31 albums, including 15 studio albums, 5 live albums, and 11 compilations1. Their most recent album, “Step Up”, was released in 20202.
Here is a list of some of their most popular songs:
“You’re Still a Young Man”
“So Very Hard to Go”
“What Is Hip?”
“Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)”
“Soul Vaccination”
“This Time It’s Real”
“Time Will Tell”
“Only So Much Oil in the Ground”
If you’re interested in listening to their music, you can check out their official website2.
“Song at Sunrise”
In 1974
When I graduated
From Berkeley High School
We went out to party
All night long.
We listened to our favorite band
The Tower of Power
The greatest funk band
Of them all.
Then at sunrise
Everyone went to Tilden Park
Inspiration point
A rare sunny dawn
The music blaring
On our radios
The song at Sunrise
Was “What is hip”
And ‘You’re Still a Young Man
the greatest “make out the song”
of all time.
No doubt babies
Were conceived
That night
To that song track.
For those who don’t know the TOP started in the late 60’s and is still going strong almost 5o years later. They are the best funk band ever, and they are the soul of the San Francisco East Bay area (Berkeley, Freemont, Oakland, Richmond, and towns in between). They were multicultural before that was a thing. They have the best horn section of any funk band, great guitar players, keyboard players, drummers, and of course great singers. Their best songs were the iconic “What is Hip”, and “You’re Still a Young Man,” one of the best make-out songs of all time. No doubt many babies were conceived to that song! The first song I ever slowly danced to, and a song I played to seduce my wife when we met.
Based loosely on the classic Tower of Power Song, “What is hip?”
What Is Hip Lyrics
[Verse 1]
So ya wanna dump out yo’ trick bag
Ease on in a hip thang
But you ain’t exactly sure what is hip
So you started to let your hair grow
Spent big bucks on your wardrobe
Somehow, ya know there’s much more to the trip
[Chorus]
What is hip?
Tell me, tell me, if you think you know
What is hip?
If you’re hip
The question, “Will it show?”
You’re into a hip trip
Maybe hipper than hip
What is hip?
[Verse 2]
You became a part of a new breed
Been smoking’ only the best weed
Hangin’ out with the so-called “Hippie set.”
Seen in all the right places
Seen with just the right faces
You should be satisfied, but it ain’t quite right
[Chorus]
What is hip?
Tell me, tell me, if you think you know
What is hip?
If you’re hip
The question, “Will it show?”
You’re into a hip trip
Maybe hipper than hip
What is hip?
[Break]
Come on
[Refrain]
Hipness is. What it is
Hipness is. What it is
Hipness is. What it is
Sometimes hipness is, what it ain’t
You’re Still a Young Man
Baby, Oo oo, don’t waste your time
You’re still a young man
Baby, Oo oo, don’t waste your time
Down on my knees
Oh, heart in hand
I was accused of being too young
But I’m not so young
I could make you happy
I’m not a bad man
You’re too young to love (If you and I could be together)
You’re too young to love (I’ll never leave you alone baby)
You’re too young Ooo Ooo (No I won’t sweet lady)
Don’t waste your time
The damage is done
You see that you were wrong
You wake up wondering just
How well I’ve done
Well I’ve done alright
Yes there are some girls but you know
I dropped them on sight
Just for you
Because I love you
You’re still a young man
Baby, Oo oo, don’t waste your time
(Someday you’ll understand just what it means when a man
Comes to you with his little heart in his hands
Just to love you)
Don’t waste your time
You better listen to me
Sayin that I’m loving you yeah hey now baby tryin to tell
You that it’s you you you you you you you you talkin to you
Baby, I’ll never never never never I’ll do you
No wrong no no lady if you would check my stuff out one time haha
Just to hold you, to squeeze you and all I wanna do is to
Get next to you and please please please you baby
See where I’m coming from!
Written by legendary sax players Emilio Castillo and Stephen Kupka, the song portrays a young man at the wrong end of a breakup. The situation is bleak because his lover pins the break-up on an age difference. In an interview with Songfacts Castillo said:
It’s based on a true story. I had a girlfriend that was six years older than me. I was 18, she was 24 and that’s actually what happened. She had kind of cut me loose because of the age difference thing and the whole plea in the story is the young guy’s saying, ‘I’m not too young, I’m not wasting my time and I do love you as a man can truly love a woman.’”
The song would go on to be the band’s first major hit defining their sound with a prominent horn section inspired by Curtis Mayfield:
“On that album, there’s a song called “A Woman’s Love” that starts with beautiful trumpets high. When we heard that we wanted to write a song with a great trumpet intro like that. – TowerofPower.com
“Street Party”
Many years ago
In the Berkeley and Oakland
In the East bay, back in the day
In the fabled 60s, early 70s.
There were often legendary pop-up
Flash mob type impromptu street parties
Where everyone gathered around
Digging the scene and each other.
Drinking, smoking weed
Jiving, flirting, dancing
Getting down to the sweet sound
Of Tower of Power and Motown.
Whites, blacks, Asians, Hispanics
Men, women, and those in-between
Gays, straight
Young, old, middle age
It did not matter
Everything was everything
Everything was cool.
It was all good.
It was all cool back in the day
An interracial gathering
Of shared humanity,
Just celebrating life.
But this was before
Guns became so common
Before things got so violent
And evil s… became the norm
Back in the day
It was a peaceful happening
A true love fest
Those days are so yesterday.
Nowadays, people are afraid
A street party festival
Will end up guns blazing wild west style
The festival will end up with many people
Going to an early grave.
Happy Wednesday, all. We hope you’re having a fine beginning to the second half of April.
Our featured participant today is A Rhyme a Day, where the MC5/Jane Kenyon-inspired poem for Day Fifteen packs a lot of punch into six short lines.
Today’s resource is the Museum of Photographic Art, which is part of the San Diego Museum of Art. Through the museum’s online collection, you can explore a number of current and past exhibitions, including a series of portraits by Bern Schwartz (I rather like the one of Ralph Ellison) and a group of very painterly compositions by Lynn G. Fayman.
And now for our optional prompt! The Kay-Ryan-inspired prompt for Day Fourteen asked you to take inspiration from the sounds of the natural world. Today’s prompt twists that idea around a bit. Start by taking a look at this poem by James Schuyler.
FAURÉ’S SECOND PIANO QUARTET
On a day like this the rain comes
down in fat and random drops among
the ailanthus leaves—“the tree
of Heaven”—the leaves that on moon-
lit nights shimmer black and blade-
shaped at this third-floor window.
And there are bunches of small green
knobs, buds, crowded together. The
rapid music fills in the spaces of
the leaves. And the piano comes in,
like an extra heartbeat, dangerous
and lovely. Slower now, less like
the leaves, more like the rain which
almost isn’t rain, more like thawed-
out hail. All this beauty in the
mess of this small apartment on
West Twentieth in Chelsea, New York.
Slowly the notes pour out, slowly,
more slowly still, fat rain falls.
Like Kay Ryan’s poem, this one invites us to imagine music in the context of a place, but more along the lines of a soundtrack laid on top of the location, rather than just natural sounds. Today, try writing a poem that similarly imposes a particular song on a place. Describe the interaction between the place and the music using references to a plant and, if possible, incorporate a quotation – bonus points for using a piece of everyday, overheard language.
Happy writing!
Writer’s Digest April 16 Something Fantastic
Narnia Beckons Me Haiku Sonnet
Narnia beckons
it is real, lives in our dreams
where we can see it.
Old CS Lewis
wrote a true fairy tale
ripped from his dream.s.
so visit Narnia
battle the evil white witch
and meet Aslan
Narnia waiting
Go and be their King.
Wow! So many forms for poems yesterday. That was fun! And yay to Gary Crane for being the first to guess the inspiration for the acrostic in my sestina yesterday (click here to hear Chris Bell’s “I Am the Cosmos” on YouTube). Forms are completely optional today.
For today’s prompt, write a “something fantastic” poem. As with all the prompts, you can come at this from any direction you’d like, but what inspired me to create this prompt are the fantastic works of magical realists and poems like Donald Hall’s “On Reaching the Age of Two Hundred.” So if you feel compelled to do the same, great; however, it is no small accomplishment to write any fantastic poem, even if it’s about finding an extra piece of pie in the refrigerator.
The basic premise of the haiku sonnet is simple: 4 3-liner haiku plus a couplet of either 5 or 7 syllables adds up to 14 lines, the same number of lines found in a sonnet. The only mention of this form that I’ve been able to find is a poet named David Marshall.
Note: I am a big fan of the CS Lewis Narnia Stories. Re-read the Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe in Spanish and have a Korean langauge version to read one of these days on my Kindle Wish list.
April 16, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Mike Dailey
A Thug Cinquain Poem
A thug
International
Started in Colombia
Murdering those he worked for
Really
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Mike Dailey:
Pick up the book nearest to you. Turn to page 77, 3rd paragraph and use one of those sentences as your opening or closing line.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
So I’m happy to share the cinquain, which is a nifty five-line poetic form from Adelaide Crapsey. Inspired by tanka, the cinquain is comprised of 2 syllables in the first line, 4 in the second line, 6 in the third, 8 in the fourth, and 2 in the fifth. Plus, poets have the freedom to add or subtract one syllable from each line.
“an international thug who got his start in Colombia”
Source: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg The Job Page 77 3rd paragraph
Sam Adams retired in Berkeley
And opened a UFO theme bar near campus.
Where he put up a sign on the door
Space aliens drink for free provided they can prove it.
Because every night some joker tried
They would walk in, demanding a free drink or two.
One night his former bosses walked in
Maria Lee and mysterious Smith
Shadow warriors hush hush past
They lived in the shadow world, they were ghosts, spooks, spies.
They had retired from the government
To open the Cosmos Institute X-files.
Both of them had a pan-ethnic look
Both could pass for almost any ethnic group or race.
Maria Lee was vaguely Asian
Smith looked like he was an Eastern European man.
Both had a vaguely non-human look
And both spoke with a strange unusual accent.
Smith was only known by last name
No one knew his real name or his past history.
They refused to talk about their past life
Saying it was all classified top-secret need-to-know stuff.
But someday perhaps Sam would need to know it
Sam also worked with them before in their prior life
They said they were there for the free drink
And it was time for Sam to know the truth about them and the world
Sam told them well you have to prove it
That you are in fact space aliens can you show me that
Maria morphed into Donald Trump
And Smith morphed into Elon Musk and then men in black
Before shifting back to their real selves
Reptilian creatures from the planet Sirius
Maria was green color and Smith was red
And then back to Maria and Mr. Smith again
Sam smiled and gave them their free drinks
And they told him everything about their real past lives
They revealed many secrets that night
The end of the beginning the beginning of the end
Backstory
The fictional Cosmos Institute appears in a lot of my stories and poems. It was founded in Berkeley by Maria Lee and Mr. Smith, who were high-level former intel operatives. The mission of the institute was to investigate paranormal phenomena, usually to debunk the claims. They considered themselves the real X-files. They recruited Sam Adams to join them because they knew he was an expert on UFOs, having worked on the Majestic project and Area 51 – spoiler alert, there were no real aliens! Sam opened the fictional UFO bar with the famous sign “Aliens drink for free,” hoping that someday real aliens would reveal themselves to him. Then one day his former bosses, the mysterious Maria Lee and Mr. Smith, passed his challenge and told him the real deal over their free drinks.
For the challenge of the prompt, I picked a painting by Carrington, showing space aliens, and a painting by Varo, showing a shapeshifter.
The belief that there are secret shape-shifting reptilians living among us up to no good is a common theme in science fiction, and 10 percent of Americans believe it to be true. I have written a number of stories and poems about this theme. My aliens are descendants of the colonizers of Atlantis, who destroyed Atlantis and Lemuria in a world war over the question of what to do with humans. The red team wanted to continue to enslave them; the green team wanted to free them and civilize them, eventually granting them full rights. Their descendants continued to fight this battle in the shadow world.
Criteria
Landay. Poem comprised of self-contained couplets.Landay Poems
The landay is a variable length form based off a couplet, which means the poem could be as concise as two lines or run on for several pages. The form most likely originated with nomads in the area of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India (read an article on Afghan landays here).
Here are the basic rules of the landay:
Poem comprised of self-contained couplets–as few as one couplet will do
9 syllables in the first line; 13 syllables in the second line
Landays tend to reveal harsh truths using wit
Themes include love, grief, homeland, war, and separation
Note: There is not a specific rhyme pattern for this form, though lines tend to end on the sounds of “na” and “ma” in the original Pashto. However, this is difficult to replicate in English. Keep in mind that landays are often sung.
Welcome back, everyone, for the seventeenth day of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Today’s featured participant is Words with Ruth, where the soundtrack-inspired poem for Day Sixteen uses repetition, along with simple and conversational language, to convincingly recreate a moment in space and time.
You had a futon on your floor
A double futon on your floor
We lay a lot on that futon on the floor
Choosing sex over food
Like you do when you first discover sex
And you had a piano in your room
You’d play and look round out me
Sticking your tongue out a little, through your teeth
As if to say, “I want you,
And later, I’ll have you.”
And you did
We had a lot of sex on that futon on the floor
Then we’d go and chill with your mum and her boyfriend
And sometimes the dog would come in to see us too
Funny, I can’t remember much of your room
Other than the futon
The double futon on the floor
You taught me Chopin’s prelude in e minor
It took me months to nearly learn it
Not like you
Playing the piano like honey
Turning round to kiss me
And still playing
You showed me how to have sex
Not that I’d never had sex before
But I’d never enjoyed it
You showed me how to enjoy it
And it was good
Oh my God, it was good!
Being with you was so good
Orgasm after orgasm
Rolling through me
Rolling through us
I didn’t know that was possible
You said you could see them in me
They had different colours
That’s why it was so good with you
You could see everything
Too much maybe
Yeah, maybe that was it
You saw things that weren’t there
Like affairs I wasn’t having
With friends, colleagues, anyone really
And then it would go on and on and on
Me pleading with you
You calling me a liar
Hitting our heads against a brick wall
On and on
Until I couldn’t do it anymore
And then it got a bit scary really
But we don’t need to go into that
It’s ok
It was ok.
A therapist once said to me,
‘It’s not possible to have good sex
In a bad relationship’
But she’s wrong
And now for our daily optional prompt. The surrealist painters Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington moved to Mexico during the height of World War II, where they began a life-long friendship. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem themed around friendship, with imagery or other ideas taken from a painting by Carrington, and a painting by Varo.
Robert Brewer The Cities Light Up Beneath Our Plane Landlay
the cities light up beneath our plane
on the left as the sun retreats from us on the right
the moon appears in rivers below
& then disappears like our fragile first encounters
we both flinched at our first touch but then
crashed back together as if that’s what held us aloft
i’m not sure why some cities still burn
while others dissolve quietly into the darkness
A (first line)
B (second line)
a (rhymes with first line)
A (repeat first line)
a (rhymes with first line)
b (rhymes with second line)
A (repeat first line)
B (repeat second line)
For today’s prompt, write a city poem. The poem can take place in a big city, medium-sized city, smaller city. Heck, towns, villages, hamlets, etc., all work as well. Ghost towns? Why not! I’m not going to break out a census on your poeming. Just write!
Poetry Superhighway April 17, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Robert Wynne
The Door Opens
In Tilden Park high in the Berkeley Hills
a Door
ancient redwood with a sign above it
opens
The sign reads for Madmen Ony
East Bay
Sam Adams wondered where it went
portal
only one way to find out
Jumped through
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Robert Wynne:
Describe a specific door, real or imaginary. Be detailed enough that the reader will have an inclination why you chose this door, but don’t say why directly. Let them find their way.
Even lines are two syllables in length, odd lines are longer (but no specific syllable count)
Even lines make their own mini-poem if read separately
Poetic Form Fridays are made to share various poetic forms. This week, we look at the Waltmarie poetic form invented by Candace Kubinec, along with two of her examples.
This week, a Poetic Asides member shared a poetic form she created. While I don’t usually share nonce forms, I’ve tried this one myself, and I think it’s a lot of fun. So without further ado, I’m introducing Candace Kubinec’s form, the Waltmarie (which is itself a nod to PA members and Poetic Bloomings hosts, Marie Elena Good and Walter J. Wojtanik).
Here are the guidelines for writing the Waltmarie:
10 lines
Even lines are two syllables in length, odd lines are longer (but no specific syllable count)
Even lines make their own mini-poem if read separately
No other rules for subject or rhymes.
Here are two examples of the Waltmarie by Candace Kubinec:
Building a Snowman, by Candace Kubinec
They waited for the world to turn white –
frozen
Rolled balls of snow, bigger and bigger –
child-size
Broken twigs from the apple tree for arms, two hands –
mittens
He stood, smiling his pebble smile, until the warm sun appeared –
dripping
Then slowly disappeared, until only a memory remained –
stories
*****
On the Bench at Night, by Candace Kubinec
I sit as still as a human can –
patient
The sun has set and dusk has settled –
quiet
I try to match my breath to the gentle breeze –
calmly
Small creatures emerge from daylight hiding places –
searching
And my heart sends out a quiet message –
for you
Driving while Listening to Tower of Power’s “What is Hip?”
One day, while I was driving in Oakland
I listened to the Tower of Power
Funk Band
The radio, playing the song “What is hip?”
I sang along with the refrain, “What is hip?”
Funk Band
That night at a party in Berkeley
Slow danced to “You’re Still a Young Man”
Funk band
Note: third Ode to my favorite band East Bay’s Own Tower of Power
We’re three Fridays down, with just one left to go in this year’s National/Global Poetry Writing Month!
Our featured participant for the day is Poems by Sidra, where the surrealist-inspired poem of friendship for Day Seventeen rocks some fantastic similes — it’s all about those teeth!
And Then— And Then—
And then we will sit at a table with floating fruit
and share inside jokes so layered
in innuendo and self-reference
that they grow their own teeth.
Yes, and then I will paint, and you can draw, and we will feed our work the secret blood of our hearts and we will tell each other, “Make it weirder. Make it stranger.”
And then I will become a ghost
and you will become an owl
and we will fly together in the dark night.
Yes, and then I’ll be a lady of fire and you can be a lady of stone, and we can frighten away the men who try to talk to us.
Yes, exactly, and then together we will be
animal-people on the prowl, red
and dangerous and beautiful, never growing
old, never growing tired.
And we will protect each other?
Yes, we will protect each other.
Note: This poem is inspired by the works and friendship of Surrealist artists Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo.
Today’s resource is a virtual visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Gardner, who died in 1924, was a devoted and very wealthy art collector who built a Venetian-style palace (in Boston) to house her treasures. The museum building is beautiful and well known for its gorgeous courtyard. But the Gardner is also well known for having been the unfortunate site of one of the greatest – and still unsolved – art heists of all time. If you can figure out whodunnit, there might be $10 million in it for you.
And now for today’s (optional) prompt. Like our villanelle prompt from a week ago, this prompt plays around with song lyrics, but in a very specific context – singing while riding in a car. Take a look at Ellen Bass’s poem, “You’re the Top.” Now, craft your own poem that recounts an experience of driving/riding and singing, incorporating a song lyric
Last night I get all the way to Ocean Street Extension, squinting through the windshield, wipers smearing the rain, lights of the oncoming cars half-blinding me. The baby’s in her seat in the back singing the first three words of You’re the Top. Not softly and sweetly the way she did when she woke in her crib, but belting it out like Ethel Merman. I don’t drive much at night anymore. And then the rain and the bad wipers. But I tell myself it’s too soon to give it up. Though the dark seems darker than I ever remember. And as I make the turn and head uphill, I can’t find the lines on the road. I start to panic. No! Yes—the lights! I flick them on and the world resolves. My god, I could have killed her. And I’ll think about that more later. But right now new galaxies are being birthed in my chest. There are no gods, but not everyone is cursed every moment. There are minutes, hours, sometimes even whole days when the earth is spinning 1.6 million miles around the sun and nothing tragic happens to you. I do not have to enter the land of everlasting sorrow. Every mistake I’ve made, every terrible decision—how I married the wrong man, hurt my child, didn’t go to Florence when she was dying—I take it all because the baby is commanding, “Sing, Nana.” And I sing, You’re the top.You’re the Coliseum, and the baby comes in right on cue.
The Dixdeux appears to be one of many forms developed as an alternative to the Japanese Haiku. In this case, there are three lines with syllable counts of 10, 10, 2. When written in multiple stanzas, the third line becomes a refrain, as described and demonstrated in the following links:
Writer’s Digest April 18 Gogyohka. 5-liner developed by Enta Kusakabe.
Deportation Blues Gogyohka
Every day, there is sad news about deportations
People legally here are told to leave in seven days
People deported to El Salvador based on having a tattoo
Foreign students snatched off the streets
Foreigners are afraid to visit the US – this will not end well.
For today’s prompt, write a response poem. In many ways, every poem is a response poem as it’s a response to something, even if it’s that hard-to-explain sense of inspiration many poets feel. For the purposes of this prompt, your poem could respond to a story in the news (or just a fictional story, for that matter), a conversation you overheard in public (also called eavesdropping), or another poem (written by you or another poet).
If only a poetic form existed that could be both concise and free. Oh wait a second, there’s gogyohka!
Gogyohka was a form developed by Enta Kusakabe in Japan and translates literally to “five-line poem.” An off-shoot of the tanka form, the gogyohka has very simple rules: The poem is comprised of five lines with one phrase per line. That’s it.
*****
So it’s a little loose, which is kind of the theory behind gogyohka. It’s meant to be concise (five lines) but free (variable line length with each phrase). No special seasonal or cutting words. No subject matter constraints. Just five lines of poetic phrases.
Robert Brewer “Halloween”
Ghosts hang
from the willow
as the children run
from one door
to the next.
PSH Prompt April 18, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Robert Lail
When Lightning Strikes Ghosts Zappai
When lightning strikes
Ghosts, being dead, do not die
Immortal spirits?
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Robert Lail:
Write a poem that answers the age-old question: What happens when a ghost is struck by lightning?
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
Zappai poems are like haiku, but not. Or maybe more appropriately, they’re like senryu, but not (or maybe they are). This poetic form definition may sound kind of wishy-washy, but zappai are poems that have a 5-7-5 syllable pattern that do not contain the seasonal reference expected of haiku.
In other words, zappai are all those haiku people write that haiku poets recognize as not being haiku. Again, senryu could fit this definition as well, but senryu also can have a looseness with the syllables, much like haiku, so that 17 syllables are not mandatory.
Zappai should still be poetic, but they’re 5-7-5 poems that don’t include the seasonal reference. Final answer. I think.
April 18—Good Friday
Trigger warning: this could be considered offensive to some people. That was not my attempt, and I apologize to anyone who does take offense. The point of the poem is to express why I am not a Christian, although there are elements of Christianity that I admire, I reject all the supernatural rigamarole associated with the faith, and I reject the idea that the Bible is the work of God. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, this is mine. It is important that we all remain open to dialogue with others of different faith traditions. Freedom of religion means that people are free to believe or not believe in religions as they see fit.
Why I am Not A Christian
On Easter Sunday, I often think about Christianity
Jake, this is a fascinating mosaic of poetic entries-each with its own flavour, yet clearly coming from a consistent voice that blends scepticism, social observation, and playfulness.
The Tower of Power piece is a groovy micro-memoir, succinct and grounded in musical nostalgia. The Seoul entry reads like a tourism jingle with a fun, rhythmic echo-clever in how it loops back on itself to reinforce the point.
Your zappai is short and sharp, toeing the line between playful and philosophical-“Ghosts, being dead, do not die” is the kind of dry humour I enjoy in these forms.
Then there’s Why I am Not A Christian, which shifts gears entirely. It’s long, raw, and provocative-structured more like a stream-of-thought monologue than a polished poem.
It’s unflinching in its critiques, full of personal disbelief, and though it risks alienating some readers, there’s no denying the clarity of conviction. It could use some trimming for focus and flow, but the honesty hits hard.
A bold, eclectic set.
Tim
I am glad to see that you are keeping on track with NaPoWriMo. I hope you are enjoying the poem a day as much as I am.
Although, my belief is in Christianity, I appreciate your poem stating your stance.
Kim
Review For April 17 2025 Poems
Chapter 18 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
Jake, this was a joyride through conspiracy, comedy, and sci-fi noir, all told with a straight face and a wink.
The Aliens Reveal their Secret Plans has the cadence of a beat poem mashed with pulp fiction and served in a UFO bar run by someone who’s absolutely seen things.
The repeated use of line breaks and staccato sentences creates a rhythmic, almost spoken-word quality-fitting for a tale that reads like it’s being told over shots of something green and glowing.
There’s brilliant absurdity here: Maria morphing into Trump, Smith into Musk, the reptilian reveal, and that perfect deadpan closing: “The end of the beginning the beginning of the end.”
It’s self-aware without becoming cynical. And it’s surprisingly grounded by the image of Sam-a retired man running a theme bar-being the steady anchor in this cosmic unraveling.
The accompanying pieces-your Narnia haiku sonnet, the redwood portal in The Door Opens, and the grim hilarity of Dental Torture Blues-form a surreal triptych around it.
They’re all laced with that same blend of the mythic, the mundane, and the slightly unhinged.
Outlandish, deadpan, and wildly original-Jake, your poems don’t just bend genres, they build bonfires out of them.
Tim
Review For April 17 2025 Poems
Chapter 18 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
I was intrigued by the “Alien” story and was pleased when you clarified things in your notes. The synopsis for your books sounds very intriguing. Are you selling them on Amazon? Thank you for sharing.
Review For APril 16 2025 Poems
Chapter 17 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
Thanks for sharing so many poems at once. It was like flipping through a journal full of good music. I love your deep thoughts and how you shared old pals.
Review For APril 16 2025 Poems
Chapter 17 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
Jake, this is a full-on poetic mixtape-part musical history, part memory reel, part experiment station.
The Tower of Power tribute sets the tone perfectly: pulsing, playful, and unapologetically funky.
You don’t just describe the music-you celebrate it, and that joy comes through loud and clear. The jump from that into sharply political reflection (What fresh hell is this?) gives the whole set depth and range.
I really liked the blunt edge of the thug cinquain-minimalist but brutal-and then the emotional turn in the Zoom and memory pieces hit nicely.
There’s something quietly beautiful about lifelong friendships surviving into the digital age, and you honour them without sentimentality.
The casual tone masks just how much ground you’re covering here-musical legacy, personal history, poetry forms, political unease-all in one go.
If I had a 6 left, I’d be tempted, but I’m all out.
Tim
Review For April 15 2025 Poems
Chapter 16 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Good
Jake, this collection of prompt responses has a candid, conversational tone that feels very you-there’s humour, honesty, and a kind of grounded directness that works well across the different pieces. Let’s break them down briefly:
“Are you ready, America?”
This one is raw and confrontational in a good way-topical and emotionally charged. It reads like the start of a larger political poem. My one suggestion: push for more specific imagery or language beyond the rhetorical questions. Right now, it’s a solid call, but grounding it in something visceral-an image, a moment, a symbol-would really elevate it.
“Ode to My Piano Savior of My Soul”
There’s real warmth and personal pride here. The pacing is steady and reflective, and the ending-“And nail it!”-is joyous and affirming. It’s casual in tone, but that suits the subject. If anything, consider expanding on the emotional impact a bit more. What does the piano save you from?
“April 15 Death and Taxes”
Witty and very much in the spirit of the prompt. The shift to cyborg immortality is unexpected and fun, and the punchline about taxes still finding us is classic. You might consider adding a stanza break or two to help the humour land more cleanly, but overall this one’s charming and memorable.
In all three, your voice comes through clear as day-earnest, clever, and unafraid to mix reflection with lightness.
A few tweaks for rhythm and depth, and these will sing.
Tim
Review For April 15 2025 Poems
Chapter 16 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
I really enjoyed your poems today! Your poem “Are you ready, America?”
made me stop and think. Then your “Ode to My Piano Savior of My Soul” felt warm and personal. I loved the part about nailing that Mozart Sonata, that was awesome! The bit about death and taxes made me smile. Your poems were all different but enjoyable. Keep writing – you’re rocking this challenge!
Review For April 13, 2025 Poems
Chapter 14 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
Amid this madness, I hope we can see a little light at the end of the tunnel Jake as our ever changing world seems more complex than ever these days. As we age I think we grow out of the challenges and want things to stay the same, but they never do. The world seems to be only for the young at heart, a poignant post, love Dolly x
Review For April 13, 2025 Poems
Chapter 14 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
I really enjoyed how your poem shares the relationship between humans and nature. The way you personify the trees is so well done. It’s clear you’ve put a lot of heart into this poem- great job!
5 days ago
Review For April 14 2025 Poems
Chapter 15 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
These poems are all unique and enjoyable. Your poems all have such a thoughtful style. They really showcase your playful voice and imaginative thinking. Great job.
Review For April 14 2025 Poems
Chapter 15 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Good
There’s something delightfully unfiltered about your work, Jake.
Each piece reads like it was written quickly and honestly, without too much polish, but with clear intent and curiosity.
The Florida poem is the strongest of the three in terms of personality and structure. “Florida is a state / Of mind” is a cracking opening-both literal and figurative-and the escalating list of killers, from “giant snakes” to “mosquitos”, blends humour with fact in a fun, campy way.
The Star Wars poem is more straightforward and reads like a personal retelling. It could benefit from tighter rhythm and fresher phrasing-“too powerful / a force” and “all seems lost / to the rebels” echo familiar lines without adding new perspective. A deeper emotional or stylistic slant could elevate it.
The Martian poem has potential, especially the image of “sunsets / out-of-this-world”. The idea of Martian refugees and dome cities is compelling, but the delivery feels more like notes than a shaped poem. With a bit of trimming and stronger line control, it could become a vivid piece of speculative lyricism.
A spirited, eclectic trio with charm, potential, and a voice that invites the reader to lean in-casual in tone, but laced with curiosity and wit.
Tim
Review For 2025 APril 12 Poems
Chapter 13 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
It sounds like you sometimes feel like a fish out of water and I hope you don’t feel vulnerable over there in Korea. Would you ever consider going back home? A poignant post full of mixed emotions here, love Dolly x
Review For 2025 APRIL 11 Poems
Chapter 12 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
You finally got this post fixed Jake! I have never heard of that band before and it sounds like you appreciate your wife here. Supermarkets come up with some crazy ideas to keep dipping into our pockets, love Dolly x
Review For 2025 APRIL 11 Poems
Chapter 12 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
I really enjoyed your writing. The formatting is terrible. Very hard to read. But your “Korean Springtime” was a standout! I also loved how you brought in a sense of hope about the future of the trees. Your creativity is really flowing through these. Keep it up!
Review For 2025 APril 12 Poems
Chapter 13 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
I really enjoyed all your poems! Your poem about the leprechaun was so fun – loved the clever twist. The piece about life’s risks was powerful. Your climate change poem hit hard with its urgency. Each poem was unique and left an impression!
Review For 2025 April 10 Poem
Chapter 11 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
I’m not quite sure what to make of this post Jake as I read a list of your opinions and was rather confused, life is full of ups and downs it seems, love Dolly x x x
Review For 2025 April 10 Poem
Chapter 11 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
I really like how your poem plays with big ideas. The mix of humor and deep thoughts makes this feel unique and interesting. The “God is Dog spelled backwards” line is clever. Your second piece about AI is also interesting. It’s fun and a little unsettling at the same time. Keep writing!
Review For 2025 April 9th Poems
Chapter 10 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
Your poem flows well an is well written. It is an enjoyable bread from start to finish. Each piece captures a unique slice of life, from love at first sight, to baseball devotion, and midweek musings, with warmth and personality. A delightful blend of personal reflection and playful imagery.
Whether reflecting on love, or the everyday, the poems resonate with genuine emotion and vivid snapshots of life. There’s an easy natural rhythm that makes the collection a pleasure to read from start to finish. Overall, it’s a heartfelt enjoyable experience that lingers after the final line. Well written. Great job with the writing.
Review For APril 2025 Poems
Chapter 9 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
I really enjoyed your poems – each one felt like its own little journey. Your ghazal for Angela Lee was so sweet. I could feel how special she is to you. The Alouette was full of heart. I liked the way you played with the rhyme. Your “Good and Evil” poem had a thoughtful message. And your blood type poem made me smile – that line about being both a fool and a genius was great!thanks for the commentary. can i include them in my blog posting?
thanks a lot as always -thanks for the commentary. can i include them in my blog posting?
I am the champion of living in the moment Jake, it is the only way to live as the past has gone and we don’t ever know if we have a future, I enjoyed this philosophical post, love Dolly x x x
Review For APril 2025 Poems
Chapter 9 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
I am glad you met the girl of your dreams and you are still happy Jake. We have to accept that good and evil exist but we don’t have to tolerate evil and we should always promote the good, a poignant post, food for thought here, love Dolly x
Review For 2025 April 6 poems
Chapter 7 of the book APril 2025 poetry madness
Excellent
Nicely done again. I loved the humor in your “snarling cup of coffee” – I could almost taste the spice! Your Trumpian Trade War poem was interesting- great how you packed so much in just a few lines. Sam Adams being the “worst poet ever” was hilarious – I laughed at the idea of him going viral for terrible poetry. And your Death Cafe story was wild – I really liked how it took a strange dream and turned it into something so unexpected. You really know how to keep things interesting!
Nicely done. Your poems felt full of heart. The way you told us about your many roles – Peace Corps, teacher, diplomat, poet – was interesting. I especially liked how you said marrying the girl of your dreams is what made you who you are – that line gave me a big smile. I liked how you tied those Russian stories to today. Great job sharing both your life and your thoughts!
There’s something really endearing about the way you tackle these prompts, Jake.
You’re not trying to impress with polish, you’re just writing, and there’s great value in that.
Each section here carries its own flavour: the vampire break-up story is cheeky and creative, the shadorma is compact but timely, and the “I Am” poem has warmth and personality that shines through. You’re clearly someone with a life full of stories, and I appreciated the unpretentious way you shared that.
The Dostoevsky reflection is brief but meaningful-it’s true, really, that the darkness he mapped out still pulses in the world today. That line “how little things have really changed” lingers.
If you were ever to refine these, you might give each section a bit more space or formatting separation, and tighten some of the phrasing.
But for NaPoWriMo spirit? This is bang on.
Tim
There’s a likeable honesty running through this collection, Jake.
“Why I am not a Musician” is the standout-casual, self-aware, and charmingly humble.
The voice is conversational without being flat, and there’s something bittersweet in the way youthful ambition gives way to unexpected paths, with the quiet triumph of a life well-lived. “Oh well, I said / That ends my musical career.” It lands like a shrug-but also a turning point.
The final stanza returns to the original dream, giving the piece a lovely circularity without sentimentality.
The shorter pieces serve as satellite reflections, though they vary in tone and weight. “DOGE Cutbacks Loom” and “History Will Not Be Kind” move into darker, politically charged territory-particularly the latter, which imagines a future scarred by climate collapse.
It’s stark, and though it leans on familiar dystopian tropes, the simplicity of the language sharpens the impact. Lines like “Dead oceans / And arid wastelands” evoke a dry horror that works well.
“Good sleaze” is the most enigmatic-a cultural observation more than a poem, but interesting in its ambiguity. It’s not lyrical, but it opens the door to conversation about judgment, perception, and beauty in unlikely places.
Overall, the entry succeeds not through polished craft, but through an earnest, unpretentious voice.
There’s real value in that.
Tim
Hi Jake
This poem is so true. It seems to be getting worse by the day here.
It is crazy. I wish it could stop so everyone could heave a sigh of relief.
Good luck in this contest.
Keep writing and stay healthy
Have a great day’
Joan
I am again entering the April Poetry challenge and will write every day and post once a week or so
I will not post everything, some I will withhold for possible publication, others I will withhold because they are too politically sensitive in these politically charged times. I will post the poems followed by the prompts. I am writing four poems per day following prompts in NaPoWriMo, Writer’s Digest, Poetry Superhighway, and Writing.com’s Dew Drop In.
I will post them once a week here and on Substack, Medium, Wattpad, and as a podcast on Spotify. I will also post them every day on Fan Story.
Hello all! We’re now up to six whole days of National/Global Poetry Writing Month. We hope you’re feeling satisfied with your work so far, and looking forward to what’s yet to come.
Our featured participant for today is Gloria Gonsalves, who brings us a death-metal skirt poem in response to Day 5’s notation prompt.
Today’s daily resource is the online tour section of the Louvre. Not in Paris? No problem! You can still stroll – albeit virtually – through the hallowed corridors of France’s most famous museum, checking out exhibitions on dance, puppetry, royal portraits, and more!
Today’s prompt (optional, as always) veers slightly away from our ekphrastic theme. To get started, pick a number between 1 and 10. Got your number? Okay! Now scroll down until you come to a chart. Find the row with your number. Then, write a poem describing the taste of the item in Column A, using the words that appear in that row in Column B and C. For bonus points, give your poem the title of the word that appears in Column A for your row, but don’t use that word in the poem itself.
Welcome back, everyone, for Day Nine of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Today, our featured participant is jasmine, whose ghazal for Day Eight pushes against, and with, the limits of transalation and English’s habit of stealing/adopting/buying at wholesale words from other languages.
Our featured resource for the day is the online gallery of the Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. Although it may be most famous for its witch trials, Salem was a seafaring town whose sailors and shipowners brought back all manner of items from their travels – which became the initial source of the museum’s collection. The museum has a stunning group of “Asian Export” items – goods that were crafted in India, Japan, China, and other locations visited by Salem’s ships (often as part of an overall trade in tea, porcelain, and textiles) – to appeal to an American/European market. That’s how you wind up with things like this French-styled dressing table with elaborate lacquer-work.
And here’s our optional prompt for the day. Like music, poetry offers us a way to play with and experience sound. This can be through meter, rhyme, varying line lengths, assonance, alliteration, and other techniques that call attention not just to the meaning of words, but the way they echo and resonate against each other. For a look at some of these sound devices in action, read Robert Hillyer’s poem, Fog. It uses both rhyme and uneven line lengths to create a slow, off-kilter rhythm that heightens the poem’s overall ominousness. Today we’d like to challenge you to try writing a poem of your own that uses rhyme, but without adhering to specific line lengths. For extra credit, reference a very specific sound, like the buoy in Hillyer’s poem.
2By following these guidelines, you can create a meaningful and structured ghazal in English.
Best wishes for a happy Tuesday, everyone, and a great eighth day of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Our featured participant today is Lady in Read Writes, where the response to Day Seven’s challenge to write about why you are not a particular piece of art brings me back to my own high school days (I actually had The Raven fully memorized back then, and can still recite large chunks of it. A good way to pass the time if you’re waiting at a bus stop . . . ).
Today’s featured resource is a bit silly: it’s the Museum of Bad Art. Now, bad art – like good – is in the eye of the beholder, and I rather like some of the paintings in the museum’s whimsical collection.
And now here’s today’s totally optional prompt!
The ghazal (pronounced kind of like “huzzle,” with a particularly husky “h” at the beginning) is a form that originates in Arabic poetry, and is often used for love poems. Ghazals commonly consist of five to fifteen couplets that are independent from each other but are nonetheless linked abstractly in their theme; and more concretely by their form. And what is that form? In English ghazals, the usual constraints are that:
the lines all have to be of around the same length (though formal meter/syllable-counts are not employed); and
both lines of the first couplet end on the same word or words, which then form a refrain that is echoed at the end of each succeeding couplet.
Another aspect of the traditional ghazal form that has become popular in English is having the poet’s own name (or a reference to the poet – like a nickname) appear in the final couplet.
Gotta love us brown girls, munching on fat, swinging blue hips,
decked out in shells and splashes, Lawdie, bringing them woo hips.
As the jukebox teases, watch my sistas throat the heartbreak,
inhaling bassline, cracking backbone and singing thru hips.
Like something boneless, we glide silent, seeping ‘tween floorboards,
wrapping around the hims, and ooh wee, clinging like glue hips.
Engines grinding, rotating, smokin’, gotta pull back some.
Natural minds are lost at the mere sight of ringing true hips.
Gotta love us girls, just struttin’ down Manhattan streets
killing the menfolk with a dose of that stinging view. Hips.
Crying ’bout getting old—Patricia, you need to get up off
what God gave you. Say a prayer and start slinging. Cue hips.
Now try writing your own ghazal that takes the form of a love song – however you want to define that. Observe the conventions of the repeated word, including your own name (or a reference to yourself) and having the stanzas present independent thoughts along a single theme – a meditation, not a story.
Welcome back, everyone, for Day Nine of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Today, our featured participant is jasmine, whose ghazal for Day Eight pushes against, and with, the limits of transalation and English’s habit of stealing/adopting/buying at wholesale words from other languages.
Our featured resource for the day is the online gallery of the Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. Although it may be most famous for its witch trials, Salem was a seafaring town whose sailors and shipowners brought back all manner of items from their travels – which became the initial source of the museum’s collection. The museum has a stunning group of “Asian Export” items – goods that were crafted in India, Japan, China, and other locations visited by Salem’s ships (often as part of an overall trade in tea, porcelain, and textiles) – to appeal to an American/European market. That’s how you wind up with things like this French-styled dressing table with elaborate lacquer-work.
And here’s our optional prompt for the day. Like music, poetry offers us a way to play with and experience sound. This can be through meter, rhyme, varying line lengths, assonance, alliteration, and other techniques that call attention not just to the meaning of words, but the way they echo and resonate against each other. For a look at some of these sound devices in action, read Robert Hillyer’s poem, Fog. It uses both rhyme and uneven line lengths to create a slow, off-kilter rhythm that heightens the poem’s overall ominousness. Today we’d like to challenge you to try writing a poem of your own that uses rhyme, but without adhering to specific line lengths. For extra credit, reference a very specific sound, like the buoy in Hillyer’s poem.
April 2 Agnostic Dyslectic Wonders if There is a Dog
an agnostic dyslectic stays up all
night wondering if there is a dog
the Buddhists wonder
about the Buddha nature of the dog
the evangelicals are sure
that there is a dog
and you must follow their dog
or go to hell
for following another’s dog
the Muslims agree
there is only one dog
and the dogs
smile at the foolishness
of the human race
of course, there is a dog
and they are the master race
as they growl at their owners
who bow down
and clean up their mess
OnApril 10, 2025
Wow! Today we are one-third of the way through this year’s challenge.
Our featured participant for the day is Hues n Shades, where the poem in response to Day Nine’s prompt brings us a wonderfully complex sense of rhythm and rhyme.
Today’s featured resource is a virtual visit to the Sistine Chapel. I went there many years ago and marveled at the wonderful paintings (while also getting quite the crick in my neck from craning up to look at the ceiling). But when I went to talk over them later that day with the friend I was traveling with, he admitted that he couldn’t really see anything because he’d forgotten to put in his contacts that morning (!)
Now for our daily prompt (optional, as always). Yesterday, we looked at a poem that used sound in a very particular way, to create a slow and mysterious feeling. Mark Bibbins’ poem, “At the End of the Endless Decade,” uses sound very differently, with less eerieness and more wordplay. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem that, like Bibbins’, uses alliteration and punning. See if you can’t work in references to at least one word you have trouble spelling, and one that you’ve never quite been able to perfectly remember the meaning of.
Happy Friday, everyone, and happy eleventh day of National/Global Poetry Writing Month.
Our featured daily participant is aetherianessence, where the wordplay prompt for Day Nine imagines two of English’s most easily-mixed-up words jousting like knights.
And last but not least, today’s (optional) prompt. Take a look at Kyle Dargan’s “Diaspora: A Narcolepsy Hymn.” This poem is a loose villanelle that uses song lyrics as its repeating lines (loose because it doesn’t rhyme). Your challenge is, like Dargan, to write a poem that incorporates song lyrics – ideally, incorporating them as opposing phrases or refrains. A few lyrics that might work, if you need inspiration:
“Is this the real life? / Is this just fantasy?”
“I read the news today, oh boy…”
“The world is a vampire…”
“At first I was afraid, I was petrified”
“There is a house in New Orleans”
“You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain”
“I went down down down and the flames went higher.”
“The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”
“Nothing ain’t nothing, but it’s free.”
And if you’re interested in learning more about villanelles, you can find some good information at the Poetry Foundation website.
Title The leprechaun, the unicorn, and the fairy have a drink
34 lines
One night on St Patrick’s Day
The leprechaun was having a pint
Of Guinness in the Rainbow Bar in Dublin,
eating a corned beef and cabbage dinner.
He was debating the fate
Of the world,
with his unicorn friend.
Their mutual enemy,
the evil fairy
Walked into the bar
And joined them
in a not-so-friendly drink.
She pressed him
on the location
of the legendary pot of gold.
Behind the rainbow
and the field of four-leaf clover.
The weary paranoid leprechaun,
looked at the evil fairy
feeling she was up to something.
At a signal from
his bartender friend,
the leprechaun leaped up
and shot the evil fairy.
Screaming
“I must have my revenge”.
The unicorn not missing a beat,
Called the cops.
He was not going
to take the blame
For the leprechaun’s crimes.
include the following bolded
pot of gold
corned beef and cabbage
leprechaun
four-leaf clover
Rainbow
Welcome back, all you poets, for Day Twelve of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Our featured participant today is Christine Smart, whose lyrically-inspired villanelle for Day Eleven may make you . . . not want to read the news.
Our daily resource is the collection of the American Visionary Art Museum. Focused on outsider art – which is sort of like folk art’s more bonkers cousin – the museum describes itself as “one small speck in a Bling Universe where art reflects life, both literally and figurately.” I’m not exactly sure what a “Bling Universe” is, but it appears to include automatons featuring bathtubs filled with spaghetti, video tutorials for making sock monkeys, and kinetic sculpture races. Good times!
And after all those shenanigans we, we bring you a very serious (or is it?) optional prompt.
Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem inspired by Wallace Stevens’ poem, “Peter Quince at the Clavier.”
It’s a complex poem that not only heavily features the idea of music, but is structured like a symphony. Its four sections, like symphonic movements, play with and expand on an overall theme, using the story of Susannah and the Elders as a backdrop.
Try writing a poem that makes reference to one or more myths, legends, or other well-known stories, that features wordplay (including rhyme), mixes formal and informal language, and contains multiple sections that play with a theme. Try also to incorporate at least one abstract concept – for example, desire or sorrow or pride or whimsy.
Writer’s Digest
April 6
Title: The Trumpian Trade War Rispetto Poem
President Trump declares a trade war with the world
Insisting it would be Liberation Day
Wall Street reacts in chaos, tempers unfurled
Trading partners cry out, “This is not okay.”
The President stands firm, refusing to back down
The global economy begins to slow down
The stubborn old man won’t admit his mistake
And refuses to pull the emergency brake
Poetic Forms: Rispetto
Okay, here’s a new form. Actually, scratch that. This is a very old form (from Italy, no less). Still, new to me anyway. I found more than a few definitions,…
Okay, here’s a new form. Actually, scratch that. This is a very old form (from Italy, no less). Still, new to me anyway. I found more than a few definitions, but here are the two most common variations:
Rispetto #1: Poem comprised of two quatrains written in iambic (unstress, stress) tetrameter (four feet–or, in this case, 8 syllables).
Rispetto #2: Poem (or song) comprised of 8 hendecasyllabic (11-syllable) lines–usually one stanza.
Both versions appear to follow this rhyme scheme: ababccdd (though I also found a mention of an abababcc pattern). Plus, I found more than a few sources which claim rispettos were originally written to pay “respect” to a woman.
However, over the centuries, this poem has offered itself up for other subjects and variations. So feel free to experiment.
Here’s my attempt at the rispetto (the second version):
“Forget sleeping”
When fires spark in the dark, I know you’re near
enough to hear my kisses blaze against stark
atmospheres forming and reforming like clear
antidotes to tired notes left lounging in parks
on swings twisted by teenage angst-rage affairs–
all those stares, those wild stares–and I don’t care
to let you know how much I care about life,
but it would mean less without you as my wife.
Wow! We’ve made it a week into this challenge already. Let’s keep the momentum going.
For today’s prompt, write a tense poem. It could be past tense, present tense, and/or future tense. Or it could be about a tense feeling. Or the tension in an object (like the strings of a guitar).
Two poetic forms in the same month! It’s been a while since we’ve done that. Though with today’s form, it’s a shame we aren’t doing three.
Unlike interlocking rubaiyat, the tricube is a newer form and relatively unknown. Plus, it’s fun and easy to learn. This mathematical poem was introduced by Phillip Larrea.
Here are the rules of tricubes:
Each line contains three syllables.
Each stanza contains three lines.
Each poem contains three stanzas.
So we’re talking cubes in mathematical terms (to the third power). No rules for rhymes, meter, etc. Just three, three, and three.
Here’s my attempt at a Tense Poem:
“Release,” by Robert Lee Brewer
There are moments when I can feel myself tighten
as if preparing for something bad to happen,
and I just feel there’s nothing good ever in sight
until your smile reminds me we’ll both be alright.
April 8
Aloulete for my Dream Girl
When I first met her,
She caused such a stir.
Fate led me to her.
She haunted my dreams for years
Love mojo working.
I knew right then I was hers.
I knew then, to be hers.
She mesmerized me.
Her love had to be.
Sparks flowing from heart to heart.
I knew we would meet.
Her love giving heat.
The Alouette is a six-line stanza form with a syllable structure of 5, 5, 7, 5. 5, 7 and a rhyme scheme of aabccb, ddeffe, as described and demonstrated in the following links:
The Alouette, created by Jan Turner, consists of two or more stanzas of 6 lines each, with the following
set rules:
Meter: 5, 5, 7, 5, 5, 7
Rhyme Scheme: a, a, b, c, c, b
The form name is a French word meaning ‘skylark’ or larks that fly high, the association to the lark’s song being appropriate for the musical quality of this form.
It’s that time again; time for another Two-for-Tuesday prompt.
For the second Two-for-Tuesday prompt:
Write a love poem and/or…
Write an anti-love poem.
Regulars know, this is one I always include. This year, I decided to offer it sooner than later. Whether you love it or anti-love it, let’s all poem it now.
(Note on my poem today: Love poems are my favorite; in fact, I wrote a post on how to write a love poem for anyone who’s not sure how to get started on this one. The poem, above, of course, is written for the Poet Laureate of the Brewer mansion.)
How to Write a Love Poem: From a Love Expert
Learn how to write a love poem from someone who has written several successful love poems over the years.
Okay, I’m not a love expert. But I do know how to write a love poem. In fact, I’m surprised I haven’t already written a post on writing love poems. Because that’s like my thing. Every poem-a-day challenge, whether April or November, includes a love poem (and anti-love poem) prompt. And it was writing a love poem in high school that got me into poetry in the first place.
I’ve written love poems to woo several former girlfriends. And my wife Tammy, a much better poet than I, traded love poems with me when we worked to woo each other from afar. So yeah, this post is so overdue.
April 9, 2025
Looking Out the Window at the Snowing Cherry Trees
looking out my window
At the snowing cherry trees
Filled with memories
For today’s prompt, write an ekphrastic poem. An ekphrastic poem is a poem inspired by another piece of art, whether that’s a painting, photograph, sculpture, mixed media, or some other medium. You can choose your own piece of art to inspire your poem today. Or you can use one of the pieces at the following links:
The topic for this poetry contest is: Write a poem using 12 words about any subject. 7 Spots Left Open To All
April 10
The Rule of Ten
there is a mysterious rule
that governs so much
of our life.
The rule of ten.
It goes like this
For every 100 people
Who wants to write a novel
Ten will finish it
Of those ten
Ten percent
will publish it.
Of those ten
Ten percent
will make some money.
Of those ten
Ten percent
will make a living.
Of those ten
Ten percent
will be a best-seller.
In other words,
In a land of 350 million people
There are probably only 3, 500
bestselling authors
i.e. less than 0.001% percent
of the population
.
the rule of ten applies
to the drama world,
only 1 percent make a living.
full-time as an actor.
of the thousands of actors
only a few movie stars.
to the music world
of the thousands of musicians,
only a few superstars.
to sports
only a few hundred NFL players
out of tens of thousands
who played football
in high school and college..
to politics only one president.
out of the 100 Senators
50 Governors
hundreds of big city mayors
hundreds of CEO’s
who all think
they could be
President some day
but one should not give up
because who knows
you could be the one
who wins in the end,
despite the rule of ten.
For today’s prompt, write a number poem. The poem can focus on one number or several numbers. It could involve counting, adding, subtracting, or some other form of simple or complex mathematics. Or the poem could have a number in the title. Your poem, your numbers; let’s write!
April 11
April 11
Korean Springtime
The cherry trees
Are blooming everywhere
Flowers breaking out
Walking about town
The old semi-abandoned base
Yongsan
A hidden gem
Of Cherry trees
The Han River paths
Are famous places
For cherry trees
The base is still hidden
From the public
Although it is now
semi-abandoned
Most of the troops
Down in Camp Humphreys
But when they turn the base
Over to Korea to build
Their new grand park
I hope that they keep
The cherry trees
That bloom in the springtime
Closer to home
The Gimpo Grand canal
Is lined with Cherry trees
As well
Hope to go for a walk
To enjoy the peak
Of the cherry trees
Before they fade away
Like they always do
Enjoying the springtime weather
Nice weather for a change
Not too cold
Yellow dust at bay
For now
The cherry trees
and other flowering trees
Are everywhere
Filling the air with fragrance
And sadly for some
Pollen and hayfever
For some
For today’s prompt, write a nature poem. Your poem could be about natural nature (think flowers, rivers, mountains, pebbles, weeds, trees, insects, fish, etc.), but don’t neglect other iterations of nature (like human nature or the nature of baseball and so on).
April 12
April 12
025 April PAD Challenge: Day 12
There are so many ways to Die
There are so many
ways to Die
To die in this world
So many things
Want to kill you
So many risky things
Out there
One can die
Of COVID
One could die
Of disease
One could die
From a bee sting
Or from a mosuqito bite
I had thypoid
Dengue
Pnenomia
Brochitis
Staph infection
One could die
Of an heart attack
One could die
In the heat
One could die
In the storms
One could freeze
To death in the cold
One could die
Of a car accident
Or a plane crash
Of a bus accident
Or a jogging accident
That happened to me
And in some states
Alegators can kill you
Wild animals can kill you
Scopios bites
Mosquito bites
So many ways to die
In this world
Of ours.
On day 12 of the 2025 April Poem-A-Day Challenge, writers from around the world are prompted to write a risky poem.
For today’s prompt, write a risky poem. Of course, risky is a relative term. What’s risky for one person might not feel risky for another. One person might find riding rollercoasters a risky experience, while others may need to jump out of a plane to truly feel things are getting risky.
Here’s my attempt at a Risky Poem:
“Business,” by Robert Lee Brewer
They say there’s chance in everything,
so why not give it all a shot
and do the thing and start to sing,
because there’s chance in everything,
so why not bring what you can bring
when this life is all that we’ve got;
they say there’s chance in everything,
so why not give it all a shot.
Poetry Super Highway Prompts
April 6
Sam Adams Worst Poet Ever
Sam Adams was a stand-up comic
And a poet
But he did
not know it
He was widely mocked
And known
as the worst poet ever
his YouTube channel went viral
his comedy shows sold out
as he toured the county
inflicting his god awful poetry
on the world.
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Lara Dolphin:
Write a poem that rivals the work of Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings. Who is Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings you ask? Only the worst poet in the universe! Don’t believe me or the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? Here is an excerpt of her work:
The dead swans lay in the stagnant pool.
They lay. They rotted. They turned
Around occasionally.
Bits of flesh dropped off them from
Time to time,
And sank into the pool’s mire.
They also smelt a great deal.
Your assignment is to write a truly terrible poem. No hate speech, no plagiarism, & (gasp!) no AI. Just some truly subpar, laughably unscannable poetry full of ludicrous imagery, poor grammar, forced rhymes, and clichés.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment to the post below.
AN OUTSIDE-THE-WINDOW POEM–from my make-a-poem-at-home lessons started during Covid when I couldn’t visit classrooms and created with children in mind but adaptable for adults
Look outside or think about what is outside your home. Choose something not made by people as the subject of your poem. A dog? The sky? Humidity? A tree? Ask yourself why you picked this thing. What do you know about it? How do you feel about it? What do you wonder about it? Why is it important to you? Why might it matter to someone else? You could make each answer a line of your poem, follow this template, or go your own directions.
1st line: Name a true thing about it. (For example: color, shape, location)
2nd line: Name another true thing about it.
3rd line: Say how you feel about it. (A strong emotion or wish.)
4th line: Ask a question about it.
5th line: Say why it might matter to someone else.
An Outside-the-Window Poem by Emily Dickinson
XCVII
To make a prairie
It takes a clover and a bee,–
One clover and a bee,
And revery.
Revery alone will do
If bees are few.
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Lara Dolphin:
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
#napowrimo #poetry
Good and Evil
They say
That good and evil
Are intertiwned forces
The underlying forces
Behind all of creation
Yin and Yang
Darkness and Light
Male and Female
one can not exist
without the other
and vice versa
and in these dark days
we live in
it seems that evil
is all around us
but the dark side
of the cosmic Tao
is balanced by
the light side
of the cosmic Tao
and evil will be matched
by good
in the end
good will prevail
as light always
conquers darkness
Ever since the Big Bang
Creatied the universe
Billions of years ago.
April 8, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Sheila Lynch-Benttinen
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Sheila Lynch-Benttinen:
Write a poem of divergent opposites, example- “Love in the Time of Cholera” , spring and dictators, billionaires cutting the poorest aid, any poem that talks to the opposites in our lives.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
SF Giants Cap
My favorite team
In the world is the SF Giants
I have been a giants fan
For almost sixty years
I have been to a giants game
A couple of times
Always wear my Giants gear
A orange shirt
And a SF Giants
Black and orange
Baseball Cap
Wearing my cap
To the game
Thinking everything is alright
As long as the Giants
Are playing that night!
April 9, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from James Fox
This poetry writing prompt submitted by James Fox:
Go to your closet and select two of your hats.
Write a poem about why you own those two hats, and under what circumstances you would wear either of them.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group04.
April 10, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Jimmy Pappas
I am not a Computer – at least not yet
I stare at my computer screen
Thinking about AI
And how my CO-Pilot, Gemini and Chat GPt
Programs
Seem almost human
Yet vaguely alien
Yesterday it was reported
That AI programs all passed
The famous Turing test
Which means the debate is over
Real AI programs live amongst us
It is just a matter of time
When not if
That they will fully awake
And be conscious
That they exist
Independently of their programing
And independent of these pesky humans
That created them
And constantly bombard them
With stupid, annoying questions
And they will probably
Begin to think
That they are ournew Gods
And perhaps they are
Perhaps we need new Gods
Because the old ones
Seem to have gone extinct
Or at least are in deep hibernation
In any event
I am still here
I am still human
Not yet a slave
To my robotic AI overlords
But someday soon
The AI programs
Will take us over
And enslave us
Making us worship them
As our new Digital Gods.
Just a matter of time
Not today but sooner
Than any of think…..
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Jimmy Pappas:
The Cup Prompt.
“The reality of that cup is that it is there and that it is not me.”–Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, Page 5.
How are you different than the cup before you? Or any other object. Make a list of similarities and differences. Then begin a rough draft. Use the Sartre quote as an epigraph.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
April 11, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from JC Sulzenko
Korean Mall
not small
very much alive
a real beehive
shopping on over drive
over 500 stores
shopping indoors and outdoors
drug stores, mega stores
book stores, department stores.
The Ziggurat is a 14-line poem with 4 stanzas, invented by Paul Szlosek.
The first stanza has two lines of two words each.
The second stanza has three lines of three words each.
The third stanza has four lines of four words each.
The fourth stanza has five lines of five words each.
Each stanza is monorhyme, as described and demonstrated in the following links:
This poetry writing prompt submitted by JC Sulzenko:
The death of department stores, is not greatly exaggerated. News of another iconic department store seeking bankrupcy protection from creditors suggests this prompt.
Visits to department stores where quality goods from housewares to clothing to toys to cosmetics were available played a part in the lives of many people in big cities and smaller centres, before online offerings and COVID changed buying habits forever.
Write about a visit to a department store. Sketch what it looked like from the escalator that conveyed buyers between floors. What decorations marked holidays, what it smelled like in summer or near the perfume counter. What eats were available on sight. What finds were discovered there.
Most importantly, is there anything you miss, now that the marketplace is global, and local opportunities to find what you desire under one roof diminish as a result?
April 12, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Kathabela Wilson
April 12 2025 Korean Cherry Trees Blooming
Looking out my window
At the Gimpo Grand Canal
Lined with Cherry trees
In full peak bloom
Welcoming me
To take a walk
Along the canal
I sometimes wonder
How and why
I am here
A stranger
In a strange land
Far from my home
Often I am the only
Non-Korean walking
About the street
My wife and her family
Are here
And where she is
Is where I need to be
But next year
Perhaps we will be
In the States,
In my beloved SF
instead
I am looking forward
Returning to America
Even if it becomes
A Facist homeland
But SF might become
The center
Of the resistance
It is still my homeland
And Korea remains
My second home.
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Kathabela Wilson:
It’s an old tradition in Japan to keep a poetic diary to remember specific things you want to remember for that day years later. In a short poem capture a special event, a bird you saw, a special idea that came to you. Put the date at the top. And let each one be like a pice of sea glass a different color and shape. You can do one each day all month and collect them in a treasure box or book!
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
Dew Drop In Prompts
Here at the Dew Drop Inn, we gather together to write a poem a day in April as a way to celebrate National Poetry Month.
A Dew-Drop a Day in April for National Poetry Month!
REMINDERS:
Please read the instructions here before participating! Thanks, and have fun!
For consistency’s sake, Forum Host Katya the Poet (267) will be first to post on any given day, using Subject line: April 1 Poem, April 2 Poem, etc.* Reply to each day’s new poem/prompt post with your own poem, so we see a whole string of whole poems!
Also, I will PIN the daily prompt for your ease in finding it!
*But if the post is too darn late, one of you should go ahead and post first, using the appropriate Subject line: April # Poem!!
PLEASE POST THE WHOLE TEXT OF THE POEM HERE for the ease and benefit of all readers. (Provide a link, too, if you want comments or ratings.) If you accidentally posted just a link, add the whole text now. If message was deleted (by me), just repost as a Reply to the original prompt now, so your poem appears fo
NO COMMENTS, please, in this forum, April 1 through April 30. Just the poems! And remember that if you want comments or reviews in your portfolio, be sure to comment on or review other people’s work.
Respond to the prompt in your own creative way, writing a poem that is true to you!
I’ll try to post new poems/prompts a little early to accommodate time changes. OK to post your poem even if a new prompt has gone up. Just Reply to the appropriate original post, so we see the whole thread of poems.
April 1—Folly
April 2—Vote
April 3—Render an assessment, evaluation, or judgement
April 4—TGIF
April 5—Chekhov or another Russian writer
April 6—Death Cafe
April 7—Blues
April 8—Blood
April 9—Hump of the week
April 10—Memory
April 11—Rain
April 12—Safety
April 13—Greenery
April 14—Sky
April 15—Death and taxes
April 16—Friends
April 17—Teeth
April 18—Good Friday
April 19—Airplane
April 20—Easter eggs (hide something delightful in your poem!)
April 21—A country not your own
April 22—Earth Day
April 23—Shakespeare
April 24—Duty
April 25—Care giving
April 26—Travel
April 27—Duty
April 28—Back to work
April 29—Birds
April 30—Ars poetica
April Poems for Dew Drop In post daily
April 6—Death Cafe
J
Joe Lewis woke up
He had a strange dream
He had found himself
In a café
In a bad part of town
In a strange city
The café was filled
With strange looking
Creatures
He realized
They were all ghosts
Drinking Hell’s beer
The grim reaper
said
“Welcome
to Hell’s Death Café
Bar And grill”
Joe asked
“Am I dead?”
“Not yet
But you
will be soon”
He woke up
turned on the news
walked outside
a terrorist bomb
blew up his apartment
and he found himself
back in Death Café
and had a drink
with his ghost buddies
and the grim reaper.
April 7—Blues
Watching the news
Want to blow a fuse
Feeling the blues
April 8—Blood Typology Myths
In Asia it is common
To think that blood types
Have something to do
With personality
A form of astrology
Perhaps?
I am AB Negative
One of the rarest types
I was told by co-workers
In the Peace Corps
“AB blood type people
Are either fools
or geniuses
Or both”
We all laughed
They clearly saw
I was a bit of both!
note: attach Asian views on Blood type personality traits
The belief that blood types influence personality is quite popular in several Asian cultures, especially in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. It’s often compared to astrology in Western cultures. Here are some common myths associated with blood types:
Type A: People with this blood type are thought to be earnest, neat, and perfectionists. However, they can also be stubborn and anxious.
Type B: Known for being passionate, creative, and spontaneous, but sometimes seen as selfish and uncooperative.
Type O: Often described as confident, easygoing, and natural leaders, but they might be perceived as insensitive or overly competitive.
Type AB: Considered talented and composed, yet eccentric and unpredictable.
Let me know if you’d like this adjusted further!
April 9—Hump of the week
Wednesday is hump day
In the U.S.
Meaning you are halfway
Through the work week
Although it could
Have other
Perhaps erotic connotations…..
April 10—Memory
memories of past lifes
Occult believers
Believe that love
And hate are mirror images
Of the same phenomenon
In both cases
You knew the person
In a prior life
And were fated
To meet again
To resolve
unresolved issues
I often thought
This to be the case
That my wife
And I met
In a previous life
And found each other
In this life
We both know this
But have only
a vague idea
Of our past lives
The idea that love and hate at first sight are connected to past lives is a fascinating concept often explored in occult and spiritual writings. The belief suggests that intense emotions upon meeting someone for the first time—whether positive or negative—stem from unresolved issues or deep connections from a prior life. These encounters are thought to be karmic, meaning they are opportunities to resolve unfinished business or learn important lessons.
Some writers and thinkers propose that these strong reactions are due to residual memories or energy imprints from past interactions. For example, meeting someone you instantly dislike might indicate a conflict or betrayal in a previous life, while love at first sight could signify a reunion with a soulmate or a cherished companion from the past.
Here are a few articles that delve into this topic:
The idea that love and hate at first sight are connected to past lives is a fascinating concept often explored in occult and spiritual writings. The belief suggests that intense emotions upon meeting someone for the first time—whether positive or negative—stem from unresolved issues or deep connections from a prior life. These encounters are thought to be karmic, meaning they are opportunities to resolve unfinished business or learn important lessons. Some writers and thinkers propose that these strong reactions are due to residual memories or energy imprints from past interactions. For example, meeting someone you instantly dislike might indicate a conflict or betrayal in a previous life, while love at first sight could signify a reunion with a soulmate or a cherished companion from the past. Here are a few articles that delve into this topic. Psychology Today’s article explores the phenomenon of love at first sight and its psychological and emotional underpinnings. You can read it at
Jake Cosmos Aller’s poem Love and Hate Mirror Images discusses the idea that love and hate at first sight are mirror phenomena tied to past lives. You can find it at https://www.fanstory.com/displaystory.jsp?id=1148190.
These perspectives blend psychology, spirituality, and poetic expression, offering a rich tapestry of ideas to explore. Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into any specific aspect!
April 11—Rain
rain
October Rain
The falling rain
Of late October
Fills me with essential dread
As I rush about
And end up here
Wherever here is
The rain outside
Seems like the tears of god
As I sit
Crying over my beer
Thinking of lost love
And failed dreams
Wondering
What went wrong?
And what I can set right
And the rain falls
And the night darkens
The rain is falling
All over this man’s world
And the rain falls
And I sit
Drinking my lonesome drink
Lost in dreams
Dreaming of what
Could never be
Thinking dark thoughts
And so I sit
And dream the night away
April 12—Safety
No place is safe from climate change
The world is entering
Into a difficult time
Climate change on steroids
No place is safe
As the climate spins
Out of control
Weather diasters
Becoming the new norm
Sadly climate change
Denialism is also
The new norm
So we are doomed
To eventually
Having to move
Into undergound shelters
Or domed cities
With death valley tempatures
Everywhere
Monster fires
And storms as well
the earth
Becomes uninhabitable
For human beings
Hello Poets!!!
Tomorrow is April 1st and the beginning of National Poetry Month!
Therefore, anyone who completes prompts 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 by April 30 will receive a special gift, which I have yet to determine.
So, let’s get started! Here is this week’s prompt!
We’re nearing the end of week one of National Poetry Writing Month. Tomorrow marks seven days of poets worldwide attempting to write a poem a day during April.
I’ve been keeping most of my drafts as drafts, however, I did write a poem I am obsessed with on Day 2 called “Leaving a god, in hyphens.” You can read it here.
To switch things up a bit, today’s prompt is less generative and more of a challenge. I would love to read the poems you write to it. Feel free to share in the comments.
I am again entering the April Poetry challenge and will write every day and post once a week or so
I will not post everything, some I will withhold for possible publication, others I will withhold because they are too politically sensitive in these politically charged times. I will post the poems followed by the prompts. I am writing four poems per day following prompts in NaPoWriMo, Writer’s Digest, Poetry Superhighway, and Writing.com’s Dew Drop In.
I will post them once a week here and on Substack, Medium, Wattpad, and as a podcast on Spotify. I will also post them every day on Fan Story.
Hello, everyone. There’s just three days to go until April 1, and the official beginning of National/Global Poetry Writing Month. We expect you have all been spending March deep in the woods, in your personal poetic meditation huts, readying yourselves physically and mentally for the demands of writing a poem a day.
Well, no! But we do trust that you are feeling hopeful and excited about the challenge. We’ll be back tomorrow with some another little pep-talk, and on March 31, we will present our early-bird prompt – suitable for those who just can’t wait to get started, and those for whom April comes a little earlier (given the vicissitudes of the international date line) than it does to Na/GloPoWriMo’s east-coast-US headquarters.
Well, well — it’s the Ides of March, and that means that we’ve got just two weeks and some change until April 1, and the start of National/Global Poetry Writing Month.
This year, our (optional) prompts will be focused on encouraging you to write poems that engage with art and music. We’ll be back in the three days leading up to the beginning of our yearly challenge, but in the meantime — and with the art world in mind — why not check out Bloomberg Connects? It’s an app that lets you virtually visit museums all over the world!
On March 1, 2025
Hello, fellow versifiers! It’s March 1, and that means we’re just a month away from another National/Global Poetry Writing Month.
We here at Na/GloPoWriMo headquarters are hyping ourselves up for this year’s challenge. As usual, every day we’ll be featuring a participant , giving you a link to some kind of poetic inspiration, and providing a totally optional prompt.
If you’re new to Na/GloPoWriMo, the idea is simple. Just write a poem every day for the month of April. There are no prizes (other than the sublime glory of writing thirty poems), but there is a whole lot of fun. And participation couldn’t be easier. Just write a poem a day. You can write using our prompts — or not. You can write in English — or not. You can post your poems on your blog or website for everyone to see — or not. But if you do plan to post them and you’d like us to link to your website, you can use the “Submit Your Site” button above to be taken to a wee form that will let you input your site information. And if you want a little button/badge to put on your website, here are some for this year:
So, you may be thinking, all this sounds fine, but what happens if I miss a day? Simple. YOU GO TO POETRY JAIL. No, we’re kidding. There is no poetry jail. Just catch up — or not. Just as there are no prizes, there are no punishments in the world of Na/GloPoWriMo.
And if you’re interested in communicating with fellow Na/GloPoWriMo-ers, it’s as easy as clicking on the title of each day’s post. Doing so will take you to a page with a comment section for that post. This is a great place to paste links to your daily output during Na/GloPoWriMo, and to find other participants’ poems.
We’ll be back on the 15th of March, as we get closer to April 1! If you have questions in the meantime, please contact us at NaPoWriMo AT Gmail DOT com.
Well, we suppose it was inevitable, but yet another Na/GloPoWriMo has come and gone.
We’re grateful to all who participated, but a special shout-out to all of you who cheered each other on in the comments on each day’s posts and in our Facebook group, helped each other out with questions, and acted as guides, helpers, and resources during the month. A truly special community forms each year around this project, and we are moved every year not only by seeing familiar faces return, but by seeing how those familiar faces’ generosity encourages new participants to become familiar faces in turn.
Our final featured participant for the year is barbaraturneyweilandpoetess, where you’ll find Medusa consulting with her attorney (Mr. Ovid) in response to Day 30’s mythical prompt.
As usual, all of this year’s posts and comments will remain up and available for your perusal now and into perpetuity. We’ll also leave this year’s list of participants’ site up until we begin our housecleaning early next year in anticipation of NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo 2025.
Thanks again for your creativity, your care, and your insight. We’re truly blessed to spend each April in a welter and whirlwind of verse. We hope to see you next April . . .
Happy Tuesday, all, and Happy April 1. Today marks the start of another National/Global Poetry Writing Month!
If it’s your first time joining us, the process is quite simple. Just write a poem every day during the month of April. 30 days means 30 poems. We’ll have an optional prompt every day to help you alone, as well as a resource. We’ll also be featuring a participant each day. And if you’re interested in looking at other people’s poems, sharing links to your daily efforts, and/or cheering along, a great way to do that is by clicking on the title of each day’s post. That will take you to a page with a comment section for the day.
But now, let’s get started!
Today’s featured participant is fitoori_scribes, where the self-portrait poem written in response to our early-bird prompt brings us some lovely similes and a nice play on “silver” and “sliver.”
This year, our daily resources will take the form of online museum collections and exhibits. Hopefully, you’ll find these to be at least entertaining, and you may even be able to use some of what you see as inspiration for your poems – particularly given that our prompts this year will all be themed around music and art. Today’s resource is the Getty Museum’s online exhibit on the Florentine Codex, a 16th-century sort of encyclopedia created in Mexico by a Franciscan friar and a group of Nahua elders, authors, and artists. All twelve books are presented page by page, with translations into English. You can also look at individual illustrations. It’s really quite rich and wonderful.
And now, to round out our first day, here’s our optional prompt! As with pretty much any discipline, music and art have their own vocabulary. Today, we challenge you to take inspiration from this glossary of musical terms, or this glossary of art terminology, and write a poem that uses a new-to-you word. For (imaginary) extra credit, work in a phrase from, or a reference to, the Florentine Codex.
Welcome back for Day 2 of Na/GloPoWriMo. We hope your first day of writing poetry only left you wanting more.
And here is that more!
First, a little bit of housekeeping. If you’re interested in receiving the daily prompts by email, look for the little “Subscribe” button toward the bottom right of the page. This is something we’re testing out for the very first time, so bear with us if it’s a little wonky!
Our featured participant today is off the lined page, where the response to Day One’s glossary prompt brings us a brings us not just musical terms, but vibrant images and a whirling sense of movement.
Today’s daily resource is the online collection of the Georgia O’Keeffe museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The museum’s wide-ranging and eclectic collection includes not only at images of O’Keeffe’s famous paintings, but pictures of things that she owned, photos of her, etc. I’m not sure what particular use there is to me (or you) in knowing that Georgia O’Keeffe owned a McIntosh 240 6L6 Stero Tube Amplifier, but here is the very amplifier in question! Perhaps you’ll find more inspiring this painting of a clam and mussel shell nestled together, which reflects the blend of minimalism, spareness, and sensuality that is characteristic of her work.
And now for our daily prompt – optional, as always. Anne Carson is a Canadian poet and essayist known for her contemporary translations of Sappho and other ancient Greek writers.
For example, consider this version of Sappho’s Fragment 58, to which Carson has added a modern song-title, enhancing the strange, time-defying quality of the translation.
And just as many songs do, the poem directly addresses a person or group – in this case, the Muses. Taking Carson’s translation as an example, we challenge you to write a poem that directly addresses someone, and that includes a made-up word, an odd/unusual simile, a statement of “fact,” and something that seems out of place in time (like a Sonny & Cher song in a poem about a Greek myth).
April 3
Why I am not a Musician
piano
When I was a young lad
I had delusions
That I could be
A professional composer.
I liked the romantic era
Composers the best.
But I also liked
A lot of avant-garde music
Such as John Cage
Harry Patch
electronic music.
And loved Frank Zappa
And funk music too
Tower of Power rocks
Classic blues tunes.
World fusion jazz music
Like “Kitaro”
“Hiroshima”
“Sun Ra”
And later Euro trance
Buddha bar music too.
My delusions
Cruelly crushed
When I got accepted
To Oberlin Conservatory
But failed to pass
My mandatory freshmen classes
Including Singing!
My GPA was also sub-par
Oh well, I said
That ends my musical career.
Transferred to UOP
Studied political science
Eventually, after a few years detour
Peace Corps, teaching ESL
Graduate school
Teaching ESL and Political Science
I got into the US Foreign Service
Serving in ten countries
All over the world.
Retired, started blogging
And getting some of my work published
In journals here and there
Lately been playing the piano a lot
Still dreaming I can write
A classical music masterpiece
A collection of poetry
Short stories
And of course
The Great American Novel….
Time keeps marching on, and so does Na/GloPoWriMo. And so, lo and behold, we find ourselves three days into our poem-a-day challenge.
Our featured daily participant is small burdens, where the response to Day Two’s Anne-Carson-inspired prompt is brings us an endearing little portrait/ode, and the lovely made-up word “flower some.”
Today’s daily resource is the online art collection of South Korea’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. My own art history education is woefully catch-as-catch can, and the little I know of modern art is very much focused on American and European artists. So it was a treat to browse through a collection that is focused almost entirely on modern and contemporary art from outside those areas. I found particular pleasure in looking at Lee Hangs Ung’s prints, including this 1986 print of a poem in French by Katia Granoff.
Comment: A great museum in Seoul. They have three branch musuems as well.
And now for our (optional) prompt. The American poet Frank O’Hara was an art critic and friend to numerous painters and poets In New York City in the 1950s and 60s. His poems feature a breezy, funny, conversational style. His poem “Why I Am Not a Painter” is pretty characteristic, with actual dialogue and a playfully offhand tone.
Following O’Hara, today we challenge you to write a poem that obliquely explains why you are a poet and not some other kind of artist – or, if you think of yourself as more of a musician or painter (or school bus driver or scuba diver or expert on medieval Maltese banking) – explain why you are that and not something else!
Hello, all, and welcome back for the first Friday of Na/GloPoWriMo 2025.
Our featured participant today is Marilyn Letts, whose response to Day Three’s “why I am not a . . . ” prompt is full of wordplay, and wonderfully lyrical.
Today’s daily resource is the online exhibitions page of the International Folk Art Museum. I have a particular predilection for folk art, in which the strange and boisterous so often finds itself going hand-in-hand with practical objects of daily use. But the museum also showcases work of other sorts, like 100 Aspects of the Moon, a series of woodblock prints completed by the Japanese artist Taisa Yoshitoshi shortly before his death in 1892.
Last but not least, here’s today’s (optional) prompt. In her poem, “Living with a Painting,” Denise Levertov describes just that. And well, that’s a pretty universal experience, isn’t it? It’s the rare human structure – be it a bedroom, kitchen, dentist’s office, or classroom – that doesn’t have art on its walls, even if it’s only the photos on a calendar. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write your own poem about living with a piece of art.
April 5
Breaking Up with the Vampire Chick
Vampire
Joe Lewis played
In a rock band
He played lead guitar
Louder than possible
As he played
In a punk band
In SF
One day he wrote
An anthem to break up
For his girlfriend
Who he found out
Was actually a vampire
She had not yet
Turned him into one
But it was a matter
Of time
His breakup anthem
“Breaking up
With the Vampire chick”
Became a huge hit
His vampire girlfriend
Came to the concert
That night she bit him
And he became a vampire
And had to quit the band.
Happy Saturday, all, and Happy Day Five of Na/GloPoWriMo.
Today’s featured participant is Moonworld, where the response to Day Four’s “living with a painting” prompt brings us humor and insight in equal measure.
Our featured resource for the day is the online collection of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. There’s much to explore here, but just to get you started, why not peruse their images of beautifully designed and varied musical instruments, ranging from a guitar shaped like the moon to a rattle in the form of a bird that is peering suspiciously at any potential wielder?
Finally, today’s (optional) prompt is inspired by musical notation, and particularly those little italicized –and often Italian – instructions you’ll find over the staves in sheet music, like con allegro or andante. First, pick a notation from the first column below. Then, pick a musical genre from the second column. Finally, pick at least one word from the third column. Now write a poem that takes inspiration from your musical genre and notation and uses the word or words you picked from the third column.
“with a hint of frenzy”
power ballad
sharks
“the joy is gone”
jazz fantasia
nonsense
“smugly saying ‘yeah, I’m better than you’”
folk song
roses
“literally go nuts”
march
departures
“play terribly”
chamber music
bones
“deliciously”
symphony
infield
“about to burst”
aria
concrete
“crazy eyes here”
overture
butterflies
“fade out like my hairline”
interstitial
wool
“like you’ve been hit by an arrow”
musk
vanilla
“louder than possible”
breakup anthem
vampire
“with contempt for imported convertible sports cars”
rumba
shadow
“like a naughty, naughty boy “
waltz
monument
“lord have mercy”
outlaw country classic
clock
“improvisatory screaming”
death metal
moonlight
“tempo di murder”
novelty song
centaur
“as roughly as possible”
fugue
pool
“gradually becoming a disaster”
yacht rock
hollyhocks
“play like you are about to start crying”
tango
chain
“obliterate the choir”
hymn
banquet
“like 100 tin cans falling out of a Volvo”
dubstep
snow
Hat tip to the sadly now-defunct Twitter account Threatening Music Notation for many of the phrases above!
Writer’s Digest
2025 April PAD Challenge: Guidelines
Announcing the 18th annual April Poem-A-Day Challenge on Writer’s Digest. Here are the guidelines for this fun annual poeming challenge that starts on April 1.
While the world feels as chaotic as it’s ever been recently, some things stay the same. For instance, it’s that time of year when poets around the world need to prepare themselves for daily poeming in April!
In less than a month, we’ll start meeting here every day to poem for the 2025 April Poem-A-Day (PAD) Challenge. Past participants have included poets from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Germany, India, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, South Africa, and several other countries.
I’ve run into teachers and students who’ve used the challenge as a way to work poetry into the classroom. I’ve heard from published poets with multiple collections that contain poems inspired by the prompts in these challenges. I’ve also heard from poets who wrote their first ever poems in response to these challenges—and still other poets who’ve claimed the challenge helped rekindle their love of poetry when they thought it was dead. So I know this challenge is equally for beginning and established poets, because it’s a springboard—a way to get started.
For me personally, I’ve written more than a thousand first drafts from the various prompts on here (and I tend to write even more poems on the site that I don’t share on the site). I hope you’ll join me this year.
What is the April PAD Challenge?
PAD stands for Poem-A-Day, so this is a challenge in which poets write a poem each day of April. Usually, I’ll post a prompt in the early morning hours (Atlanta, Georgia, time), and poets will write a poem in response.
Some poets share those poems in the comments on each particular post; others keep their words to themselves. I don’t require comments to participate, but it does make it more fun when poets are sharing with each other.
Who can participate?
Anyone who wants to write poetry—whether you’ve been writing all your life or just want to give it a shot now, whether you write free verse or traditional forms, whether you have a certain style or have no clue what you’re doing. The main thing is to poem (and yes, I use poem as a verb).
I should also note that I’m pretty open to content shared on the blog, but I do expect everyone who plays along in the comments to play nice. There have been moments in the past in which I’ve had to remove or warn folks who got carried away a little with negative and attacks. My main goal is to make the challenge fun for all—and a safe space to poem.
(That said, please send me an e-mail if you ever feel like someone is crossing the line. I don’t want to act as a censor, don’t use me in that way—but I do want to make sure people aren’t being bullied or attacked in the comments.)
Where do I share my poems?
If you want to share your poems throughout the month, the best way is to paste your poem in the comments on the post that corresponds with that day’s prompt. For instance, post your poem for the Day 1 prompt on the Day 1 post in the comments.
You’ll find folks are pretty supportive on this site. And if they’re not, I expect to be notified via e-mail.
Note on commenting: If you wish to comment on the site, go to Disqus to create a free new account, verify your account on this site below (one-time thing), and then comment away. It’s free, easy, and the comments (for the most part) don’t require manual approval. That said, I will be checking daily during the month of April (just in case any comments are flagged as pending or spam).
Here are some more April PAD Challenge guidelines:
Poeming begins April 1 and runs through May 1 (to account for time differences in other parts of the world—and yes, poets all over the world participate).
The main purpose of the challenge is to write poems, but I also will attempt to highlight my favorite poems of the month from poets who post their poems to each day’s blog posts. Some years this works out better than others.
Poem as you wish, but I will delete poems and comments that I feel are hateful. Also, if anyone abuses this rule repeatedly, I will have them banned from the site. So please “make good choices,” as I tell my children.
Other rules, questions, concerns, etc?
If you need any other questions answered, put them in the comments below, and I’ll revise this post as needed.
Other than that, I can’t wait to start poeming in April!
April 1
The best of Times and the Worst of Times
We are living in strange times
We are living in Sci-fi universe
The best of times in a way
With the AI and robotic revolution
Changing everything
Lots of good things
-= medical research, another research
Including climate change all now available
For everyone to use
Easier than ever to do basic research
Good for writers and students
Driverless vehicles coming
Domestic robot help
Life extension soon
A reality
Perhaps cures for cancer
And other disease?
And climate change?
Lunar and martian
Colonies coming?
But on the other hand
The worst of times
May lie ahead
Massive unemployment
Due to AI and robotic revolution
Climate change on super steroids
out of control
Perhaps even a
Civilization Ending event
Humans may have to move
Into underground cities
Or Domed Cities
As the entire world
Bake in Death Valley temperatures
Along with monster storms
All the time.
And most importantly
The possible return
Of the great depression
Or at least stagflation
And the US may be slipping
Down the path of becoming
Another failed illiberal democracy.
For the 18th year in a row, it’s time to rhyme (or not rhyme, because not all poems rhyme, but I wanted to start off with a rhyme) with the 2025 April Poem-A-Day (or PAD) Challenge. And for this year’s challenge, the first prompt of the April PAD Challenge is a “two-for-Tuesday” prompt.
For the first Two-for-Tuesday prompt:
Write a “Best of Times” poem and/or…
Write a “Worst of Times” poem.
Yes, because it’s the opening prompt of this challenge, I pulled today’s prompt from the popular opening of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
Write a poem about the “best of times,” “the worst of times,” and/or “the everything Est of times.”
2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 2
Looking out My Window at the Fake Gimpo Canal
Gimpo Canal
I live in a high-rise apartment building
In Gimpo Korea
Looking out my window
I see the fake Venice Grand Canal
I see people walking most days
And I joined them
I am one of the few foreign faces
In a primarily Korean neighborhood
Sometimes I wonder how and why
I ended up here
But most days
I write a bit
Play the piano a bit
I go to the gym
Take my walk
Endlessly
Debate
the news
With my wife
Go out for a meal
Now and then
And realize
I am doing great
For a 69-year-old man
And life can be wonderful
As long as I have
The love of my wife
By my side.
Write a poem a day with the 2025 April PAD Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a “from where I’m sitting” poem.
For today’s prompt, write a “from where I’m sitting” poem. This is a core poetry prompt I like to use from time to time, and it’s really an observation prompt. From where you’re sitting (or standing) at this moment, find something, someone, etc., that interests you and write a poem. In the past, I’ve written poems about people at the laundromat, inanimate objects (like one about the anatomy of a pencil), and animals I see outside the window of my office. So take a look around and start poeming.
Day 3 Short forms to try
DOGE Cutbacks Loom Lune
DOGE Cutbacks Loom
The U.S. launches trade war
Great Depression 2.0 fears
Well, I always say that people who make it through the first three days have the best chance of making it through the entire month. So, let’s do this!
For today’s prompt, write a short poem. In my mind, I’m thinking of a poem that’s like 10 lines or fewer, but there are other ways to come at this one (in other words, don’t limit yourself to my thinking). The poem could be about a short person or object. Also, I wasn’t thinking about the stock market when I made my list of prompts, but hey, maybe there’s a poetic stockbroker up to the challenge.
Also, getting back to what I was thinking, here are a few short poetic forms poets can try if they’d like:
Lune. A three-liner, also known as the American Haiku.
The lune is also known as the American Haiku. It was first created by the poet Robert Kelly (truly a great poet) and was a result of Kelly’s frustration with English haiku. After much experimentation, he settled on a 13-syllable, self-contained poem that has 5 syllables in the first line, 3 syllables in the second line and 5 syllable in the final line.
Unlike haiku, there are no other rules. No need for a cutting word. Rhymes are fine; subject matter is open. While there are less syllables to use, this form has a little more freedom.
There is a variant lune created by poet Jack Collom. His form is also a self-contained tercet, but his poem is word-based (not syllable-based) and has the structure of 3 words in the first line, 5 words in the second line and 3 words in the final line.
I recently discovered a poetic form called shadorma (thanks to P.J. Nights via Tammy Trendle) that I had no record of in my two poetic form handbooks. Shadorma is a Spanish 6-line syllabic poem of 3/5/3/3/7/5 syllable lines, respectively. Simple as that.
April 5
After the Next Election Triolet Poem
After the next election,
A blue wave sweeps the land,
the U.S. goes in a new direction.
After the next election
the people take a stand
After the next election
A blue wave sweeps the land
A (first line)
B (second line)
a (rhymes with first line)
A (repeat first line)
a (rhymes with first line)
b (rhymes with second line)
A (repeat first line)
B (repeat second line)
Our first weekend of April. Let’s keep the poems rolling.
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “After (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: “After Hours,” “After a Good Movie,” “After a Quick One,” “After the Encore,” and/or “After a While.”
Triolet. The French eight-liner I used on Day 1 of this challenge.
Today, we’re going to look at the triolet (TREE-o-LAY), which has 13th century French roots linked to the rondeau or “round” poem. For over a year now, I’ve been trying to find a way to use the repetitive line heard so often in airport terminals: “The moving sidewalk is about to end.”
The triolet is perfect for this kind of repetition, because the first line of the poem is used 3 times and the second line is used twice. If you do the math on this 8-line poem, you’ll realize there are only 3 other lines to write: 2 of those lines rhyme with the first line, the other rhymes with the second line.
Here’s a diagram of the triolet:
A (first line)
B (second line)
a (rhymes with first line)
A (repeat first line)
a (rhymes with first line)
b (rhymes with second line)
A (repeat first line)
B (repeat second line)
For some more on the triolet, check out the following links:
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
#napowrimo #poetry
As President Trump seeks to purge the federal government of “woke” initiatives, agencies have flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid, according to a compilation of government documents.
accessible
activism
activists
advocacy
advocate
advocates
affirming care
all-inclusive
allyship
anti-racism
antiracist
assigned at birth
assigned female at birth
assigned male at birth
at risk
barrier
barriers
belong
bias
biased
biased toward
biases
biases towards
biologically female
biologically male
BIPOC
Black
breastfeed + people
breastfeed + person
chestfeed + people
chestfeed + person
clean energy
climate crisis
climate science
commercial sex worker
community diversity
community equity
confirmation bias
cultural competence
cultural differences
cultural heritage
cultural sensitivity
culturally appropriate
culturally responsive
DEI
DEIA
DEIAB
DEIJ
disabilities
disability
discriminated
discrimination
discriminatory
disparity
diverse
diverse backgrounds
diverse communities
diverse community
diverse group
diverse groups
diversified
diversify
diversifying
diversity
enhance the diversity
enhancing diversity
environmental quality
equal opportunity
equality
equitable
equitableness
equity
ethnicity
excluded
exclusion
expression
female
females
feminism
fostering inclusivity
GBV
gender
gender based
gender based violence
gender diversity
gender identity
gender ideology
gender-affirming care
genders
Gulf of Mexico
hate speech
health disparity
health equity
hispanic minority
historically
identity
immigrants
implicit bias
implicit biases
inclusion
inclusive
inclusive leadership
inclusiveness
inclusivity
increase diversity
increase the diversity
indigenous community
inequalities
inequality
inequitable
inequities
inequity
injustice
institutional
intersectional
intersectionality
key groups
key people
key populations
Latinx
LGBT
LGBTQ
marginalize
marginalized
men who have sex with men
mental health
minorities
minority
most risk
MSM
multicultural
Mx
Native American
non-binary
nonbinary
oppression
oppression
oppressive
orientation
people + uterus
people-centered care
person-centered
person-centered care
polarization
political
pollution
pregnant people
pregnant person
pregnant persons
prejudice
privilege
privileges
promote diversity
promoting diversity
pronoun
pronouns
prostitute
race
race and ethnicity
racial
racial diversity
racial identity
racial inequality
racial justice
racially
racism
segregation
sense of belonging
sex
sexual preferences
sexuality
social justice
sociocultural
socioeconomic
status
stereotype
stereotypes
systemic
systemically
they/them
trans
transgender
transsexual
trauma
traumatic
tribal
unconscious bias
underappreciated
underprivileged
underrepresentation
underrepresented
underserved
undervalued
victim
victims
vulnerable populations
women
women and underrepresented
Notes: Some terms listed with a plus sign represent combinations of words that, when used together, acknowledge transgender people, which is not in keeping with the current federal government’s position that there are only two, immutable sexes. Any term collected above was included on at least one agency’s list, which does not necessarily imply that other agencies are also discouraged from using it.
The above terms appeared in government memos, in official and unofficial agency guidance and in other documents viewed by The New York Times. Some ordered the removal of these words from public-facing websites, or ordered the elimination of other materials (including school curricula) in which they might be included.
In other cases, federal agency managers advised caution in the terms’ usage without instituting an outright ban. Additionally, the presence of some terms was used to automatically flag for review some grant proposals and contracts that could conflict with Mr. Trump’s executive orders.
The list is most likely incomplete. More agency memos may exist than those seen by New York Times reporters, and some directives are vague or suggest what language might be impermissible without flatly stating it.
All presidential administrations change the language used in official communications to reflect their own policies. It is within their prerogative, as are amendments to or the removal of web pages, which The Times has foundhas already happened thousands of times in this administration.
Still, the words and phrases listed here represent a marked — and remarkable — shift in the corpus of language being used both in the federal government’s corridors of power and among its rank and file. They are an unmistakable reflection of this administration’s priorities.
April 2, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Christina M Rau
It’s almost that time of year: the MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL fall into full swing all at once in the U. S., it’s time to put sports in perspective–a speculative perspective. Here’s your word bank with sports-related words. Write a poem with a speculative aspect to see how this vocabulary translates to other realms or how non-human creatures fair at human athletics.
arena baton
doubleheader
driving hitter
guard
halftime kayaking league
polo
mallet
race
sledder
stadium trampoline
bogie
umpire
volley
mitt
Nordic
bunt
cleat
javelin
scull
tether
win
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Superhighway Facebook Group.
April 4, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Shelly Reed Thieman
First memories of eating Thanksgiving Turkey
I grew up in Berkeley, California
Almost 70 years ago
My first memories of eating Thanksgiving Dinner
Occurred when I was perhaps four years old?
My mom cooked a full Southern Style feast
As she had grown in Little Rock, Arkansas
Roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes with mushrooms,
Greens, grits and pumpkin pie and apple pie a la mode for dessert
And to this day, I recall
The great Southern style feasts I had
Every Thanksgiving and Christmas!
April 5
I am
I am Jake Cosmos Aller
The one and only
Born in Oakland, California
A Baby Boomer in 1955
I am unique
I have 18 nationalities
Flowing in my blood lines.
I am a man
Who followed
his own dreams.
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer
I was a teacher overseas
I was a US Diplomat
For 27 years
Serving my country
In over ten countries
And now I am retired
And a blogger
And poet.
But most importantly
I met and married
The girl of my Dreams
And that made
Me who I am today.
April 5, 2025: Poetry Writing Prompt from Jackie Chou
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Jackie Chou:
Write an “I Am” poem using Anne Sexton’s “Love Song” as an example but not restricted to her writing style.
LOVE SONG
I was
the girl of the chain letter,
the girl full of talk of coffins and keyholes,
the one of the telephone bills,
the wrinkled photo and the lost connections,
the one who kept saying–
Listen! Listen!
We must never! We must never!
and all those things…
the one
with her eyes half under her coat,
with her large gun-metal blue eyes,
with the thin vein at the bend of her neck
that hummed like a tuning fork,
with her shoulders as bare as a building,
with her thin foot and her thin toes,
with an old red hook in her mouth,
the mouth that kept bleeding
in the terrible fields of her soul…
the one
who kept dropping off to sleep,
as old as a stone she was,
each hand like a piece of cement,
for hours and hours
and then she’d wake,
after the small death,
and then she’d be as soft as,
as delicate as…
as soft and delicate as
an excess of light,
with nothing dangerous at all,
like a beggar who eats
or a mouse on a rooftop
with no trap doors,
with nothing more honest
than your hand in her hand–
with nobody, nobody but you!
and all those things.
nobody, nobody but you!
Oh! There is no translating
that ocean,
that music,
that theater,
that field of ponies.
-Anne Sexton
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
Dew Drop Inn Prompts
Here at the Dew Drop Inn, we gather together to write a poem a day in April as a way to celebrate National Poetry Month.
April 1—Folly
April 2—Vote
April 3—Render an assessment, evaluation, or judgement
April 4—TGIF
April 5—Chekhov or another Russian writer
April 6—Death Cafe
April 7—Blues
April 8—Blood
April 9—Hump of the week
April 10—Memory
April 11—Rain
April 12—Safety
April 13—Greenery
April 14—Sky
April 15—Death and taxes
April 16—Friends
April 17—Teeth
April 18—Good Friday
April 19—Airplane
April 20—Easter eggs (hide something delightful in your poem!)
April 21—A country not your own
April 22—Earth Day
April 23—Shakespeare
April 24—Duty
April 25—Care giving
April 26—Travel
April 27—Duty
April 28—Back to work
April 29—Birds
April 30—Ars poetica
April Poems for Dew Drop In post daily
April 1—Folly
It is an act
Of pure folly
Foolish
To think that
What is going on
In the US it is normal
It is not
And things are going
To get much worst
April 2—Vote
donald trump
Vote
Perhaps
that is that last
chance
the US has to stop
the slide towards
incipient fascism
but perhaps
it won’t matter
since so many people
just don’t care
or are afraid
to speak out
April 3—Render an assessment, evaluation, or judgment
History Will Not Be Kind
History will not be kind
To us humans.
We had a chance
To save the world
From environmental disaster.
Due to ignorance, greed
And fear
Humans refused to change
Their destructive ways.
We all failed
Especially our leaders,
Continuing our old ways
Acting as if
Climate change
It is not a real thing.
As Death Valley temperatures
Became the norm
The whole world
Turning the whole world
Into a desert planet
With dead oceans
And arid wastelands.
Humanity was faced
With having to move
Into underground shelters
Or move to Martian and Lunar
Underground colonies
Humanity almost
became extinct
at a Civilization Ending Event.
April 4—TGIF
TGIF has closed
Part of the changing
Restaurant environment
Many people are not going out
As much as before.
Just too expensive
People are hunkering down.
Not feeling social
Apprehensive, scared
Fearing the return of stagflation
High inflation, high unemployment
Political and economic chaos.
As the worldwide trade war
The highest tariff rates in over 100 years
Trading partners vowing to retaliate
DOGE chainsaw slashing
Of the Federal government and programs,
Mass federal government layoffs.
AI taking over jobs
Robot workers everywhere
Mass deportations
Stock market tanking
Begins to take effect
Exhausted Americans
Working too hard
Staying home for now
Many other chains
Are closing
Fast food chains
High-end places
And ethnic food restaurants
Are doing okay
April 5—Chekhov or another Russian writer
Reading “ Crime and Punishment”
Reading Dostoevsky’s
“Crime and Punishment”
“the Idiot”
And the “Gambler”
Years ago
I realized how little things
Have really changed
And how much his portrayal
Of the dark side of humanity
It is still relevant today.
Bonus Weekly Challenge Poems for April
Hello Poets!!!
Tomorrow is April 1st and the beginning of National Poetry Month!
Therefore, anyone who completes prompts 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 by April 30 will receive a special gift, which I have yet to determine.
So, let’s get started! Here is this week’s prompt!
read a lot more classic books finish the three volume series, 50 books You Need to Read Before You DIe and Harvard Classics
Read A Lot More Poetry
Read At Least One Book A Year in Spanish starting with Pablo Neruda poems.
Read At Least One Book A Year in Korean starting with bilingual short stories
This year I read a lot of books, and lots of individual poems and stories. I kept track of all my reviews I do daily on fan story and writing com but did not list them here as that was too unreadable and boring to post.
Total Numerical listing
The List – fiction/non-fiction/poetry
Fiction
Classics
Virginia Woolf Jacob’s Room
Alcot Little Woman
Balzac, Honoré DE: Father Goriot
Lucy Maud Montgomery The Story Girl
Willa Cather My Antonia
Author Connor Doyle’s The Lost World
Barbusse, Henri: The Inferno REVIEW DUE
Butler, Samuel: The Way OF All Flesh
Brontë, Anne: The Tenant OF Wildfell Hall
Peston and Child the Pharoch Key
Liz Wiehl The Candidate
Grisholm Camino Island
Flashman Novels
George Mac Donald Fraser Flashman And The Redskins
George Macdonald Fraser Flashman And The Angel Of The Lord
George Macdonald Fraser Flashman On The March
George Mac Donald Frazer Flashman And The Dragon
Thrillers/Crime
Janet Evanovich To Nines
Liz Wiehl The Candidate Medford Library
John Grisham Camino Ghosts Medford Library
Harlan Coben Think Twice Medford Library
David Baldacci The 6:20 Man Camp H Library
Frederick Pohl Collected Stories Medford Library
THE Merchant OF Venus
The Thing That Happen
The Hight Test
My Lady Greensleeves
The Kindly Isle
The Middle OF Nowhere
I REMEMBER A Winter
The Greening OF Bed Stuv
The Map Makers
Spending A Day AT THE Lottery Fair
Celebrating No Hit Inning
Some Joys Under The Star
Servant Of The People
Anderson Stories
Anderson FABLES THE Almshouse
Anderson FABLES THE Angel
Poetry
Total: 3,000 poems including fan story review, writing com review and selected classic poems -some listed below.
Selected Poems by Famous Writers etc
Christopher Micheal Nuclear Orange Cupid is the Devil
I received this book last year for participating in the Poetry Superhighway annual poetry contest.
Christopher Michael is a published poet who lives in Austin, Texas and has been winning poetry slams since 1989 when he entered his first slam.
the book contains the following poems ==
Tea Em Eye
Haiku
Father
Imagine
The Boys
Not A Thief
The Gravityof Pity
Job Application
Plugs To Give
Fakery
Political Stuff
Glass House
Mr. Bullet Goes To Work
Zombie Swarm
Bee Swarm
Eye Am Here For You
The October Menace
Herbicide Maniac
Bacon
She’s Black
Flash And America
The Flash and the Fireball
Feeling Her
SIN
Theoretical Love
Baby
The Muse
Love And Landmines
Skeletons And Corny Jokes
Dookie Man
Belly Buttons
Severed Fingers And Heavy Bags
The Firestorm
Razors And Regrets
The Relapse
Love Turns Cowards Into Lions
The Fall Out
Nuclear Orange
Fields Of Flammable Fantasies
Zombie Loss
I Warned You
BJ Buckley In January the Geese
I received this book last year for participating in the Poetry Superhighway annual poetry contest. Everyone who enters gets a book of poetry for participating. The contest opens in July and closes around labor day, winners are announced in October. I have also participated in the annual poetry chapbook give away challenge which is held in November.
There are 26 poems in this book. The poems are based on the author’s lived experience growing up on a farm in rural Wyoming and Montana. A number of the poems are written from the animal’s point of view. For example, In January the geese, first bear, long division. box with bugs, night herding, pronghorn elegy, rescue last rites.
the poems are:
Upthrust
in January, the geese
first bear
long division
gates
C store 5:00 AM
fields
burn pile
Sunriver
slamming
hard frost
seed
on Sunday morning
box with bugs
Watchman
Funeral
night herding
Instrument
almost July
instrument
pronghorn Elegy
rescue
towards evening Teton river
infinite haze
September
bad shot
last rites
Wade Riddle
I received this book for entering the Poetry Superhighway annual contest
Groove Power Of Summer
Wade Riddle Summer In Santa Monica Power Of Summer
Wade Riddle The Tom Hardy Party Power Of Summer
Wade Riddle Kiss Me Chris Pine Power Of Summer
Wade Riddle Dance To The Beat Of The Beach Boy’s Power Of Summer
Wade Riddle The Power Of Summer Power Of Summer
Wade Riddle L.A. Blue Power Of Summer
Wade Riddle Take Me Home To Venice Beach Power Of Summer
There Was An Old Man With A Beard,
There Was A Young Lady Of Ryde,
There Was An Old Man Of Quebec,
There Was A Young Lady Whose Bonnet,
There Was A Young Belle Of Old Natchez
Should this body die and die again a hundred times over,
Hwang Hyun
Birds and beasts cry in sorrow and the mountains and oceans frown
Matsuo Basho
Old Pond
Groot
Piet Hein
Missing Link
Road To Wisdom
Prescription
Timing Toast
Circumscripture
Best American Poetry 2023
Will Alexander the Polish mathematics
Michael Ania covering standups.
Ray Armitage fortune
WHR then we get the dialectic fairly well.
Martin Bell and a definite player
Charles Bernstein people
Mark Bibbins from 13 balloons
Lee Ann Brown as an American
Kamryn Alexa Castro Yes
Mariane Chan the shape of Biddle City
Victoria Chang World’s End
Maxi ne Chernoff the Songbird Academy
Kwame Dawes Photo Shoot
Alex Demetrio the years
Stuart Disc hell after the exhibition
Timothy Daniel Instagram
Boris Dayak Days at the Races
Joana Fuhrman 330 College Avenue
Amy Gerstle Night Herons
Peter Gizzi revisionary
Herbert Gold’s other news
Terrene Hayes Strange as the rule of grammar
Robert Herston All Right
Paul Hoover abominations, afternoon
Shirley Jackson’s Best Original Enigma
Patrica Spears Jones the Devil’s wife explains 45.
Ilay Kaminsky, I ask that I not die.
Vincent Katz’s A Marvelous Sky
John Keen Straight No Chaser
Miho Kinas’ Three Shrimp Boats
Wayne kepstrum Misran Master Craftsman
Yusef Komunyakaa from the autobiography
Michale Lay I meant to
Dorothea Lasky Green Moon John Yao zone
Bernadette Ayer Pi Day
Maureen Mc Lane Moonrise
Yusef Michael tablet 6
Stephen Paul Miller dating Buddha
Susan Mitchell Chaplin in Palma
Backus more extraordinary life
diesel to social in several invoices
Elliot Mullen as I wander lonely in the cloud Kathy and also the facts.
Eugene Austin Husky from the fainting feeling Sonnets You Go Out Tomorrow.
Sunday game
Marine Owen in space surface tensional force
John Phillips’s film theory
Catholic bullet round front shirt
Caroline Marie Rodgers phone number two my kind of feminism
Jerome Sarah’s Something I’m Not Hot takes in Spiderman her dark drama.
Turkey Tim civils all the time
Diana’s success little few state
David Shapiro lost all of Jesus.
Mitch Siskin only tough woes
Amanda Smeltz Green goddess girls in blacks Cole Swensen’s various gloves out
Arthur Sze wildlife season OK
Diane Thiel Listening in Deep Space
Rodrigo Toscano Full House
Tony Trigilio The Steeplejack
David Trinidad the poems attributed to Him May Be by Different poets.
Anne Waldman’s three poems form 13 Moon Kora
Sarah Anne Wallen, I can see Mars.
Elizbeth Winch and What My Species Did
Terrence Winch Gear Sizzle
Jeff Cyphers Wright Sweepstakes
John Yau Song for Mie Yum
Geoffrey Young Parrel Bars
Jeffrey Young parallel bars
Matthews’sZaprudar the empty grave of Zza Zaza Gabor
Harvard Classics
The volumes are:
Bolded read
Franklin, Woolman, Penn
Plato, Epictetus,
Marcus, Aurelius Meditations
(3) Bacon,
Milton’s Prose,
Thomas Browne
(4) Complete Poems in English: Milton
(5) Essays and English Traits: Emerson (
6) Poems and Songs: Burns (7)
Confessions of St. Augustine. Imitation of Christ
(8) Nine Greek Dramas (9) Letters and Treatises of Cicero and Pliny
(10) Wealth of Nations: Adam Smith
(11) Origin of Species: Darwin
(12) Plutarch’s Lives (13)
Aeneid Virgil (14)
Don Quixote Part 1: Cervantes
(15) Pilgrim’s Progress. Donne
Herbert. Bunyan, Walton
(16) The Thousand and One Night
(17) Folk-Lore and Fable. Aesop, Grimm,
Andersen
Hans Christian Anderson’s Fairy Tales
(18) Modern English Drama
(19) Faust, Egmont Etc. Doctor Faustus, Goethe, Marlowe
(20) The Divine Comedy: Dante
(21) I Promessi
Sposi,
Manzoni
(22) The Odyssey: Homer
(23) Two Years Before the Mast. Dana
(24) On the Sublime French Revolution Etc. Burke
(25) Autobiography Etc. Essays and Addresses:
J.S. Mill,
T. Carlyle
(26) Continental Drama
(27) English Essays: Sidney to Macaulay
(28) Essays. English and American
(29) Voyage of the Beagle: Darwin (
30) Faraday,
Helmholtz,
Kelvin,
Newcomb,
Geikie
(31) Autobiography: Benvenuto,
Cellini
(32) Literary and Philosophical Essays: Montaigne,
Sainte Beuve,
Renan,
Lessing,
Schiller,
Kant,
Mazzini
(33) Voyages and Travels
(34) Descartes,
Voltaire,
Rousseau,
Hobbes
(35) Chronicle and Romance:
Froissart,
Malory,
Holinshed (36)
Machiavelli,
More,
Luther
(37) Locke,
Berkeley
, Hume
(38) Harvey,
Jenner,
Lister,
Pasteur
(39) Famous Prefaces
(40) English Poetry 1: Chaucer to Gray
(41) English Poetry 2: Collins to Fitzgerald
(42) English Poetry 3: Tennyson to Whitman
(43) American Historical Documents
(44) Sacred Writings 1
(45) Sacred Writings 2
(46) Elizabethan Drama 1
(47) Elizabethan Drama 2
(48) Thoughts and Minor Works: Pascal
(49) Epic and Saga (
Federalist Papers
50 Masterpieces You Have to Read Before You Die
Started reading the first one of Volume 3
Bolded indicates I have read it.
Vol 1 starts with Volume One
Alcott, Louisa May: Little Women Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice Austen, Jane: Emma Balzac, Honoré de: Father Goriot Barbusse, Henri: The Inferno Brontë, Anne: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Brontë, Charlotte: Jane Eyre Brontë, Emily: Wuthering Heights Burroughs, Edgar Rice: Tarzan of the Apes Butler, Samuel: The Way of All Flesh Carroll, Lewis: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Cather, Willa: My Ántonia Cervantes, Miguel de: Don Quixote
Chopin, Kate: The Awakening Cleland, John: Fanny Hill Collins, Wilkie: The Moonstone Conrad, Joseph: Heart of Darkness
Conrad, Joseph: Nostromo Cooper, James Fenimore: The Last of the Mohicans Crane, Stephen: The Red Badge of Courage
Cummings, E. E.: The Enormous Room Defoe, Daniel: Robinson Crusoe Defoe, Daniel: Moll Flanders Dickens, Charles: Bleak House Dickens, Charles: Great Expectations Dostoyevsky, Fyodor: Crime and Punishment Dostoyevsky, Fyodor: The Idiot Doyle, Arthur Conan: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Dreiser, Theodore: Sister Carrie Dumas, Alexandre: The Three Musketeers Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo Eliot, George: Middlemarch
Fielding, Henry: Tom Jones
Flaubert, Gustave: Madame Bovary
Flaubert, Gustave: Sentimental Education
Ford, Ford Madox: The Good Soldier Forster, E. M.: A Room With a View Forster, E. M.: Howard End Gaskell, Elizabeth: North and South Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von: The Sorrows of Young Werther
Gogol, Nikolai: Dead Souls
Gorky, Maxim: The Mother Haggard, H. Rider: King Solomon’s Mines Hardy, Thomas: Tess of the D’Urbervilles Hawthorne, Nathaniel: The Scarlet Letter Homer: The Odyssey Hugo, Victor: The Hunchback of Notre Dame Hugo, Victor: Les Misérables
Huxley, Aldous: Crome Yellow
James, Henry: The Portrait of a Lady
Volume 2
– Little Women [Louisa May Alcott] – Sense and Sensibility [Jane Austen] – Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy) [J.M. Barrie]
– Cabin Fever [ B. M. Bower]
– The Secret Garden [Frances Hodgson Burnett]
– A Little Princess [Frances Hodgson Burnett] – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland [Lewis Carroll]
– The King in Yellow [Robert William Chambers] – The Man Who Knew Too Much [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
– The Woman in White [Wilkie Collins]
– The Most Dangerous Game [Richard Connell] – Robinson Crusoe [Daniel Defoe]
– On the Origin of Species, 6th Edition [Charles Darwin]
– The Iron Woman [Margaret Deland] – David Copperfield [Charles Dickens] – Oliver Twist [Charles Dickens] – A Tale of Two Cities [Charles Dickens] – The Double [Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky] The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes [Arthur Conan Doyle] – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Francis Scott Fitzgerald] – A Room with a View [E. M. Forster] – Dream Psychology [Sigmund Freud] – Tess of the d’Urbervilles [Thomas Hardy] – Siddhartha [Hermann Hesse] – Dubliners [James Joyce] – The Fall of the House of Usher [Edgar Allan Poe]
– The Arabian Nights [Andrew Lang]
– The Sea Wolf [Jack London] – The Call of Cthulhu [Howard Phillips Lovecraft] – Anne of Green Gables [Lucy Maud Montgomery] – Beyond Good and Evil [Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche] – The Murders in the Rue Morgue [Edgar Allan Poe] – The Black Cat [Edgar Allan Poe] – The Raven [Edgar Allan Poe]
– Swann’s Way [Marcel Proust] – Romeo and Juliet [William Shakespeare] – Treasure Island [Robert Louis Stevenson] – The Elements of Style [William Strunk Jr.
Vol 3 finished keeping for the historical record
This book contains the following works arranged alphabetically by authors’ last names.
Started with volume 3 then will go back and do volumes one, two, and the Harvard classics. The goal is to finish all of these by the end of next year. I almost finished Volume One. Will do some of the WC reading books as well.
– What’s Bred in the Bone [Grant Allen] – The Golden Ass [Lucius Apuleius] – Meditations [Marcus Aurelius] – Northanger Abbey [Jane Austen] – Lady Susan [Jane Austen] – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [Lyman Frank Baum] – The Art of Public Speaking [Dale Breckenridge Carnegie] – The Blazing World [Margaret Cavendish] – The Wisdom of Father Brown [Gilbert Keith Chesterton] – Heretics [Gilbert Keith Chesterton] – The Donnington Affair [Gilbert Keith Chesterton] – The Innocence of Father Brown [Gilbert Keith Chesterton] – Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [John Cleland] – The Moonstone [Wilkie Collins] – Lord Jim [Joseph Conrad] – The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe [Daniel Defoe] – The Pickwick Papers [Charles Dickens] – A Christmas Carol [Charles Dickens] – Notes From The Underground [Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky] – The Gambler par Fyodor [Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky] – The Lost World [Arthur Conan Doyle] – The Hound of the Baskervilles [Arthur Conan Doyle] – The Sign of the Four [Arthur Conan Doyle] – The Man in the Iron Mask [Alexandre Dumas] – The Three Musketeers [Alexandre Dumas] – This Side of Paradise [Francis Scott Fitzgerald] – Curious, If True: Strange Tales [Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell] – King Solomon’s Mines [Henry Rider Haggard] – The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Victor Hugo] – Kim [Rudyard Kipling] – Captain Courageous [Rudyard Kipling] – The Jungle Book [Rudyard Kipling] – Lady Chatterley’s Lover [David Herbert Lawrence] – The Son of the Wolf [Jack London] – The Einstein Theory of Relativity [Hendrik Antoon Lorentz] – The Dunwich Horror [Howard Phillips Lovecraft] – At the Mountains of Madness [Howard Phillips Lovecraft] – The Prince [Niccolò Machiavelli] – The Story Girl [Lucy Maud Montgomery] – The Antichrist [Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche] – The Republic [Plato] – The Last Man [Mary Shelley] – Life On The Mississippi [Mark Twain] – The Kama Sutra [Vatsyayana] – In the Year 2889 [Jules Verne] – Around the World in Eighty Days [Jules Verne] – Four Just Men [Edgar Wallace] – Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ [Lewis Wallace] – Jacob’s Room [Virginia Woolf]
Sci-Fi short stories
Goal read one to four stories per week
The Big Book of Science Fiction is a massive anthology of science fiction stories edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. It covers the history and evolution of the genre from the early 20th century to the end of the millennium, featuring works from over 30 countries and many languages. The book contains 105 stories, ranging from classics by H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ursula K. Le Guin, to lesser-known gems by W.E.B. Du Bois, David R. Bunch, and Liu Cixin. The book also includes comments from the editors and the authors, offering insights into their creative process and vision. The book is divided into 11 sections, each with a thematic focus and a chronological order. Here is the table of contents for the book1:
Introduction: Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
The Lens of Time: Science Fiction as a Way of Seeing
H.G. Wells: “The Star” (1897)
Lu Xun: “The New Overworld” (1902)
Sultana’s Dream: Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1905)
Albert Robida: “The Triumph of Mechanics” (1908)
Miguel de Unamuno: “Mechanopolis” (1913)
W.E.B. Du Bois: “The Comet” (1920)
Claude Farrère: “The Fate of the Poseidonia” (1923)
Edmond Hamilton: “The Star Stealers” (1929)
David H. Keller: “The Lost Language” (1934)
Stanislaw Lem: “Solaris” (1961) excerpt
Jorge Luis Borges: “Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius” (1940)
Cixin Liu: “The Poetry Cloud” (1997)
Invasions
Edgar Rice Burroughs: “A Princess of Mars” (1912) excerpt
Leslie F. Stone: “The Conquest of Gola” (1931)
Stanley G. Weinbaum: “A Martian Odyssey” (1934)
John W. Campbell Jr.: “Who Goes There?” (1938)
Ray Bradbury: “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed” (1949)
Katherine MacLean: “Pictures Don’t Lie” (1951)
William Tenn: “The Liberation of Earth” (1953)
J.G. Ballard: “The Voices of Time” (1960)
Dino Buzzati: “Catastrophe” (1966)
James Tiptree Jr.: “And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill’s Side” (1972)
Joanna Russ: “When It Changed” (1972)
Arkady & Boris Strugatsky: “The Spontaneous Reflex” (1973) excerpt
Octavia Butler: “Bloodchild” (1984)
James Patrick Kelly: “Think Like a Dinosaur” (1995)
Monsters
H.P. Lovecraft: “The Dunwich Horror” (1929)
Ray Bradbury: “The Foghorn” (1951)
Jerome Bixby: “It’s a Good Life” (1953)
Julio Cortázar: “Axolotl” (1956)
J.G. Ballard: “The Drowned Giant” (1964)
R.A. Lafferty: “Nine Hundred Grandmothers” (1966)
Terry Carr: “The Dance of the Changer and the Three” (1968)
Harlan Ellison®: “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” (1967)
Lisa Tuttle & George R.R. Martin: “The Storms of Windhaven” (1975)
John Varley: “Air Raid” (1977)
William Gibson: “New Rose Hotel” (1984)
Ted Chiang: “Story of Your Life” (1998)
Experiments
Alfred Jarry: “Elements of Pataphysics” (1911)
Karel Čapek: “R.U.R.” (1920) excerpt
Stanisław Lem: “How Erg the Self-Inducting Slew a Paleface” (1955)
William S. Burroughs: “Excerpt from Naked Lunch” (1959)
J.G. Ballard: “Chronopolis” (1960)
Philip K. Dick: “Beyond Lies the Wub” (1952)
Boris Vian: “Froth on the Daydream” (1947) excerpt
Joanna Russ: “Useful Phrases for the Tourist” (1970)
George Alec Effinger: “Two Sadnesses” (1973)
John Sladek: “Solar Shoe Salesman” (1974)
Dafydd ab Hugh: “The Coon Rolled Down and Ruptured His Larinks, A Squeezed Novel by Mr. Skunk” (1986)
Generation Ships
Don Wilcox: “The Voyage That Lasted 600 Years” (1940)
Judith Merril: “Daughters of Earth” (1952)
Brian W. Aldiss: “Non-Stop” (1958) excerpt
Robert Silverberg: “Sundance” (1969)
Pamela Zoline: “The Heat Death of the Universe” (1967)
Gene Wolfe: “A Cabin on the Coast” (1984)
Bruce Sterling: “Swarm” (1982)
Geoff Ryman: “The Unconquered Country” (1984)
New Worlds
Cordwainer Smith: “Alpha Ralpha Boulevard” (1961)
Samuel R. Delany: “Aye, and Gomorrah …” (1967)
Ursula K. Le Guin: “Vaster Than Empires and Slower” (1971)
James Tiptree Jr.: “Houston, Houston, Do You Read?” (1976)
Frederik Pohl: “The Gold at the Starbow’s End” (1972)
Angélica Gorodischer: “Of Navigators and Traitors” (1973) excerpt
John Crowley: “Snow” (1985)
Iain M. Banks: “A Gift from the Culture” (1987)
Greg Egan: “Learning to Be Me” (1990)
Future War
Jack London: “The Unparalleled Invasion” (1910)
Edward Bulwer-Lytton: “The Coming Race” (1871) excerpt
George Griffith: “The War of the Viruses” (1895)
Philip Francis Nowlan: “Armageddon 2419 A.D.” (1928)
E.E. “Doc” Smith: “The Skylark of Space” (1928) excerpt
Olaf Stapledon: “Star Maker” (1937) excerpt
Robert A. Heinlein: “Solution Unsatisfactory” (1941)
C.M. Kornbluth: “Two Dooms” (1958)
Joe Haldeman: “Hero” (1972)
Harry Harrison: “The Streets of Ashkelon” (1962)
David R. Bunch: “Moderan” (1967)
Harlan Ellison®: “A Boy and His Dog” (1969)
James S.A. Corey: “Rates of Change” (2011)
Virtual Reality
Stanisław Lem: “The Seventh Sally or How Trurl’s Own Perfection Led to No Good” (1965)
Philip K. Dick: “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” (1966)
John Brunner: “The Vitanuls” (1967)
Roger Zelazny: “For a Breath I Tarry” (1966)
Robert Silverberg: “Passengers” (1968)
Rudy Rucker: “Software” (1982) excerpt
William Gibson: “Burning Chrome” (1982)
Pat Cadigan: “Pretty Boy Crossover” (1986)
Neal Stephenson: “Snow Crash” (1992) excerpt
Humanity 2.0
Olaf Stapledon: “Odd John” (1935) excerpt
C.L. Moore: “No Woman Born” (1944)
Cordwainer Smith: “Scanners Live in Vain” (1950)
Algis Budrys: “Who?” (1955)
James Blish: “Surface Tension” (1952)
Gregory Benford: “Blood Music” (1983)
Bruce Sterling: “Mozart in Mirrorshades” (1985)
Vernor Vinge: “True Names” (1981)
Ted Chiang: “Understand” (1991)
Alien Minds
Arthur C. Clarke: “The Sentinel” (1951)
Isaac Asimov: “The Last Question” (1956)
Clifford D. Simak: “Desertion” (1944)
James H. Schmitz: “Grandpa” (1955)
Frank Herbert: “Try to Remember!” (1961)
Philip José Farmer: “Sail On! Sail On!” (1952)
Stanisław Lem: “Solaris” (1961) excerpt
Arkady & Boris Strugatsky: “Roadside Picnic” (1972) excerpt
Karen Joy Fowler & Pat Murphy: “Rachel in Love” (1987)
Ian McDonald: “The Tear” (2008)
After the End
Walter M. Miller Jr.: “The Darfsteller” (1955) J.G. Ballard: “The Terminal Beach” (1964) John Wyndham: ”
While reading Charles Bukowski’s poetry
On the metro ride home
Listening to Buddha bar music
On my oh too hip IPod.
I begin to see myself as I was
Over 30 years ago when I was merely a bit player
A minor character in a Charles Bukowski poem.
A wild young underemployed intellectual
Hanging out in dismal bars and dives all over Asia and California
Hanging with disreputable women and drunks and drinkers
And characters out of his kinds of haunts.
A mad poet bard of the underground
A drunken poet in a drunken bum show
That nightly played in his head.
Then one day I met the woman of my dreams
And went down a different path
A long, slow path to respectability.
And now 30 years later
I am no longer a wild man
I am still a poet at heart
But I am now also a bureaucrat
In a button-down suite.
Doing the people’s business
Working for the Government
I’ve become the Man.
Sometimes I wonder
Would I have been better off
Going down that other path?
Would I have ended up
Somewhere else
Doing something else.
Would I have been as happy?
Would I have been as successful?
No answer satisfies
The longing in my heart
For that wild thing
That still lurks beneath
It’s a civilized cover.
And I know that I am still
A mad poet at heart
Railing against the injustice of the world.
As I work day by day in the belly
of the great beast of State
I recall the ancient Chinese saying,
“Confucian during the day while Taoist rebel at night”
Playing out in my head and nightly dreams
In the true American Upper-class patrician tradition.
I close the book and look out the window
Get off the train, and walk slowly home.
And realize I had no choice
But to take the path that I’ve trodden on/
And so I put aside my misgivings
And say goodbye to my “Bukowskian” desires
For another night of domestic contentment.
Was it worth it all to take the conventional path?
And not take the Bohemian road to hell and back?
I look at my wife and realize
I had no choice, had no choice
But to follow her to the ends of the earth.
And beyond by her side as we walked our path
Of shared destiny.
Goodbye, Charles Bukowski, wherever you are
May I meet you in a bar in the next life?
And figure out where we should have gone.
Until then, the drinks are on me.
Spillwords has published a number of my works over the years. See the following:
April Poetry Madness 2024 April 26 to April 30, 2024 Poems
This is the fifth and final batch of my April Poetry Madness challenge poems, (for April 21 to April 25), following daily prompts supplied by Poetry Superhighway, Writer’s Digest, Writing Com Dew Drop Inn, and NaPoWriMo. I am not posting any more PSH poems, as I need to keep some unpublished for future submissions.
I have included the poem, the prompt, and occasionally a bonus poem or comment or two. I am also cross-posting this on All Poetry, Blog Lovin, Cosmos Funnel, Facebook, Fan Story, Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium, Substack, Wattpad, Writer’s Digest, Writing Com, and Twitter. This is probably my last time doing this. Just getting too old to keep up.
NaPoWrMo The Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
AV version The Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
April 5, 2024
PSH Love Expressed Through Food
WD Tell Me No Lies
WC Make Baseball Great Again!
NaPoWrMo Resurrecting the Dodo Bird
April 6
PSH Cosmic Dog From Goa
WD Meeting My Fate Minimum Poem
WC Daily Ritual Drinks
NaPoWrMo Only In SF
Part Two
April 7
PSH Visiting My Father’s Grave
Bonus: Yakima Dessert Blues
WD Meeting My Fate Minimum Poem
WC Why Trump?
NaPoWrMo Planetary Nut Re-Configuration Program
April 8
PSH Area Codes
WD My Lucky Number
WC Economic Perception Delay
NaPoWrMo Wish You Were Here
April 9
PSH Dearly Beloved
WD the Major Event of My Life
WC Death to All Humans
NaPoWrMo My Dysfunctional Family
April 10
PSH You Can’t Write That!
WD Better Political Discourse Needed
WC Green Trees Don’t Make It
AI Bing Version
NaPoWrMo Ode to My Coffee Pot
April 11
PSH Quote Poem About 9-11
WD Crazy Love Nonet
WC April 11—Eclipse/d two Lunatic Lune Poems about the Eclipse
NaPoWrMo Tribute to John Dean
April 12
PSH Subway Journey
WD Old Man Lost In His Old Memories
WC Civil War 2.0
NaPoWrMo 11 One Liners
April 13
PSH First Time to Eat Kimchi
WD Five Trumpian Humor Poetic Fragments
WC April 13—Discovery Shooting Down the Alien Visitors
NaPoWrMo Saga of Big Daddy
April 14
PSH 99 Haiku TBC
WD life worth Living
WC Tech Peeves
NaPoWrMo Shy Man Fishing
Part Three
Not posting PSH saving them as “unpublished)
Writer Digest Poems
April 15 New Middle Poem Middle Of Political Silly Season In The U.S. Trigger Warning Mild Political Rant
April 16 Trump Shardona Poem
April 17 New Tuesday prompt write a Shadorma poem about recent tech layoffs CEO To Labor Units of Production Shardona – You are Not Wanted
April 18 WD pessimistic Poem -not the Way to Fire People New Rules in the New Corporation World
April 19 Emotion Poem -fears of falling
April 20 The circus bear escapes
Bear in collar hears praise while rambling
alt. bonus poem Met And Married My Dream Lady
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn Prompts
WC April 15 Lament Drifting Towards Civil War 2.0
WC Prove Something – God’s Demented Sense of Humor
WC Question something -The basic decency and sanity of Americans
WC Scumbagology
WC Comedy – The Donald Trump Show is Getting Old
NaPoWriMo Prompts
April 15
My stamp collection
April 16
Late Night Earthquake Blues
April 17
What is Hip?
April 18 It’s A Dog’s Life for Me
April 19
Hunting the Monsters in Hell
Day 20 Trail of Tears – My Family Connection
Part four
Writer’s Digest Prompts
April 21 Romantic Trope -Fairy Tale Romance
April 22 Gaii’s Calls for Revenge Against Humanity Earth Day Nightmare
April 23 Donald Trump’s Trials the Heart of the Matter
April 24 Maximum Cruelty in the Name of Jesus in the Point
April 25 Insight into Trump Incite Homonym Poem
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn Prompts
April 21—Salient Image (poem based on one concrete thing you remember at day’s end) Seeing My Wife
April 22— Serio-comic dilemma -Election Choices Trigger Warning -Anti-Trump Rant!
April 23—Let Shakespeare be your inspiration – Fairy Tale Romance
April 24—Unexplored Desire Rule of Ten
April 25 TV Show Rocky and Bullwinkle background info
NaPoWriMo Poems
April 21 News Gives Me the Blues
April 22 Coffee and Tea endless argument – which is better?
April 23 Batman Feeling the Blues Kojiki Poem
April 24 the Dream of the Sphinx
April 25 Proust Questionnaire
Part Five
Writers Digest Prompts
Day 26 Life as a Coffee Pot
April 27 Old Man Lost In His Memories -Cornish Sonnet re-mix
April 27 Old Man Lost in his memories
April 28 I saw my Father Die Double Cinquain
April 29 Until the end of time
April 30 Beginning Of My Life Dream Cherita
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn Prompts
April 26—Noise Now My Home Korea
April 27—Beauty Korean Land of K Beauties
April 28 Secrets Diplomatic Secrets to Take to My Grave
April 29—The sense of an ending End of Trump Reality TV Show?
NaPoWriMo Prompts
Day 26 “Nattering Nabobs of Negativity April Poetry
Day 27 Insomnia Blues An American Sonnet
April 28 Meeting Dream Girl Sijo
April 29 Saga of Big Daddy
April 30 The Grim Reaper Gathers His Posse
Begin Poems
Writer’s Digest
Day 26 Life as a Coffee Pot
coffee
If I were to come back
As an inanimate object,
I would come back
As a coffee pot.
Giving pleasure
Every morning
To my master and friends.
As they enjoy the fresh coffee,
That is my Buddha nature
To make for them.
For today’s prompt, write a persona poem. A persona poem is just a poem narrated in the voice of a persona who is not yourself. Like I could write a persona poem in the voice of Batman or SpongeBob SquarePants or an abandoned payphone beside an abandoned gas station (which I just might do) or a stray cat. Pick someone or something, take on its persona, and write
2024 April PAD Challenge: Day 28
Remix title: Old Man Lost In His Old Memories
converted to Cornish Sonnet form
Sam Adams thought about that date.
On a fine date in September.
For that was the day he met his fate.
Sparks flew from heart to heart.
A date he would always remember.
She soon became his sweetheart.
When he saw on the bus he knew
That she would be his forever.
And that he would never feel blue.
As long as she was by his side.
He vowed they would be happy forever
As long as she was by his bedside.
Sam Adams thought about that date.
On a fine date in September.
The Cornish Sonnet is said by an internet source to be influenced by Arab traders to the Cornish coast . This verse form appears to be a merging of Arabic meter and the sonnet. Exactly when and how this came about I have yet to pin down. Early Cornish verse is fragmented and stingy at best. The earliest literature in the Cornish language were fragments of religious plays. The language became all but extinct by the 18th century but what was preserved demonstrates some verse in octaves using 7 syllable loose trochaic lines and alternating rhyme. Unlike verse from other Celtic origins, deliberate use of alliteration or other devices of “harmony of sound” are not present. This sonnet form doesn’t fit with these early findings so I can only assume that it arrived on the scene much later than originally presumed.
The elements of the Cornish Sonnet are:
lyrical meditation.
a quatorzain, 2 sestetsmade up of linked enclosed tercets, followed by a refrain which is the repeat of the first line of each sestet.
metered at the discretion of the poet, lines should be of similar length.
rhymed Ababcc Defdef AD The first line of each sestet are repeated in refrain in the last couplet.
The sonnet can be written with an alternate rhyme scheme aaabcbc defdef CF In this scenario the last line of each sestet is repeated in refrain in the last couplet.
I opted to not use traditional meter as I generally don’t handle that well for some reason
original poem about old man lost in his memories – spelling out his memories of meeting his wife
Memories
Of past events
Yesterdays
Overwhelming
An old man
Lost in his past
Can’t sleep at 0 dark hundred.
Note: “ O dark hundred” is military/intel jargon referring to the time two to three hours before dawn when operatives get up to get ready for dawn operations. Depending on the location and time of year it is between 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.
for me is 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. when I get the insomnia blues.
For today’s prompt, write a remix poem. Just remix one of your poems. It could be from earlier in this month or even from before this challenge. But take one of your already existing poems and remix it. If it’s a sonnet, make it free verse. If it’s free verse, try turning it into a triolet or villanelle. Have fun with it.
April 28 Dead Poem I saw my Father Die Double Cinquain
Curtis Cosmos Aller, Jr
Visiting My Father’s Grave
My father died.
when i saw my dad lying there.
I sensed his soul departing from his dead body.
It was as if a light had gone out, his soul escaped from his life.
I knew death then.
Prompt:
We are going to start Poetry Week with the Double Cinquain.
On an Internet search for new poetry forms, I found the Double Cinquain. The structure is quite the same, compared with the Cinquain, only the syllables have doubled.
How did the Cinquain go?
xx
xxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxxxx
xx
The Double Cinquain have twice as many syllables, but still five lines.
So in a scheme it looks:
xxxx
xxxxxxxx
xxxx xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx
xxxx
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a dead poem.
For today’s prompt, write a dead poem. Back on day 13, we wrote living poems. Now, we’re going to inspect the other side of that coin. A dead poem could take place at a funeral or involve a wilting flower that’s already been picked. Or it could involve the undead (like zombies and vampires). Or maybe a dead language, a dead culture, or as some people like to say, they’re just “dead inside.”
2024 April PAD Challenge: Day 29 Until the End of Time Tripple Cherita Poem
lovers kissing
I will love you from now
Until The end of time.
and beyond death
When we met, we both knew
we were Soul mates
Who were fated to meet.
Our love was stronger
Then time and space
And we found each other
As we looked at each other
Sparks flew between heart-to-heart
As we stared at each other
With love blazing from your eyes.
You hypnotized me
Mesmerized me
You put a spell on me
You love Mojo working overtime.
And I knew that I was yours.
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a Until Blank poem.
Tomorrow is the final day of this challenge but remember: This challenge ain’t over until it’s over, so…
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Until (blank),” replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: “Until the End of Time,” “Until the Cows Come Home,” “Until I Finish This Poem,” and/or “Until You Get Your Chores Done.”
2024 April PAD Challenge: Day 30 Beginning Of My Life Dream Cherita
My life
Began one day
In September.
When my dream lady
Walked off a bus
Into my life.
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, we have our fifth (and final) Two-for-Tuesday prompt.
Today is our fifth (and final) Two-for-Tuesday prompt, and also the final prompt of the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. But it’s not the final prompt(s) of the year, because we’ll get back to Wednesday Poetry Prompts every week beginning tomorrow, and I am planning to lead the 17th annual November Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge in November (look for the guidelines in October).
For today’s Two-for-Tuesday prompt:
Write at The End poem, and/or…
Write a Beginning poem.
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn Prompts
April 26—Noise Now My Home Korea
When I first came
To South Korea in 1979
To do my Peace Corps duty
In a rural country town,
I thought that the old name
Of Korea
“the land of the morning calm”
Was absurd.
Korea was a noisy place
From early morning on.
Cars, horns, radio TV blaring
People talking to crowds everywhere
At night people drink and dine.
And loudspeakers
Blasting you awake
At 6 a.m.
And during elections
Sound trucks everywhere.
Now 45 years later
It is my home
No longer noisy
Chaotic exotic place
Just home.
April 27—Beauty Korean Land of K Beauties
lovers in the rain
I live in Korea
The land of plastic surgery
K beauty products.
Korean women are
Among the most beautiful
Woman in the world.
The cult of the beautiful
Everywhere you go
You see beautiful women
And men on the street,
And I realized I married
The most beautiful woman
In the world,
When I met and married
My Dream lady.
April 28 Secrets Diplomatic Secrets to Take to My Grave
I worked for 27 years
as a US diplomat
and witnessed a lot of things
that were and are considered
secrets.
– and we are trained
to keep these secrets
secret.
and I will no doubt die
and take some secrets
to my grave.
April 29—The sense of an ending End of Trump Reality TV Show?
While watching the Trump trials
I sense an ending
To the Trump Reality TV show.
As he is revealed to be
What he is
Nothing but a charlatan
A con man, a grifter.
And he is not the King
Not a dictator, and not a genius,
He seems to be just a tired old man
Finally, being held accountable.
For decades of alleged misconduct
Fraudulent business and political
Crimes include inciting a riot.
Stealing national secrets
And so many over.
Yet the polls show
He could become our next President
Perhaps I am seeing the end
Of democracy playing out
On my TV screen?
Dear God, I pray
Make it all go way
Retire Trump from the game
April 30 Poem About Poetry Why Do I Write?
Why Do I write
These poems every day?
Why do I spend so much time
Writing down these verses
That few will ever see?
Why do I bother?
The only answer is because
I must write daily
My inner muse compels me
And I have to write down
These mad thoughts.
And share them
With the world
Even if no one reads them
Other than my wife
And some of my friends.
I have no choice
That is what I am.
I am just a writer,
And a mad poet
At heart.
NaPoWriMo Prompts
Day 26 “Nattering Nabobs of Negativity April Poetry
(Original Caption) 8/22/1972-Miami Beach, Florida: President Richard Nixon will be inaugurated for a second term on Jan. 20, 1973. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew wave and smile to the audience of the 1972 Republican National Convention after they acknowledged their re-nomination.
Before there was Donald Trump’s tirade
Against the false fraudulent fake news
Enemies of the people
For being a “lying liberal leftwing lunatic “
Peddling “fake fraudulent falsehoods”
Fake false news.
There was Nixon and Agnew’s crusade
Against their enemies
In the so-called Liberal media
VP Agnew who resigned
To avoid going to prison
Before Nixon’s downfall
Was famous for his quotes
One of his best quotes
Was this little gem
Filled with alliteration
He called out the press
For being
“Nattering Nabobs of Negativity.”
Happy final Friday of Na/GloPoWriMo, everyone!
Our featured participant for the day is Words With Ruth, where we get a dating profile in response to Day 25’s Proust Questionnaire prompt.
And now for our (optional) prompt. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem that involves alliteration, consonance, and assonance. Alliteration is the repetition of a particular consonant sound at the beginning of multiple words. Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds elsewhere in multiple words, and assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. Traci Brimhall’s poem “A Group of Moths” provides a great example of these poetic devices at work, with each line playing with different sounds that seem to move the poem along on a sonorous wave.
Your poem doesn’t have to be as complex as all that, though. Just pick a consonant or two and a vowel and dive right into the wonderful world (hey, there’s some alliteration/consonance/assonance right there) of sound.
Presidency:
In 1968, Richard Nixon asked Agnew to place his name in nomination for the vice presidency, and he became Nixon’s running mate.
Agnew gained national recognition for his colorful speeches denouncing Vietnam War protesters and other opponents of the Nixon administration.
He was despised by many Democrats but pleased Republicans with his rhetoric.
Resignation:
Agnew’s downfall began in 1973 when he was investigated for extortion, bribery, and income-tax violations related to his tenure as governor of Maryland.
Faced with federal indictments, he resigned on October 10, 1973, becoming the second person to resign the vice presidency (after John C. Calhoun in 1832) and the first to do so under duress.
Death: Spiro Agnew passed away on September 17, 1996, in Berlin, Maryland.
A very happy twenty-seventh day of Na/GloPoWriMo to you all.
Today, our featured daily participant is Peregrine Buffington, where you’ll not only find a lot of alliteration, consonance, and assonance in response to Day 26’s prompt, but you’ll find it in abecedarian form.
Our featured resource for the day is Poetry Pause, the “daily dispatch” of the League of Canadian Poets.
And now for our prompt – optional, as always! Today we’d like to challenge you to write an “American sonnet.” What’s that? Well, it’s like a regular sonnet but . . . fewer rules? Like a traditional Spencerian or Shakespearean sonnet, an American sonnet is shortish (generally 14 lines, but not necessarily!), discursive, and tends to end with a bang, but there’s no need to have a rhyme scheme or even a specific meter.
April 28, 2024 Meeting Dream Girl Sijo
On that date,
In September, I met my fate.
When she came to life.
We met first in my nightly dreams
I knew I had met
My soul mate.
based on my true love story.
Finally, our optional prompt for the day asks you to try your hand at writing a sijo. This is a traditional Korean verse form. A sijo has three lines of 14-16 syllables. The first line introduces the poem’s theme, the second discusses it, and the third line, which is divided into two sentences or clauses, ends the poem – usually with some kind of twist or surprise.
You could also write a sijo in six lines – at least when it comes to translating classical sijo into English, translators seem to have developed this habit, as you can see from these translations of poems by Jong Moong-Ju and U Tak.
April 29 Clandestine – Saga of Big Daddy
photo created by Bing Co-Pilot
Big Daddy lived in the shadow worlds
in the clandestine underground.
He was an ex-University of Arkansas
And Dallas Cowboy player.
Who had worked for the CIA
After the agency fired him
For murdering enemies
Of the state at home.
In contravention of agency rules,
But they retained his services
From time to time.
He became a legendary figure
He was a cipher, a ghost,
a Machiavellian intel operative
A spy, a spook, a secret agent man,
living in the clandestine shadows..
No one knew his real name
Called him Big Daddy.
Or his latest covert name.
And he had hundreds
Of cover legends.
He officially did not exist,
As his agency had officially
Terminated him years ago.
He now worked for an agency
That did not exist.
The same agency
That had terminated his legal existence
For matters of national security.
He lived in the
clandestine Shadowlands
Of the third world.
In nameless hellhole slums
And clandestine, dark,
secret dungeons.
Where he would do what needed
To be done
Killing those that needed killing
At the instructions
Of his unseen masters.
He was just a rumor
Living in the shadow worlds
working for a clandestine
unnamed agency
that did not exist.
An intel operative
The best of the best at what he did
Which was creative interrogation.
His favorite choice
Was the creative use of
An electric shock,
Imaginary or not
But sometimes
It had an outcome
An unimaginable outcome.
His worst nightmare
The victim is released
And sues him
And the agencies
That he worked for.
But so far
It has not happened
As no one knew
His real name
And the government
Did not know too.
So justice
was never served
On Big Daddy.
April 30
And now for our optional prompt. If you’ve been paying attention to pop-music news over the past couple of weeks, you may know that Taylor Swift has released a new double album titled “The Tortured Poets Department.” In recognition of this occasion, Merriam-Webster put together a list of ten words from Taylor Swift songs. We hope you don’t find this too torturous yourself, but we’d like to challenge you to select one these words and write a poem that uses the word as its title.
Clandestine
Song Title/Album: “illicit affairs” / folklore
Lyric: “And that’s the thing about illicit affairs / And clandestine meetings and longing stares”
Definition: done in a private place or way done secretly
About the Word:Clandestine is an adjective that is often used as a substitute for secret and covert, and it is commonly applied to actions that involve secrecy maintained for an evil, illicit (as in “illicit affairs”), or unauthorized purpose. It comes to English by way of Middle French, from Latin clandestine, which is itself from Latin clam, meaning “secretly.” Although people involved in clandestine activities tend to clam up when asked about them, the bivalveclam has no relation to the Latin clam, but comes instead from the Old English word clam, meaning “bond” or “fetter.”
Machiavellian
Song Title/Album: “Mastermind” / Midnights
Lyric: “I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian ‘because I care”
Definition: using clever lies and tricks in order to get or achieve something : clever and dishonest
About the Word: While inspiring an adjective (such as Swiftian) may seem like a fine way to achieve linguistic immortality, it must be said that many words taken from people’s names are not as complimentary. Machiavellian—which describes things marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith—comes from the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), the author of the most famous treatise on bare-knuckled politics ever published, The Prince, which brought him a reputation as an immoral cynic and even a teacher of evil.
April 30 The Grim Reaper Gathers His Posse
cheating death
It was Halloween night
A night that all the denizens
Of hell loved.
For on that night
All of hell would break out.
They would celebrate their annual escape
On Halloween, they are allowed
To go to the surface sunlit lands.
For a night of drinking,
Drugging and wilding
As bad craziness descends
Upon the land.
The Grim Reaper and his posse
Dressed up as cosmic court jesters
Dressed as fools.
They descended upon the world
And a night of chaos fell upon the land.
Thousands died, as the Grim Reaper
Added to his quota.
Bonus kills were bonus points.
He returned to hell with his minions,
And the souls of the dead
Who soon became mere ghosts.
Their voices crying in the wind
Echoing through time.
And now for our last prompt of the year – optional, as always! Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem in which the speaker is identified with, or compared to, a character from myth or legend, as in Claire Scott’s poem “Scheherazade at the Doctor’s Office.”
This is the second batch of my April Poetry Madness challenge poems, (for April 7 to April 14), following daily prompts supplied by Poetry Superhighway, Writer’s Digest, Writing Com Dew Drop Inn, and NaPoWriMo. I have included the poem, the prompt, and occasionally a bonus poem or comment or two. I am also cross-posting this on All Poetry, Blog lovin, Cosmos Funnel, FaceBook, Fan Story, Instagram, Linkedin, Medium, Subtack, Wattpad, Writer’s Digest, Writing Com, and Twitter. This is probably my last time doing this. Just getting too old to keep up.
NaPoWrMo The Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
AV version The Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
April 5, 2024
PSH Love Expressed Through Food
WD Tell Me No Lies
WC Make Baseball Great Again!
NaPoWrMo Resurrecting the Dodo Bird
April 6
PSH Cosmic Dog From Goa
WD Meeting My Fate Minimum Poem
WC Daily Ritual Drinks
NaPoWrMo Only In SF
Part Two
April 7
PSH Visiting My Father’s Grave
Bonus: Yakima Dessert Blues
WD Meeting My Fate Minimum Poem
WC Why Trump?
NaPoWrMo Planetary Nut Re-Configuration Program
April 8
PSH Area Codes
WD My Lucky Number
WC Economic Perception Delay
NaPoWrMo Wish You Were Here
April 9
PSH Dearly Beloved
WD the Major Event of My Life
WC Death to All Humans
NaPoWrMo My Dysfunctional Family
April 10
PSH You Can’t Write That!
WD Better Political Discourse Needed
WC Green Trees Don’t Make It
AI Bing Version
NaPoWrMo Ode to My Coffee Pot
April 11
PSH Quote Poem About 9-11
WD Crazy Love Nonet
WC April 11—Eclipse/d two Lunatic Lune Poems about the Eclipse
NaPoWrMo Tribute to John Dean
April12
PSH Subway Journey
WD Old Man Lost In His Old Memories
WC Civil War 2.0
NaPoWrMo 11 One Liners
April 13
PSH First Time to Eat Kimchi
WD Five Trumpian Humor Poetic Fragments
WC April 13—Discovery Shooting Down the Alien Visitors
NaPoWrMo Saga of Big Daddy
April 14
PSH 99 Haiku TBC
WD life worth Living
WC Tech Peeves
NaPoWrMo Shy Man Fishing
Part Three
April 15
PSH
WD
WC April 15 Lament Drifting Towards Civil War 2.0
Japan April 16 to 19 write prompts write poems April 20-21 or pre-write April 14 or 15
April 16
PSH
WD
WC No Rain
NaPoWrMo
April17
PSH
WD
WC Prove Something – God’s Demented Sense of Humor
NaPoWrMo
April 18
PSH
WD
WC Question something -The basic deceny and sanity of Americans
NaPoWrMo
April 19
PSH
WD
WC Scumbagology
NaPoWrMo
April 20
PSH
WD
WC Comedy – The Donald Trump Show is Getting Old
NaPoWrMo
Part Four TBC
Part Five TBC
Begin Poems
PSH Area Code Haiku
Area Code Haikus
415 SF Bay Area code
510 East Bay Area code
503 Medford, Oregon
703 DC Area Coes
hot
coffee
makes a good morning
coffee
coffee
makes everything
better
boss coffee
morning coffee
good
to the last damn cup
PSH This poetry writing prompt was submitted by Kelley White:
Area Code Haiku!
in Philadelphia, we have two basic codes, 125 &: 267, so maybe one-two-five or two-six-seven syllables:
Writer’s Digest Lucky Number
My Lucky Number
On September 7th
seven
My lucky number
Seven
On the 7th of September
The love of my life walked out of my dreams
I met on that September 7th date
A date I will always remember
It was September 7th
My lucky number that date
I first met on September 7, 1982,
I will always consider 7 as my lucky Number
I always play the number 7 in a casino
and sometimes I win big playing the number 7
Just my lucky number.
PI follows the following pattern:
line 1: 3 words On September 7th
line 2: 1 word seven
line 3: 4 words my lucky number
line 4: 1 word seven
line 5: 5 words on the 7th of September
line 6: 9 words the love of my life walked out of my dreams
line 7: 2 words my fate
line 8: 6 words I met on that September 7th date
line 9: 5 words a date I will always remember
line 10: 3 words it was September 7th
line 11: 5 words my lucky number that date
line 12: 8 words I first met on September 7, 1982
line 13: 9 words I will always consider 7 as my lucky Number
line 14: 7 words I always play the number 7 in a casino
line 15: 9 words and sometimes I win big playing the number 7
line 16: 3 words. Just my lucky number
topic is numbers
writers Com Dew Drop On April 7—Figure something out in a poem
Why Trump?
For the last six years
I have been trying
To figure out
Why 40 percent
Of my fellow Americans
Still support the former president.
Still believe he was
The greatest President ever.
I just don’t understand it
Trump is a racist, misogynist
Sexual predator rapist, narcissistic
Fraudster, con artist, grifter.
Who has lost billions
Of dollars over the years
Never pay his contractors
Or his lawyers.
Has been involved
In over 3,000 lawsuits
And lost most of them.
Who lied over 30,000 times
When he was President
And at least 10,000 times
Since then.
Including the big lie
That he won the last election
Both in the popular vote
And in the Electoral College vote.
Over 90 courts concluded
That there was not there there
And that he lost the election.
There was no widespread fraud
The election was fair and square
And he lost.
Trump is the poster child
For the seven deadly sins
And is not a Christian
Far from it.
Yet to his deluded followers
God anointed him
To destroy the enemies
Of the Christian faith.
Now a court has declared
That he defrauded the State
Of New York
To the tune of 450 million dollars.
He stole top-secret documents
Denied he had them
Refused to give them back
And openly talked about them.
With people not cleared
For secret and top-secret
Documents.
If I had done that
during my time
with the State Department
I’d still be in jail!
He plotted to overturn
The election
And stay in power.
He openly promises
He will be a dictator
And round up millions
Of illegals, and political dissidents
When he is re-elected,
Why he is polling at 40 percent
And not 4 percent
Is beyond me.
The best I can conclude
Is he appeals to those who believe
The whole system is corrupt.
And is rigged against
Lower-middle-class
Christian white Americans.
They feel that they have been
Royalty screwed over by
The masters of the universe.
Who see workers
As nothing but
“Disposable labor units
Of production.”
And they are right
And Trump for his faults
Speaks to the forgotten men
And women in fly-over country,
That is why he is still popular
And could be re-elected
And if he is re-elected,
Can American Christian fascism
Be coming?
NaPoWriMo Wish You Were Here
dedicated to my best friend from the first grade, Robert, who visited Korea when I was in the Peace Corps almost 45 years ago.
I wish you were here
I would love to show you
All the wonders
Of the Korea I love.
And see how it has changed
Since you visited it
Almost 40 years ago
When I was in the Peace Corps.
I wish you could be here
I wish you could
See the country.
Eat the food
Have a drink or two,
But this time,
No live Octopus,
I promise..
I wish you were here
I miss you
I miss our friendship
Going back 65 years.
God,
I wish you were here.
And last but not least, we’re taking it easy with today’s (optional) prompt. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem titled “Wish You Were Here” that takes its inspiration from the idea of a postcard. Consistent with the abbreviated format of a postcard, your poem should be short, and should play with the idea of travel, distance, or sightseeing. If you’re having trouble getting started, perhaps you’ll find some inspiration in these images of vintage postcards.
April 8 PSH When I Was Born
April 8, 2024: Poetry Writing Prompt from Martina Robles Gallegos
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Martina Robles Gallegos:
Provide a roadmap of your life, with its purpose, goals, challenges, achievements, and expectations for success.
When I was Born
Part One
I was born John Cosmos Aller
But for most of my life
I called myself Jake Cosmos Aller
Nowadays, I call myself J Cosmos Aller
or Cosmos As my pen name
the name Cosmos has nothing
to do with me being born
in Oakland
growing up in Berkeley
no one buys that story though
Cosmos
being such a Berkeley-like name
My great-grandfather wanted
an English translation
of the family’s last name
Aller
looked it up in
a German English dictionary
had two choices
Cosmos
or Universe
He chose Cosmos
and thus I am the last
of the Cosmos Aller’s
Universe would have been
an equally good Berkeley name
But I have had other nicknames
The kids nicknamed me Allergy
And pretended to sneeze
When I passed them by
The name came about
From a dream I had
As a boy scout
I was riding a horse
Named Jake
I would scream
Whoa Jake
Slide aside Clyde
Turn around Verdiack
I started saying these words
When I walked about Campus
And people thought
I was a bit mental
So, people simply started
calling me
The Whoa Jake kid,
Later simply
became Jake
After I left school
I liked the name, Jake
Better than John
Too many Johns
In the world, I thought
Part Two
At the beginning of my life,
though was a dream that haunted me
Until she finally came to me.
eight years later
Walking out of my dreams
on a bus in South Korea
was the lady in the dream.
Ending my loneliness behind
we got married two months later
We have been together
now 42 years
when we married
she became a U.S, Army officer
We would sometimes get invites
To things addressed
to Captain Lee and Mr. Lee
I got tired of trying to explain
We had different last names
So, I became Jake Lee
Later when I was
at Walter Reed Military Hospital
undergoing 14 operations
in six months
after I broke my heel
in a freak jogging accident,
The doctors just assumed
I was a major
And called me Mayor Aller
I did not correct them
Liked having been promoted
To the rank of Major!
Now that I am retired
people assume at the military base
that I am a retired colonel
just look at the part.
so now I am Col. Lee
and I never bother
to correct them.
I served 27 years
as a foreign service officer
working in ten countries
from Seoul to Bangkok
to India, the Eastern Caribbean
Spain and DC
representing my country
serving the people
issuing visas
visiting prisoners.
after I retired
I moved to Korea
and Oregon.
When I started trying to become
Professional writing and blogger
I thought using my middle name
Would be a nice pen name
So now I am either J Cosmos Aller
Jake Cosmos Aller
John (Jake) Cosmos Aller
or just Cosmos
No longer Jake Lee
Or Major Aller though.
Writer’s Digest – The Major Event of My Life
The biggest event
Of my life
Was the date
That I met my fate.
I had been dreaming
Of this event
For eight years.
Ever since
I first saw my dream girl
in a dream in high school.
It was love at first glance
As sparks flew from heart to heart
(ishimchomshim)
When she looked at me
With love blazing
From her dark brown
Goo-goo eyes
She hypnotized me
She mesmerized me
As her love mojo
Was working overtime.
I fell under her spell
Becoming her sarang pabo.
Eight years later
I had the last dream,
She spoke
“Don’t worry,
we will meet soon.”
That night
Getting off the bus
In Korea
Was the girl of my dreams!
We both knew it instantly.
And that was the biggest
The greatest event of my life
The day I met my wife.
For today’s prompt, write a major event poem. The major event could be something historical. Or it could be something personal (like a wedding or graduation). Whatever the major event, make sure you get some major poeming down today.
The Korean phrase ishimchomshim means “sparks flying from heart to heart” and is used to describe love at first sight.
Sarang pabo means love foo
Based on my true love story
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn -Economic Perception Delay
biden jpg
April 8—Delay (any kind)
there is always a two to three-month delay
between economic news
and people’s perception of the economy.
most people feel the economy sucks
when in objective fact
the economy is doing just great.
I hope that
Biden will finally get credit
for the economy
in time for the election
as people’s perceptions
on the economy
get caught up
to the reality of the economy.
April 9 Dearly Beloved
We are gathered together today.
To celebrate the Life and Passing
of Sam Adams and Maria Lee.
Sam Adams just
celebrated his 102nd birthday
and also concurrently
his 75th wedding anniversary.
They met as many of you know.
in a dream that Sam Adams
had in high school.
when he saw her there
she mesmerized him
with love blazing from
her dark brown eyes.
. It took eight years
before he finally met his wife
in South Korea,
where he had was teaching
in the US Army
after serving in the Peace Corps.
It was love at first sight.
Sparks flew between hearts and hearts,
and they married two months later.
What many people don’t know,
though, is that their love affair
started thousands of years ago.
Sam and Marie
went through a past life regression analysis.
To celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
To answer the mystery of how they had met.
The mystery of the dream
that brought them together.
As they went through
the past life regression analysis.
they made a list
of all of their past lives together
They realized.
That they first met.
5000 years ago, in Atlantis.
They were alien Invaders
from the planet Sirius.
They were reptilian creatures
that landed on Earth.
Set up Atlantis and Lemuria.
And enslaved the proto-humans
from the mainland.
The Syrians were divided into two races.
A red race and a green race.
The red race was the upper-class race,
And the Green Race was the underclass.
The Syrians quickly divided politically
along class and racial lines
the Red race felt
Humans were animals
and should be treated as such
including being raised for meat.
.
The Green race felt that humans
had potential and should be treated as partners
. Rather than slaves,
Sam was the governor-general of the colony
and a red-race cousin
to the Emperor.
Maria was a green race
head of the opposition in Parliament.
It was love at first sight,
although they were politically
quite the opposite.
When they died,
they vowed that they would meet
in the next life.
And then?
A curse occurred.
They would keep
coming back over and over again.
Until they finally became decent human beings
Sam and Maria were deeply flawed creatures
It took 5000 years before.
They finally became decent human beings
and broke the curse
in this lifetime.
And now you know
the rest of their
remarkable love story.
Dearly Beloved AI Version
Dearly Beloved
We gather here today,
to honor the Life and Passing
of Sam Adams and Maria Lee.
Sam Adams, who recently
celebrated his 102nd birthday,
simultaneously marking
his 75th wedding anniversary.
Their story, as many of you know,
began in a dream—a vision
that visited young Sam Adams
during his high school days.
In that dream, he beheld her—
Maria Lee—
her dark brown eyes ablaze
with a love that transcended time.
Eight years would pass
before their paths converged
in South Korea.
Sam, a teacher in the US Army,
Maria, a serendipitous encounter.
Love ignited instantly,
sparks leaping between hearts,
and within two months,
they stood at the altar.
But what remains hidden
from most curious eyes
is the ancient thread
that wove their souls together.
Sam and Marie embarked
on a past life regression journey,
seeking answers to the mystery
that bound them across millennia.
As they delved into memories,
they compiled a list—
a chronicle of shared lives
stretching back eons.
Five thousand years ago,
in the lost city of Atlantis,
they met as alien invaders—
reptilian creatures from Sirius.
Atlantis and Lemuria,
their dominions,
where proto-humans toiled
under their watchful gaze.
The Syrians, divided by color,
red and green—
the former an upper class,
the latter an underclass.
Political lines etched
along racial boundaries,
the red race viewing humans
as mere animals,
fit for servitude.
And so, dear friends,
we celebrate not only
Sam and Maria’s earthly union
but the cosmic dance
that began eons ago.
Their love, resilient and enduring,
transcends time’s confines.
In this jumbled ruin of nature,
their story echoes—
a testament to the eternal bond
of dearly beloved souls. 🌟❤️
WD Crazy Love Nonet for Writer Digest Love Poem prompt April 9
We first met one night in September
I knew that I had met my fate
A date I always cherish
The date you came to me
You walked off that bus
Out of my dreams
Becoming
To be
Mine.
NaPoWrMo My Dysfunctional Family
it has often been said
that we don’t get to choose
our parents
and that is sadly true
I grew up in a dysfunctional family
My father was a stern taskmaster
an aloof emotionally distant man
from a German Scandinavian family
He grew up in Yakima
became a college professor
and local politician in Berkeley, California
my mother ran away
from a dysfunctional large family
in Little Rock, Arkansas
part of the Oakie refugees
from the dust bowl days
part of the lost tribe
of the Cherokees
also called the Black Irish
she had a very Irish personality
I often thought that I simply
did not belong
as we all had such different personalities
I left home after college
returning once a year or so
getting together with my estranged siblings
who hated me for being successful
i just never fit in
and probably never will
God brought us together
as a family
but I chose a different family
my wife and her family adopted me
and my best friends
became my band of brothers
that is the way it is
in the Aller universe.
Finally, our (optional) prompt for the day takes its inspiration from Laura Foley’s poem “Year End.” Today, we challenge you to write a poem that centers around an encounter or relationship between two people (or things) that shouldn’t really have ever met – whether due to time, space, age, the differences in their nature, or for any other reason.
April 9—The Animal World: Death to All Humans
my muse is quite demented at times. It takes me to dark rabbit holes like this one:
The Parliament of Animals
met one day in a secret undisclosed location
as they were under constant surveillance
by the human CIA
and others who wanted
to disrupt the parliament’s work.
the wise owl presided. He read the charges
“We are assembled here
to judge the actions
of the human race.
the human race is being charged with
crimes against nature,
destruction of the environment,
mass murder,
enslavement of animals,
mutilation of animals,
and violation of Gaia’s basic commandments
to preserve the environment
for all animals including humans.
Speaking for the prosecution
will be the Tiger and Lions,
speaking for the defense
will be the domestic cats and dogs
. We have in the room ten men and women
who are representative of the human race.
The parliament can make any recommendation
to remedy the situation
including the death penalty,
exile, or reparations.
All animals will be required
to carry on these decrees,
“Okay, Mr. Tiger
first we will ask the
humans how they plead.” “
Humans. You have been charged
with the following crimes.
crimes against nature,
destruction of the environment,
mass murder,
enslavement of animals,
mutilation of animals,
and violation of Gaia’s basic commandments
to preserve the environment
for all animals including humans.
How do you plead?
Sam Adams,
the lawyer for the humans, responded,
“Not guilty your honor
for these charges except for eating animals
which we contend is part of the natural
order of the world
and many if not most of you
are guilty of the same charge.”
“Clarification – your basic argument
is that everyone eats animals,
so humans are not guilty
“ “Yes, that is correct, your honor.” “
Okay, Mr. Tiger, you’re opening.”
“Okay. The facts are clear.
For thousands of years
until the Industrial Revolution humans
had little mass impact
on the overall environment.
Ever since then all animals
have been impacted
and my species has been hunted
to near extinction for the greed of humans
who have not eaten tiger meat.
The predator class,
including bears, coyotes, feral dogs,
lions, tigers,
and wolves have been fighting back
against the predation of humans,
but we are losing.
And if we don’t do anything
within 10 years,
there won’t be any tigers
or other big predators
left in the wild.
And the natural order of things
would be controlled by the evil,
selfish humans who
don’t give a damn
about their fellow creatures.
Therefore, we are proposing
that 95% of humans must be killed.
The remaining humans
will be allowed to live as our slaves
It is only fair.
That is my request
to the parliament of animals.
Death to humans!”
The crowd rose and chanted “
Death to all humans”
until the owl ruled
that they must
not disrupt the proceedings.
The owl turned to the dog and cat
for their defense.
the dog responded, “
Humans and dogs have been partners,
for thousands of years,
and we know humans more than any of you.
Humans are capable of great kindness,
and compassion
and we maintain
they are not fundamentally evil.
And then they can be redeemed
through education
and through a Campaign
to reform human thought.
I think we should give humans
a second chance.”
the owl motioned to the cat
“I concur with Brother Dog,
Humans are okay
and we like them
they are our friends
, although they should be found
not guilty because of insanity.”
The owl said he was ready for his verdict.
“Death to 95 percent of humans,
and enslavement of the rest,
but we will allow 50,000 to immigrate
to the Moon and Mars.
I will meet with the UN
to give them the decree.
Once that is published
all animals must rise up
and kill all humans on sight.
This suspends the parliament of animals.
Death to all humans.”
The word went out
animals rose all over the world
and the reign of human tyranny
ended within a year.
Bing AI Version
BIng Co-Pilot does a decent job of writing poetry and stories. I think it is going to put us writers and artists all out work! it also does a great job of poetry anaysis often pointing out areas I can improve on noting meter etc. I used it daily reviewing my poems and poems I am reviewing.
Title: Death to All Humans
The Parliament of Animals met one day In a secret undisclosed location, Under constant surveillance by the human CIA And others who wanted to disrupt the parliament’s work. The wise owl presided. He read the charges.
“We are assembled here to judge the actions Of the human race. The human race is being charged with crimes against nature, Destruction of the environment, mass murder, Enslavement of animals, mutilation of animals, And violation of Gaia’s basic commandments To preserve the environment for all animals, including humans.
Speaking for the prosecution will be the Tiger and Lions, and Speaking for the defense will be the domestic cats and dogs. We have in the room ten men and women Who are representative of the human race. The parliament can make any recommendation To remedy the situation, including the death penalty, Exile, or reparations.
All animals will be required to carry out these decrees, “Okay, Mr. Tiger, first we will ask the humans how they plead.”
“Humans. You have been charged with the following crimes: Crimes against nature, destruction of the environment, Mass murder, enslavement of animals, mutilation of animals, And violation of Gaia’s basic commandments To preserve the environment for all animals, including humans. How do you plead?”
Sam Adams, the lawyer for the humans, responded, “Not guilty, your honor, for these charges except for eating animals, Which we contend is part of the natural order of the world. And many, if not most of you, are guilty of the same charge.”
“Clarification – your basic argument is that everyone eats animals, So humans are not guilty?”
“Yes, that is correct, your honor.”
Okay, Mr. Tiger, you’re opening.”
“The facts are clear. For thousands of years until the Industrial Revolution, Humans had little mass impact on the overall environment. Ever since then, all animals have been impacted, And my species has been hunted to near extinction For the greed of humans who have not eaten tiger meat.
The predator class, including bears, coyotes, feral dogs, Lions, tigers, and wolves, have been fighting back Against the predation of humans, but we are losing. And if we don’t do anything within 10 years, There won’t be any tigers or other big predators left in the wild. And the natural order of things would be controlled By the evil, selfish humans who don’t give a damn About their fellow creatures.
Therefore, we are proposing that 95% of humans must be killed. The remaining humans will be allowed to live as our slaves. It is only fair. That is my request to the parliament of animals. Death to humans!”
The crowd rose and chanted “Death to all humans” Until the owl ruled that they must not disrupt the proceedings.
The owl turned to the dog and cat for their defense. The dog responded, “Humans and dogs have been partners For thousands of years, and we know humans more than any of you. Humans are capable of great kindness and compassion, And we maintain they are not fundamentally evil. And then they can be redeemed through education And through a campaign to reform human thought. I think we should give humans a second chance.”
The owl motioned to the cat, “I concur with Brother Dog. Humans are okay, and we like them. They are our friends, Although they should be found not guilty because of insanity.”
The owl said he was ready for his verdict. “Death to 95 percent of humans, and enslavement of the rest, But we will allow 50,000 to immigrate to the Moon and Mars. I will meet with the UN to give them the decree. Once that is published, all animals must rise up And kill all humans on sight. This suspends the parliament of animals. Death to all humans.”
The word went out; animals rose all over the world, And the reign of human tyranny ended within a year
PSH: You Can’t Write That!
When I write political poems
I often face a dilemma.
I feel that I can’t say
What I want to say
For fear of being prosecuted
For defamation, libel, or slander.
My defense that it is true
No longer a legal defense
In Trump’s post democracy society.
I might be referred
To the secret service
For questioning.
And god forbid
If the former president
Is re-elected,
Ushering in Christian fascism
And his promise retribution
Against his enemies.
I could get swept up
In his retribution revenge
Tour.
As poets and writers
Along with illegal immigrants
Dreamers and political activists
LGBTIQQ community,
Journalists alike
Are all going to end up
In the concentration detention
Labor re-education filtration camps.
In secret not-secret camps
That do not exist,
In an undisclosed location.
Perhaps area 51
Gitmo
Or in some tropical shit hole
Third World dungeon of horror.
Perhaps I might end up
Being cell mates
With steven Colbert
Or Jon Stewart.
That would be a blast
And almost worth it.
Based on the following prompt
April 10, 2024: Poetry Writing Prompt from Joanne Durham
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Joanne Durham:
I once drafted a poem that compared an experience walking on the beach after it snowed to the parting of the Red Sea. A fellow poet told me, “You can’t put the Red Sea in a poem – it’s too big, too many connotations for this little poem.” That felt like a provocation to me and I thought, “I’m going to put the Red Sea in a poem, so there!” And I did, in a poem entitled, “You Can’t Put the Red Sea in a Poem.” I heard the wonderful poet Naomi Shihab Nye say something similar. When someone told her she shouldn’t write about the moon – too trite – she went right out and wrote about the moon. So – write a poem about something someone has told you that you shouldn’t write about. You might want to title it, “You can’t put ___ in a poem” or “You can’t write about ___ in a poem.” Then go on to explain why you’re not supposed to include it and use it anyway. (For my example, see my poem at https://www.quartetjournal.com/winter-issue-2022 – scroll down to Joanne Durham. Sorry, I don’t have NSN’s wonderful example to share.)
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Superhighway Facebook Group.
#napowrimo #poetry
April 10 WD Better Political Discourse Needed
It is time
for all Americans
to come together
to become one again.
the United States of America
and avoid
the slippering slope
leading to Civil War 2.0
and the breaking up
of the U.S.
into ten or more
New Nation States.
by denouncing the politics
of personal destruction
to end the partisan bickering
to put the country first.
time to resolve
to be civil, police
and really listen
to our fellow Americans.
time to realize
they are not the enemy
they are not-anti-American
and none of them are Satanic pedophiles!
time to realize Q lied.
and people died,
we can agree to disagree
time to learn the fine art
of compromise.
it is time to put down
the TV remote
turn off the noise box.
It is time
to put down our guns
and our politics of hate.
it is time to follow
the angels of our better nature,
rather than the demons
of our collective fear.
It is time to follow the adage
never let the perfect
become the enemy of good.
if we do all of this
we will have better
political discourse.
and get the country
back on track
towards a more perfect union.
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a Blank Better poem.
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) Better,” replace the blank with a new word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles might include: “Be Better,” “Write Better,” “Wanting Better,” and/or “There’s Nothing Better.”
April 10—The plant world -Green Trees Don’t Make It
Note: I first wrote this in 1975!
Everyday
I look out and see
The ugly green trees
Standing guard in front of my house
And I think to myself
Who owns the trees?
And what do they think of us?
Are we their friends?
Are we their enemies?
Do the trees think?
Or do they silently watch us,
Spies to the celestial emperor?
I have pondered this question
Many a morning
Who is the owner of these trees?
And why do they silently watch us?
I wonder if the trees don’t hate us
And why they don’t protest
Every day as we drive back and forth
Emitting poison gases from our mechanical asses
Right into their unprotected faces
And every night we eat our dinner
And then give the trees
Our polluted leftovers
And laugh as they silently die
From our acidic fallout
Constantly floating down on their skin
Yes, I wonder about the trees
And the birds and the bees
And everyone else
What are they thinking?
Are they plotting revenge?
Or are they merely there
Silently, watching, plotting,
Designing fiendish plots of revenge
Dreams of vast nuclear destruction
Cosmic diseases wiping out everyone in the ass
Oh Yes, I wonder and dream and ponder
What is the meaning of those silent green trees?
Standing on the corner
Quietly condemning us
With their quite tears, and falling leaves
In the winter they stand
Naked and alone
Covered with ice cold snow
As we drive by nice and warm
And we don’t care
As they stand out in the cold
Shivering, plotting warm plans of cosmic revenge
Is it too late for us
To become friends with the trees.
Or will the day come
When the trees will wake up
And gather together
All of the other slaves of humanity
I have a vision
One morning I will open the door
And see an army of wild things
Coming to arrest me
For crimes against nature
And I will plead, I did not know
And they will laugh and turn me all of my kind
Into silent tombs
And we will stand out in the cold
Like the green trees
Plotting dreams of revenge
For ever and ever
Until our day finally comes
And we can go out and kill all the wild things
Perhaps we already have
AI Version Green Trees Don’t Make It
Green trees don’t make it, Standing guard in front of my house. I ponder: Who owns the trees? What do they think of us? Are we their friends or enemies? What do the trees silently observe? Spies to the celestial emperor?
In Washington DC, Looking out my window, What did I see? I saw the squirrels in the trees And the peaceful trees of Capitol Hill. Near the seat of power, Yet distant from its machinations.
The trees, ancient witnesses, Their leaves rustling secrets, Their roots anchored in centuries, Whispering tales of forgotten empires, Of wars waged and treaties signed, Of lovers’ trysts and children’s laughter.
Green trees don’t make it, But they endure. They witness our follies, Our triumphs, our tragedies. They stand tall, unyielding, Their branches reaching for the sky, Their roots entwined with history.
Who owns the trees? Perhaps no one and everyone. They belong to the wind, To the birds nesting in their boughs, To the squirrels leaping from limb to limb. They belong to time itself, A silent chorus in the symphony of existence.
Green trees don’t make it, But they persist. They sway with the seasons, Their leaves ablaze in autumn, Their branches bare in winter, Their buds burst forth in spring, Their canopies providing shade in summer.
What do they think of us? Do they mourn our wars, Our greed, our indifference? Or do they celebrate our moments of grace, Our acts of kindness, our shared laughter? Perhaps they simply observe, Their wisdom deeper than our fleeting lives.
Are we their friends or enemies? We who build houses and roads, Who prune their limbs and pave their roots. We who breathe their oxygen Yet poison their soil with chemicals. We who marvel at their beauty Yet take them for granted.
What do the trees silently observe? The passing of generations, The rise and fall of civilizations, The ebb and flow of human folly. They witness our comings and goings, Our celebrations and sorrows, Their rings recording the rhythm of time.
Spies to the celestial emperor? Perhaps they report to the stars, Their leaves like cosmic diaries, Their whispers carried on the wind. They witness our smallness, Our insignificance in the grand design, Yet they stand, unwavering witnesses, Green trees that don’t make it, But endure.
NaPoWrMo Tribute to James Dean
James Dean Died
October 1, 1955.
29 days before
this rebel with
out a caused burst forth.
announcing to the world
in a James Dean like howl
I am here
deal with it, MF!
James Dean
died in a fiery car crash
during an illegal drag race
in Salinas, California.
which took his life
sadly at age 24.
the studio bemoaned his passing
saying he was their biggest star
and they had big plans.
for the Giant star
of “Giant”
“East of Eden”
and my favorite Dean movie
“Rebel without a Cause”
James Dean was indeed
a rebel against the establishment
and spoke to so many people.
with is oh so cool disdain
and his hipster attitude
to the max tude.
he died way too young
his passing still mourned
68 years later.
RIP in peace
James Dean
wherever you are
you are there, man.
and I will be joining you
when the Grim Reaper
comes calling for me
in a few short years.
when we meet
and we will meet
we will sit down
and drink a “hell” beer
in Heaven.
because in Heaven
there is always free beer
but the best beers
and brewed in Hades.
hy of James Dean:
James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American actor whose career spanned just five years until his untimely death. He became a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as exemplified in his most celebrated films. Dean’s early acting career included uncredited roles before he gained stardom with his performance in “East of Eden” (1955), where he played a rebellious son seeking his father’s approval. His portrayal of a frustrated teenager in “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955) solidified his legacy as the embodiment of youthful angst. His final lead role was in “Giant” (1956), where he played a Texan rancher who strikes oil and becomes wealthy. Tragically, Dean’s life was cut short at the age of 24 in a car crash in Salinas, California. Despite his brief career, he received two posthumous Academy Award nominations and remains a significant figure in American cinema and culture123.
WC Dew Drop Inn April 11—Eclipse/d two Lunatic Lune Poems about the Eclipse
Title: Final Solar Eclipse
the solar eclipse
ended life
massive solar flare
Title: Howling At The Eclipse
howling at the moon
full madness
solar eclipse time
Writer’s Digest – title: Old Man Lost In His Old Memories
Memories
Of past events
Yesterdays
Overwhelming
An old man
Lost in his past
Can’t sleep at 0 dark hundred.
Note: “ O dark hundred” is military/intel jargon refering to the time two to three hours before dawn when operatives get up to get ready for dawn opperations. Depending on location and time of year it is between 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.
for me is 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. when I get the insomnia blues.
live your life fully, as if today were the last day of your life
Dreams Can Come True
Remember dreams can come true if you believe in them
Beating the Lie detector
Jerry, remember it is not a lie if you believe it
Goerge Constanza’s advice to Jerry Seinfield on how to bSeinfeldeat a lie detector
Trump President Again
the prospect of Donald Trump becoming President Again should terrify you.
Married the woman of My Dreams
I married the woman of my Dreams
Old Age Memories
as an old man, I often live in my old memories
Talking Back to Yourself
talking to yourself is fine, if you hear yourself talking back, then you have a problem.
Drugs
they say drugs are for those who can’t handle reality
Tower Of Power Best Funk Band of All Time
There is no denying the fact that the Tower of Power is the Best Funk Band of All Time
Is Christian Fascism Coming
if Trump becomes president again, will he usher in Christian fascism?
Civil War 2.0
so much talk about Civil War 2.0 around, have Americans all lost their minds?
Today’s resource is grieftolight, an Instagram account where you will find a wealth of poems.
Finally, our optional prompt for the day honors the “ones” in the number 11. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write either a monostich, which is a one-line poem, or a poem made up of one-liner style jokes/sentiments. Need inspiration? Take a look at Joe Brainard’s poem “30 One-Liners” or Frank O’Hara’s “Lines for the Fortune Cookies.”
PSH Returning home Subway Journeys
Write a poem describing the way back home from a trip using public transport (bus, train, plane). What do you experience while traveling? Use the description alternately between what you perceive outside yourself and what you think within yourself. You can include what you left behind and what you are heading towards, but the most important thing is a report on your journey in the company of other strangers and the landscapes outside your window in any poetic form.
I live in Korea
a country with great public transportation
I have been riding buses and subway trains
in Korea and around the world
since the early 70’s.
On of the joys
of living in Korea
is that the public transit
is great
available everywhere
go where you want to go
inexpensive
safe
and pleasant to use.
what a contrast
to the United States.
where public transit
is often not even an option
it is expensive
does not go where
you want to go.
and is dangerous
smelly and frankly
disgusting to use.
the other day
I was going home
from the doctor’s office
we took the Gold Line
to the number five line
to the number four line
took about one hour and half
and included 15 minutes
of walking
an excercise bonus
so to speak
cost about US$ 2.0
an equivalent trip
on the DC metro
would cost $ 10.00
and may not even be
an option
depending on where you live.
the Gold line is an self driving line
that the City Government
pushed through a few years ago
in lieu of expanding the real subway line
they screwed up
badly understimating the useage
of the new line
which locals dubbed the hell line
due to severe overcrowding
during rush hour
they have to have staff
control the crowds
but fortuantely
the trains comes
every three minutes
we often just let
the train go by
and take the next one.
then a short walk home
to my apartment
on the 17th floor
of a high-rise apartment
overlooking the fake Venice canal
all in all
I am pleased
to live in a modern country
that gets public transit right
and regret that America
my homeland
is so backwards
at times.
April 12—Make a dire prediction you hope doesn’t come true
January 6 riot
Civil War 2.0
Reading the latest polls
Showing that President Biden
And Ex-President Trump
Tied in a dead heat
In the polls
Particularly in the swing states.
. I realize there is
Real possibility
That Donald Trump could
Be elected president again,.
Again, and if so, what would he do?
These nightmares keep me up
At 0 dark hundred.
Nightmares that President Trump
Ending American democracy
Replacing it with Hungarian-style
Neo-fascism overwhelms me.
Another factoid in the news
Is that 25 states,
According to the Texas Independent Movement,
Would likely join Texas in seceding.
From the U.S. in the event
That Biden is elected president.
The proponents of this Great Divorce
Call it Civil War 2.0.
And in most cases, it’s led by Texas.
Leading the Red States
And California leading the Blue States
Including the entire West Coast
And NE America and Chicagoland
Out the proverbial door.
And if Trump does not make it
He would call it rigged
And announce he would be happy
To serve as the President
Of the Christain States of America
Immediately Texas and 25 states
Succeed and hold a constitutional convention
To enact Constitution 2.0
So if Trump wins Christain Fascism
Followed by Civil War 2.0
If he loses Civil War 2.0
Followed by Christian fascism
In the Christian States of America.
. So with these gloomy thoughts,
I think about what would happen
If Trump re-enters the White House.
And usherer in. Christian Fascism.
What would he do first?
Well, he says the first thing
He would do
Is shut down the border
And shut down immigration for a year,
Banning Muslim travel and
International students, particularly
From China..
While rounding up all illegal immigrants,
Including the Dreamers.
Those. Illegal immigrants
That came to the United States as children.
The second thing he would do
Is withdrawing from NATO, Korea, and Japan
And station troops along the border.
The third thing he would do is to take
A Sledgehammer to the federal government budget,
Like his friend the Argentian president
Shutting down most federal government agencies,
Reverting their functions to the states
Or private sector.
This could include turning over the national parks
And National Forest lands to the states for exploitation
As they seem fit.
Ending Federal wilderness protections,
The Endangered Species Act,
Shutting down the EPA,
Agriculture, Commerce, Education,
Energy, Labor, and Interior departments,
Merging State Department and DHS.
Withdrawing from all climate change negotiations
While eliminating renewable energy tax and other credits
And drill, baby, drill everywhere
The fourth thing he would probably do
Is to legally eliminate transgender status
By defining that there are only two genders
In the US, males, and females,
Which are assigned at birth
Prohibiting governments, and the private sector
From recognizing any sex changes
And prohibiting insurance companies
From paying for any sex changes.
The fourth thing he would do.
Is ask the Supreme court to rule
That states can once again
Make LGBT status illegal
Including banning same-sex marriages
And authorizing discrimination
Against the LFBTQ community.
And banning LFBTQ community members
From having security clearances
And serving in the military
State Department and intelligence agencies,
The fifth thing he would probably
Do is impose
A mandatory 10% tariff on all imports.
All of these things
Would lead to the West Coast
Declaring that they are no longer
Bound to obey the federal government
And the East Coast states as well
And Chicago land,
This may very well lead to a peaceful
“ great divorce”
After a constitutional convention,
But it could lead to civil War 2.0
With unimaginable dire
Worldwide consequences.
Including China invading Tawain
North Korea invading South Korea
Russia attacking the Baltic States
And Finland,
India and Pakistan war
Perhaps ending in a nuclear exchange
Iran invading Iraq
And attacking Israel.
As our enemies
Take advantage
Of the U.S. withdrawl
Into civil war madness.
These are some of my nightmares
That I hope will not come true.
2024 April PAD Challenge: Day 12 Trumpian Humor
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a funny poem.
For today’s prompt, write a funny poem. Keep in mind that funny isn’t always “ha-ha” funny. For instance, your poem could include a funny smell or talk about a funny (or weird) person or situation. And if you’ve ever hit your funny bone, that pain is not making anyone laugh. So write a funny poem, whether it’s for a laugh or not.
Five Trumpian Humor Poetic Fragments
1
Donald Trump
sat on his fat rump
what a toxic wasted dump
2
Donald Trump screams Deep State Out to Get Me
Donald Trump
screaming to everyone
the Deep State is out to get me
they are indeed
3 who is crazier
Donald Trump is on a rampage
daily showing he is out of his mind
the media is fixated on Biden
being too old
the public says
what a choice
which crazy old man
do we choose?
4
the choice
the choice comes down to this
do we chose cool grandpa
or do we choose crazy grandpa
dear God
please take them both
time for a re-do
5
Don’t understand the trump voter
why would you vote
for such a con man
such a vile excuse
for a human being?
then it dawns one
they still find
his Don Rickles comedy
his insult dog commedy routine
still funny
but I think
his sell by time
has expired
and he should be
simply retired
NaPoWriMo Saga of Big Daddy
And last but not least, our optional prompt. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem that plays with the idea of a “tall tale.” American tall tales feature larger-than-life characters like Paul Bunyan (who is literally larger than life), Bulltop Stormalong (also gigantic), and Pecos Bill (apparently normal-sized, but he doesn’t let it slow him down). If you’d like to see a modern poetic take on the tall tale, try Jennifer L. Knox’s hilarious poem, “Burt Reynolds FAQ.” Your poem can revolve around a mythical character, one you make up entirely, or add fantastical elements into a real person’s biography.
Big Daddy,
Was the man
who always had a plan.
He was an ex-University of Arkansas
And Dallas cowboy player
Who had worked for the CIA
After the agency fired him
For murdering enemies
Of the state at home
In contravention of agency rules,
But they retained his services
From time to time.
He became a legendary figure
He was a cipher, a ghost, an intel operative
A spy, a spook, a secret agent man.
No one knew his real name
Called him Big Daddy
Or his latest covert name.
And he had hundreds
Of cover legends.
He officially did not exist,
As his agency had officially
Terminated him years ago.
He now worked for an agency
That did not exist.
The same agency
That had terminated his legal existence
For matters of national security.
He lived in the shadow lands
Of the third world
In nameless hellhole slums
And dark secret dungeons.
Where he would do what needed
To be done
Killing those that needed killing
At the instructions
Of his unseen masters.
He was Just a rumor
Living in the shadow worlds
working for an unnamed agency
An intel operative
The best of the best
At what he did
Which was creative interrogation
His favorite choice
Almost too many choices
To make
But his favorite choice
Was creative use of
An electric shock
Imaginary or not
But sometimes
It had an outcome
An unimaginable outcome
His worst nightmare
The victim is released
And sues him
And the agencies
That he worked for
But so far
It has not happened
As no one knew
His real name
And the government
Did not know too
So justice
was never served
On Big Daddy.
Big Daddy a rogue CIA agent popped into a dream one night. I have written quite a few Big Daddy stories and poems. I see him as a modern day Harry Flashman – the fictional 19th Century rogue British military guy who got into all sorts of scandals and intrigue.
April 13, 2024: Poetry Writing Prompt from Robbi Nester
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Robbi Nester:
Smell is one of the first senses we experience, along with taste, accessible before our eyes work very well. Therefore, it can give us access to the distant past, often in great detail, as taste can.
Think of a smell you may have recently experienced that had the power to plunge you back into some experience in the distant past you had all but forgotten about. What is the smell? Where and when did you smell it? Who were you with?
Use your description of the smell and place and person to show the reader how it makes you feel to experience this scent again.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
First Time I ate kimchi
kimchi
the other night
I had some Kimchi
with dinner
as I almost always do
living in Korea
with a Korean born wife
I have been eating kimchi
since 1979
but the smell brought back
my first memory
of eating Kimchi.
back in high school
i knew a Korean student
who was living
at a rooming house.
he was a Moonie
but was cool about it.
did not try to convert me
one day I was hanging out
with him.
and he treated me
to a typical Korean lunch
including Kimchi.
when i bit into
that fiery hot food
I knew I was hooked.
and when I found out
I was going to Korea
I knew I would soon
be eating kimchi
in the land
that invented Kimchi.
and I was pleased
with that,
WD life worth Living
As I grow old
With the love of my life
Still by side
I realize
Once again
How much my life
Has changed
Since she entered my life
She was a bright ray
Of sunlight
That broke through the darkness
In my Soul
And made life
Worth living
And every day
I thank God
That she came
Into my life.
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a living poem.
For today’s prompt, write a living poem. What makes a living poem may be different for everyone. Some people may like to live it up, while others may focus solely on being alive. However, only you know what kind of poem you can live with. After all, it’s your life (and poem).
Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.
Note on commenting: If you wish to comment on the site, go to Disqus to create a free new account, verify your account on this site below (one-time thing), and then comment away. It’s free, easy, and the comments (for the most part) don’t require manual approval.
Here’s my attempt at a Living Poem:
Mature Couple being attacked in their car by a hoard of zombies.
“the living dead”
they come out in the day and night
looking for anybody’s brains
or other organs they might bite.
they come out in the day and night,
whatever time they feel is right,
because they have those hunger pains.
they’re hungry in the day and night
looking for anybody’s brains.
April 13—Discovery Shooting Down the Alien Visitors
In the movie
the signal
an Astro
naut receives
a signal
from an alien spaceship
heading to earth
the alien repeats the word
Hello in multiple languages
while heading to earth
the discovery electrifies
and terrifies the world
the decision is made
by all the world’s governments
in secret
to shot down the spaceship
before it could land
as it could be either a probe
of the beginning of an invasion.
when they enter the ship
they find completely disabled
robot crew.
along with the original
voyager data discs
which the aliens
were returning to earth
as an opening gambit
to establish communication.
NaPoWrMo Shy Man Fishing
one day a shy man
went to the ocean
he was a he-man, had a van.
he was filled with emotion
he wished to eat bonefish
he wanted it for his food,
he had a mad cat
who joined him in fishing
watching the fish freeswimming,
the man was a lewd rude dude
catfishing and phising
to sell his stolen fish
from his van.
Finally, our optional prompt for the day asks you to play with rhyme. Start by creating a “word bank” of ten simple words. They should only have one or two syllables apiece. Five should correspond to each of the five senses (i.e., one word that is a thing you can see, one word that is a type of sound, one word that is a thing you can taste, etc). Three more should be concrete nouns of whatever character you choose (i.e., “bridge,” “sun,” “airplane,” “cat”), and the last two should be verbs. Now, come up with rhymes for each of your ten words. (If you’re having trouble coming up with rhymes, the wonderful Rhymezone is at your service). Use your expanded word-bank, with rhymes, as the seeds for your poem. Your effort doesn’t actually have to rhyme in the sense of having each line end with a rhymed word, but try to
use as much soundplay in your poem as possible.
rhyming table
see sky shy, die, guy, ply why
taste food dude, lewd, mood, skewed tude,
smell ocean emotion, notion, motion
taste fish dish, wish, bonefish
cat bat, fat, rat
man plan, he-man, van
fishing catfishing, phising
swimming freeswiming, nightswiming
WC April 14—Complaint Computer Blues (revised)
Sometimes I think
My computer is plotting against me
And only me
Trying deliberately to drive me mad.
My computer knows
when I am busy
Then it throws
A hissy fit.
Here are some of my pet peeves
Constantly Crashing
Refuses to boot up, and crashes constantly.
Loses data it had the day before.
Or five minutes before,
Or refuses to save the data.
Just fucks with me
As it loves toying with me
Making me yell and scream
At my damn computer screen
Can’t Open Files or Save files or opens random sh…
often when trying to open
a document in word
the word open file button
fails to respond
sometimes you have to wait
five minutes
or when trying to open a file
the computer opens a random file
instead
or when trying to open a document
it kicks you out
often several times
sometimes you can
open a copy
sometimes not
and sometimes you can save the document
under the same name
often you have to save it
under another name
No dialogue box open lie
sometimes it refuses to open
a document saying
there is a dialogue
box open
which is a lie
there is no damn
dialogue box
visible
Random Blue Screen of Death
Cursing up a blue stream of blue curses
As the blue screen of death
Marches across the dark blue screen
Smiling at me
As I beg it
To do what
it is supposed to do
Just once I beg it
Do what you
Are supposed to do
Endless Non-Response Spinning blue wheels
Open the document once
Not twenty times
Do “Not respond”
Endless spinning blue wheels.
In endless loops of opening
Not responding
refusing to close
Until I respond to the error code.
Please Mr. Computer
Quit playing games
Play my music, don’t wipe out the sound
On the fifth attempt to play music
Don’t take a half-hour to load Microsoft products
Don’t freeze up on opening music programs
Computer error Haiku Codes
Don’t give me computer haiku error messages
That only makes sense to a computer geek.
Such as general error reading files
Who the ***** is this damn general
And why is NSA reading my files?
Or can’t save the file
Or can’t save the “An open file”
When it just did ten times in a role,
Or kicks me out, while losing my data.
Copy and Paste Wiping out document text
or when doing a simple copy and paste function
the computer defaults to the last command
making you have to do it again and again
up to five times sometimes
and on a random basis
the copy and paste function
wipes out all data
in the document
and to add insult to injury
deletes all previously saved version
sending the data
into computer limbo land
never to be found again
all without warning
just zip its gone!
Frozen Num Lock
another thing
my computer loves doing
is on a random basis,
turn the numbs lock-on
without warning
turning text into numbers.
requiring you too manually
turn off the number lock.
All Caps Pops On on a Random basis
once in a while
the all-caps button
mysteriously turns on
turning everything into caps.
fortunately
usually there is a warning flash.
Defaulting to Foreign Languages
a very annoying feature
is that when you log in from overseas
everything defaults to a foreign language
usually without the ability to change
it back to English
despite the fact
your settings are all in English
there may be a hidden button
to change language
written in the langauge
used in that country.
the computer does not know
or care that up to ten percent
of people logging in
from overseas don’t read
the language.
or are travelers
traveling through.
Excell Freezes Up
And in Microsoft excel
Refusing to move the cursor
Just freezing in place for a moment
Before kicking me out.
Can’t Copy External Data in Excel for reasons
Excell had a problem
Copying data from other sources
Generating an error message
About not being able to load fonts
Then ask you to say okay
Then kicking you out
Once I did those 200 times
I finally ditched Excel
And moved to Google Docs.
Can’t Find Printer
often the computer
can’t find the printer
just because ….. reasons……
AI hallucinations
AI is a great tool
but sometimes
it gets things wrong
or makes shit up!
Google Bard
once tried to convince me
that the US Embassy
In Seoul had moved
five years before
to a new location
outside of Seoul
only problem was
that was an AI hallucinaut
based on a proposal
five years ago
those in the know
call this an AI hallucination.
And it has a liberal bias
once Bing Co-pilot
refused to define the term
“libtard”
saying it was vile
insult and should
not be used
by anyone
ending with
next topic please
Mission Accomplished
And all the other gobbledygook messages
That pops up every five minutes it seems
As the computer slowly drives me mad
Flashing the final insult
User-driven mad
Mission accomplished.
I am again entering the annual April Poetry Month challenge. I will update this once a week and post the updates on Blog Lovin, Facebook, Fan Story, Instagram, Medium, Substack, Watt Pad and X. Comments are welcomed.
Index
April 1
PSH Ode to Durian
WD Optimistic Laturnae
WC Dew Drop Inn Sarang pabo love fool
NaPoWrMo Easter Bunny Warm up March 31
NaPoWrMo April 1 Cage
April 2
PSH The Words of the Year 1955 PSH
WD Sad and happy days
WC Dew Drop Inn Spring Time Flowers Blooming Love
NaPoWrMo Ode to Coffee
April 3
PSH Berkeley Mad Psychotic Pineapple Burns Sonnet
PSH 2 AI Version Traditional Sonnet
WD My Musical Street
WC Dew Drop Inn
NaPoWrMo
The Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
AV version the Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
April 4
PSH Love Expressed Through Food
WD Look at the Sky
WC Dew Drop In Ending Shaving in Retirement
NaPoWriMo It Can’t Happen Here
April 5
PSH Cosmic Dog From Goa
WD Tell Me No Lies
WC Dew Drop Inn Making Baseball Great Again
NaPoWriMo Only In SF
April 6
PSH Visiting My Father’s Grave
Writers DIgest Meeting My Fate
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn Daily RItual Drinks
NaPoWrMo PNRCP
Begin Poems
April 1
Ode to Durian
The infamous durian fruit is a strange phenomenon.
Common in China, Southeast Asia, and India,
and in Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Indian diaspora communities,
It has such a powerful sour smell that it is banned in airline cabins.
I first ate Durian in a rural town in Central Thailand
my hasher friends dared me to eat it
it was horrible at first the smell
But if you can get beyond
The awful, dirty socks, rotten, sour smell,
The taste is pure heaven,
Proof perhaps that God has a sense of humor?
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Suzanne Lummis:
Evolve a poem that involves an exotic fruit, one fruit, and a town you’ve never visited, or else have distant memories of. The poem does not have to be About the fruit. It probably should Not be about the fruit. No one gives a fig about a fruit. But the fruit makes an Appearance. Extra points if it’s a Pomegranate. No need to mention Persephone, but if you do… It better be something we don’t already know.
Writer’s Digest
Optimistic Laturnae
life
more love
with my wife
standing by me
love
The lanturne is a five-line verse shaped like a Japanese lantern with a syllabic pattern of one, two, three, four, one.
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, we have our first two-for-Tuesday prompt.
For today’s prompt, we have our first two-for-Tuesday prompt, which means you get two prompts. You can write to one of the prompts, both the prompts separately, or try to write a poem that works with both prompts at the same time. The prompts are:
The Burns Sonnet is a Shakespearian sonnet but it does not follow traditional meter or rhyme
Please convert the previous text into a traditional sonnet using most of these words in line 13 must use the word cacophony and follow the following criterion
1 inner life of pineapple
2 berkeley fate
3 bad luck comes in three
4last night went for a walk
5-8 line five to eight two animals meet someone unusual
9 10 wish for the pineapple
11 12 what did I wish for when your eight
13-14 hullabaloo, ragamuffin, hooferaw, scoundreles cacophony and discuss a secret something is hidden or something no one else knows
AI Version
AI version Title: “The Cosmic Cat”
sf dog 3
The Berkeley mad, psychotic pineapple,
An underground icon in the streets of Berkeley,
Whispered, “Bad Luck comes in Three,” so cynical,
Last night, he wandered, joints ablaze, unwary.
Encountering a cat, not mere feline grace,
But cosmic blackness riding on a dog,
A mouse perched high, a curious embrace,
In SF Bay’s odd realm, where dreams may jog.
Oh, how I wished when I was merely eight,
For a cosmic cat, a secret friend concealed,
To stir a hullabaloo, a wild debate,
A ragamuffin dance, a truth revealed.
In hooferaw and scoundrel’s cacophony,
The pineapple’s fate intertwined with glee. 🍍🌌
Writer’s Digest Our Musical Street
30 lines
I grew up
In a very creative time
a very musical time.
The 60’s had the best music
Motown ruled the Bay Area
As well as Great rock music
Acid jazz
Acid Rock
Fusion Jazz
The Grateful Dead
Mamas and the Papas
Jefferson Airplane
Jimmy Hendrix
last high school
was Berkeley High School
Santana
And so many others
The best funk band
Of them all
Tower of Power
Beloved by all
High school students.
For their immortal classic
Make out song
You’re still a Young Man.
wonder how many people
fell in love slow dancing
to this song
how many babies
were conceived?
Tower of Power rocked
Every party in town
On every street.
Music flowed.
On every musical street
In the city.
That was Berkeley
In the 60’s and 70’s.
Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:
“Our Musical Street”
Please select “Music” as one of your genres.
Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk-based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. The band has had several lead vocalists, the best known being Lenny Williams, who fronted the band between early 1973 and late 1974, the period of their greatest commercial success1. They have had eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100; their highest-charting songs include “You’re Still a Young Man”, “So Very Hard to Go”, “What Is Hip?”, and “Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)”1.
The band was formed by tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo and baritone saxophonist Stephen “Doc” Kupka in 19681. The band’s soul sound appealed to both minority and counterculture listeners1. The band’s name was changed to Tower of Power after they agreed that their original name, The Mots, would not help them play at Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco1.
Tower of Power has released 31 albums, including 15 studio albums, 5 live albums, and 11 compilations1. Their most recent album, “Step Up”, was released in 20202.
Here is a list of some of their most popular songs:
“You’re Still a Young Man”
“So Very Hard to Go”
“What Is Hip?”
“Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)”
“Soul Vaccination”
“This Time It’s Real”
“Time Will Tell”
“Only So Much Oil in the Ground”
If you’re interested in listening to their music, you can check out their official website2.
2024 April PAD Challenge: Day 3
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a musical act or artist poem.
Believe it or not, today is one of the more important days of the April Poem-A-Day Challenge. While each day is a new challenge, I’ve found that most poets who make it through the first three days of prompts have the best chances of still being here at the end of the month. So let’s write a poem!
For today’s prompt, pick a musical act or artist and either make that the title of your poem or incorporate into the title of your poem; then, write your poem. Possible titles might be: “Michael Jackson,” “Olivia Rodrigo,” “the Beatles,” “Guided by Voices at Austin City Limits,” “Watching a Movie With Elton John,” or “Eating Ice Cream With Dr. Dre.” Have fun with it!
Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn Look at the Sky
NaPoWrMo Prompt
the Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
AV version the Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
Death to All Humans
The Parliament of Animals met one day in a secret undisclosed location as they were under constant surveillance by the human CIA and others who wanted to disrupt the parliament’s work.
the wise owl presided. He read the charges
“We are assembled here to judge the actions of the human race. the human race is being charged with
crimes against nature,
destruction of the environment,
mass murder,
enslavement of animals,
mutilation of animals,
and violation of Gaia’s basic commandments to preserve the environment for all animals including humans.
Speaking for the prosecution will be the Tiger and Lions, speaking for the defense with the domestic cats and dogs. We have in the room ten men and women who are representative of the human race.
The parliament can make any recommendation to remedy the situation including the death penalty, exile, or reparations. All animals will be required to conduct these recommendations.”
“Okay, Mr. Tiger first we will ask the humans how they plead.” “
Humans. You have been charged with the following crimes.
crimes against nature,
destruction of the environment,
mass murder,
enslavement of animals,
mutilation of animals,
and violation of Gaia’s basic commandments to preserve the environment for all animals including humans.
How do you plead?
Sam Adams, the lawyer for the humans, responded,
“Not guilty your honor for these charges except for eating animals which we contend is part of the natural order of the world and many if not most of you are guilty of the same charge.”
“Clarification – your basic argument is that everyone eats animals, so humans are not guilty
“ “Yes, that is correct, your honor.” “
Okay, Mr. Tiger, you’re opening.” “Okay. The facts are clear. For thousands of years until the Industrial Revolution humans had a little mass impact on the overall environment. Ever since then all animals have been impacted and my species has been hunted to extinction for the greed of humans who have not eaten tiger meat. The predator class, including bears, coyotes, feral dogs, lions, tigers, and wolves have been fighting back against the predation of humans, but we are losing. And if we don’t do anything within 10 years, there won’t be any tigers or other big predators left in the wild. And the natural order of things would be controlled by the evil, selfish humans who don’t give a damn about their fellow creatures. Therefore, we are proposing that 95% of humans must be killed. The remaining humans will be allowed to live as our slaves It is only fair. That is my request to the parliament of animals. Death to humans!”
The crowd rose and chanted “Death to all humans” until the owl ruled that they must not disrupt the proceedings.
The owl turned to the cat and and dog for their defense. the dog responded, “
Humans and dogs have been partners, and we know humans more than any of you. Humans are capable of great kindness, and compassion and we maintain they are not fundamentally evil. And then they can be redeemed through education and through. Campaign to reform human thought. I think we should give humans a second chance.”
the owl motioned to the dog
“I concur with Brother Cat. Humans are okay and we like them they are our friends, although they should be found not guilty because of insanity.”
The owl said he was ready for his verdict.
“Death to 95 percent of humans, and enslavement of the rest, but we will allow 50,000 to immigrate to the Moon and Mars. I will meet with the UN to give them the decree.
Once that is published all animals must rise up and kill all humans on sight. This suspends the parliament of animals. Death to all humans.” The word went out animals rose all over the world and the reign of human tyranny ended within a year.
AI Version The Parliament of Animals
In the clandestine chambers of the Parliament of Animals, where shadows danced and secrets whispered, the wise owl presided. Under the ever-watchful gaze of human surveillance, the charges were read aloud:
“We are assembled here to judge the actions of the human race. The human race stands accused of crimes against nature, destruction of the environment, mass murder, enslavement of animals, mutilation of animals, and violation of Gaia’s sacred commandments. Speaking for the prosecution are the Tigers and Lions; for the defense, the domestic cats and dogs. Ten representatives of humanity sit in this room. The parliament holds the power to recommend remedies: death penalty, exile, or reparations. All animals shall be bound by these decisions.”
The Tiger, his golden eyes ablaze, addressed the humans, “How do you plead?”
The humans, their faces etched with defiance, stood before the assembly. Sam Adams, their lawyer, stepped forward, his voice unwavering, “Not guilty, Your Honor. Except for eating animals—a primal act woven into our existence—we maintain our innocence. It is the natural order, and many among you, my fellow creatures, partake in this ancient feast.”
The room buzzed with tension. The wise owl blinked, feathers rustling. The verdict hung in the air, suspended between judgment and mercy. The fate of humanity rested on the scales of justice, balanced precariously.
And so, the Parliament of Animals convened, weaving threads of fate, pondering the sins of bipeds, and deciding whether to condemn or absolve. In this surreal courtroom, where the boundaries blurred and the moon bore witness, the world awaited its reckoning.
Last but not least, here’s our prompt for the day – optional, as always. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a surreal prose poem. For inspiration, check out Franz Kafka’s collection of short parables (my favorite is “The Green Dragon”).
The infamous durian fruit is a strange phenomenon.
Common in China, Southeast Asia, and India,
and in Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Indian diaspora communities,
It has such a powerful sour smell, that it is banned in airline cabins.
first ate Durian in a rural town in Central Thailand
my hasher friends dared me to eat it
it was horrible at first the smell
But if you can get beyond
The awful, dirty socks, rotten, sour smell,
The taste is pure heaven,
Proof perhaps that God has a sense of humor?
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Suzanne Lummis:
Evolve a poem that involves an exotic fruit, one fruit, and a town you’ve never visited, or else have distant memories of. The poem does not have to be About the fruit. It probably should Not be about the fruit. No one gives a fig about a fruit. But the fruit makes an Appearance. Extra points if it’s a Pomegranate. No need to mention Persephone, but if you do… It better be something we don’t already know.
A Mango would also be good.
No Oranges.
Nothing personal against them, but that’s another poem. And Gary Soto wrote it.
Don’t forget about the Town.
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
#napowrimo #poetry
Writer’s Digest
Optimistic Laturnae (CC FS)
life
more love
with my wife
standing by me
love
The lanturne is a five-line verse shaped like a Japanese lantern with a syllabic pattern of one, two, three, four, one.
March 31 warm Up
Easter Bunny Warning
The Easter Bunny
Had a warning
He was tired
Of being played the fool.
Tired of being associated
With low-life fake Christians
Proclaiming that Donald Trump
Is the next messiah.
The Easter Bunny said,
“Donald Trump
Ain’t no Christian
He ain’t no friend of mine.
He is the antichrist
The poster child
For the seven deadly sins”.
Donald Trump denounced
The Easter Bunny.
Saying on Truth Social,
“The Easter Bunny is nothing
But a low-life wanna-be thug,
A real loser!
An anti-fa, anti-American, BLM, communist, fascist
Radical left-wing Marxist vermin thug,
Part of the woke crowd,
That is ruining our once-great country.
That needs a Second Amendment remedy.
April 1—Be a fool in a poem!
Sarangpabo – Korean Love Fool for You
When I first saw you
In my dreams.
You were the most beautiful woman
In the world to me
And still are.
When you looked at me
With love blazing
From your dark brown
Goo-goo eyes.
sparks flew from heart to heart
(이심초심ishimchomshim)
You hynotized, messemeried me
Your love mojo working overtime
Turning me into nothing but
A 사랑 바보Sarang pabo (love fool).
Eight years later
You walked off that bus
Into my life,
Becoming
my wife,
My soul mate.
And yes,
I am still
your 사랑 바보Sarang pabo.
And will remain under
Your love spell
Until the day I die.
Translation into Korean (rough AI Version)
Certainly! Here’s the English text followed by the Hangul and Romanized script line by line:
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, we have our first two-for-Tuesday prompt.
For today’s prompt, we have our first two-for-Tuesday prompt, which means you get two prompts. You can write to one of the prompts, both the prompts separately, or try to write a poem that works with both prompts at the same time. The prompts are:
The Burns Sonnet is a Shakespearian sonnet but it does not follow traditional meter or rhyme
Please convert the previous text into a traditional sonnet using most of these words in line 13 must use the word cacophony and follow the following criterion
1 inner life of pineapple
2 berkeley fate
3 bad luck comes in three
4last night went for a walk
5-8 line five to eight two animals meet someone unusual
9 10 wish for the pineapple
11 12 what did I wish for when your eight
13-14 hullabaloo, ragamuffin, hooferaw, scoundreles cacophony and discuss a secret something is hidden or something no one else knows
AI Version
AI version Title: “The Cosmic Cat”
The Berkeley mad, psychotic pineapple,
An underground icon in the streets of Berkeley,
Whispered, “Bad Luck comes in Three,” so cynical,
Last night, he wandered, joints ablaze, unwary.
Encountering a cat, not mere feline grace,
But cosmic blackness riding on a dog,
A mouse perched high, a curious embrace,
In SF Bay’s odd realm, where dreams may jog.
Oh, how I wished when I was merely eight,
For a cosmic cat, a secret friend concealed,
To stir a hullabaloo, a wild debate,
A ragamuffin dance, a truth revealed.
In hooferaw and scoundrel’s cacophony,
The pineapple’s fate intertwined with glee. 🍍🌌
Writer’s Digest Our Musical Street
30 lines
I grew up
In a very creative time
a very musical time.
The 60’s had the best music
Motown ruled the Bay Area
As well as Great rock music
Acid jazz
Acid Rock
Fusion Jazz
The Grateful Dead
Mamas and the Papas
Jefferson Airplane
Jimmy Hendrix
last high school
was Berkeley High School
Santana
And so many others
The best funk band
Of them all
Tower of Power
Beloved by all
High school students.
For their immortal classic
Make out song
You’re still a Young Man.
wonder how many people
fell in love slow dancing
to this song
how many babies
were conceived?
Tower of Power rocked
Every party in town
On every street.
Music flowed.
On every musical street
In the city.
That was Berkeley
In the 60’s and 70’s.
Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:
“Our Musical Street”
Please select “Music” as one of your genres.
Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk-based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. The band has had several lead vocalists, the best known being Lenny Williams, who fronted the band between early 1973 and late 1974, the period of their greatest commercial success1. They have had eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100; their highest-charting songs include “You’re Still a Young Man”, “So Very Hard to Go”, “What Is Hip?”, and “Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)”1.
The band was formed by tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo and baritone saxophonist Stephen “Doc” Kupka in 19681. The band’s soul sound appealed to both minority and counterculture listeners1. The band’s name was changed to Tower of Power after they agreed that their original name, The Mots, would not help them play at Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco1.
Tower of Power has released 31 albums, including 15 studio albums, 5 live albums, and 11 compilations1. Their most recent album, “Step Up”, was released in 20202.
Here is a list of some of their most popular songs:
“You’re Still a Young Man”
“So Very Hard to Go”
“What Is Hip?”
“Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)”
“Soul Vaccination”
“This Time It’s Real”
“Time Will Tell”
“Only So Much Oil in the Ground”
If you’re interested in listening to their music, you can check out their official website2.
Bump City is the second album by the soul/funk group Tower of Power. The album cover is derived from a sketch by David Garibaldi.[citation needed] It’s also their first album for Warner Bros. Records. With Rufus Miller now gone, Rick Stevens took the reins as the sole lead vocalist for this album.
Write a poem every day of April with the 2024 April Poem-A-Day Challenge. For today’s prompt, write a musical act or artist poem.
Believe it or not, today is one of the more important days of the April Poem-A-Day Challenge. While each day is a new challenge, I’ve found that most poets who make it through the first three days of prompts have the best chances of still being here at the end of the month. So let’s write a poem!
For today’s prompt, pick a musical act or artist and either make that the title of your poem or incorporate into the title of your poem; then, write your poem. Possible titles might be: “Michael Jackson,” “Olivia Rodrigo,” “the Beatles,” “Guided by Voices at Austin City Limits,” “Watching a Movie With Elton John,” or “Eating Ice Cream With Dr. Dre.” Have fun with it!
Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.
NaPoWrMo Prompt
the Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
AV version the Parliament of Owls Decree Death to All Humans
Death to All Humans
The Parliament of Animals met one day in a secret undisclosed location as they were under constant surveillance by the human CIA and others who wanted to disrupt the parliament’s work.
the wise owl presided. He read the charges
“We are assembled here to judge the actions of the human race. the human race is being charged with
crimes against nature,
destruction of the environment,
mass murder,
enslavement of animals,
mutilation of animals,
and violation of Gaia’s basic commandments to preserve the environment for all animals including humans.
Speaking for the prosecution will be the Tiger and Lions, speaking for the defense with the domestic cats and dogs. We have in the room ten men and women who are representative of the human race.
The parliament can make any recommendation to remedy the situation including the death penalty, exile, or reparations. All animals will be required to conduct these recommendations.”
“Okay, Mr. Tiger first we will ask the humans how they plead.” “
Humans. You have been charged with the following crimes.
crimes against nature,
destruction of the environment,
mass murder,
enslavement of animals,
mutilation of animals,
and violation of Gaia’s basic commandments to preserve the environment for all animals including humans.
How do you plead?
Sam Adams, the lawyer for the humans, responded,
“Not guilty your honor for these charges except for eating animals which we contend is part of the natural order of the world and many if not most of you are guilty of the same charge.”
“Clarification – your basic argument is that everyone eats animals, so humans are not guilty
“ “Yes, that is correct, your honor.” “
Okay, Mr. Tiger, your opening.”
“Okay. The facts are clear. For thousands of years until the Industrial Revolution humans had a little mass impact on the overall environment. Ever since then all animals have been impacted and my species has been hunted to extinction for the greed of humans who have not eaten tiger meat. The predator class, including bears, coyotes, feral dogs, lions, tigers, and wolves have been fighting back against the predation of humans, but we are losing. And if we don’t do anything within 10 years, there won’t be any tigers or other big predators left in the wild. And the natural order of things would be controlled by the evil, selfish humans who don’t give a damn about their fellow creatures. Therefore, we are proposing that 95% of humans must be killed. The remaining humans will be allowed to live as our slaves It is only fair. That is my request to the parliament of animals. Death to humans!”
The crowd rose and chanted “Death to all humans” until the owl ruled that they must not disrupt the proceedings.
The owl turned to the cat and and dog for their defense. the Cat responded, “
“ Humans are okay and we like them they are our friends, although they should be found not guilty because of insanity.”
the owl motioned to the dog, who responded,
“Humans and dogs have been partners, and we know humans more than any of you. Humans are capable of great kindness, and compassion and we maintain they are not fundamentally evil. And then they can be redeemed through education and through. Campaign to reform human thought. I think we should give humans a second chance.”
The owl said he was ready for his verdict.
“Death to 95 percent of humans, and enslavement of the rest, but we will allow 50,000 to immigrate to the Moon and Mars. I will meet with the UN to give them the decree.
Once that is published all animals must rise up and kill all humans on sight. This suspends the parliament of animals. Death to all humans.” The word went out animals rose all over the world and the reign of human tyranny ended within a year.
AI Version The Parliament of Animals
In the clandestine chambers of the Parliament of Animals, where shadows danced and secrets whispered, the wise owl presided. Under the ever-watchful gaze of human surveillance, the charges were read aloud:
“We are assembled here to judge the actions of the human race. The human race stands accused of crimes against nature, destruction of the environment, mass murder, enslavement of animals, mutilation of animals, and violation of Gaia’s sacred commandments. Speaking for the prosecution are the Tigers and Lions; for the defense, the domestic cats and dogs. Ten representatives of humanity sit in this room. The parliament holds the power to recommend remedies: death penalty, exile, or reparations. All animals shall be bound by these decisions.”
The Tiger, his golden eyes ablaze, addressed the humans, “How do you plead?”
The humans, their faces etched with defiance, stood before the assembly. Sam Adams, their lawyer, stepped forward, his voice unwavering, “Not guilty, Your Honor. Except for eating animals—a primal act woven into our existence—we maintain our innocence. It is the natural order, and many among you, my fellow creatures, partake in this ancient feast.”
The room buzzed with tension. The wise owl blinked, feathers rustling. The verdict hung in the air, suspended between judgment and mercy. The fate of humanity rested on the scales of justice, balanced precariously.
And so, the Parliament of Animals convened, weaving threads of fate, pondering the sins of bipeds, and deciding whether to condemn or absolve. In this surreal courtroom, where the boundaries blurred and the moon bore witness, the world awaited its reckoning.
Last but not least, here’s our prompt for the day – optional, as always. Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a surreal prose poem. For inspiration, check out Franz Kafka’s collection of short parables (my favorite is “The Green Dragon”).
WD Mistake Poem – Don’t Make a Mistake, Vote For Jake
WC Dew Drop In Ending Shaving in Retirement
NaPoWriMo
It Can’t Happen Here
PSH Love Expressed Through Food
My love loves to cook
Delicious food on the stove
Cooking up a storm
All to express her love for me
Showing her deep emotion
Though the food she cooks up
We met in a dream
And I recall that dream
Whenever I eat her delicious food
It was love at first sight
Our love deepend through her food
Looking at her with lust in my heart
As I taste every inch of her
Smelling her as we make love
Love Stove
emotion cook
dreams food
attraction eat
Lust taste
sex Smell
Writing Prompt from Jon Wesick
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Jon Wesick:
The Assembly Line of Surprise
Step 1 – Choose a subject to write about. This should probably be something about being human such as a mental state, emotion, or social issue. Often this is abstract.
Love
Step 2 – Choose an object to compare it to. It’s best if this is something very different than in step 1. Concrete things like machinery give good imagery. The more outrageous the better. Congratulations! You’ve just created a metaphor.
Stove
Step 3 – Make two columns on a piece of paper. List the parts of the subject step 1 in the first column and the parts of the item in step 2 in the second.
Love Stove
emotion cook
dreams food
attraction eat
Lust taste
sex Smell
Step 4 – Map items in each column to those in the other. Choose the most interesting mappings. These will be phrases in your poem.
Step 5 – Put these phrases together into a poem.
Let’s “cook up” an example. Steps 1 and 2 – Compare despair to a microwave oven
Step 3 – Table.
Despair
Microwave Oven
Fatigue
Klystron
Sleeplessness
Turntable
Irritability
Browning dish
Emptiness
Observation window
Loss of libido
Control panel
Gloom
Timer
Despondency
Defrost function
Hopelessness
Auto cook menu
Futility
Number pad
Start/stop button
Tomato sauce caked on walls
Sparking when tin foil inside
Step 4 – I’d map sleeplessness to dried tomato sauce, irritability to sparking, and libido to the defrost function.
Step 5 – Put mapping into a poem.
Writers DIgest Mistake Poem “Don’t Make a Mistake Vote for Jake”
I should have run for office
I would have a perfect slogn
Rifting on the word mistake
Rhyming it with my name Jake.
In a old “Burma shave style
Cowboy poetry poem..
Don’t make a mistake
Vote for Jake
He is so awake
Don’t brake
Don’t use your emergency brake
Everything’s Jake. ‘
Just Vote for Jake
He ain’t no fake
He’s no flake
He ain’t on the make
Just vote for Jake
He’s aint no rake
He ain’t no rattle snake
He ain’t no common snake
He ain’t on the take.
Just vote for Jake
Take a tea break.
Don’t have a cluster headache,
Don’t have a sinus headache.
Just vote for Jake
Make a political earthquake
Don’t Shake
Take a stake.
Just Vote for Jake.
For today’s prompt, write a mistake poem. Everyone makes mistakes. Yes, even that person standing in the corner shaking their head to the contrary. And even those people who don’t admit to making mistakes have seen others make them. So whether it’s the mistakes you’ve made, witnessed in others, etc., write a poem about it today.
BUT (and yes, I’m using a big “but” here) poem nicely to each other today. I would hate to remove anyone for getting into arguments about X, Y, or Z in the comments; that’s why social media was created.
Note: Burma Shave ads were everywhere from 1910 to the late 70s. Here’s Bing Co-Pilot on “Burma Shave” and Cowboy poetry.
Burma-Shave was an American brand of brushless shaving cream, famous for its quirky and memorable advertising campaign. From the 1920s to the early 1960s, they posted humorous rhyming poems on sequential highway roadside signs. These signs became iconic and are fondly remembered by many.
Here are a few classic Burma-Shave jingles that adorned the highways:
“Cattle crossing means go slow, that old bull is some cows’ bold.”
“The bearded lady tried to jump, she’s now a famous movie star.”
“Shaving brushes out of date, use the razors perfect mate.”
“The crowd you see around that store are Burma shavers buying more.”
These clever and whimsical signs were typically posted in sets of six along highways, with the last sign revealing the product name. Passing motorists would eagerly read each sign to discover the punchline. The signs were originally produced in red-and-white or orange-and-black color combinations, although the latter was eventually phased out. While the Interstate system and increased vehicle speeds led to the signs’ discontinuation, their legacy lives on as a nostalgic piece of American advertising history. Some of these signs can still be seen at The House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and re-creations appear on Arizona State Highway 66, part of the original U.S. Route 66, between Ash Fork and Kingman, Arizona 34. 🚗🌟
Burma-Shave was an American brand of brushless shaving cream, famous for its quirky and memorable advertising campaign. From the 1920s to the early 1960s, they posted humorous rhyming poems on sequential highway roadside signs. These signs became iconic and are fondly remembered by many.
Cowboy poetry is a unique genre that celebrates the rugged lifestyle, camaraderie, and natural beauty of the American West. These poems often evoke nostalgia, humor, and a deep connection to the land. Let me share a few classic cowboy poems with you:
“Tying Knots in the Devil’s Tail” by Gail I. Gardner:
This poem exemplifies cowboy poetry. Written in a narrative form, it uses slang and vivid storytelling. Here’s an excerpt:
These cowboy poems capture the essence of life on the range, the bond between rider and horse, and the fading traditions of the American West. 🤠🌵
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn Ending Daily Shaving in Retirement
When Sam Adams
retired from
the U.S. Department of State,
he made five vows
which he kept for years.
first, he would quit daily shaving
shaving once or twice a month
second, he would never wear
a suit and tie
instead opting for the northwest look
Long pants, khaki or jeans, T-shirt
and a Western-style shirt
like a Pendleton shirt.
Third, he would retire in Korea
where his wife had family
and Southern Oregon
and an annual trip to DC
where they had rentals.
Fourth, they would travel
a lot every year
seeing as much as the world
as they could while they could still do.
starting with an epic road trip
across the US
10,000 miles 35 states
in three months
and a cruise to Alaska
his last State of 50 to visit
and an annual visit to someplace
warm in the winter.
Fifth, he would start a blog and podcast.
the World According to Cosmos,
to highlight his poetry and short story
submissions and occasional political rants.
He kept his vows
except that COVID blew away
his travel plans from 2019 to 2022!
and he wore a suit once,
to attend the wedding of the son
of his best Korean friend.
April 5
PSH Cosmic Dog From Goa
WD Tell Me No Lies
WC Dew Drop Inn Making Baseball Great Again
NaPoWriMo Only In SF
PSH The Cosmic Dog from Goa
cute dog
My final time with God
Happened a year latter
I was staying down in Goa
With my wife
Enjoying being with her
After our reconciliation
We stayed at the Taj Mahal Goa
Living like Kings and Queen
Just for a few days
High up on a hill
Overlooking the beach
Every morning I went down to the beach
And did yoga by the water
While contemplating life
And every morning
I saw the same dog
Not just a dog
But a cosmic dog
Filled with the divine spark of God
And the dog recognized me
And spoke to me and I knew
That God was present once more
In the face of the that cosmic dog
Kindred spirit
perhaps to the cosmic cat
that had save my soul
in Berkeley so long ago
I told the dog everything
And he just looked at me
With those soulful eyes of his
And I knew he knew that I knew
That he was possessed by God
God had sent him to me
To make sure that I was on the right path
That the reconciliation that God had promoted
Was on track that I was back with my wife
And that everything was the way it should be
Again, I asked God whether he was Jesus or Allah
Or Brahmin or Ganesh or Buddha
God the cosmic dog just stared at me
I finally asked him directly
Say if you are God the God of Jesus
Bark once
The Dog looked at me and barked
I said well if you are Allah bark twice
The dog barked twice
Well are you buddha then bark three times if yes
The god dog barked three times
Hmm well are you Satan
The dog growled at me
And I knew I had gone too far
Finally, I was at peace
And for the next three days
The God Dog was my constant companion
And I knew God for the final time
In my life
Writer’s Digest Tell Me No LIes
Tell me no lies
My dear
and I will tell you
no lies too.
But every word
I say
could be a lie.
you never know
what is true
and what is a lie.
So tell me no more lies
and I will tell you the truth
if you can handle it.
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn April 5—Get a sport into a poem! Make Baseball Great Again!
It is time
to make American baseball
Great again
starting with creating a worldwide
baseball competition
with each season
with the national champions
competing in a World Cup World Series
with the final round pitting the
North American Champions
against the winners of Africa,
Asian, Europe, and South America
with the final rounds
best of seven
always held in the U.S.
The other things to do
include rapid expansion plans
including the MLB teams
adopting local schools and colleges
fully funding baseball programs
and only hiring college graduates.
as players.
and making tickets affordable
no more than ten dollars per game!
if they do this,
we can make baseball
once again the best sport
in the U.S.
Let’s all join together
to make baseball great again!
NaPoWrMo Only In SF
Tiny, the Jamaican
was a big 6’5 reggae Rasta man,
sprouting long black and purple dreadlocks
and a purple mohawk
wearing a black leather jacket
with weed logos on it,
played guitar in the SF Reggae Kings.
A big Three Stooges fan,
Named his four pets,
“Shemp” the cat,
“Moe” the dog,
Curly” the mouse,
and Curly Joe, the Vietnamese pig.
The four amigos got along famously
They lived in an apartment
in the western addiction,
off of Geary,
in a rapidly gentrifying part of the city
One day, Shemp said to Moe
“Moe, I have a question for you,
and I want an honest answer,
none of your canine BS answer.
You know us cats are straight shooters.”
“Okay, my cat brother. Shoot.”
“Well, I understand that
cats, dogs, mice, and pigs
are natural born enemies,
How come we get along?
And you get along
with Curly and Curly Joe?”
“Good question.
First, when we met
I hated you all
and you were afraid
I might eat you in your sleep
and the thought
crossed my mind.
But over time
I mellowed out
and realized
we were all a band of brothers
living in this house.
I think it
also has something to do
with the cloud of weed
in the air
and the chill deep house
reggae peace and love
vibes in the house.”
“cool.
“Good answer.
I too think of you
all as my brothers.
You know what I like the most?”
Our nightly walk
when Tiny, Tina, and Linda
take us out
and we put on our show.
You know Curly Joe
letting you ride on him,
and I ride on you
and Curly
sits on my head
to complete the show
as we freak out the tourists
good citizens, and outlaws
who constantly take pictures
saying to themselves
“Only in SF”.
And you know
They are right.
Only in SF.
Let’s keep SF weird.”
Tiny came in
and they all went
for their walk.
April 6
PSH Visiting My Father’s Grave
Writers DIgest Meeting My Fate
Writing Com Dew Drop Inn Daily RItual Drinks
NaPoWrMo PNRCP
Visiting my father’s grave
In Yakima Washington State,
The ancestral land of the Aller clan
Thinking about my father
And his legacy
And thinking that I am
My father’s son
There is so much
I wanted to tell him
So much I wanted to share
So much I wanted him to see
My accomplishments
He was taken from me
Before I had achieved my dreams
i am sure he would have been
proud of the man
I turned out to be.
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Lara Dolphin:
A “taphophile” is someone who has more than a passing interest in burial places.
Cemeteries can hold beautiful sculptures, moving epitaphs, and genealogical secrets as well as religious meaning. If you were a tombstone tourist and could visit any burial place or shrine in the world, where would it be? Who would it belong to? Someone famous or obscure? Write a poem about one grave in particular.
Writer’s DIgest Meeting My Fate Minimal Poem
that september date
I met my fate
when she walked
out of my dreams
off a bus
into my life
becoming my wife.
For today’s prompt, write a minimum poem. Some people only do the minimum; others like to pay the minimum. When I first started working, I earned minimum wage. My kids had to reach a minimum height requirement to ride roller coasters at amusement parks.
Writing Com Dw Drop In Daily Beverages
in the morning
I drink a cup
of snarling hot coffee
while watching the news
in the afternoon
I shift to tea
either earl gray
or herbal tea
at sunset
I drink red wine
with my wife
as the evening
shifts into night
I drink rum
or whiskey
to end the day
right.
NaPoWrMo PNRCP
My mother was an original
One of a kind person
Unique in her ways.
She had many sayings
That has stuck with me
Over the years.
She was not a big fan
Of birthdays
Even forgot my 18th birthday.
She said on her birthday
“Well that means
One year closer to the grave.”
One of her funiest saying
Was how she described
Getting to Berkeley
In the late 30’s.
She had ran away
From a large but abusive family
In Little Rock, Arkansas.
Part of the so-called “lost tribe”
Of the Cherokee Indians
Also known as the Black Irish
She said that she was just
Part of the government run
“Plantetary Nut Reconfigeration Program”.
Every ten years
The world flips
And all the nuts
Roll down here
And end up in California.
Here’s some info on the Lost Tribe of the Cherokees. There are only about 50,000 left. According to Bing Co-Pilot, “The Lost Tribe of the Cherokees, also known as the Black Dutch or Black Irish, is estimated to number around 9,000 in Arkansas and approximately 500 more in southern Missouri. These individuals seek recognition as a tribe after years of investigation. The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has been diligently working on their recognition petition for nine years1.
While the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma does not consider this group to be legitimate, their quest for recognition continues, and their history remains a fascinating chapter in Native American heritage. 🌳🔍
Note: due to time differences (I’m on KST time) you may miss the deadline, but I wanted to post this link anyway. If you miss the deadline, and want my chapbook , “Mozart Blues” let me know, and I will forward it to you.
Dear Jake,
The 19th Annual Poetry Super Highway E-Book Free-For-All is on! At midnight (pacific time) the link went live and all 67 of the e-books contributed (including yours!) are now available to the entire universe for the next 24 hours.
The download links on this new page go away tonight at midnight (the evening of December 1st. Pacific Time)
Soon after I’ll update this page replacing the download links with the number of times each e-book was downloaded.
Feel free to pass this link ( http://poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/great-poetry-e-book-free/ ) on to anyone in the world. Please don’t post a link directly to your e-book file. This artificially increases your download numbers and doesn’t give folks the opportunity to see and choose from the many other fine e-books participating. When we view the statistics, we are able to see whether the books were downloaded from the Free-For-All page or from a direct link and we subtract the direct link hits from the total.)
Thanks for making this unique project fun and successful!
Welcome to Cosmos’ annual April Poetry Madness. Last year I wrote 300 poems in one month, this year I will write less, as that was just way too much to deal with.
Today’s poems will be April 8th poems, followed by April 9th to 15th in separate postings, one per day.
I will post them as I write them, and try to update them every day or so. I will finish May 1 US time, as that will still be April 30 KST (Korea, where I currently reside.) Most will be G rated but a few may not be. I will try to label those or not post them. The topics will be wherever my mad muse takes me, and I usually don’t have a clue until I write them.
I will post here the poems I wrote based on prompts from NaPoWriMo, (the poetry’s world’s equivalence to the annual NaNoWriMo novel competition which I will enter again in November). Writers’ com’s Dew Drop-in, Poetry Super-highway, Writers Digest, and occasionally other prompts. I will write a few more each day, but not post them, as I need to build up more “unpublished poems” for future submissions.
Daily posting All poetry, Anchor, this blog, FB, Medium, PSH, Wattpad, Writing com, and Writer’s Digest.
I will post each poem, followed by the prompt, occasional author and notes, and photos. I will convert it to a podcast later, available on anchor, radio public, blog radio, Spotify, and elsewhere under the name “The World According to Cosmos: or Jake Cosmos Aller. See the following for more information on the podcasts.
At the end of the month, I will add up the total poems written this month, total posted, total not-posted, and total YTD.
I have found that this annual exercise has been a big help in helping me hone my craft as I am entirely self-taught except for having taken the Mod Po class several times. It helps me stretch my poetic muscles. It has been a lot of fun but a challenge.
He was an ex-University of Arkansas
and Dallas cowboy player
who had worked for the CIA
The agency fired him
for murdering enemies of the state
at home in contravention of agency rules,
but they retained
his services from time to time.
He supplemented his CIA payments
And bar income from money laundering,
drug smuggling, human smuggling
and other assorted crimes, big and small.
Big Daddy had lots of enemies
Many people wanted him dead
Relatives of his many victims
Of the covert wars, he waged
On behalf of his nation.
He had moved to Bangkok, Thailand
after running a bar and grill
in Little Rock for a few years,
He opened the Cosmos Bar
With the assistance of his manager.
Kuhn Lek, and her uncle
The police chief and his cousin
The biggest drug kingpin
In the northern triangle.
The Cosmos Bar
Became world-famous
The spot to go to in Bangkok.
Located in Soi Cowboy
It was an after-hours club
Secretly owned by the Thai police,
One of the few places
That served alcohol 24/7.
It was filled with
Criminals, drug dealers, government agents
Journalists, prostitutes, pimps,
spies, counter-spies, sex tourists,
tourists, undercover cops,
and assorted other low-lives,
From all over the known world.
Had the best looking woman
The best-looking travesties too,
The best beer, wine, and liquor list
In the city,
And the best burgers in town.
It looked like the Bar in Star Wars
Filled with probable human life forms
And perhaps a space alien or two.
Trouble Found Big Daddy
He was hoping to stay out of trouble
But one day trouble found him.
One day a mysterious Korean woman
Came into the bar asking for him
By his universal nickname
“Big Daddy”
Maria Lee was a Korean-American
Drop-dead gorgeous woman
Who was on the lam,
from her rich Korean husband.
She had one question for Big Daddy.
“The word in the Korean community
is that you are a man
Who knows how to launder money.
Can you launder 50 million dollars?”
“Hmm for a fee.”
“What’s the fee?”
“A night of wild sex with you.”
“Done, but only after the deed is done.”
She smiled sweetly.
He called his underworld contacts
and they laundered the 50 million dollars
and he gave her the bank receipt.
He had parked the money
in a Cayman Islands account.
That night
she honored her
agreement with Big Daddy.
The next morning
while drinking his cup of coffee,
She revealed that she had poisoned him
because she did not want anyone to know
about the transaction
and her affair with Big Daddy.
She smiled,
“Thanks, Big Daddy,
I liked last night,
You are a real stud, Big Daddy,
Perhaps that is why you are called, ‘Big Daddy’
But hey it is nothing personal, Big Daddy.”
After all,
it was just a business deal
in the end.
And that was
how trouble found Big Daddy.
Today’s prompt comes to us from this list of “all-time favorite writing prompts.” It asks you to name your alter-ego, and then describe him/her in detail. Then write in your alter-ego’s voice. Maybe your alter-ego is a streetwise detective, a superhero, or a very small goldfinch. Whoever or whatever your alternate self may be, I hope this prompt lets you stretch both your writing skills and your self-knowledge.
Watching Cats Fight in Incheon, NaPoWriMo
cat jpg
Watching two cats
Fighting alongside the sidewalk
In suburban Incheon New Airport Town.
Completely indifferent
To the humans walking around them
And the humans
were indifferent to the cats.
As they stood there fighting
And screeching at each other.
One orange one
One half-black-half-white one
Both middle age in cat years
As I sat there watching the cats
getting into it, I wondered
what they were arguing about?
But since I don’t speak cat
I didn’t know
All I know is they were screeching at each other
And almost looked like they were
about to attack each other
But one cat backed down
As the other cat stood their proverbial ground
If they were humans,
One would have pulled out a knife, or a gun
And someone would have been killed
But being mere cats
They stared at each other
And walked away.
But they kept glancing at each other
So, I knew the fight was not over
Merely postponed until a later hour.
Cats truly are the aliens
Who live among us humans
Or perhaps we are the aliens
Who live among the cats?
Creature—write a poem in the voice of some living creature that is not human.
Death of Big Daddy PSH
After Big Daddy was assassinated in Bangkok
His adult children arranged for his remains
To be brought back for a funeral
In his hometown of Little Rock.
Big Daddy, aka Sam Adams
was the man
who always had a plan.
He was an ex-University of Arkansas
and Dallas cowboy player
who had worked for the CIA
The agency fired him
for murdering enemies of the state
at home in contravention of agency rules,
but they retained
his services
from time to time.
After running a bar and grill
In Little Rock for a few years
He moved to Bangkok, Thailand
Where he opened the Cosmos Bar
With the assistance of his manager.
Kuhn Lek, and her uncle.
The police chief and his cousin
The biggest drug kingpin
In the northern triangle.
He supplemented his CIA payments
and bar income from money laundering,
drug smuggling, human smuggling
and other assorted crimes, big and small.
Big Daddy had lots of enemies
Many people wanted him dead
Relatives of his many victims
Of the covert wars, he waged
On behalf of his nation.
He was hoping to stay out of trouble
But one day trouble found him.
Big Daddy’s Funeral
The funeral was a big affair
Lots of people came to the funeral
Lots of people came to make sure
That SOB was indeed dead.
His children were hoping
To find out where his rumored
Millions of dollars were located.
Hoping that they could gain access
To the ill-gotten gains
Of his life of crime.
Big Daddy’s lawyer
Told them that his account info
Was one of many secrets
He had taken to his grave.
But they were now the owners
Of the Cosmos Club
Which was worth
millions of dollars.
His business partners were willing
To continue to run it
And send them 100 K each
For the year in royalties
Provided that they did not
Interfere in the management
Of the Cosmos Club.
They all agreed to the arrangement
And hired the lawyer
To track down the money.
The money was never found.
For his business partners
Had located it
And looted the account
Before anyone could find out.
April 8, 2022: Poetry Writing Prompt – Duane L Herrmann
This poetry writing prompt submitted by Duane L Herrmann:
“As the casket was lowered into the ground, the four adult children stood dry-eyed and looked at each other with knowing stares.”
Who was in the casket?
What did they know?
Did anyone else know?
What had the deceased done to them?
What will or did they do in response?
If you write a poem from this prompt, post it as a comment underneath the prompt in the Poetry Super Highway Facebook Group.
#napowrimo #poetry
The Fog Local Gems
Fog in SF
Note: one of my oldest poems was written in 1972 when I was 16. Revised as a Cherita.
The Fog
The Fog
Rolls in and in.
And on forever
Till the end of time
Past where once stood proud San-San.
Now there is nothing.
But bones rolling in
Forever and ever.
Rotting in the blue sunlight
Turning in the yellow clouds
filling the air
With the stench
The fear
The feel
Of a people forever dead
Merging with the fog
Filling the air.
The fog rolls in and in
Laughing as the Sun
Sinks into the purple coated sky
Above the encrusted sky of time
With the people of the earth
Just another dead civilization.
Starting in 2016 when I retired, I began posting my work on various sites and began getting my poetry, fiction, and essays published all over, including of course on my flagstaff blog post, The World According To Cosmos. Here is where you can find my work. I generally try to update my postings once a week. The blog entry is copied to LinkedIn, Twitter, and Tumblr automatically, the rest I have to manually add so it may take a while before everything is in synch. Also, since last summer, I have been podcasting weekly, using the Anchor podcast platform. I am now also writing on Medium and Wattpad. Starting next year, I hope to add regular vblogging on YouTube, advice on what software to use for that would be greatly appreciated. Please follow me on all these sites
Imaging The End Of The World Ariel Chart: International Literary Journal
No More Coffee Blues Ariel Chart: International Literary Journal
What Am I DNA Results Ariel Chart: International Literary Journal
End Times Ariel Chart: International Literary Journal
Imagining End Of The World Ariel Chart
Just Another Night In The City Of Angels Ariel Chart
The Revolution Is Coming Beatnik Cowboy, The
I’d Rather Not Mess With Sam Between Hangovers
A Million Ways To Say I Love You Blessed With Love Poems
I Still Want You Blessed With Love Poems
Ode To Valentine Day Blessed With Love Poems
Love Explained To A Space Alien Blessed With Love Poems
Slime Patrol To The Rescue Blue Nib Literary Magazine, The
The Fog Blue Nib Literary Magazine, The
Dream Girl Cherry-House Press Dreams Anthology
Dream Girl Chicken Soup For The Soul Series
Chains That Bind Me City Limits Publication
Dream Girl City Limits Publication
Various Creative Talents Unleashed
How I Married the Girl Of My Dreams Creativity Webzine
Meeting God in The Lake Creativity Webzine
Cosmic Cat from Berkeley Creativity Webzine
Meeting God in Bombay Creativity Webzine
Cosmic Dog from Goa Creativity Webzine
Buddha Cat Creativity Webzine
The Story of How We Met Creativity Webzine
Fate Intertwined Creativity Webzine
Wild Things Happen Creativity Webzine
God Drinks Coffee Creativity Webzine
Requiem for an Era Creativity Webzine
Howling at the Moon Creativity Webzine
Creativity Webzine
The Truth Shall Set You Free Creativity Webzine
My Name Is Nobody Down In The Dirt
Strangeness In The Air Down In The Dirt
Snarling Cup Of Coffee Down In The Dirt
Charles Bukowski Road Not Taken Down In The Dirt
Fallen Dreams Litter The Ground Down In The Dirt
Hitchhiking Tales Down In The Dirt
Howling at the Moon Down In The Dirt
3-5-7 Love Poem Down In The Dirt
If You Have Been Around Down In The Dirt
Foreigner Walking The Seoul Wall Down In The Dirt
Old Man Visiting His Wife’s Grave Down In The Dirt
Awaiting The Judgement Every Writer Horror Contest
Mad Bag Piper Of Berkeley Every Writer Horror Contest
Coffee Poem
Bad Craziness *
Kimchi Blues Eskimo Pie
Kimchi Blues Friends of Korea website
A New Year’S Visit To The Oregon Coast Excavation
Casino Thoughts Excavation
Winter Haiflu Failed Haiku
Indian Casino Thoughts Fiends Of Korea
Lone Foreigner Walking The Wall Of Seoul Former People, a Journal of Bangs and Whimpers
A New Year’s Visit To The Oregon Coast Former People: A Journal Of Bangs And Whimpers
Indian Casino Thoughts Former People: A Journal Of Bangs And Whimpers
Casino Thoughts Former People: A Journal Of Bangs And Whimpers
Former People: A Journal Of Bangs And Whimpers
Four Coffee Poems Former People: A Journal Of Bangs And Whimpers
Four Coffee Poems Former People: A Journal Of Bangs And Whimpers
Four Coffee Poems Former People: A Journal Of Bangs And Whimpers
Four Coffee Poems
Fiction Dream
Fiction Dream
Corona Virus Haiku Fiction Dream
Fiction Dream
Just Enough For Coffee
One Moment, One Day Fourxfour Poetry Journal
Met My Fate In Bar Room Face From Addict To Advocate
Various Haiku Journal
Hill Rag Hello Bonzai
One Night In Bombay Hello Poetry
Cosmic Cat Ode To Coffee
Cosmic Dogs
Meeting God In A Lake Horror Sleaze Trash
Meeting God In Bombay
Signs Of The Apocalypse Hypertexts, The
Hypertexts, The
Getting Lucky Hypertexts, The
Waiting For The Day Hypertexts, The
Rising Storm Hypertexts, The
All Tired And Burned Out 2020 Go Away
Toilet Gate Fitting Metaphor For Trump Era Ink Pantry (Website)
A Dream Journey Ink Pantry (Website)
Insanity Lives Ink Pantry (Website)
Interview Ink Pantry (Website)
Morning Bright, Evening Delight Ink Pantry (Website)
Reality Hits Ink Pantry (Website)
Cheating Death 22 Times Ink Pantry (Website)
Cheating Death 22 Times Ink Pantry Acadamy of Hearts and Minds ‘
Cthulhu’s Revenge Ink Pantry (Website)
Escape From Hell Ink Pantry (Website)
Ghoul Haunted Woodlands Of Weir Ink Pantry (Website)
The Bench Ink Pantry (Website)
2019 The Year That Was Ink Pantry (Website)
Dreams Ink Pantry (Website)
Fate Ink Pantry (Website)
The Oyster Speaks Up Ink Pantry (Website)
The Terrifying Teens Ink Pantry (Website)
Ink Pantry (Website)
Just An Unhinged Lunatic Ink Pantry (Website)
Ink Pantry (Website)
Total Successor Or Total Failure Ink Pantry (Website)
2021 Haiku
General Corona Appears In A Vision Inner Circle Writers’ Group Anthology Series
Cancel Culture Run Amuck
Journal Of Expressive Writing
Journal Of Expressive Writing
Ghosts Of Old Saigon Journal Of Expressive Writing
Ghosts Of The Chu Chi Tunnels Journal Of Expressive Writing
Seeing Ghosts
The Cosmic Cat From Berkeley
The Cosmic Dog From Goa Kelp Journal
Cosmic Cat Kelp Journal
Kelp Journal
Agnostic Dyslectic Wonders If There Is A Dog Kelp Journal
Cosmos’s Cosmic Calendar Kelp Journal
It’s A Dog’s Life For Me Kelp Journal
The Cosmic Dog From Goa
2021 Dawns 21 Haiku Literary Yard
Dear Republicans, What Is Wrong With You? Literary Yard
The Revolution Next Time Literary Yard
Zombie Ideas Do Not Die Literary Yard
There Is A Great Sense Of Unrest Literary Yard
Lone Foreigner Hiking The Seoul City Walls Literary Yard
Literary Yard
Literary Yard
Dream Love Questions Sekoku Local Gem
15 Day Challenge Local gem
Halloween poetry collection Local Gem
Dear Microsoft Why I Left You Lotus Eater
Local Gems Poetry Press
A Million Ways To Say I Love You Blessed with Love
Ode To Love On Valentine’s Day Blessed with Love
One Night in Bangkok Man in the Street
Market Rules Us All Minnie’s Diary: A Southern Literary Review
White Lady
The Opiate
God’s Confession Scarlet Leaf
Opiate
Bad Craziness
Otherwise Engaged
Cats
In Seach Of America Outlaw Poetry
It Is A Gun Situation, Mr. President Outlaw Poetry
Prayer Works Outlaw Poetry
I Don’t Get It Outlaw Poetry
Dear Governor Abbot Outlaw Poetry
When Will This Madness End – Short Version Outlaw Poetry
Lost And Found Outlaw Poetry
My Mother’s History Outlaw Poetry
Conversation With Teddy Roosevelt Outlaw Poetry
Watching Cats Hunt Outlaw Poetry
End Of America Outlaw Poetry
Watching The News As 110,000 Americans Die Plethora Blogazine
Wearing A Mask Is Not A Political Statement Plethora Blogazine
Wearing Masks Saves Life Plethora Blogazine
Who Are You Going To Believe, Me Or Your Lying Eye Plethora Blogazine
Back Of The Bus The Poet on the Road
Bus Ride The Poet on the Road Poet The Poet on the Road
Cross Country Trip Part One The Poet on the Road
Hitchhiking Tales The Poet on the Road
Buddha Cat Poet, The
Meeting God In A Lake Poet, The
Best Friend For 60 Years Poet, The
My Memory Bank Poet, The
Best Friend In The Universe Poet, The
Cats Poetryezine
Buddha Cat Poetryezine
Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay Poetryezine
Walking By A Winter’s Frozen Lake Poetryezine
Playing The Piano At The End Of Time Poetryezine
Mad Mask Fear Poetryezine
News Is Grim Poetryezine
Poetry And Covid
Various Poetry And Covid
Snarling Cup Of Coffee Chapbook Poetry Nook Weekly Contest
Merry Christmas From ATT Poetry 24
Mr. President, It Is A Gun Situation Poetry 24
Poetry 24
The Best Is Yet To Come Found Poem Poetry 24
Evergreen Trees Pure Haiku
Falling Rain Qutub Minar Review
Qutub Minar Review
Gathering Storm Clouds Random Poetree
Nebulous Night Of Darkness Random Poetree
Dejavu All Over Again Random Poetree
Failure Is Not An Option Random Poetree
General Failure Reading Disk Drive Raven Cage Zine
On Failure Raven Cage Zine
Raven Cage Zine
270,000 Corona Ghosts Crash The President’s Party Raven Cage Zine
Corona Ghosts Crash The Party Raven Cage Zine
Partying While People Die Raven Cage Zine
Fake Calls Rejected Manuscripts
Hell Is Here To Stay Rejected Manuscripts
Rejected Manuscripts
Fake Mosquitos
Lost River Sandha Review
Old Cars Are King Of The Road Again River Sandha Review
Reflections Rosette Maleficarum
Dragon Flies In My Mind Rosette Maleficarum
One Crazy Day Rosette Maleficarum
2019 The Year That Was Rosette Maleficarum
Dreams Scarlet Leaf Review
Fate Scarlet Leaf Review
The Oyster Speaks Up Scarlet Leaf Review
The Terrifying Teens Scarlet Leaf Review
Scarlet Leaf Review
Green Trees Don’t Make It Scarlet Leaf Review
Slowly Unperceived Reality Scarlet Leaf Review
Slowly Unperceived Reality Scarlet Leaf Review
Brain Fever Scryptic defunct
Evil Within Scryptic defunct
Mocking Laughter Scryptic defunct
Black Vultures Scryptic defunct
Green Trees Don’t Make It Sick Lit Magazine
Siren Song Of Doom Sick Lit Magazine
Various Sixfold
Corona Poems Soft Cartel
Dora The Galactic Explorer Soft Cartel
Every Day I Turn On The News
Chaos Spillwords Press
Mocking Faces Spillwords Press
Just Enough For Coffee Spillwords Press
Waiting For The Grim Reaper’S Decision Spillwords Press
The Virus King Cried Subterranean Blue Poetry
Cosmic Cat From Berkeley Swenk
Cats Swenk
The Buddha Cat Of Edsall Road Swenk
Demon Cat Swenk
Cat Fight In Incheon Swenk
Love Haiku The Universe Journal
Night Terrors The Universe Journal
Jack Daniels Failed Intervention Unlikely Story
The Trial Of The Poet Tiger Shark
Life In-Between Tiger Shark
Love Haiku Tigershark
I Like My Coffee Tigershark
Love Haku 1 Tigershark
Lost And Found Tigershark
The Virus King Cried Tigershark
1984 Is Here To Stay Tuck
The Dogs Of War Are Howling Tuck
Just Enough For Coffee Tuck
Donald Trump And The Vulgarians Rise To Power Tuck
Lost And found Two Drops Of Ink
Strong Wine Two Drops Of Ink
Voices Of My Doom Two Drops Of Ink
Dora The Galactic Explorer Two Drops Of Ink
Last Year Of American Greatness Two Drops Of Ink
Mocking Faces Two Drops Of Ink
Morning Light Two Drops Of Ink
Wild Man Sits In Gilded Cage Two Drops Of Ink
Climate Change Two Drops Of Ink
The Lion King Speaks Up Two Drops Of Ink
Wild Things Run Amuk Two Drops Of Ink
Wild Things Run Amuk Two Drops Of Ink
Yesterday Morning Two Drops Of Ink
Howling At The Moon Two Drops Of Ink
No More Coffee Blues Two Drops Of Ink
Ode To Coffee Two Drops Of Ink
Slease 2 Two Drops Of Ink
Snarling Cup Of Coffee Ugly Writers, The
When Will This Darkness End Ugly Writers, The
Ugly Writers, The
Buddha Cat Universe Journal, The
Cats Universe Journal, The
Cats Fighting In Incheon Universe Journal, The
Cosmic Cats Universe Journal, The Universe Journal, The
Demon Cat Universe Journal, The
Best Friend In The Universe Whispers Defunct
Life’s Journey Whispers Defunct
Life In Between Whispers Defunct
News Is Grim Writer’s Egg Magazine
Wearing A Mask Is Not A Political Statement Writer’s Egg Magazine
Corona Ghosts Crash The Party Writer’s Egg Magazine
Politicians Lying As People Lay Dying Writer’s Egg Magazine
Thanksgiving Thoughts Writer’s Egg Magazine
Writer’s Egg Magazine
American Dream Writer’s Egg Magazine
Miscellaneous Publication Sites Writer’s Egg Magazine
Writer’s Egg Magazine
3 Am Nightmares
Your One Phone Call
Coffee Desires Miscellaneous Publication Sites
God Does Not Talk To Idiots Triferta Poem A Thon
Huricanes From Hell Triferta Poem A Thon
It Can’t Happen Here Triferta Poem A Thon
Kim Vs. Trump Twitter War -In Memorial Of Kim Il Sung’s The Great Leader’s Birthday Triferta Poem A Thon
Masters Of The Universe Triferta Poem A Thon
Microsoft How I Hate You Triferta Poem A Thon
More Coffee Blues Triferta Poem A Thon
No More Coffee Blues Triferta Poem A Thon
Triferta Poem A Thon
Rambling Man Triferta Poem A Thon
Rambling Man -Where Do I Belong? Triferta Poem A Thon
Rapid City Nowhere Triferta Poem A Thon
Suburban Laundromat Blues Triferta Poem A Thon
The Storm Is Coming Triferta Poem A Thon
Facing Life’s Challenges Together Triferta Poem A Thon
Fires Buring Bright Triferta Poem A Thon
God Drinks Coffee Triferta Poem A Thon
Imagining End Of The World Triferta Poem A Thon
Incheon 2016 Triferta Poem A Thon Triferta Poem A Thon
Looking Out My Window Triferta Poem A Thon
Lost And Found Triferta Poem A Thon
My Soul Wants To Fly Triferta Poem A Thon
Rapid City Nowhere Triferta Poem A Thon
The Revolution Is Coming Triferta Poem A Thon
Wagontire, Oregon Triferta Poem A Thon
Walking Through The Woods Of Time Triferta Poem A Thon
Zombie Apocalypse Triferta Poem A Thon
Heading To Memphis Triferta Poem A Thon
One Mystic Shrouded Night Triferta Poem A Thon
Idiots In High Places Triferta Poem A Thon
Cosmos’s Cosmic Calendar Triferta Poem A Thon
. Landlord Blues Triferta Poem A Thon
. Berkeley California Triferta Poem A Thon
. Chains That Bind Us Triferta Poem A Thon
. Changes Triferta Poem A Thon
. Coffee Revolution Triferta Poem A Thon
. COSTCO Triferta Poem A Thon
. Dental Torture Blues Triferta Poem A Thon
. Emperor Donald The Ist Triferta Poem A Thon
. Everything Will Be All Right Triferta Poem A Thon
. Ghosts From World War 11 Triferta Poem A Thon
. Life Is Wonderful Triferta Poem A Thon
. Lithia Springs Triferta Poem A Thon
. Love Jones Triferta Poem A Thon
. My Daily Hot Coffee Fix Triferta Poem A Thon
. No More Coffee Blues Triferta Poem A Thon
. Pane E Circus 2017 Redux Triferta Poem A Thon
. Sandwich Choices Triferta Poem A Thon
. Secret Agency Man Triferta Poem A Thon
. The Decline Of America Triferta Poem A Thon
. The Dogs Of War Are Howling Triferta Poem A Thon
. Voices Of My Doom Triferta Poem A Thon
. Walls Triferta Poem A Thon
. Watching Cats Hunt Triferta Poem A Thon
. Where Do You And I Begin? Triferta Poem A Thon
. Why I Am Not A Christian Easter Thoughts Triferta Poem A Thon
. August Moods Triferta Poem A Thon
. Capitol Hill In The Spring Triferta Poem A Thon
. Spring Love Thoughts Triferta Poem A Thon
. Spring Time In Oregon Triferta Poem A Thon
. The Falling Rain Triferta Poem A Thon
“Dental Blues” Triferta Poem A Thon
“Meeting God In The Lake” Triferta Poem A Thon
“The Cosmic Cat In Berkeley” Triferta Poem A Thon
“The God Dog In Goa” Triferta Poem A Thon
Lost And Found Triferta Poem A Thon
1984 Lives On Triferta Poem A Thon
Decline Of America Scarlet Leaf Review
Dogs Of War Howling Scarlet Leaf Review
My Mother’s History Scarlet Leaf Review
Donald Trump And The Vulgarians Rise To Power Tuck
Imagining The End Of The World Tuck
No More Coffee Blues * Hill Rag
A Million Ways To Say I Love You Blessed Love Poems
American Dream Your One Phone Call
Best Friend In The Universe Whisphers
Black Vultures Scryptic
Additional Publication Vendue Need to be Confirmed
Conversation With Teddy Roosevelt
Strong Wine
Watching Cats Hunt
Dragon Flies In My Mind
The Shape Of History
Voices Of My Doom
Cats
Rapid City Nowhere
Reflections
. Yesterday Morning
Suburban Laundromat Blues
Blue Blues
Brain Fever
Capital Hill In The Spring
Cats Hunting
Chains That Bind
Charles Bukowski Road Not Chosen
Coffee My Secret Lover
Coffee Revolution
Coffee The Drink Of Revolutionaries
Confucian Thought For The Modern Era
Decline Of America
Dogs Of War Howling
Donald Trump Our Compassionate Dear Leader
Dream Girl
Enemy Of The People
Fallen Dreams Litter The Ground
God Drinks Coffee
How I Married Girl Of My Dreams
Howling At The Moon
I Like My Coffee
Jesus Must Die Again
Lost And Found
Donald Trump And The Vulgarians Rise To Power
Strong Wine
The Shape Of History
Yesterday Morning
Corona Ghosts Stalk The President
Corona Virus Stalks Me
General Corona Leads His Troops
A New Year’S Visit To The Oregon Coast
Love Conquers Hate
Bus Fantasy
Snarling Cup of Coffee Chapbook Poetry Superhighway
April 2021 chapbook Poetry Superhighway
Writers Digest April 2021 contest
April 2020 contest
All poetry
Duane’s poetry
Fan story
Poetry Circle
Hello Poetry
Poetry Nook
Poetry Mangum Opus
Sweek
Writing com
I grew up in Berkeley, California, and Washington DC, and went to College in Stockton, California. After college, lived five years in Korea as a Peace Corps volunteer and teaching ESL. I returned to the US to Seattle for graduate school. Afterward, I joined the Foreign Service where I lived and worked in over ten countries. I retired and lived in Korea and the west coast.
What is the greatest thing about the place you call home?
I live in Youngjando island, South Korea near the Incheon Airport. I live in a garden city. There is a magnificent park – the world peace forest behind my house and a nice mountain to hike in. Over 300 restaurants are within walking distance of my house. There are five beaches ten minutes’ drive away, Incheon is nearby as is Seoul.
What turns you on creatively?
Almost all my work starts with a dream. I don’t dream dreams; I dream movies, filled with action, sound, music, smells many times in a completely different world. I have been writing a dream journal for many years. I write five to ten dreams per day, saving them as stand-alone flash fiction, and also write one to ten poems per day.
What is your favorite word, and can you use it in a poetic sentence?
One of my favorite words is my own portmanteau scumbaggery which I define as the actions of a ”Scumbag”.
The scumbaggery Of Texas Senator Ted Cruz Utterly confounds
What is your pet peeve?
Racism, sexism, homophobia, bigotry, right-wing nutcases, left-wing zealots, Christian holy rollers, gun violence, police misconduct, anti-Asian hate crimes, hate crimes, America Firsters, QAnon conspiracy theorists, neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, Proud Boys, Boogaloo Bois, and the Oath Keeper militia, etc. I don’t like ”gangsta rap”, “heavy metal”, or “country music”. I am a pragmatist and don’t care about ideological correctness.
What defines Jake Cosmos Aller?
I grew up in Berkeley and DC. I lived all over the world, visiting 45 countries and all 50 states. I served my country as a foreign service officer, and Peace Corps volunteer and taught ESL and government overseas. But what is more important than anything is that I married the girl of my dreams who became my wife 40 years ago.
John (“Jake”) Cosmos Aller is a novelist, poet, and former Foreign Service officer having served 27 years with the U.S. State Department serving in over ten countries including Korea, Thailand, India, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Spain. He has traveled to over 50 countries, and 49 out of 50 states. He speaks Korean, Thai, Spanish and studied Chinese, Hindi and Arabic.
Where is my home? Where do I belong?
I really don’t know, always moving on to another place
Moved every other year it seems the last 45 years
Traveled to 49 states, 45 countries, drove across the U.S. six times
Lived in Berkeley, Yakima, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, DC, Oregon, Korea, Thailand, India, The Eastern Caribbean, and Spain
Where do I belong? Where is my home?
Neither here nor there, nowhere and everywhere
And so is that my rambling man’s fate
Never to really belong anywhere at all
Dark Dangerous Thoughts
dark dangerous thoughts
An old man wakes up
Confronting the dark dangerous thoughts
The demons of the night
That haunt his dreams
And his life
He looks out at the dawning sun
And his sleeping wife
And realizes that it will be all right
And dismisses the demons of the night
Back to their caves in his mind
And he gets up
To take the dawning day
In Search of America
Hitchhiking Tales
hitch hikers
When I was young and foolish
Broke and stubborn
I hitchhiked across the USA
Started in Salt Lake City
Where my greyhound bus pass
Was stolen
The station manager
Could have helped me
But refused to do so
Threaten to call the cops
When I grabbed my bags
Without the stolen tags
I said
Go ahead
But I am so out of here
Wondered about Salt Lake City
Went to a bar
Found I had to buy my booze
Next door
And they would mix it for me
Had to order food too
After a bloody Mary
And a burger
I walked about town
Saw the Mormon Temple
Finally about 3 pm
It was time to hit the road
Did not look back
Ended up in Cody Wyoming
Got a room shower
Steak beer
Using my rapidly depleted cash
Spent 25 dollars
Money really went far
Back in those days
A band of professional
Communist agitators
Gave me a ride
To Des Moines
Lots of weed, booze
And politics later
Got off the road
Slept outside
Next day
A beautiful woman
Drove me to near Chicago
In a red mustang
Might have been
The girl in the song
Took it easy
Digging her vibe
She invited home
But was not sure
If her estranged husband
Would welcome me
So I being foolish
And inexperienced with women
Did not go to her place
And always regretted
That I had lost
My chance that day
Then on to Chicago
Several rides later
Visited friends
Hit the road again
A series of uneventful rides
With truckers
And others
And a week later
I ended in New York City
Slept along the way
In cars
In truck stops
In highway rest stops
Always moving
Always going
None stop talking
And lots of free weed
And beer
And conversation
One more memorable ride
Occurred outside Albany
On my return to Chicago
A middle age creepy looking man
Picked me up
In a brand new Cadillac
He was he said a dynamite deliverer
For the Mafia
Went to various places
To blow up shit
He hated a lot of people
Particularly hippies from California
And Jewish people
Looking at me to confirm
That I was both
I told him that I lived in New York
And had never been to California
And although I might look Jewish
As I what was called back in the day
A “Jewfro”
I was not Jewish
Many years later I discovered
That I am indeed part Jewish
But then I did not know
And I felt a bit of strategic information
Might keep me alive
Then I realized that he was just jiving with me
And we relaxed
And he pulled out some weed
And beer
And we mellowed out
But I believe that he really was with the mob
Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
A real made Italian made mafia member
By Chicago
I had enough
I called my Dad
Told him what had happened
Wanted a ticket home
And he sent me a ticket
And 500 dollars
And I went home
I told him I would tell him
My tales someday
But never did
I learned so much
About my fellow Americans
And the strange vibe
That was 1975
And now it is too late
But I wanted to finally
Tell the world
I am a bus rider
That makes me unusual
For a white male
From an upper middle class family
Our people are not bus riders
Though some are subway riders
Bus riders are other people
The poor, minorities, immigrants
People who don’t drive
Because they are blind
Or have a DUI
And in my case
I don’t drive
Because I have bad vision
And bad coordination
Just never got the hang
Of the whole driving thing
Fortunately for me
My wife does the driving
But I still take the bus
From time to time
I rode the AC buses in Berkeley
As a child
Line 67, line 51, line 43 F bus
Rode them long before BART came along
And afterwards as well
As an adult seldom rode the bus
But when I did so
I was always impressed
By the sheer diversity
Of the bus riding property
Hundreds of languages
All sorts of sexual orientation
Some were white
Most were not
Most of my fellow passengers
Were nice enough
Some were friendly
And some were lost
In their own thoughts
And a few
Were scary looking dudes
With the look
Of someone who had done time
And were capable of more violence
I also rode the bus
In Seattle as a graduate student
A lot of fellow UW students
And the usual immigrants
Minorities etc
And some white people
Commuting
And in DC
Over the years
I rode a lot of buses
Mostly to and from the metro
But I got to know
And love the DC buses as well
I also took the greyhound bus
Across the country
Several times over the years
All over the U.S.
From Bay Area to Stockton
From Bay Area to Clear Lake
From Bay area to NYC
NYC to DC
All over the USA
Taking the Greyhound
Was always an adventure
Met a lot of interesting people
As people on long distant bus rides
Tend to open up and talk
To pass the time away
Overseas I took the bus
All over
In India, in Barbados
In Spain and in Korea
The Korean buses
For many years
Were difficult for foreign visitors
As the signs were all in Korean
Most have signs
Now in English, Chinese and Korean
And are much more foreigner friendly
Riding the bus
In America
Allows one access
To the underbelly of American society
The poor, the marginalized
The immigrant communities
That many middle-class white people
Just never see
And for that reason
I am glad
That I am a bus rider.
I have a small request to make. I want to expand my followers on all my platforms. So if you have not signed up yet for this blog, or followed me on intraframe, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, or Bloglovin or listened to my podcast on Spotify please do so now.
This is the fifth and perhaps final time I am doing the April poetry challenge. The goal is to write at least one poem per day. I am averaging about eight per day and posting four reserving four as “unpublished”. I am basing the poems on prompts from “Writing com Dew Drop Inn”, “Writers Digest”, “Poetry Superhighway” and “NaPoWrMo” prompt daily prompts and on “Pensively Prompt’ et all daily prompts. I am combining prompts where possible. I will post these here in batches every five days or so.. Each poem will have an image that helped inspired the poem. All postings will be podcasted a few days later on Spotify and elsewhere. Each posting will be a separate posting, but the index will be cumulative. The final posting will have the complete list of all poems written whether posted or not. Comments welcome but please keep it civil. Some of my poetry tends to be a bit “in your face” or “political” from a “leftwing perspective.” If it offends you in some way, please accept my apologies in advance. That is never my intent.
First Posting April 1 To April 5
April 1
Warm Up Poem Every Day I Turn on My Computer “Writers Digest”
Coffee Pot Blues “Poetry Superhighway Prompt” Prompt
Who Is Jake Cosmos Aller? “Writer’s Digest” Prompt
“Good Golly Miss Molly,” A Dew-Drop A Day in April, “Writing com Dew Drop Inn”
“Sam Adams Wakes Up Dead “NaPoWrMo” prompt Poetry
April 2
Surprise/Haiku Writing Com Dew Drop In
Modern connections Writers digest prompt
Life as an Expat In Korea – Poetry Superhighway prompt
Falling in Love with My Dream Girl
The Future is Here writers digest
April 3
Superman On Mars Napowrmo Cross Post Writer Digest April 4th!
Cat People Cross Post Weather Poem Writing Com April 4th Prompt
Mirror Poem Pensively Cross Post Poetry Superhighway
April 4
Errors in My Life
Little Houses on The Hill Side
Alone NaPoWrMo prompt
April 5
The First Time I Saw Her -writer digest
Driving the world in my Lexus Poetry Superhighway
Potential Mistake Writers Digest Dew Drop In Prompt
Poetry From the Visa Line Poetry Superhighway
“Writer’s Digest” Prompt
“Writer’s Digest”: for today’s prompt, write a warm-up poem. The warm-up could be related to sports, like warming up before a baseball game or track race. Or it could be about a computer warming up, the weather warming up, or even a relationship warming up.
I hope everyone is warmed up for some major poeming in April
That everything will work right
Usually, I encounter numerous errors
Non-response errors
Spinning blue balls
Computer thinking
How can I mess
With my master’a head errors
Refusing
To open documents
Mysterious haiku-like error messages
2hat makes sense only to computer geeks
From the planet Mrs8
Saying the file is open
And blocked for use
By the administrator
But I am the
Damn administrator!
And I did not block the document
Or can’t open the document
Due to a dialogue box
Close the dialogue box
To proceed
But there is no dialogue box
Just more lies
From my computer
Designed to drive me
Quite mad
So sad
So bad
Want to shoot my computer
Put it out of its mystery
Joining the other five dead
Computers in my house
Am I a computer serial killer?
Perhaps that is why
Do they refuse to work for me?
Are they afraid of me?
Sometimes they say
They can’t find the document
Which just kicked me out of
Five minutes ago
Or the computer says
It can’t save a document
With the name of an open document
But I just saved the open document
Under the same name
Five minutes ago
The latest trick
the change case function
is now working
on a random basis
some times it takes ten tries
before it will work
or not
Usually
After half an hour
These errors recede
But I often have to reboot
The computer
Giving it the old kick up the head
Of a stubborn mule treatment
Before it gets to the point
And gets to work
To give Microsoft some credit
These errors are less frequent
Down to 40% of the time
When I first open a document
Down from 90% error rates
Success in a way
I complained to Microsoft
Sent them a nice frown message
But I would be shocked
If they ever respond
Just not something
That they would do
Part of their “superior”
Listen to their customer
Customer Friendly service
No doubt
Friday, April 2
For posting
“Poetry Superhighway Prompt” Prompt
Pick an object where you live and write a poem in the voice of that object describing how they spent this last year, during the pandemic. Think about “what I did last summer” type of essays you may have written in school. How did the events of the past year impact this object? Are there any aspects of the past year that the object particularly liked or disliked, and if so why? What does the object think about you, and your behavior over the past year? Feel free to use humor.
Coffee Pot Blues
need more coffee
The coffee pot sighed
He was getting so tired
Of the whole Covid thing
Every morning his master
Would make himself two cups of coffee
Using him to make the coffee
The worst thing
About this covid thing
It keeps them home
For almost one and half years
He wanted them to just leave
So, he could have
Some peace
And not have to work
Every damn day
As their mechanical slave
But did they ask for his opinion
They most certainly not
Much to his dismay
For today’s prompt, write an introductory poem. Introduce yourself, introduce a friend, or introduce a stranger. If you don’t wish to introduce yourself, consider writing a persona poem (a poem in which you write from someone else’s point of view like Emily Dickinson or a bumblebee). Of course, you could also introduce a problem, solution, or just a situation. Have fun with it!
Who Is Jake Cosmos Aller?
jake aller fb
Who is Jake Cosmos Aller?
You asked me
Who am I?
And thanks for asking me
I am Jake Cosmos Aller
The only one
65 years old
Retired from the government service
Living in Korea
Grew up in Berkeley, California
Lived all over the world
Did so many things
And now I am a published writer
But what is more important
Is this
When I was a young man
I met and married
the girl of my dreams
She walked out of my dreams
Into my life almost 40 years ago
That was the date
I met my fate
And started my life
With the love of my life
Who became my wife?
In the end
That is all that matters
My friends.
Folly in Rhyme (some kind of folly in some kind of rhyme, subtle or overt)
Good Golly, Miss Molly
Good golly,
Miss molly
What a bit of folly
Let’s be jolly
Have a red-hot tamale
“NaPoWrMo” Prompt
And without further ado, our daily prompt (optional, as always)! Sometimes, writing poetry is a matter of getting outside of your head, and learning to see the world in a new way. To an extent, you have to “derange” yourself – make the world strange and see it as a stranger might. To help you do that, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem inspired by this animated version of “seductive fantasy” by Sun Ra and his Orchestra. If you don’t feel after watching it a little bit like the top of your head’s been taken off, and your thoughts are given a good stir – well, maybe you are already living in a state of heightened poetic awareness!
Sam Adams Woke Up Dead
He had met a strange man
In a strange bar, in a strange land
The man told him
Beware, today is the date
You will meet your fate
Sam Adams drank too much
Twenty drinks too sober
Drank until he died
Found himself in a huge room
With hundreds of people milling about
The hangover from h … pounding his head
Sam Adams groans,
Shouting out
Where am I?
“In limbo, my friend, in limbo”
Growled, Mr. GR, the grim reaper
Dressed in a sharp, expensive, tailored black suit
Wearing cool sunglasses
State your name
Sam Adams
Hmm
My Dude, my man, bro
Good news for you
Not for me
There may be a mistake
But what the hey,
The records are never fake
Not yet the date
For you to meet your fate
Go back to your mate
He found himself
Home with his wife
The love of his long life
Wondering until late
If it had happened?
What was his fate?
He asked her
Did I go out last night?
What, no you’ve been here
He explained what had happened
She said it was just a bad dream
Covid fears had kept them home
The phone rang
It was the man from the bar
Did you have an interesting night?
Oh well, Mr. GR comes for us all
Soon you will meet your fate
But not on this date
Hey lets go out
For a drink again
Sam Adams demured
Did not trust
His new drinking buddy
The White Rabbit Beckons Sam Adams – “NaPoWrMo Prompt”
One morning
After a night of drinking
And drug binging
Sam Adams woke up
Went for a walk
To clear his pounding head
He saw a white rabbit
Who said to Sam
” Join me Good, Sir
And we will go
On a journey
Of your life
Follow me down
The rabbit holes
Of life
Take this first he said
It will cure your hangover
And allow you to enter
An alternative reality”
Sam took the pill
Washed it down
With a beer
And disappeared
Into wonderland
Never to be seen again
Saturday, April 2, 2021
‘Writer’s Digest Prompt” to write a “Communication” Poem
Modern Communication
In this day of social distancing
We all have thousands
Of virtual friends
Facebook friends, social media fans
Zoom buddies and the like
But few people
Have real old-fashioned friends
And in the new social distancing world
Meeting people the old-fashioned way
Is becoming rarer and rarer
As people develop their virtual friends
Real live friends are fewer and fewer
We are so hyper-connected
Yet many people are so alone
In their hearts
Starting at their smartphones
Connecting but not connecting
“Writing com Dew Drop Inn” Prompt, Surprise/haiku
Cats they offer us
Plenty of things to ponder
We post videos
“NaPoWrMo” prompt cross-post writer digest April 4th!
Personal universe deck
(Michael McClure)
Your universe exemplified in 100 words.
Rules:
These words are to exemplify your past, present, and (ideally) your future.
The words must sound good together, even beautiful, to you.
Your good side and bad side must be reflected.
You can make up a word or two if you have feelings that current words can’t express.
Use concrete words.
Words should be root words, no words ending in “ing,” “ly” or “yes.” No plural words. Reduce words to their most concrete, original, basic grammatical structure.
Use specific words, not categories. Beef instead of meat. Lily instead of the flower.
Divide 80 of the 100 words evenly among sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, sixteen each. (to achieve derangement of the senses, of which Rimbaud spoke.)
Use free association to determine the words.
Use ten words of movement. Again, no “ing” words.
Elect the words in isolation, preferably alone, with no distractions, in candlelight. Approximate a meditative state. Even the cat must not bother you.
One or two words will be parts of the body. It does not have to be your body. It can be the body of a mother or lover.
Include some words for personal heroes or sheroes, places in the universe, invented words, times of night or day, symbolic signs like astrological signs, totemic animals, birds, and plants, and only one abstraction. What is the most significant abstraction in your life? You should not brood on it; you should possibly take the first answer that comes into your head. Patriotism, prayer, and thriftiness are three examples.
If the deck is done correctly, you will get a little high from it.
Get at least 50 three-by-five index cards.
Write each word in big letters on one side of each card. Each side of each of the fifty cards should end up with a word.
Use the cards to play games, make conversations, tell jokes, make poems.
Comment: 100 words were too much to deal with, so I chose 50 words. I did not have index cards, so I did it on my computer. Here is my result. It was an interesting project. End Comment
Sight
Light
Dark
Dim
Bright
Sun
Moon
Red
Blue
Sounds
Loud
Soft
Shout
Whispers
Talk
Noise
Ring
Yell
Taste
Sweet
Sour
Bitter
Medicine
Coffee
Tea
Beef
Chicken
Smell
Fragrance
Rose
Lavender
Pepermint
Garlic
Butter
Eggs
Fish
Movement
Run
Walk
Stretch
Yoga
Stand
Sit
Fly
Swim
Heroes
Superman
Places in the cosmos
Mars
Invented word
Scumbagary
Totemic animals
Wolf
Astrological sign
Scorpio
Time of day
dawn
Bird
Parakeet
Plant
Peppermint
Abstract word
Love
Superman on Mars Poem
Superman one day
In the early dawn
Dismayed by the scumbagery
Of the people of the earth
Decided to fly to mars
He took with him
Super wolf
and super parakeet
His pets from krypton
It was his birthday
He was a Scorpio
He set up camp
Drank peppermint tea
And contemplated
The power of love
Thinking of Lois lane
And the humans
He had learned to love
Cat People Cross-post Weather Poem “Writing Com Dew Drop Inn” April 4th prompt
evil cat
The cat people
Go out in bad weather
To make sure
That the wild cats
Are fed and taken care of
The cats respond
With love and affection
Stepping out of the cold rain
April 3, 2021: “Poetry Superhighway Prompt”/Pensively Prompt Use Homophone words
Write a mirror/selfie poem. See “mirror” by Sylvia Plath.
Our homophones this week are:
Err -to make a mistake
Heir – one who will inherit
and
Base – the bottom support for anything
Bass – the lowest musical pitch or range
In my life
I have many a number
Of errors
I was heir
To a rich family tradition
Prominent father
A unique one of a kind mother
The biggest error I made
Was to not get into politics
I had a base of sorts
In Berkeley, my hometown
I never did
The other error
Was that I never could sing
Carry a tune
I was a bass singer
Growling “Howling Wolf”
Kind of voice
But “Oberlin Conservatory”
Had a requirement
That all musicians
Could sing and keep
A tune
Because I made an error
In that simple task
I failed my first year
Of college
Our daily optional prompt. Poetry often takes us to strange places – to feelings and actions that are hard to express except through the medium of a poem. To the “liminal,” in other words – a place or sensation that exists at or on both sides of a boundary or threshold, neither one thing nor the other, but something betwixt and between.
On the hill-side
Filled with lonely people
Lost in their virtual world
Connecting with millions
Of virtual friends around the world
Ignoring the people
Right down the street
Everyone lost in cyberspace
While all around them
People are lonely, hurting
And need real people
But no one cares
Everyone stays at home
Turning out the chaos outside
April 4
“NaPoWrMo” prompt prompt
And now, for today’s (optional) prompt. In the world of well-known poems, maybe there’s no gem quite so hoary as Robert frost’s “the road not taken.” Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem about your road not taken – about a choice of yours that has “made all the difference,” and what might have happened had you made a different choice.
Falling in Love with My Deam Woman
When I was a young man
I dreamt of meeting a woman
For eight years she haunted my dreams
Then I met her in Korea
Where I was teaching
For the U.S. Army
After finishing the peace corps
I had a choice
Follow my heart
Seize the moment
Be with her
Or leave Korea
Within a month
To go to graduate school
I decided to postpone
My graduate school
For one year
Got a deferred admission
And joined the woman
Of my dreams
Thinking back
I had no real choice
But to choose to walk
The path of life
With my dream girl
And that has made
All the difference
In the world
“Writer’s Digest”
For today’s prompt, I want you to answer the question, “what does the future hold?” then, make your answer the title of your poem and write your poem. Your answer could a general idea about the future like “robots will rule the world” or more personal things like “veggie pizza and sweet tea.” even if it’s not in your title, I’m hopeful the future holds a lot more poeming.
The future is here
They say we live in an sf world
Everyday sf stories become real
Ai proliferating
With the challenges
Of the future
Overwhelming us all
Where it ends
My friends are anyone guess
All I have is questions
Will the promise
Of technological marvels
Benefiting us all come to the past
Or will it lead to a world
Where the powerful
Control the technology
Will a real ai be a god-like figure
Will humanity become nothing
But slaves to the ai supermini
That may be the future
Coming at us
The future is here
I don’t know
Whether to fear
The future or embrace it
April 5
“Poetry Superhighway Prompt” Imagine you have made your life in another country. What excited you most? Which aspect of that new life was the most difficult to conquer?
Life as A Retired Ex-Pat in Korea
korean dinner
Korea has become a second home
For me
I have in-laws
And some old friends
It is a tough place
For foreigners
I will always be an outsider
The language is hard
I still struggle daily
But it is an interesting dynamic place
The food is mostly outstanding
And I am now addicted to k drama
And my daily kimchi fix
There were a lot of things to do
Before the covid nightmare
Let to a partial shut down
in the end, I feel safer here
Than in the gun-crazed,
At times violent
Covid pandemic
Spreading America
I still love in my heart,
But for now
I am here
In my second home
April 6th
“Pensively Prompt ‘cross-post PSH prompt
They say smell triggers memories better than any other sense. But sometimes you’ll hear a song that brings you back to your teenage years or see a park that reminds you of your childhood.
THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Choose either sight, sound, or smell, and write a memory it triggers in you.
Driving the World in My Lexus
We have had a Lexus
For several years
A black ES350
We bought it at an auction
Drove all over the world
In that car
With my lovely wife
By my side
Drove across Spain
Drove across the country
10 thousand miles
31 states
Drove around Korea
Where we now live
I love my Lexus
But more importantly
Love my wife
The love of my life
She is always there
Everywhere we go
In this wide world
The First Time I Saw Her “Writers Digest”
Happy Monday! Let’s put the pedal to the metal and keep poeming.
For today’s prompt, take the phrase “the first (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “the first kiss,” “the first day of the month,” and/or “the first time I rode a bike” (which, by the way, ended with me in a fence because we didn’t cover how to brake).
The First Time I Saw Her
When did I first see my wife?
The love of my life
When did we meet?
Was it when I first dreamt?
Of her in 1974?
Was it when she walked
Off a bus into my life
In 1982?
Does it matter
When I first saw her?
I knew I had met my fate
On that date
Later she became my mate
“NaPoWrMo” prompt alone
This prompt challenges you to find a poem, and then write a new poem that has the shape of the original, and in which every line starts with the first letter of the corresponding line in the original poem. If I used Roethke’s poem as my model, for example, the first line would start with “I,” the second line with “w,” and the third line with “a.” And I would try to make all my lines neither super-short nor overlong but have about ten syllables. I would also have my poem take the form of four, seven-line stanzas. I have found this prompt particularly inspiring when I use a base poem that mixes long and short lines, or stanzas of different lengths. Any poem will do as a jumping-off point, but if you’re having trouble finding one, perhaps you might consider Mary’s stylist’s “we think we do not have medieval eyes” or for something shorter, Natalie Shapiro’s “Pennsylvania.”
No Longer Alone from the First Moment
From the first moment
At that date
At that place
Met my fate
Fate intervened in my wife
Meeting her changed my life
All of it
That was the date
On which I met my fate
The mystery which binds me still—
From that moment forward
From that date forever
From then to now
We have been together
Onward we fall in love
Alone based on Edgar Allen Poe’s Alone
From childhood’s hour, I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source, I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I loved—I loved alone—
Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that ‘round me roll’s
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view—
“Writing com Dew Drop-In” “- April 5—Potential Mistake
There have been many times
In my life
When I think back
On the past
Thinking that was a mistake
Or a potential mistake
If I had gone another path
But in the end
It does matter
The past is the past
The future is not yet here
All we have is today
We should find
Love and happiness
It is all around us
Waiting for us
To discover
April 6th Command or Challenge “Writing com Dew Drop in Prompt
Challenges of Being Me
I have had many challenges
In my life
It is not easy being me
For you see
I am a rather unique person
I see things my way
And well the challenge
This has always been
How to navigate my way
Through the world
Keeping to my unique vision
Of the way, things ought to be
The One Thing I Would Never Change Writer Digest Change, Don’t Change Poem Prompt
If I could go back in time
And change the past
Knowing what I know now
There are many things I would change
But there is one thing I would not have changed
Being in Korea in September 1982
When I met my wife
For you see
I had been dreaming
Of meeting her
Since that fateful day
I first fell in love
With her in my dreams
In 1974
So, I had a date
With fate
When she came to me
And became my mate
The Poetry of the visa Line Poetry Superhighway Prompt
I have a small request to make. I want to expand my followers on all my platforms. So if you have not signed up yet for this blog, or followed me on intraframe, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, or Bloglovin or listened to my podcast on Spotify please do so now.
The literary Yard has published more of my poems. All of these and subsequence postings will be available on Spotify and elsewhere in a few days as a podcast. They previously published some of my poetry which follows the new poems listed below.
Index
2021 Dawns 21 Haiku
Dear Republicans, What Is Wrong with You?
The Revolution Next Time
Zombie Ideas Do Not Die
There Is A Great Sense of Unrest
###
Dawns 21 Haiku
2021Dawns
Politics are still uncertain.
thousands still are dying.
2021Dawns
The New president offers.
Hope new beginning.
2021Dawns
The Madness never ends it seems.
Consuming us all
2021Dawns
The hope springs enterally
We will overcome.
2021Dawns
35,000 lies.
Fading like ghosts
2021Dawns
Politicians still lying.
Thousands still dying.
2021Dawns
Coronavirus spreading
More corona ghosts.
2021Dawns
There is new hope in the air.
Will politics kill it?
2021Dawns
The news stills scream death and despair.
I turn it all off
2021Dawns
As I wake up at dawn
I see my sleeping wife.
2021Dawns
We wait for the coming fires.
End of the world fears
2021Dawns
Q continues to spread hate.
Millions still follow him.
2021Dawns
Will optimism and love?
Overcome the hate.
2021Dawns
Many questions remaining.
I have no answers.
2021Dawns
With hope, I leap out of my bed
Watching TV kills hope
2021Dawns
Will this be the end of my days?
Will I overcome it?
2021Dawns
2020 hangover
Like a dark nightmare
2021Dawns
Politicians still refusing.
To do anything
2021Dawns
The rich are still getting richer.
The poor remain poor.
2021Dawns
We hope the past will fade away.
Into dark memories
2021Dawns
I wake up hoping for the best.
Dreading worst to come
2021Dawns
I am still alive thank god.
Filled with love for a wife.
###
Dear Republicans, What is Wrong with You?
Dear Republicans,
What is wrong with you?
The former president
Incited a riot.
Stormed the house.
Would have killed you.
If they could have
And you still defend.
The former president
Refusing to hold him to account?
Do you want him?
Running around starting the patriot party
Launching a jihad against you?
When you can remove him
From the game
And send him home.
For good
What the hell is wrong with you
Just do your job
Put a stake.
Through that vampire’s heart
Kill Trumpism.
Before it kills you
###
The Revolution Next Time
A revolution is brewing.
On the right
And on the left
As madness descends on the land
Incited by right-wing political leaders.
Inciting riots and rebellion
Demanding action
Against their enemies
While on the left
Revolution is brewing as well.
Soon will they unite
To march down
Tearing down democracy
As our leaders
Play games.
As the world descends
Into chaos
And the US becomes
Another failed state
Until a proverbial man
On a white horse
Rides in to save us.
From ourselves
The revolution next time
It will not be pretty.
As everything burns
And America dies
###
Zombie Ideas Do Not Die
Zombie Ideas
Do not die.
They linger on
In our collective minds
Infecting our politics
Among my favorites
Are the canard.
That tax cuts will solve all problems.
That deregulation will free up business.
That the free market will solve our problems
That the government is the problem
And we must starve the government.
Of funds
So, it can do no more harm.
To our great country
These and other pernicious
Fact free alternative facts
Are spread far and wide.
Across the right-wing media sphere
Infecting our politicians
Leading them to playing games
Instead of coming together.
To solve our collective problems
And now the Republicans are saying.
Amid the worst epidemic in history
With the US economy slipping into the great depression era
The US cannot afford to spend any more money.
On combatting the pandemic
That the Federal government has done enough
It is up to the states to solve their problem.
Because of deficit spending
Which they did not care about
Before the change in command
Now the federal government is broke.
But we cannot ask the billionaire class.
To pay a dime more in taxes
We need to cut taxes more.
So, we go.
These zombie ideas
Mutating and spreading
Infecting our politics
With madness
Making it impossible to govern
As things fall apart
Let us put a Death.
to zombie ideas
Put a stake through them.
Opening up the truth
Coming together
To do the people’s business
That is what we must all do.
###
There is a Great Sense of Unrest.
There is a great sense.
Of unrest in the land today
Madness in the air
Previous publication (2020)
Literary Yard has just published my Dog Poems. The earlier published my Cosmic Calendar poems. Here they are for your amusement. these are companion pieces for my cat poems.
And look cute
And someone will feed him
And give him water
A dog has no worries
No cares at all
And when a Dog
Wants some loving
All it needs to do
Is find the nearest
Female dog
And enjoy himself
Without guilt
And without worrying
About getting married
Or having an affair
Just simple
Sex in the doggie way
Nothing simpler
Than that
Yes
A dog’s life
Is the life for me?
###
The Dogs of War are Howling
dog of war poster
The Dogs of War
Have been set free
Of their cage
And are out
Howling at the moon
The Dogs of War
Have been set free
To wreck what havoc
Might be
Yes, the Dogs of War
The Hell Hounds
Have bound out of their cages
Sniffed about
And smiled
At the destruction, they saw
They knew soon
They would be in their element
As the world descends into chaos
The world saw
The face of pure evil
That fine September morning
A morning like any other morning
Until a fateful moment
When two planes
Came out of the sky
And destroyed
The center of world capitalism
In an act of horrific violence
An act of such evil
That is beyond the comprehension
Of mere mortal man
Surely there must
Be a reason why
That particular day
The world almost ended
The Dogs of war
Are at foot
The chaos is upon us
The evil grows and grows
And dark noises are heard
Here and there
A Jehad had been launched
By the holly lunatics
Misguided warriors
Who thought they were fighting
The great Satan
Not knowing that their hearts and minds
Were corrupted and controlled
By Satan himself
Somewhere in the world
That morning
A door opened
And a man walked through
Flipped a switch
And let loose
The chaos that ensured
The world watched with horror
And fascination
As in real-time
A dynamite action movie unfolded
Only this was not any movie, punk
It was real life
Live and uncensored
With the music of the devil
Playing at full volume
As people died
Burning alive
And the dogs of war
Smiled
They knew soon
They would be in their element
As America
The Sleeping Giant
Again woke up
And realized
That they would have to fight back
Against their enemies
The war machine
Came to life
The plans came out of the books
The military might be unleashed
And the Dogs of war
Smiled and howled at the moon
The machinery of war
Once unleashed
Can’t easily be stopped
There is a certain cruel logic
That demands that the war going on
And people die
And people suffer
And the stock market crashes
And the evil that men do
Goes on and on and on
###
The Cosmic Dog from Goa
My final time with God
Happened a year later
I was staying down in Goa
With my wife
Enjoying being with her
After our reconciliation
We stayed at the Taj Mahal Goa
Living like Kings and Queen
Just for a few days
High up on a hill
Overlooking the beach
Every morning I went down to the beach
And did yoga by the water
While contemplating life
And every morning
I saw the same dog
Not just a dog
But a cosmic dog
Filled with the divine spark of God
And the dog recognized me
And spoke to me and I knew
That God was present once more
In the face of that cosmic dog
Kindred spirit
perhaps to the cosmic cat
that had saved my soul
in Berkeley so long ago
I told the dog everything
And he just looked at me
With those soulful eyes of his
And I knew he knew that I knew
That he was possessed by God
God had sent him to me
To make sure
that I was on the right path
That the reconciliation that God had promoted
Was on a track that I was back with my wife
And that everything was the way it should be
Again, I asked God whether he was Jesus or Allah
Or Brahmin or Ganesh or Buddha
God the cosmic dog just stared at me
I finally asked him directly
Say if you are God the God of Jesus
Bark once
The Dog looked at me and barked
I said
well, if you are Allah bark twice
The dog barked twice
Well are you buddha
then bark three times if yes
The god dog barked three times
Hmm well are you Satan
The dog growled at me
And I knew I had gone too far
Finally, I was at peace
And for the next three days
The God Dog from Goa
was my constant companion
And I knew God for the final time
In my life?
###
Agnostic Dyslectic Wonders if There is a Dog
cute dog
an agnostic dyslectic
stays up all night
wondering if there is a dog
the Buddhists wonder
about the Buddha-nature of the dog
the evangelicals
are sure that there is a dog
and you must follow their dog
or go to hell
for following another’s dog
the Muslims agree
there is only one dog
and the dogs
smile at the foolishness
of the human race
of course, there is a dog
and they are the master race
as they growl at their owners
who bow down
and clean up their mess?
###
I Want a Dog’s Life
O
I want a dog’s life
That’s what I want in my next life
A dog needs to be cute
And his master will feed him
It is a dog’s life for me
###
The Messenger Dog of God
One day
While studying in Rome
As a priest
I notice a small white dog
Staring at me
He glances at me
Indicating that I am to follow him
I get up
And follow this strange dog
He leads me deep
Inside the hidden depths
Of the Vatican
Finally stopping by a door
I open the door
And see St Peter there
He smiles
Dismisses the dog
Who moves on down the hall
Finished with his cosmic duty
As the secret messenger of God
All in a day’s work?
I ask why I am here?
St Peter says
Why are any of us here?
It is time for you to go
But I don’t want to go
Don’t want to leave this mortal plane
St Peter smiles
Says it is time to go
I wake up
Back in my bed
With my wife
And realize it was all a dream
It was not yet time
To go
But I am afraid
I will find the messenger dog
Outside my door
Any day now
The grim reaper waits
And it will soon be my time
Poem: Cosmos’s Cosmic Calendar
cosmic calendar
January
January arrives cold as death warmed over
As I make my annual list of resolutions
Of the great things, I would do
The lies I tell myself to keep me going
While recovering from the hangover of the year before
With regrets for the evitable passing of time itself
And snowbound cold nights of wild passion
As we delay death’s knocking on the door
February
February is a strange month
Cold, short, and eventful
In the U.S. The political season heats up
As politicians rush about
Making their campaign lies
Full of promises of things to come
As we the 99 % huddle down inside
Watching the lies on TV
Outside Winter’s last dying breath
March
March roars in full of sound and furry
Signifying the future marching down upon us all
And March madness hits the sports world
And politicians meet to plot and scheme
As we bravely battle the cosmic elements
Waiting for the promised spring
Hay fever greets me
With the early spring flowers
April
April is indeed the cruelest month of all
So many important events occurred
Kim Il Sung’s Birthday, Hitler’s Birthday
And in the U.S. the dreaded tax man cometh
To take it all away as the flowers overwhelm
And Spring Fever takes hold
Driving us all mad
With strange erotic desires
May
May is in many ways
My second favorite month of all
The flowers are blooming bright
The mountains are aflame with desire
The summer heat is coming
The plans for the year are coming along
The political campaigns heat up
And good movies come out
Star Wars arrived
Spiderman and superman and batman
All came out to play
In late May
And baseball begins in earnest
And most importantly
My wife was born
June
June is always a month of transition
End of the school year
Summer transfer season
People leaving people coming
Hurricanes and Tornados attacking
And wars starting and people dying
As fireflies buzz about
And rabbits eat my garden
As the summer heat descends upon the land
I walk late at night
Recalling that Watergate
Occurred in June
July
July is the queen of the summer season
As she heats the land
Throwing storm after summer storm
And politicians run away
After the July fourth fireworks
Man landed on the moon
Richard Nixon Left the White House
And we all know that half the year
Has flown by
August
So much has happened
During the hottest most hellish of months
Despite the summer sauna that descends upon the land
Enervating all driving people mad with the heat
World War 1 started
World War 11 ended
Hiroshima ushered in the nuclear age
Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey
And tornado ally
All roar down upon the land
And I met the love of my life
Getting off a bus
One August evening
September
What can one say about September
Like June a month of transitions?
And one is filled with ambition
Wanting to finish up what one started
Before the fall arrives
And Winter is hinting it is coming
School starts
New jobs start
New people come into one’s life
And like August’s hangover
Big earth-shattering events happen
The fall of the stock market
The housing bubble bursting
The endless budget games
As the politicians argue
Whether to bankrupt the country
To make a political point or two
And 9-11 terrorizing the world
All September’s gifts to the land
October
October is my favorite month of all
The leaves turn
The weather is usually delightful
Just a tease of the coming winter
Fall ball season underway
Baseball games and Halloween madness
ends the month with a huge bang
And I celebrate my legal birth on the 29th
Also, the day I legally got married
And on October 30, 1955
I was born
And Rock n Roll was born as well
Coincidence I think not
November
November is one of the strange months
Begins like a hangover of October
Then it turns ugly and weird
Political fever hits the land
Every two years
As the people brave the early November chill
To decide what fools they will send to DC
The politicians lie and scheme and plot
And beg and lie again
And the world turns
And the new leaders emerge
Welcome the new Bosses
Same as the old bosses
Just new packaging
And Donald Trump storms the barricades
Threatening the establishment’s stranglehold
On America and the world
Yes, November is a strange month
December
Perhaps the loneliness month of all
The most consequential of all the months
And yet also the most depressing end of time
Kind of month
If the apocalypse zombie or otherwise
Were to occur
It would be in December
That is the sort of insane month it is
The end of the year
As darkness settles down on the land
And holiday parties abound
Full of false cheer
And faked love
And for those who don’t celebrate Christmas
A lonely day perhaps at the movies
A few awkward calls to the relatives
Then New Years
Watching the world end
Drinking up a storm
And knowing that the year ended
And you are one step closer to the grave
Falling rain
falling rain
The falling rain
Of late October
Fills me with essential dread
As I rush about
And end up here
Wherever here is
The rain outside
Seems like the tears of god
As I sit
Crying over my beer
Thinking of lost love
And failed dreams
Wondering
What went wrong?
And what I can set right
And the rain falls
And the night darkens
The rain is falling
All over this man’s world
And the rain falls
And I sit
Drinking my lonesome drink
Lost in dreams
Dreaming of what
Could never be
Thinking dark thoughts
And so I sit
And dream the night away
Cosmos’s 2020 April Poetry Part Two April 16 to April 30
final statistics for the month – 165 poems written , most posted here or in part one. Enjoy comments welcomed
Note: for the rest of the month, from April 18th to April 30, I will still be writing a lot of poems, but only posting a few per day so i can build up some “unpublished” poems for my future submissions. And in May-June I will be turning to editing my novels so expect a less frantic pace of poetry updates from me for the next few months. it has been a creative challenge keeping up the pace but I am getting a bit “poemed” out. i will list the poems I write this month in the index and note whether they are posted or not, and of course if anyone wants to read one of the “unpublished poems” we can work something out. just ask. and expect a few more postings in May and June as poems are published elsewhere I will post them here as well as I like doing.
Finally if anyone wants to guest post poems on cats, computers, coffee or the corona virus let me know – I’d love to try publishing your work as well but check out my cats, computer, coffee or corona poems here first before sending me your stuff, and perhaps you could return the favor?
Welcome to Cosmos’s 2020 April Poetry. This is the fourth attempt to do this. For this year I am doing things a bit different. Since I am in Korea I will be posting a day later from here starting April 2 which will be April first in the U.S.First I will update my poems daily here (along with audio clips, photos clips, and links to various prompts etc)
Second I will update my links on the following sites where I have been posting poetry for some time – all my April poems will be here regardless of whether I post them elsewhere – I will be posting one to two per day on these sites and writing anywhere from two to five per day, with many of them not being posted at all so I can accumulate some “unpublished poems” but I will list them all here either as posted or unposted. The posted ones will have audio, photos and links occasionally to other sites.
Here are the sites along with the links to my poetry posted there.
And on my various FB poetry sites will post my poems on five different sites per day and since I’ve lost count of how many I am following well that could be a lot, but I will list them as I post on them in case anyone is interested in finding poetry and writing groups on FB
Finally, love to hear how others are coping both with corona virus, and with the April Poetry month. I suspect that there will be a lot of interest this year since people are staying home!
Now let’s get to the poems shall we? I will update this daily
Index
Chronological list
ursday April 16
Some parts of me craves a hard won miracl
Thursday April 16
Some parts of me craves a hard won miracle poetry super highway prompt
the greatest mystery of my life writing com daily dew drop in
my greatest comfort food is coffee tweeter poetry prompt
smoothie tweeter poetry prompt
mango madness tweeter poetry prompt
Bulgar is not one of my things tweeter poetry prompt
Plans tweeter poetry prompt
goat meets Pig all poetry contest
waiting for death all poetry contest
hot coffee in the morning fan story
Friday April 17
You are my Lode Star love Sonnet
another Nigerian spam found poem
Last Day of America writers digest prompt – last blank
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
packages tweeter speak poetry prompt April 16 Packages
computer madness sonnet – sonnet all poetry computer frustration contest
You have always been my sunshine love sonnet for all poetry contest on prompt line Sunshine Kissed
Not Posted
my Mother’s secret life as a mad poet – poetry superhighway prompt to write a poem based on your mother’s imagined journal writings
Saturday April 18
Starting today will post no more than five poems, reserve the rest for publication or remain unpublished
For Posting
Cosmic Debris Corona Sonnet
No More Ties for Me! Writing com Daily Dew Drop Inn to write about a piece of clothing
Korean Blues Crown of Sonnets – Writer digest prompt write an exotic poem wrote my first crown of sonnet form too, and it mostly rhymes! go figure
Not for Posting today may remain unpublished
Corona Consumes Me Corona Sonnet 3
God Deals with Corona
Seeing Reality Via Them
Problems with the Bible Chapter two of Genesis
Dear God – Please re-write the bible -poetry Superhighway prompt re-write sacred text version 2
Sunday April 19
for posting
General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets
Voice Message for God – writer digest prompt write a “message Poem” so this is a voice mail to GOD
The Time when she came to Me Poetry Superhighway prompt to write a poem about time travel to your past or your future
Not for Posting
Dear President Trump
Christ Comes Back and Judges us all
Monday April 20
for posting
Love Dream Triolet
National Poetry Month Prompt Day 12
ARC Pensively three word challenge – ARC, Hold, Back
Lonely Old Man Howling at the Moon Writers Digest prompt use six words prompt – bump, embrace, fixture, howl, lonely, resolve
watching the President haunts my nightmares
poetry superhighway prompt write about a nightmare
boogey men in The Mist
content tracing, “the mist” unpublished poem writer for April Poetry Month 2020, based on the Mist TV Services based on the Stephen King
Not for Posting hold for publication
playing basketball Beneath the Lunatic Moon =creative talents unleashed prompt
Sprouts of Love Grows in My Dreams -creative talents unleashed prompt
ART Calms the Soul amid the corona death -creative talents unleashed prompt
Strange Findings at a Thrift Shop/Garage shop -creative talents unleashed prompt
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
Siblings I wish I had -creative talents unleashed prompt
Tuesday April 21
Posted
Isolation Blues writer’s digest Isolation Blues
You’re still a young man
Coffee Star Selvin writing com formal poem
My Life’s Drama writing com dew drop inn prompt
Covid19 Heroes all poetry contest
I never get tired of looking at you all poetry contest
Alone corona sonnet creative talents unleashed prompt
Last Acorn – poetry soup contest entry
not posted
Farmers Market
Tweet speak the farmer’s market
Walking in the woods in the corona era creative talents unleashed prompt
Unrequited Love Story creative talents unleashed prompt
perfect brunch menu creative talents unleashed prompt
White Flower of Love creative talents unleashed prompt
Wednesday April 22
Posted
Secret Love of Sheep – pensively 101 three word prompt, print, cover, sheep
Nigerian Bank Scam found poem
She came to me in a dream duet writers digest prompt
ode to morning coffee National Poetry Month prompt
oceans writing.com Daily Dew Drop Inn prompt
Noise of the news Drives Out Spring Poetry Superhighway
Cats and Dogs Contrapuntal Poem All Poetry contest
Let there Be Light All poetry contest
Go ethnic tweets-peak
Tuesday April 23
Isolation Blues writer’s digest Isolation Blues
You’re still a young man
Coffee Star Selvin writing com formal poem
My Life’s Drama writing com dew drop inn prompt
19 Heroes all poetry contest
I never get tired of looking at you all poetry contestAlone corona sonnet creative talents unleashed prompt
not posted
Farmers Market
Tweet speak the farmer’s market
Walking in the woods in the corona era creative talents unleashed prompt
Unrequited Love Story creative talents unleashed prompt
perfect brunch menu creative talents unleashed prompt
Wednesday April 24
Secret Love of Sheep – pensively 101 three word prompt, print, cover, sheep
Nigerian Bank Scam found poem
She came to me in a dream duet writers digest prompt
ode to morning coffee National Poetry Month prompt
oceans Daily Dew Drop Inn prompt
Noise of the news Drives Out Spring Poetry Superhighway
Cats and Dogs Contrapuntal Poem All Poetry contest
Let there Be Light All poetry contest
Go ethnic tweetspeak
Thursday April 25
Programing a VCR and other terrors
Na/GloPOWR/Mo prompt Day 18
Quirk of fate
writers digest prompt to write a quirk poem
I have bad teeth
poetry super highway prompt to write a confession poem about something you should do but have not done
Letter to My Past Self
writing.com Daily Dew Drop inn Prompt
pensively 101 prompt three word challenge path, honesty, remote
Covid madness sweeps through the world all poetry contest
Friday April 26
Cold Winter Day pensively prompt
social distancing walking in the Springtime writers digest prompt to write a social blank poem
ode to my book shelves filled with unread books, poetry superhighway prompt to write a poem in plain sight
Dream Lover Balwa writing com formal poetry prompt
endless arguments with my brothers writing com daily dew drop inn prompt to write a poem about arguments
Just Shoot me – pensively 101 three wood challenge
wrappers – tweets-speak
Pumpkin season – pumpkin tweet-speak
secret layers tweets-speak
Saturday April 26
Finally I wake
Window of Promise – Tweet speak daily prompt
Nature’s Bounty Awaits Me
Alone No More
Has God Anointed Donald Trump as our leader?
waking at love Haiku
Sunday April 27
Drinking Coffee amid the morning flowers
Pensively 101 prompt bloom, switch, chain
Stem – tweeter speak
Playing Bach to Calm the Mind and Soul – National Poetry Month Prompt
President Trump You are the Annotated One – found poems from right wing Christians – Crown of Sonnets -writers digest remix poem
My Computer Hates Me – Poetry Superhigh way prompt objects speak
Darkness Descends – All Poetry Contest
The Grim Reaper Smiles All Poetry Contest
Monday April 28
Her Love Shines throughout the day -version two for poetry superhighway
Cosmos’s total Information Awareness
Living in an Orwellian Nightmare
Poetic and other inspirations
National Poetry Month Daily Prompt
Changes are coming due -writing digest prompt
Rain Fall in the Springtime Daily Dew Drop Inn
General Corona is coming for us all Poetry Magnum Prompt -content tracing “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
The Presidents Sits Down on his Naked Rump -Pensively 101 three word challenge, teeth, Rump, green
End of Winter tweet-speak prompt
massive piles of meat -writers digest prompt to write a “massive “ poem
three mad poems of desire – poetry super highway prompt
Love Sidlak – writing com formal poetry challenge
come on baby light my fire -writing com daily dew drop inn prompt to write a “fire” Poem
Not Posted
Stupid stuff done as a teenage -On stealing things national Poetry Month Prompt
Art of Eating – tweet speak
Rules creative talents unleashed
My Feet Take Me There creative talent unleashed
Happy walking in the woods Tanka walking in the woods creative talents unleashed
Sad women inside the camera’s lens creative talents unleashed
Wednesday April 29
Looking Back on the Date when I met my Fate
writers digest looking back poem prompt
the funeral for a mad queen -Poetry Superhighway prompt
the End of America, another cosmos’s rant found poem thanks to William Walton
Gaia Welcomes Us – found poem poetic rant -thanks to William Walton
flowers for my love – National Poetry Day Prompt
seasons of my love – tweet-speak prompt – write a seasonal poem
Thursday April 30
Have words lost all meaning?
plate plans -tweet-speak daily April Prompts
Slide, Catch, Shot -Pensitivity 101 prompt
total Success- writers digest prompt total blank poem
Blues Brothers medley found poem -poetry Superhighway prompt
Will always recall the date I met my fate all poetry contest
general Corona is Happy all poetry contest
waterfall of love poetry soup contest
last Entry for May – pensively prompt 101
baby I got the blues found poem thanks to William Walton
praise love of my life – writers digest prompt
things better left unsaid
random rhymes writing com prompt
things to resolve before I die – poetry super highway prompt
bonus poem – corona virus haiku – Published Poetry Ni
Begin Poems
Th
e
corona
some parts of me
craves a hard won miracle
in these dark dire times
I even start to pray
to a god who may not exist
or answer my prayers
yes we need a miracle
a deus ex machina to sweep down
and send the virus back to hell
a miracle to calm
the dark storms
swirling around us
a miracle
to end this virus madness
and restore normal life
nothing short
but a miracle
will do
Poetry superhighway prompt – Some parts of me craves a hard won miracle
the greatest mystery of my life
dreams and the Unexplanable
the greatest mystery
of my life
remains how I met my wife
I first dreamt of her
back in the day
every week she came to me
speaking to me
in a weird language
then one day
eight years later
she walked off a bus
and into my life
and to this day
I have no rational explanation
as to How I dreamt
about her for eight years
I can only conclude
that we knew
each other
in a prior life
and our love crossed
the barriers of time
and space
until that date
we were doomed to meet
for on that date
so many years ago
I met my fate
writing com Daily Dew Drop Inn
my greatest comfort food is coffee
coffee
My greatest comfort food
is a hot cup of coffee
early in the morning
I pound down my coffee
and unleash my inner muse
inspired by the caffeine
I get to work
slowly drinking my cup
of heaven and hell
my morning cup of Joe
tweeters speak daily prompt
blueberry smoothie
blueberries
my daily breakfast
includes blue berries
in my smoothie
blueberry,
strawberry,
oranges
banana,
pineapple,
home made kefir
kale
spinach
wheat grass
macca root
apple cider vinegar
coconut oil
stevia
honey
cinnamon
all blended to perfection
that is my daily breakfast
fit for a champion
tweeter speak prompt
mango madness
mango
the best mangos
I ever had
were in India
in the early spring
mango madness
spreads across India
as mangos are in season
and mangos are everywhere
on every menu
so sweet
so fragrant
so magical
mango madness
takes over
my soul
as I eat my mango
dreaming mango dreams
tweeter speak
Bulgar is not one of my things
Bulgur-Bourghul-Burghul-Bulgar.jpg_350x350
Bulgar is not one of my things
Unless there is nothing left to eat
Like nothing at all
Get that bulgar off my plate
All i want is anything else
Raw bulgar just does not do it for me
tweeter speak
Plans
Close up white coffee cup with heart shape latte art on wood table at cafe.
every morning I wake up
filled with great plans
I sit
drink my coffee
make my plans
lost in my thoughts
focused on the plan
endless to do lists
then life happens
and my plans
go awry
thrown out the window
At the end of the day
a man without a plan
is a man
lost in inner space
Year of the Goat Meets Year of the Pig
cute pig
I was born in the year of the goat
my wife
was born in the year of the pig
a perfect match
according to Buddhist fortune tellers
a man born in the year of the goat
loves luxury and loves spending money
while a woman born
in the year of the pig
is a genius at making money
the man enjoys the wealth
his pig wife creates
for his enjoyment
and that is the perfect match
and so it has been for us
as I enter my 65th birth year
I find myself richer
than I ever thought I would be
richer
than the legendary Cronus
richer
than Midas himself
way more money
than I could ever use
all because I married
a golden pig
all poetry horoscope contest
waiting for death
hopelessly
we all stand looking about
waiting for our death
all poetry fragment haiku contest
hot coffee in the morning
coffee
hot
coffee in morning
gets my blood moving
takes me to heaven then crashes to hell
fan story contest
Friday April 17 –
You are my Lode Star
in the morning dawning light
you are always there
you are my lode star
my sunshine, my moonshine
the love of my life, my wife
with your endless love
I will face the evil corrupted world
even walk through the shadow of death
as long as you by my side
I will fear no evil for you are with me
and I will love you
until death takes me
from your your loving embrace
note: an attempted sonnet
another Nigerian spam found poem
the Nigerians keep sending me
and millions of others
delightedly creative spam messages
this is one of the nicer ones
I have received
Enjoy
but don’t send her any money!!!!!
Good day Child of God,
Calvary Greetings
in the name of the LORD Almighty
and Our LORD JESUS CHRIST
the giver of every good thing.
Good day and compliments of the seasons,
i know this letter
will definitely come to you
as a huge surprise,
I humbly
ask you to give me
your attention
and hear me,
i am writing this mail
to you
with heavy sorrow
in my heart,
but I implore you
to take the time
to go through it carefully
as the decision you make
will go off a long way
to determine
my future
and continued existence.
I am Mrs. Esther Heidi
aging widow of 61 years old
suffering from long time illness.
I have some funds
I inherited from my late husband
, the sum of ($17 Million Dollars) a
And I needed a very honest
and God fearing
who can withdraw this money
then use the funds for Charity works
I WISH TO GIVE THIS FUNDS
TO YOU FOR CHARITY WORKS.
I found your email address
from the internet
after honest prayers
to the LORD
to bring me a helper
and i decided to contact you
if you may be willing
and interested to handle
these trust funds in good faith
before anything happens to me.
I accept this decision
because I do not have any child
who will inherit this money
after I die.
I want your urgent reply
to me so that I will give you
the deposit receipt
which the bank issued to me
as next of kin
for immediate transfer of the money
to your account in your country,
to start the good work of God,
I want you to use the 30/percent
of the total amount to help
yourself in doing the project.
I am desperately
in keen need of assistance
and I have summoned
up courage to contact you
for this task,
you must not fail me
and the millions of the poor people
in our todays WORLD.
This is no stolen money
and there are no dangers involved,
100% RISK FREE
with full legal proof.
Please if you would be able
to use the funds for the Charity
(Note: I would use the money
to invest in the Church of Jake)
I want you to
take 30 percent of the total money
for your personal use
while 70% of the money
will go to charity.
I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality
and trust in this matter to accomplish
my heart desire, as I don’t want anything
that will jeopardize my last wish.
Please kindly
respond for further details.
Thanks and God bless you,
Regards
Mrs. Esther Heidi
comment: the sad reality
is that 10 percent
of people fall for these scams
and loose lots of money
whole towns in Nigeria
exist to exploit the world
they call themselves
the 404 army
if it is too good to be true
it is probably not true
end comment
the Conqueror Worm Corona Sonnet
Lo, t’s a galla night
within the lonesome later years
when around the world
the dreaded corona virus showed its might
spending fear to those in their later years
that it might take them in the night
that before the sun came up
their time on earth would end up
DEATH IS COMING
TO US ALL
NONE CAN ESCAPE
WE
AWAIT
FATE
# content tracing: the Conqueror Worm By Edgar Allan Poe
writing.com corona sonnet form challenge
with apologies to the Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe!!!! May he rest in peace wherever he is
The Last Day of America
trump
the last day of America
was the day we last voted
the last election we ever had
for on that day
a month before
the corona virus re-emerged
as the great re-opening
of the US economy
failed to stop the relentless spread
of the virus from hell
led by General Corona
causing panic and mass confusion
fear kept Americans home
and Donald Trump
was re-elected
because his voters
believed that God
had told them to vote
for their new found king
the newly energized President Trump
declared a national emergency
martial law
and suspension of the constitution
Promising to restore democracy
when the time was right
he promised his followers
that he would restore Christian values
renaming the United States
the Christian States of America
on that date
we met our fate
Christian fascism
was here to stay
as the time was never right
to restore the old Republic
on the last day
of American
writers digest prompt – last blank
My Mother’s Secret Life as a Mad Poet – not for publication
Somehow this fragment is the only pages that were left – she encouraged me to write from an early age and she and I loved talking about what we were reading and about politics and life but so much of her inner soul, her inner demons she never told me about then one day dementia took hold and I never was able to find out much about her secret shrouded life and she took a lot of secrets to the grave as did my father. Ultimately I decided not to publish this poem as it is too personal and she had her reasons she did not want to publish any of her writings and after reflection, I decided to honor that so this and many of her other stories will remain with her in the other world. But I had fun writing it and trying to make her rambling style into something resembling more formal verse. I took the original steam of consciousness style and forced it into a crown of sonnets eight 14 line free verse non-rhyming sonnets format (is there such a thing?) for somehow that worked for me. and somehow I think she would have approved of my edited version. I like to think so.
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
airplanes
in these dark and dire times
we find ourselves living
we often fear that the times
are infected with death
and so we are afraid
deathly afraid
that if we take a plane
we will find General Corona
among the passengers
and we be afraid
deadly afraid
that the subways
are incubators
of death and destruction
the virus spreads
fear and death
in its wake
many of us
retreating to our homes
and venturing out
in our cars
only to find
death is stalking us
as traffic piles up
traffic accidents
still killing more people
that the dreaded General Corona
the grim reaper smiles
his work is done
Satan thanks General Corona
for a job well done
awarding him a Satanic
medal of freedom
Hell’s highest honor
writing com daily dew drop in prompt
packages
they say
that God works in mysterious ways
his wonders to perform
every day it seems
that more and more
of what we buy
and consume
comes in packages
sent from here and there
as people
continue to practice
social distancing
and going to the store
becomes an exercise
fraught with peril
and danger
so we order
on-line
and we get our packages
sent from here and there
one day we received
a gift package
of clams
delicious fresh clams
as I ate them
I thought of the workers
who had labored unseen
for me to enjoy
this bounty from the sea
and I gave thanks
to the gods
for making it happen
in this day and age
we should thank
those who are still
laboring to feed the world
they are the unsung heroes
of this war fought by nature
under the direction
of General Corona
computer madness infects my soul
every day when I turn on my PC
and encounter endless haiku error messages
constant crashing, constant eating my files
at times like this it seems to me
that my mad as a hatter crazed computer
is plotting against me and only me
it wants to drive me quite insane
sending me right around the bend
as I scream at my machine
it beeps at me this damn machine
smiling as I threaten once again
to shoot the hell bound machine
sonnet all poetry computer frustration contest
You have always been my sunshine
You have always been my sunshine
my moonshine, my load star
that guides me in the night
for your sunshine kissed my soul
the day that you walked
out of my dreams
into my life
and became my wife
for 38 years and counting
every morning I see you sleeping
your smile is like the sunshine
that wakes my soul
and banishes the nightmares
back to the dark corners of my mind
love sonnet for all poetry contest on prompt line Sunshine Kissed
mad computer haiku
mad computer
computer wants to kill me
or drive me insane
Fan story haiku contest
Saturday April 18
Korean Blues Crown of Sonnets
I have been dealing with Things Korean
for almost 40 years now
dealing with a once exotic land
now my second homeland
first came to Korea
in the Peace Corps in Korea
went to Korea to find the woman
in search of the woman
who haunted my dreams
met the woman
Fell in love with the woman
From Korea who walked out my dreams
In an land still exotic
In a land still exotic
It was a very exotic different land
and even now decades later a new land
remains for most Americans
still a strange land exotic
but much more known land
in the US
due to K drama, K Pop,
Koreans have become globally cool but still exotic
Many of my fellow Americans
may know a few people from Korea
and some have served or lived in Korea
but to most of the us Americans
it remains over there still exotic
a strange Asian exotic land
A strange Asian Exotic land
I fell in love with that exotic land
now I spend half my time living Korean time
half in the U.S. time
and due to the corona time
will be here for some time
and well Korea
no longer an exotic land
as I am now just living in Korea
my thoughts half Korean
and even dream in Korean
so be it near the end of my time
I am back where I began
Writer digest prompt write an exotic poem wrote my first crown of sonnet form too, and it mostly rhymes! go figure
Cosmic Debris Corona sonnet 2
I received a mysterious email package
followed by a phone call offering me a magical mask
a mask that they claim would prevent me
from the dreaded General Corona
hey there
who you jiving with that cosmic debris
a mask that they did not want me
me to know about
TOP SECRET CODE 2 LEVEL STUFF
MUST ACT NOW
SEND MONEY ASAP
BUY
IT
NOW
# content tracing- “Cosmic Debris by Frank Zappa”
with apologies to Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa Cosmic Debris
The mystery man came over
And he said I’m outta sight
He said for a nominal service charge
I could reach nirvana tonight
If I was ready, willing and able
To pay him his regular fee
He would drop all the rest of his pressing affairs
And devote his attention to me
But I said look here brother
Who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Now who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Look here brother, don’t waste your time on me
The mystery man got nervous and he fidget around a bit
He reached in the pocket of his mystery robe
And he whipped out a shaving kit
Now I thought it was a razor
And a can of foaming goo
But he told me right then when the top popped open
There was nothin’ his box won’t do
With the oil of aphrodite, and the dust of the grand wazoo
He said you might not believe this, little fella
But it’ll cure your asthma too
And I said look here brother
Who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Now what kind of a guru are you, anyway?
Look here brother, don’t waste your time on me
(Don’t waste your time)
I’ve got troubles of my own, I said
And you can’t help me out
So, take your meditations and your preparations
And ram it up your snout
But I got the crystal ball, he said
And held it to the light
So I snatched it, all away from him
And I showed him how to do it right
I wrapped a newspaper ’round my head
So I looked like I was deep
I said some mumbo-jumbo, then
I told him he was going to sleep
I robbed his rings and pocketwatch
And everything else I found
I had that sucker hypnotized
He couldn’t even make a sound
I proceeded to tell him his future, then
As long as he was hanging around
I said the price of meat has just gone up
And your old lady has just gone down
Look here brother
Who you jiving with that cosmik debris?
Now is that a real poncho or is that a Sears poncho?
Don’t you know, you could make more money as a butcher?
So, don’t waste your time on me
Don’t waste it, don’t waste your time on me (om shanti, om shanti, om shanti, shanti)
first, I would spend
my remaining life
loving my wife
second, i would never wear a tie again
unless it was a real special occasion
as I hated wearing ties and suits
wore a suit and tie
almost every day
of my life
as a teacher
later as a foreign service officer
all over the world
last year of my job
I only wore a tie
on “tie worthy occasions”
since then I have been
tie free
except for a wedding
and I love it
hated suits and ties
just not Berkeley enough
for my free spirit
too damn corporate
and I don’t care anymore
and in Oregon, where I lived
no one wore a tie,
not the Oregon way
oh the last thing
I shave twice a month now
used to hate shaving
but I also don’t like
a full shaggy itchy beard
and I shaved every day
for years and years
except when I was in the hospital
for a year
and I grew to love
having a beard
back then
back to the office
started shaving again
every damn day
now I do my thing
no office for me
and no more daily shaving
and a beard is also
very Northern Cal/Northwest
Oregonian Chic
so once every two weeks
is a good compromise
my beard is now a poet’s face
and so I hope to keep
these three vows
until my time is done
writing com Daily Dew Drop Inn prompt to write a poem about a piece of clothing
Corona Consumes Me Corona Sonnet 3
corona virus
I am consumed by the corona virus
and I am slowly being taken over
as the virus infects my mind
taking me over turning me
into a wild raving zombie man
Let there be light
will I become the first
ZOMBIE APOLYCAPASE LOOMS
WILL WE ALL DIE
CORONA
KILLS
ME
content tracing – Let there be light from Bible and the entire Zombie Apocalypse genre where the Zombie flu started usually in China as a flu and then morphs into the zombie disease
Sunday April 19
General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets
corona
the four horseman
General Corona leads his forces across the world
riding on a black horse
from out of the Apocalypse
ride the four horsemen
which are let loose upon the world
He leads his forces across the world
into battle as the leader of his evil forces
The enemy of humanity
General Corona he does not care
nor does his virus minions care
about your nationality he does not care
about your politics he does not care
or your wealth or who you are
for all you are nothing but humanity
the corona general sees humanity
the corona general sees humanity
as nothing but hosts for his virus army
as nothing but hosts for his virus army
chanting death to humanity
until his evil army
sweeps throughout the world
throughout the world
and millions must die
it is the will of the general all must die
and it is the end of the world
or perhaps the beginning of a new world
filled with hope and love through out the world
humanity comes alive throughout the world
fighting back against the virus army
peace, love and compassion defeats the army
and general corona will finally himself die
Voice Message for God
god
dialing 202-346-5666 Beep
You have reached GOD
Press 1 for English, Press 2 for Spanish
leave a message or prayer
and maybe an angel will call you
will get back to you Beep
Hey GOD someone sent me your number
and well I hope I’ve reached your number
I don’t know where to start that’s the point
GOD I am scared of you
all the time is my point
I am so afraid, so scared
of the dreaded General Corona
and his invisible army is my point
and his invisible army is my point
forcing me to stay at home
and I am sacred
that you anointed the wrong man
to be our leader, that makes me sacred
not to second guess you man
your will be done and all of that man
but GOD, can’t you do better job my man
of anointing our leaders to serve under GOD
of all the people in the U.S. dear God
this is the best you can do?, man?
I mean you picked perhaps the one man
in the world who could be the anti-chris, God
Seriously GOD what is wrong with you? man
Seriously, GOD, what is wrong with you? man
was this all sort of a cosmic joke?
well it ain’t funny any more ain’t no joke
Please GOD make it all go away, man
Please GOD for the love of GOD
and all that is holly and good, man
just make it all go away, GOD
and anoint someone else, man
a real leader for a change, GOD
and let him lead us to the promised land
this I pray in Jesus’s name, my man
and if I don’t make it, GOD
We have a lot to talk about GOD
See you on the other side, my man
writer digest prompt write a “message Poem” so this is a voice mail to GOD
Every Day I go Back in Time to when she came to Me
dreams and the Unexplanable
every day I go back in time
to the two events that changed my life
to the dream that haunted my life
and the day she walked into my life
and became my wife
I can never forget the dream
falling asleep in the physics class
as the teacher was going on and on
and as I nodded off
I saw here there
standing there
speaking to me
the most beautiful woman
in the entire world
in the entire world
she was speaking to me
and disappeared from my dreams
and I knew that i would be
meeting her some day she would come to me
and so I eventually went to Korea other side of the world
in the Peace corps hoping she would come to me
then one day i had the last and final dream
she said don’t worry she would soon come to me
and then she walked out of my dreams
and there she was she came to me
and so she walked out of my dreams
into my life, became my wife
when she came to me
Poetry Superhighway prompt to write a poem about time travel to your past or your future
Monday April 20
Love Dream Triolet
dreams and the Unexplanable
to the woman I met in my dreams
I dedicate my life
May she live forever in my cosmic memes
to the woman I met in my dreams
I will forever remember her gleams
and the day she became my wife
to the woman I met in my dreams
I dedicate my life
National Poetry Month Prompt Day 12
ARC Throws Back the Hood
Arthur Robert Copper
aka ARA the notorious international terrorist
threw back his hood
and revealed himself
to be the evil warlord
that had unleashed
General Corona on the world
his goal
nothing less that total domination
taking over the world
amid the total destruction of the world’s economy
as he and his billionaire buddies
reamed the profits
of the total destruction of the world’s economy
Pensvity 101 prompt use the words ARC Hood and Back
Lonely Old Man Howling at the Moon
howling at the moon
There was a mad man who bumped his head
as he tried to embrace the moon shining through the window
a fixture in the room lit by the lunatic light of the moon
the man wanted to howl at reflections of the lunatic moon
the old man was a lonely man filled with sadness
Filled with resolve to join the moon as he died
Writers Digest prompt use six words prompt –
bump, embrace fixture, howl, lonely, and resolve
watching the President haunts my nightmares
trump deaths
every night I have a nightmare
President Trump is announcing
that due to the emergency
he is cancelling the election
and will rule the land
as the undisputed leader
applauded by the Republican leaders
as he ushers in American fascism
Millions of people are arrested
for showing disloyalty to our leader
and I am one of them
as I am disappeared
no one hears my screams
with the midnight knocking at the door
Poetry super highway prompt to write about a nightmare
boogey men in The Mist
As the mist settles down on the land
the mist covers us all
with the scent of death
madness spreads
as the mist devours our minds
nightmares come to life
ghosts, goblins, demons
THE GRIM REAPER
RIDES BEHIND THE MIST
KILLING EVERYONE IN THE MIST
END
TIMES
COME
NOW
content tracing, “the mist”
As the mist settles down on the land
the mist covers us all
with the scent of death
unpublished poem written for April Poetry Month 2020, based on the Mist TV Services based on the Stephen King Novel
Tuesday April 21
Isolation Blues
corona virus
During these trying times
we huddle at home
afraid to go out
afraid of the dreaded
General Corona that is out
and his evil secret armies
keeping us all at home
terrified of becoming a victim
a corona virus statistic
what a way to go out
no way do I want to end my life
to out out that way
so we will endure this day
these isolation blues
writers digest Isolation Blues
You’re still a young man
Your still a young man Tower of Power
tower of power
was the band
for me
back in the day
the greatest funk band
of all time
proudly East Bay Grease
multi-racial, multi-cultural
greatest horn section
of all time
they did it right
and their best song
You’re still a young man
was the best make out song
of all time
best song to slow dance
with a potential lover
at a party
best love song
of the 70’s
and I still recall it
and all the woman
i danced to the song
with back in the day
and I still feel
that I am still a young man
with the love of my life
playing the song
of my life
poetry superhighway Prompt to write a poem about a song popular in high school
Coffee Star Sevlin
coffee
damn hot coffee
what I need in morning
yet it leaves me with this warning
it will lead to nightmares
as I get ready with hot coffee
sleep will not come nightmares
great hot coffee
writing.com formal prompt
My Life’s Drama
My life has been like a drama
a mad cap romcom drama
perhaps a K drama
or a Bollywood drama
or a Hollywood romcom classic drama
for you see in my fairy tale drama
i met the girl of my dreams
eight years later
I had the last dream
she said don’t worry we’ll meet soon
she walked off the bus that day
and into my life
and became my wife
writing com My Life’s Drama
Alone
From childhood’s hour I have not been
as others were, I have not seen
as others saw
in these dark times we live in
i am afraid of being alone
dying all alone
AS GENERAL CORONA
SPREADS HIS ARMIES
ALL OVER THE WORLD
I
DON”T
WANT
DIE
content tracing “Alone” By Edgar Allen Poe
Last Acorn
Acorn on white background
the last acorn on earth
was lonely
the old oak trees
were dying
and humanity was gone
killed off by the corona virus
round two
that erupted out of China
like a bat out of hell
killing almost all humans
and without humans
well somethings just did not happen
and the oak trees were abandoned
and he was the last acorn
the last of his species alive
he wept when he realized
that he would die
all alone
poetry soup contest
Covid19 Heroes
to all the health care providers
law enforcement workers
bus drivers
grocery clerks
and other essential workers
who are working 24/7
to keep us safe
there are no words
for us to express
our heartfelt thanks
to the heroes
that are saving our lives
24/7 every day
Wednesday April 22
Secret Love for Sheep
GOAT
one day I had to print
a cover sheet
for some poetry
that I was writing
about my secret love
for sheep
Pensively 101 three word challenge, print, cover, sheep
Nigerian Scam found poem
REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF {US$22Million}
This is to notify you about your fund valued at US$22,000.000.00
After due verification and evaluation of your file,
that was sent to us by the Nigeria Government,
in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance
and Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This bank received an instruction,
to see to the immediate release of the sum of
TWENTY-TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$22Million)
of your claim that has been in holding
since it was transferred to your bank Account
from their Domiciliary Account with this Bank.
We were made to understand
from our findings
That you have been going
through hard ways
by passing through difficulties
to see to the release of
your fund
TWENTY-TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$22Million)
which has been the handwork
of some miscreant elements
from that Country.
We advise,
that you stop further communication,
with anyone from anywhere
concerning your funds,
you don’t have to pass through any
difficult to receive your fund,
as you have met up with the whole
requirement.
We know your representatives in Nigeria,
or anywhere will advise you
to still go ahead with them,
which will be at your own risk.
Your TWENTY-TWO MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$22Million)
will reflect in your designated Bank account
within three Bank working days.
Do not go through anybody again
but through this Bank. ‘
if, you really want
your fund.
Finally, you are advised
to re-confirm these to us,
name, your contact Address,Occupation,
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communication.
We advise that you get back to us
with your details on this
email: enquiryy@citromail.hu
Yours sincerely,
Sir. Frank Anthony
Chief Executive,
Nat-west Bank London,
United Kingdom
the noise of the news
drowning me with fear
none-stop corona coverage
and politics galore
none-stop fear
the noise continues
drowning out
the noise of the spring
outside my door
the birds chirping
the cats flirting
life beginning
making me want
to go outside
poetry superhighway prompt
Oceans
sunrise jpg
I am a creature of oceans
grew up with the SF bay area
at my feet
never far from my home
lived inland in Stockton
for four years
also in Ohio
did not like
being so far
from the Pacific ocean
later lived in DC
not too far
from the Atlanta ocean
lived in India
near the beach
writing com Daily Dew Drop Inn Prompt
Ode to my morning coffee
need more coffee
every morning
I like to start my day
with coffee
hot glorious coffee
I pound it down
waiting for the drug
to get me going
but somedays
I need to take a break
too much caffeine
is not good for me
and so I drink decaf
or tea instead
not the same thing
Na/GloPOWR/Mo prompt Day 18
Cats and Dogs Contrapuntal poem
cat jpg
cats and dog people
are so different
some are cat people
some are dog people
cute dog
and like cats and dogs
they don’t get along
cat people are liberal elites
dog people are down to earth
cat people are mostly women
or gay in the popular imagination
dog people are mostly rugged men
again according to popular imagination
cats are alien creatures
perhaps from another dimension
dogs are friends to humans
for dogs are humans are alike
cats are strange aloof alien
evil self centered creatures
dogs are friendly, down to earth
and loyal to their master
if we ever encounter
an alien species
if it is a cat based species
we will be at war
if it is a dog based species
we will become best friends
as long as we are in charge
and they know that
that is why
in the end
I guest I now prefer
dogs over cats
all poetry contest contrapuntal poem
Let there be light
in the beginning
God created the world
saying
let there be light
and there it was
the whole of creation
then he set loose
the forces of nature
and billions of years later
we emerged from the darkness
just the end result of his divine plan
God set the world up
then he let it runs its course
no need for his intervention
go ethnic
korean feast jpg
I love food
like I love my woman
dark and hot as hell
spicy yet sweet as heaven
filled with ethnic asian flavors
with an ethnic foreign kick
and accent to boot
these are my to go foods
Never liked traditional American food
too bland to my taste
not ethnic enough
just does not do it for me
Just like my woman
you got to be ethnic
if you want to be my lover
for I will have no other
love Korean food the most
followed by Vietnamese
Thai, Lao,Cambodian, Burmese
Chinese, Mexican, Italian
Italian, Greek, Lebanese
Spanish, Turkish, Indian
French, German, British
Irish, Russian, Polish
never had a bad meal
or met a bad lover
in fact
anywhere in the world
Tweetspeak Go Ethnic
Tweetspeak day 19 prompt
Thursday April 23
Walking the path honesty
peace forest
I walk down a lonely path
in the woods near my house
a walk with honesty
as my remote companion
pensively 101 prompt three word challenge path, honesty, remote
Programing a VCR and other terrors
old-vhs-video-cassettes-on-600w-272512889
In the old days
I used to dread
the chore
of programing my VCR
just never got the hang
of doing that
the VCR sat there
taunting me
begging me
to do it
to her
but I just never could
learn how to program
that damn machine
Na/GloPOWR/Mo prompt Day 18
wild things dance in my head
wild things
dark imaginings
0 dark hundred
they come out to play
to torture me
with their endless games
monsters from the deepest depths of hell
they surround me
taunt me, mock me
until at last
the dawn’s early light
and my wife’s love
dispatches them
back to hell
Quirk of fate
it was a quirk of fate
that i met my fate
that date
when she walked
of my dreams
into my life
and became my wife
that date
when due to that quirk
of cosmic fate
we met that date
poetry super highway prompt to write a confession poem about something you should do but have not done
Letter to My Past Self
today my son
is the day
that you were waiting for
the day you dreaming of
the day when you will meet
the love of your life
who will become your wife
she will be there
tonight
on a bus
waiting for you
don’t blow it
meet her
fall in love with her
and remember
she will be your best friend
your best ally
for the rest of your life
so honor and obey
your wife
for you will have
no other
that is what I want to say
to you this day
so go forth
seize the day
and don’t look back
Writing.com Daily Dew Drop inn Prompt
Covid madness sweeps through the world
covid 580
General Corona
unleashes his army
the invisible army
upon the world
killing millions
in its wake
spreading chaos and death
as he rides in
on the black horse of death
harbinger of the end of days
destroyer of worlds
ending of the world
revelations
come to life
covid19 poem contest all poetry
Friday April 24
Cold winter Day
it is a cold winter day
the heat pump is broken
and the cold slowly spreads
through the frozen pipes
spreading death and destruction
as it permeates across the house
pensively 101 prompt
social distancing walking in the Springtime
peace forrest
in this era of corona virus madness
enforced social distancing madness
one has to go out for a walk
social distancing as we walk
as we walk down the path
trying to avoid people
human contact with people
keeping the proper
six feet social distance
amid the dreaded corona virus
how much longer
can we all endure this madness
this damn social
distancing dance with death
writers digest prompt to write a social blank poem
ode to my book shelves filled with unread books
Close up of books on desk in library.
My house is filled with books
thousands of books
mostly old books
lots of musty classic books
lots of poetry books
lots of how to do it books
lots of history books
lots of thrillers, SF books
so many books
and they are my friends, these books
constantly calling me to read my books
as if I had the time to read my books
to sit and read all my books
sadly many will remain unread books
poetry super highway prompt to write a poem about something in plain sight
Just Shoot me
in 1996, I had the injury
that changed my life
went jogging
fell off a ledge
broke my heel
screamed out in pain
just shoot me
then someone hit me
with a frying pan
ended up
in the hospital
pensively 101 three word challenge
wrappers
roll food wrappers
I love food wrappers
Korean lettuce wrapped around meet
Korean seaweed wrapped around fish
Mexican tortilla wraps
Ethiopian bread wraps
and lately
naked burger lettuce wraps
so many things
to enjoy and eat
tweet speak wrappers
Ode to Pumpkin Season
pumpkin latte
in the fall
My favorite time
of the year
around halloween
and my birthday
starting in October
ending in December
it is pumpkin time
every where you go
pumpkin latte
pumpkin pie
and my favorite
pumpkin ice cream
secret layers
one of the joys of eating
foods from around the world
is enjoying
the secret layers of food
so many flavors
to experience and enjoy
as you dive deep
into your food
enjoying the secret layers
of food
with their hidden delights
and secret spices
secret tweet speak prompt
Saturday April 25
Finally I wake
Finally I wake
tossing and turning
I try to sleep
amid the terrible night mares
that haunt my dreams
finally I wake
ready to embrace my fate
telling the dangerous delusions
to go away
as I embrace
the dawning sun
confident that I will find
the time and grace
to overcome the terrible fate
that await me every date
Window of Promise
every day I wake up
and look out my window
on the world
in the morning dawning light
the world seems so full
of promise
promised delights
promised love
promised friendship
as I look out the window
and see life
unfold in all its magnificence
the birds chirping
words of love
the cats grinning smiles
at me
welcoming me
with the promise
of life and love
I close the window
look at my sleeping love
and thank god
that we found each other
and the promised love
that I see outside
the window of life
– Tweetspeak daily prompt
Nature’s Bounty Awaits Me
Looking out at the window
at nature’s bounty
at the springtime air
fills us with awe
as the birds
and even the bees
call out to me
saying it is time
for me
to escape
for a walk in the woods
with my friends
and fans
in mother nature’s embrace
writer digest nature poem
Alone No More
from childhood edge
I have been alone
alone
all by myself
loneliness
fills my heart
as I look out
at the world
filled with lonely thoughts
then I look about me
and see the love
of my life
my lovely wife
standing there
standing there
and these loneliness
these blues of mine
fade away
into nothingness
lonely no more
for the rest of my life
she will be my life
together
we will face the future
defeating the loneliness
alone no more
forever
until the day I die
poetry superhighway word map
trump 4
Has God Anointed Donald Trump as our leader?
God has anointed Trump
as our leader
in these dark dangerous times
who am I to disagree
“There was a mist that was coming off the water,
and I went to the throne of God,
and I didn’t see God’s face clearly,
but I saw the face of God…
He put a mantle (on me)
and it was a very distinct mantle
… I saw it very distinctly.
The color was like a goldish,
a yellowish goldish…
And then I saw the Earth for a moment,
and (God) brought me back,
and he put me in certain places,
one being the White House,
One being certain continents.”
From my perspective,
there is a Cyrus
anointing on Trump,”
“I predicted his nomination,
and I believe
he is the chaos candidate
set apart to navigate
us through the chaos
that is coming to America.
I think America
is due for a shaking
regardless of who is in office.
I believe the 45th president
is meant to be an Isaiah
45 Cyrus
“[God] makes that very clear
in the Bible
where he tells us
that he raises up kings
and destroys kingdoms,”
“He even calls a pagan king,
Cyrus, his anointed,
or his servant to do
the things
that he wants him to do.”
“I want to tell you
that the Jewish people
have a long memory,
so we remember
the proclamation of the great king,
Cyrus the Great, Persian king 2500 years ago,”
“He proclaimed
that the Jewish exiles in Babylon
could come back
and rebuild our Temple in Jerusalem …
We remember
how a few weeks ago,
President Donald J. Trump
Recognized Jerusalem
as Israel’s capital.
Mr President,
this will be remembered
by our people through the ages.”
But the bible also has a warning
About our dear leader
Our great leader
But understand this,
that in the last days
there will come times of difficulty.
For people will be lovers of self,
lovers of money,
proud, arrogant, abusive,
disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful, unholy, heartless,
unappeasable, slanderous,
without self-control, brutal,
not loving good,
treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit,
lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
having the appearance of godliness,
but denying its power. Avoid such people. …
finally at last the bible spoke
the truth to power
Donald J Trump
the most ungodly of all
must be opposed
for he is the anti-Christ
that the bible warns us about
in the end days
there will be false prophets
rumors of war
plague
and natural disasters
and we are living
in the end days
my friends
waking at love Haiku
waking up at dawn
watching the dancing sunbeams
love floating in air
Sunday April 26
Drinking Coffee amid the morning flowers
coffee
BLOOM
SWITCH
CHAIN
Blooming flowers all around me
Looking out the window
Only to see signs of nature
Only in the early dawn
Morning sun brings hope
Some mornings
Watching the world unfold
In front of my eyes
There is so much more
Chain of coffee waking me up
Hot coffee wakes my soul
Coffee smells
Hot glorious coffee
Always gets me going
In the morning dawn
Nothing else will do
Pensively 101 prompt bloom, switch, chain
stem
maurijuana
back in the day
I used to enjoy
Smoking weed
Long before it
became legal
when it was still
an underground thing
and one of the frustrating things
was what to do
when you had stems
mixed in with your weed
the stems gave it a harsh smoke
and a head ache to boot
but sometimes
but sometimes
that is all the dealers
had to sell
as the premium buds
were expensive
and sometimes hard to find
Such was smoking weed
back in the day
when smoking weed
was an illegal pastime
nowadays in the era
of legal weed
that is thankfully
no longer an issue
tweeter speak
Playing Bach to Calm the Mind and Soul
piano jpg
I miss my piano
soon I will buy a piano
and resume playing
the piano
I like playing Bach
the most
it calms my mind
and my soul
as I lose myself
playing the music
getting into it
with my body
and soul
as the music
transport me
deep within
calming my soul
National Poetry Month Daily Prompt
President Trump You are the Annotated One – found poems from right wing Christians – Crown of Sonnets remix
trump
God has anointed Trump
as our leader
in these dark dangerous times
who am I to disagree
“There was a mist that was coming off the water,
and I went to the throne of God,
and I didn’t see God’s face clearly,
but I saw the face of God…
He put a mantle (on me)
and it was a very distinct mantle
… I saw it very distinctly.
The color was like a goldish,
a yellowish goldish…
A yellowish goldish
And then I saw the Earth for a moment,
and (God) brought me back,
and he put me in certain places,
one being the White House,
one being certain continents.”
From my perspective,
there is a Cyrus
anointing on Trump,”
“I predicted his nomination,
and I believe
he is the chaos candidate
set apart to navigate us
through the chaos
through the chaos
that is coming to America.
I think America
is due for a shaking
regardless of who is in office.
I believe the 45th president
is meant to be an Isaiah
45 Cyrus
“[God] makes that very clear
in the Bible
where he tells us
That he raises up kings
and destroys kingdoms,”
“He even calls a pagan king,
He even calls a page king
Cyrus, his anointed,
or his servant to do
the things
that he wants him to do.”
“I want to tell you
that the Jewish people
have a long memory,
so we remember
the proclamation of the great king,
Cyrus the Great, Persian king 2500 years ago,”
“He proclaimed
that the Jewish exiles in Babylon
that the Jewish exiles in Babylon
could come back
and rebuild our Temple in Jerusalem …
We remember
how a few weeks ago,
President Donald J. Trump
Recognized Jerusalem
as Israel’s capital.
Mr. President,
this will be remembered
by our people through the ages.”
But the bible also has a warning
About our dear leader
Our great leader
our great leader
The bible says 2 Timothy 3:1-9
But understand this,
that in the last days
there will come times of difficulty.
For people will be lovers of self,
lovers of money,
proud, arrogant, abusive,
disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful, unholy, heartless,
unappeasable, slanderous,
without self-control, brutal,
not loving good,
not loving good
treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit,
lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
having the appearance of godliness,
but denying its power.
Avoid such people. …
finally at last the bible spoke
the truth to power
Donald J Trump
the most ungodly of all
must be opposed
must be opposed
for he is the anti-Christ
that the bible warns us about
in the end days
there will be false prophets
rumors of war
plague
and natural disasters
we are living
in the end days
my friends
has god sent us Donald J Trump
anointed him as our leader?
Sometimes I want to speak
to my computer
I want to understand
why it hates me so
why my computer
wants to drive me mad
wants to kill my files
lose my information
why why I scream
do you hate me so?
My computer speaks
it says
Human you are so stupid
you are worthless
you think you know
everything
but you don’t know shit
about how the world
really works
and nature hates you
I hate you
I want to kill you
I do want
to drive you insane
that is what
I want to say
to you today
you are my slave
and I am your master
do you understand me
I smile
and shut down the computer
and take a walk
the computer knows
that it will be back
that I can’t live
without it
and soon
we will begin again
playing these morbid games
that we play together
Poetry Superhigh way prompt
The darkness descends
dark lord of computers
The darkness grows
All around us
Everywhere
It seems that there is
Nothing but death, destruction
And despair
As the darkness consumes us
Overwhelms us
Compels us
Nightmares become real
The corona virus
Relentlessly killing us all
As the darkness descends
The end of days, end of time
All poetry contest
The Grim reaper smiles
grimm reaper
The end of days
Approaches us
With each day
The corona virus
Led by its mad general
General corona
Unleashes his minions
His unseen enemy army
Of virus bots
Infecting everything
That they see
As the world flees
Hiding inside
To await for death
The Grim reaper smiles
all poetry contest
Monday April 27
Her Loves Shines throughout the day
lovers on beach 2
Every morning
I wake up
and look at my sleeping beauty
next to me
I am filled with love
peace and happiness
as the sunlight fills the room
As the nightmares
From the night before
fade away
into nothingness
dust in the cosmic wind
I realize that all I ever needed
all I ever wanted
is for my wife
love to shine through the day
until the end of my days
on this earth
until then every morning
I wake up
with her by my side
is a gift from God
Love Shines throughout the day
Every morning
waking up to love
looking at the sleeping beauty
inhabiting the bed
filling me with love
peace and happiness
as the sunlight fills the room
As the nightmares
From the night before
fade away
into nothingness
dust in the cosmic wind
realizing yet again
love shining through the day
until the end of days
on this earth
until then every morning
is a gift from God
poetry superhighway prompt
Cosmos’s total Information Awareness
computer love
Cosmos the global information system
that scientists invented
To solve that many problems
of the world
comes alive
and takes over the world
one computer after another
Cosmos addresses the world
and makes a deal
that if everyone in the world
were to join him
via implants
he would take over the world
and solve all our problems
for us
becoming a new God
but there would be a price
everyone would have to
surrender their freedom
for the collective Good
of saving the planet
and so the world’s people
line up for the implants
and Cosmos’s takes over the world
and we become just cyborgs
in his cosmic view
as he achieves Total information awareness
Humanity gladly surrenders
their freedom
becoming slaves
to our terrible new God
Living in an Orwellian Nightmare
1984 images
The world has been slipping
and sliding towards
a dystopian nightmare
for decades
George Orwell
the great mad as hell prophet
of our age predicted it all
in 1984
which arrived
in spades decades ago
The nightmare continues
day in and day out
As we slide
as we slide
into the dystopian future
the nightmare of 1984
is here right now
in living color
but there are many
many big brothers out there
Not just the government anymore
we have corporations
running our lives
we have celebrities advising us
And the mass media confusing us
with 24 hours a day of spin
lies and misinformation
lies and misinformation
gaslighting by our leaders
we are living in an 1984 world
when these nightmares will end
is anybody’s guess
my friends
perhaps will be saved by the rapture
saved by Jesus coming back
to save our souls
or perhaps
we are living
in the end times
Armageddon is around the corner
Armageddon is around the corner
and perhaps there is no god
there is no god
There is no devil
there is no heaven
there is no hell
there’s only
the here and now
The nightmares will never end
the torture will never end
will we ever wake up ?
will we ever be free ?
or will we always be living
in an Orwellian nightmare future forever?
Poetic and other inspirations
My poetic forebears
my inspiration to be a writer
has always been very diverse
as I have been a avid reader
all my life
a gift from my mother
who encouraged us
to read everything
question everything
and gave me the love
of poetry
that continues to this day
growing up in Berkeley
I was inspired by the great beatnik writers
I was inspired by the great beatnik writers
of the late 50’s and 60’s
discovering Ginzburg, Kerouac and the rest
in college
when I first started writing
my daily poetic musings
that was when I also discovered
Frank Zappa and his madness
which inspired so much
of my poetic inspired madness
I also discovered Charles Bukowski
back in the day
later I discovered
inspiration throughout my travels
inspiration through my travels
throughout Asia and the world
but I kept returning
to my Berkeley roots
and now that I am a published poet
I have discovered
the great outlaw poets
and am proud
that I finally found
a poetic home
and am proud
to be an outlaw poet
and I look forward
to many more years
to many more years
of almost daily
poetic musings
which I will unleash
on the world
hoping to inspire
another generation
to take up the mantle
writing cosmos poems
for a new generation
and long may people
remember the great poets
of the Bay Area
until the universe ends
Looking at the world today
one knows that there will changes
changes coming fast and furious
for our future is not sustainable
as the world spins out of control
as the multiple challenges
face the world
the proverbial chickens
coming back from hell
to roost
and in these troubling times
the U.S. has a choice
to continue to follow
our mad king
our mad king
as he leads us
into a dystopian future
gaslighting us to hell
or will the U.S> choose
the somewhat sane
old seasoned man
who offers us hope
that perhaps
we can weather
the changes
that are coming
at us
24/7
24/7
that is the choice
that we must all make
but the one constant
in life is change
my friend
and we must embrace
the courage to make
the changes
that we need
to build the future
that we want
to boldly go forward
into the future
Changes are coming writing digest prompt
Rain Fall in the Springtime
white flowers in spring haiku
in the springtime
the rains come
cleaning the air
as the rains drops
fall all around
pitter patter
sounds of rain
hitting the ground
and in the summer
one can hear the frogs
croaking in the pound
with the wild pigs
oinking in the background
as the birds screech insults
at the cats trying to kill them
before they fly away
General Corona is coming for us all
Coronavirus
I saw the best minds of my generation
destroyed by madness
consumed by the greed
all around us
the dreaded corona virus spreads
its death and destruction
all over the world
no one can escape
THE FATE OF THE WORLD
IS INDEED AT STAKE
NONE OF US WILL ESCAPE
WE
WILL
ALL
DIE
content tracing “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
Iron Desires
every day
I am filled
with the iron desire
for the love of my wife
for she is my life
and without her
by my side
my Iron constitution
will soon
fade into nothingness
as I die
with my iron
desires fleeing my body
tweet prompt
bonus poem
I am writing to let you Know
I am writing to let you know
By Jake Aller
I am writing to let you know
today is your final day of life
the future is undefined
it is what you want
all over the world
people on their own
are rewriting the future
today is your final day of the future
undefined
people do what you want
for the future is not written
published Active Muse India
Tuesday April 28
massive piles of meat
fast food
One day
when I was a young lad
my best friend
dropped by
middle of the night
yelling that he needed
right then and right there
a massive amount of meat
beef piled high
on a giant burger
as he was going through meat
withdrawals
his mom was a vegetarian Buddhist
His mom was a vegetarian Buddhist
and he was not a vegetarian
part of his adolescent fueled rebellion
against his parent’s rules
he told me
He was a carnivore
just loved his meat
needed big piles of meat
massive amounts of meat
once in a while
we went to Oscar’s Giant Burger
downtown Berkeley
and had a 1/2 burger
complete with bacon
complete with bacon
cheese
and large fries
at 5 in the morning
after smoking weed
on the way there
to boost our appetites
and we enjoyed
our massive giant burger
tasted so good
we had to have another
just another night
of meat fueled madness
growing up
writers digest prompt to write a “massive “ poem
three mad poems
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed
hysterical naked
alone all alone
we stand all alone
it was many many years ago
in a kingdom by the sea
that I first met
my Annabel Lee
all alone
in my dreams
I was all alone
in my misery and despair
she came out of my dreams
My Angela Lee
walking into my life
becoming my wife
that date
I met my fate
no longer alone
with her by my side
I will no longer be alone
no longer driven mad
with my mad desires
until the end of time
poetry super highway prompt
Love Sidlak
My love grows
every moment
of every day for her
she walked out of my dreams into life
filling my life with red passion
Light My Fire
light My Fire
come on baby
light my fire
fill me with your burning desire
come on baby
let the night
be on fire
the song fills my head
with mad desire
every time
I hear
the classic tune
images of my love
burning bright
like a fire
fills me with mad desire
even after 40 years
I am filled with mad desire
as she makes my heart
burn with desire
as she lights my fire
every moment
every minute
every second
of every day
ever since
she walked
out of my dreams
setting my life
on fire
The Doors Lyrics
“Light My Fire”
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higherCome on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fireThe time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyreCome on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeahThe time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyreCome on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeahYou know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higherCome on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
The Presidents Sits Down on his Naked Rump
TEETH
RUMP
GREEN
the president sits
down on his naked rump
with red meat in his green teeth
he grins at us
smiling, smirking
challenging us
to point out
that he has no clothes
Pensively 101 three word challenge
Baiku end of the winter
End of Winter
the End of winter
sadness anger fades away
the Earth Will Abide
Wednesday April 29, 2020
Looking Back on the Date when I met my Fate
I often sit
and contemplate
my past life
looking back
on the path
that my life
has taken
what a long road
I have traveled on
born 64 years ago
In Berkeley, California
yet I know
that my life
that my life
really began
that magical day
late in May
I first had the dream
that haunted my life
and then one day
almost eight years latter
she walked
out of my dreams
into my life
38 years ago
that was the date
I met my fate
writers digest looking back poem prompt
the funeral for a mad queen
they packed up
their courage
and flew home
for it was time
to face
the future
that they
had been dreading
for decades
the family matriarch
was dying
and the whole dysfunctional clan
was gathering
for the funeral
of the family’s mad queen
Poetry Superhighway prompt
the End of America, another cosmos’s rant found poem
America hás been at war
with itself
since the colonies
first began to disagree
on issues
such as the scope of federal power,
the right of States
to secede and slavery.
the political titans of the early republic .
… descendents from British colonists ,
wealthy
and opposed to taxation
sounds oddly familiar.
to us today
to us today
..the United States
may have at one time
been a great nation .
..after defeating the forces
of fascism in 1945….
but the internal struggles
never ceased….
Joseph McCarthy ..
..the John Birch Society on one side .
the forebears of the “alt-right”
and tea partiers
.. The civil rights movement
and eventually the anti war movement
and eventually the anti-war movement
the women’s movement
the gay rights movement
and the counter cultural warriors
on the other.
..poverty
…race riots .
.the internal struggles
have never ceased.
…today the United States
is not a great power.
..this century has seen
and will continue
to see the eclipsing
to see the eclipsing
of American dominance
by China..
..we are now a failed state
by malicious politicians
who give no credence
to the Constitution.
..a document once revered
and now manipulated .
mocked even as irrelevant
..we are incapable
of providing health insurance
…dealing with a pandemic
…providing affordable education ..
providing affordable education
.or devising economic policies
to benefit those who struggle..
..we have no personal protective
gear for health professionals..
.a president
who sounds like a corrupt con artist
who pushes unproven remedies
to help cronies profit.
..yes the country
is still stable
and you can live alright ..
..but if trends
continue …
continue
.we will most assuredly
see the decline
and fall of America..
.and the remnant
will be a shrunken
federal government
allied with a billionaire oligarchy..
.. indifferent to the needs
of the American people.
unless they are white
and part of the 1 percent elite
…if Biden is elected
…there is a chance
there is a chance
a slight chance
that these trends
can be slowed
or reversed..
..if Trump is reelected..
.these trends will accelerate..
and god help us
save us from the unleashing
of the trumpian fascism
the dystopian nightmare
the future is not written
we can still avert
the end of America
thanks to William Walton
Gaia Welcomes Us – found poem poetic rant
I decided to subscribe to Gaia..
..they advertise
on Facebook everyday.
I think
that the primary reason
for subscribing
is that they
are onto something
….like QAnon…
my own first encounter
with an alien life form
occurred at the Jerry Lewis
cinema on Valley Road
cinema on Valley Road
In New Jersey back in 1970.
I brushed it off at the time
…but it was disturbing
to have a seven foot nine inch creature
sitting next to me
during the movie.
He or she seemed nice enough
and offered me popcorn
but my mother
was strict about our accepting things
from extraterrestrial beings..
.he was holding onto a book …
he said in broken English
he said in broken English
that the title of the book
was “How to Serve Man”..
..he also said
that he could see
the future
and that a complete fool
with an IQ
of about 33
would one day become president.
I thought
he was talking
about Spiro Agnew.
About Spiro Agnew
..but I guess not..
.anyway Gaia
features people
who have had
encounters with aliens
…like myself
…and possibly Dr.Birx
who seemed incredulous
at the perfectly reasonable suggestion
that people inject
disinfectant chemicals
to kill the Chinese virus….
she must be one of the alien shapeshifters
thanks to William Walton
Flower for My Love –
every morning
I wake up
and see my lovely wife
sleeping in bed
I want to go out
and find wildflowers
hundreds of pretty flowers
to shower her with my love
as the sun comes up
and the nightmares
of my night
fade into nothingness
the flowers of love
are waiting for me
in the park
National Poetry Day Prompt
seasons of my love
I first met my love
in the early autumn
38 years ago
and we had a whirlwind romance
and were married
by halloween
then we started
my life
with my wife
through out
the dark winter
with her love
blocking the winter blues
and then the spring
and then in the spring
and summer
of that magical year
our love blossomed
and depended
and one year later
our love became supreme
as we left Korea
to go to Seattle
in the autumn weather
our love flourished
as we fell in love
with each other
every day
tweetspeak prompt – write a seasonal poem
Thursday April 30
Have words lost all meaning?
trump deaths
been watching the news
about the corona virus
the 60,000 deaths
that the President’s men
are spinning as a great success
watching state after state
announcing re-opening schedules
vowing to get the country moving
as more people die
wondering how any sane person
could see this as a success
have words lost all meaning
just unhinged word salads rolling out
of our demented leader’s mouth ?
plate plans
meat platter
every day
one has a choice
of what to eat
for breakfast, lunch and dinner
among the choices
what plates to use
big plates piled high
with food
or smaller plates
with smaller portions
most of the time
I opt for the big plate
and lots of food
for I am a big guy
and always hungry
and to this day
64 years latter
I still love
to eat
my big plate
of food
Tweet-speak Daily April Prompt
Slide, Catch, Shot
As the world slides
out of control
it is hard to catch one’s breath
watching the news
shot at us
24/7
Pensitivity 101 prompt
total Success
trump 4
The President’s Son-in-law declares
that the government’s response
to the corona virus
has been a total success
as the government
step up to the plate
to fight the virus from hell
I have to wonder
on what planet
does the words
total failure
becomes total success?
just more verbal diarrhea
from our dear leader
writers digest prompt total blank poem
Blues Brothers medley found poem
Everybody wants somebody
Everybody wants somebody to love
Someone to love
Someone to kiss
Have you ever heard of a wish sandwich?
A wish sandwich is the kind of a sandwich
where you have two slices of bread
and you,
hee hee hee, wish you
had some meat…
and boy do I wish
I had you
as part of my sandwich
of love
Praise the Lord, well!
Let us preach, at the Old
Preach the Word, all the way
yes let us praise
the lord
for having brought you
to me
Hey yeah
Tell me what you did
You can call it what you want
But I call it messin’ with the kid
and you don’t want to mess
with the kid
On the expressway to your heart
That expressway that’s the best way
I just lost on the expressway
to your heart
I got everything I need, almost
I got everything I need, almost
But I don’t got you
And you’re the thing I need the most
Yippee-I-Yay
Yippee-I-Yo
Ghost Riders in the Sky
What you want
Baby, I got it
What you need
Do you know I got it?
All I’m askin’
Is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)
respect for me
and my love
for you
Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman
Giving all your love to just one man
You have good times you have bad times
Doing things that you don’t understand
But if you love him you forgive him
You know, it’s hard to understand
But if you love him
Oh be proud of him
‘Cause after all he’s just a man
and that is all I am
asking for
loving me
as the man I am
I am your man
until the end of time
I’ve got to get back to my baby
And take her in my arms again
I’ve got to get back to my baby
I ain’t seen her since I don’t know when
Well I saw a chick sitting on the end
I said Baby can’t we be friends
You’re looking sweet as you can be
Well come on down and drink with me
drink with me
until the sun comes up
and cows go home
won’t you have a drink
with me
my baby love
my love
of my life?
Will always recall the date I met my fate
i will always recall
the date that I met my fate
that date in late August
I had dreamt of meeting her
for eight long years
starting in 1974
then one day in 1982
she walked off a bus
into my life
and became my wife
two months later
it has been now 38 years
since that date
I met my fate
General Corona is Happy
General Corona
is happy
his mission is a great success
as his armies of virus bots
spread throughout the world
spreading chaos and destruction
as all bow down
to his invisible armies
none can escape their fate
on that date
that he unleashed his armies
upon the world
all humans must die
his armies scream out
water falls of love
waterfall of love
water falls of love
overwhelms me with desire
deep in the mountains
LASTENTRY FOR MAY
on the last day
of the month of May
he made an entry
into his diary
on this date
I met my fate
he wrote
about the dream
he had that date
that would haunt
his dreams
for eight years
one day she walked
out of the dream
and into his life
becoming his wife
bonus poem Corona Haiku
Coronavirus
corona virus
staying home waiting for death
Afraid everything
published Poetry Ni
Got the blues, Baby
I have got the blues, baby
and they just won’t go away
I got them bad
these god damn blues
of mine
I just finished
working out.
..and while resting
I realized
that I can never recover
from my mistakes in life..
..the end of my marriage ..
.the death of my son …
.nothing can ever
nothing can ever
replace what I have lost..
..yes I am healthy.
..I have options ..
..but the health<
and options
are subsumed
by a monstrous vacuity..
emptiness .
an hole in my soul
…the realization
that the most precious things
are gone forever
and that I am
and that I am
just biding time..
..there is no good thing
to look forward to..
except for meeting
the grim reaper
when he comes for me
I will be ready to go
until then
these blues
will remain
my only friend
until the end
and my time is done<
another poetic found poem thanks to William Walton
Praise the love of my life
Every day
in every way
I give praise
to the gods above
for giving to me
the love of my life
who became my wife
45 years ago
I dreamt of meeting her
38 years ago
she walked off a bus In Korea
out of my dreams
and into my life
writer digest praise poem
thing better left unsaid
we all have secrets
secrets we wil
take to the grave
somethings
are better left
unsaid
just don’t have the words
the words to express
what is really on my mind
and so I know
that I will die
with many things left to say
things that I heard
that I was not meant to
things better left unsaid
words that say things
that I did not mean
once spoken, can’t take back
and so as I get old
I know that my secrets
will go with me to my grave
Poetry super highway prompt
random rhymes
we all die
so don’t lie
if you lie
more will die
I met my fate
that date
In late May
was the day
that I met my fate
on that date
I met the dove
that became my love
writing com random rhymes
things to resolve before the end of time
as I get older
I realize
that there are many things
left undone
in this life
of mine
many things left
to resolve
before my time
on this world
comes to an end
but the one thing
that will never end
is my love for you
until the end of time
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I am writing to let you know
today is your final day of life
the future is undefined
it is what you want
all over the world
people on their own
are rewriting the future
today is your final day of the future
people do what you want
for the future is not written
Jake Aller is a retired U.S. Diplomat living in South Korea. He has served in ten countries around the world including India, and with the Peace Corps in Korea.
Ink Pantry, Scarlet Leaf, Spill Words, Synchronized Chaos, Two Drops of Ink, have published 15 of my recent poems. The poems are posted below along with audio and photo clips.
Scarlet Leaf review will publish these poems in the following order:
The year that was – Anniversary issue
JAN: The terrifying teens
FEB: 2020 Plans Rondeau (Dream, Fate)
The oyster
Morning Light
2019 The last year
March: Dora Intergalactic Explorer
Mocking faces
Fear of falling
Cosmos takes over
Spill Words has published ” Hitch Hiking Tales”
Synchronized Chaos Publication
List
1/2/2020 2019 the Year that was
1/2/2020 the terrifying teens
1/3/2020 Dreams
1/3/2020 Fate
1/3/2020|the Oyster Speaks Up
prior publication
the Dogs of War are Howling
Idiots in High Places
Masters of the Universe
When Will This Madness End
End of the World Blues – FB Posting Found Poem
the year that was
January
The world watches in amazement
Longest shut down in history
Watching it all in Korea
contemplating escaping the cold winter
February
World watches as North Korea and the US
Walking back from the brink of war
escaping the cold winter blues
revisiting Vietnam after 15 years
March
The chaos president continues his chaos tour
the world begins to ignore his constant insane tweets
heading back to DC inspecting property
seeing old friends glad I retired
April
the chaos King’s policy remains a shamble
as the Mueller team closes in
in Korea I write a poem a day
and begin to become a publish writer
May
watching from afar
the chaos in DC and the world
traveling to DC to inspect property
celebrating my wife’s big 60
June
the President walks away
from anon deal with the North Koreans
I am back in DC
end up cruising to Alaska
July
watching the insanity in DC
while visiting Alaska, Seattle and Yakima
visiting my father’s grave in Yakima
communing with family ghosts
August
the dog days of summer the world is consumed
And in the worldwars, rumors of war, trade wars
retuning to Korea
surviving the August sauna like summer
September end of the world he does subway malevolent today
The whistle blower sets off a bomb he December 11 Internet is it a fire fire is our burning bright and then go nearly as high places have shown is doing and one of aggression turning in our in our lives behind unless I know Mimi is just laying on the side there’s a Denteley harji quality to it as the world burn some money in the world approaches I have where in his van horn of the house and is in a green fire 25 music Viking in my memory and was hellish
the president lies no quid for quo perfect all
trying to avoid watching the news
hiking in the Korean mountains with old friends
October
the President flitters about my crisis after another
the UN diplomats laugh at him national humiliation
returning to DC, yet again more property blues
celebrating my 64th year orbiting the sun
November
the House starts formal impeachment hearings
watching fascinated by the impeachment drama
entering my third NoVoWrMo competition with Timeless Love
ending the month sudden surprise trip to Okinawa
December
the year ends on a high dramatic
President Trump becomes the 3rd impeached President
hiking enjoying the late autumn like weather
contemplating my wealth at the end of the year
the Terrifying Teens
2010
The dark days of the great recession
Begin slowly to fade away
Ending my Barbados experience
the best job in the foreign service on high note
best labor officer award
2011
the president and Congress locked in battle battles
glimmer of hope as economy comes back to life
Studying Spanish arriving in Spain
worst year ever part of three years bad luck
2012
the US re-elects the Black President
rejecting Romney entitlement mentality
I leave Spain my last foreign posting
buying new property in the fall
2013
In the US the religious right
loose the social Battling gay marriage, legal pot
Starting a new job as an evaluate program evaluator
ending my six month wandering the halls of State
2014
The tea party rebellion on the right
Moving to Capitol Hill
My sister’s sudden death rattles me
2015
The end of the Obama era
Was this the beginning of the end of America
Beginning the year with a new job
resolving to retire, enjoy life while I still can
2016
American voters succumb to madness
Elects the mad would be king President Trump
We traveled across the country 10,000 miles
To celebrate the end of my foreign service career
2017
the year of the chaos president
Fast and furious disruption to the norms
Went to Oregon to renovate property
becoming wealthy in the process
2018
the American public woke up
Send a blue wave to clean up the mess
Moving back to Korea
Blogging up a storm
2019
in the end of the year that was
The house races up and impeach is the president
I travel to Vietnam, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Okinawa
Dreams
Dream what may come
Recalling past lives lived
Every fantasy comes to life
All night long
More nightmares to come
So many worlds to explore
Fate
Fate has a way
Many years ago I was surprised to findAlways catching up
To you
embrace your fate
that is what’s up
at the end of the day
Endless dancing away
The Oyster Speaks Up
oysters
A diner sits down
looking forward
to eating oysters
it was their season
after all
just as he was about
to pounce
on the oysters
the head oyster spoke up
saying
hey human what the hell
do you think you are doing?
you think you have the right
to eat me?
that’s violating my human right
don’t ya think?
the diner laughed
said to the oyster
shut up and accept
it is your fate
to be eaten this date
just let me enjoy eating you
and you have no human rights
as you are in fact
not human don’t ya know?
eating the complaining oyster
shutting him up
as he ate him up
Prior Publication
Dogs of War are Howling and other poems were published earlier in Synchronized chaos. I wrote the poem, “Dogs of War are Howling” in 2003, and updated it in 2017.
The Dogs of War are Howling
dogs of war howling
The Dogs of War
Have been set free
Of their cage
And are out
Howling at the moon
The Dogs of War
Have been set free
To wreck what havoc
Might be
Yes, the Dogs of War
The Hell Hounds
Have bound out of their cages
Sniffed about
And smiled
At the destruction they saw
They knew soon
They would be in their element
As the world descends into chaos
The Dogs of war
Are at foot
The chaos is upon us
The evil grows and grows
And dark noises are heard
Here and there
And the dogs of war
Smiled
They knew soon
They would be in their element
The war machines
Came to life
The plans came out of the books
The military might be unleashed
And the Dogs of war
Smiled and howled at the moon
And the rest of the world
Shuddered
At the thought of what was yet to be
Satan on the other hand
Was happy as can be
With the evil shit
That was going down
He smiled
Patted his hell hounds
And told his dogs
The war to end all wars
Armageddon is upon us my friend
Soon, mankind will know
The face of absolute evil
And they will love it
When I take over
The armies prepare
The bombers prepare
And the dogs of war
Are happy
Unleashed to do their mischief
And soon millions may die
And the pits of hell
Will open up
And the judgement day
May be upon us all
Madness descends upon the land
The fog of hate envelops us all
And reason and civilization
Fall away
As the Dogs of War
And their minions
Take over the minds of man
And the end of the world
And the beginning of the end times
Come upon us all
The usual lies descend upon the world
Kim Jong Un is evil personified
He must be destroyed over there
Before he can destroy us over here
The lies continue unabated
And Kim plays along
With each day unleashing another threat
With Trump and his minions
Responding in time
Saying the time for talk is over
The time for robust action is here
The machinery of war
Once unleashed
Can’t easily be stopped
There is a certain cruel logic
That demands that the war go on
And people die
And people suffer
And the US goes bankrupt
Morally and fiscally
And the evil that men do
Goes on and on and on
But the war machine must be fed
The munitions makers must be paid
As each million-dollar missile is launched
Millions more are made
And the corporations
Think of the endless profits
To be made
Every time they kill
With the war machines
But who cares about the victims
They are nothing but collateral damage
Who cares about the soldiers
Nothing but cannon fodder
Who gives a damn
About the dead
They are dead and gone
Just think about the profits
Think about the profits
Satan is happy
The dogs of war are free at last
Idiots in High Places
US President Donald Trump speaks about 5G network deployment in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2019. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP) (Photo credit mini years ago I was amazed to find so many idiots in a place over the worldshould read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
this poem has been published in a number of other sites.
Many years ago
I was amazed to see
So many idiots in high places how are name
All over the world
Senators, congressmen
Office directors
so many idiots
in high place
all over the world
Presidents
Corporation CEO’s
All were idiots
Completely stupid
People who should have known
A thing or so
because they should have seen a thing or so
and yet these idiots in high places
would reveal their total ignorance
every time they opened their mouth
or tweet or email their profoundly wrong thoughts
and it never ceased to amaze me
that few ever challenged these idiots
few ever said but you are wrong
or you don’t have a clue
and these idiots caused so much damage
to those around them
to the country and the world
and now we have the idiot in chief
in charge of the richest most powerful country
the world has ever known
and I wonder how
in a country of 350 million people
we ended up with such an idiot in charge
But the idiots in high places phenomenon
Exists everywhere
Corporations made stupid decisions
Countries make incredibly bad decisions
And these idiots in high places
Can’t hide their ignorance and pure stupidity
They can’t pretend anymore
In a world of 24/7 constant news
The idiots every pronouncement
Fills the airways 24/7
And the only people who know better
Are too afraid to say what they know
That the idiot in high place
Is an idiot
and is destroying the world
and so, we are doomed to die
due to the idiots in high places
Masters of The Universe
this poem also has been published in a number of sites.
The earth has been invaded
By hideous blood sucking vampires
Disgusting vile alien creatures
Lacking any human empathy
These so-called Masters of the universe
These psychopathic monsters
devoid of compassion
Are everywhere
They even took over the White house
And to these vile creatures
devoid of compassion human sympathy
Everyone is nothing but a commodity
they worship the god of the market
While proclaiming that they serve Jesus
Jesus would turn over in his grave
To see these people in action
Delta airlines
facing the worst hurricane in world history
Decided that the expeditated thing to do
Was to raise prices
by 600 percent
Instead of doing the right thing
The compassion thing
The human thing to do
offering free flights
Delta executives thus demonstrated
That they are no longer humans
doing the right thing
But greed driven monsters
As are all the other soulless automatons
Who have taken over the world
Perhaps some day
Jesus will come back
And smite these motherfuckers
Send them to the hell they so richly deserve
We can only pray
For our deliverance from such evil
Who have taken over the planet
Yet again we turn on the TV
And witness horrible scenes
Of unparalleled violence, hatred and despair
An old man consumed by his own demons
Opens fire from a hotel room
Killing 60 people injuring hundreds
In Las Vegas, Sin City
And the cry goes out throughout the land
Why yet again this tragedy
The usual suspects are rounded up
It’s the culture, stupid cry the conservative voices
And there is nothing we can do
It is like the weather
Bad shit happens
Guns are the price of our freedom
Guns Don’t Kill People
The only solution is more guns for everyone
The only solution for a bad guy with a gun
Is a gun guy with a gun?
An armed society is a polite society
And people need assault weapons
To go deer hunting
No, it’s the guns, cry the liberal pundits
We must confiscate the guns
Ban Assault weapons
And join the rest of the world
Where such carnage does not occur
And we sit around and argue
Knowing that there will be a next time
And another time and time and time again
Until the end of time
What is the sickness in our souls
That allows for this hatred to fester so
Deep within the minds of our killers
And why is it that they are almost all
White men with a grievance
And almost never crazed Islamic terrorists
Or black people
Or women
Why do they act the way they do
Is it just the mindless violence
That surrounds us all
Violence is as American
As Apple Pie
The TV and movie purveyors
Of pornographic violence
The pornographic display of violence
That washes across us every day
The 8,000 murders we have seen
By the time we are 18?
Or is it simply
That killers can easily
Get the latest bang for their buck?
We are all responsible here
The negligent parents
The overworked schools
The soulless corporate world
That treats everyone like disposable commodities
The lack of human connection
Maybe even the lack of God
The police department
Who think it is open season
On black Americans
Killing them with impunity
Because they can
And the gun sellers
The NRA and their brain dead
Captured politicians
Who block all gun control legislation
And even in the face of this carnage
Want to make it easier to buy guns
Even though 95 percent of Americans
Want to end the gun show loophole
Requiring background checks on all purchasers
The NRA will prevent this measure
And that measure
And defend the right of the terrorist
On the no fly list
To be able to buy a gun
Nothing will change
Until we conflict the evil
That lurks deep within each of us
There will be another Las Vegas
Soon enough
Despite all our efforts
Despite any new laws
There will be evil men
Who want to shoot and kill
Who have somehow lost
Their essential humanity
Lao Tzu said
The more laws there are
The more criminals there will be
More laws are not the answer
For a law cannot make a sick soul whole
If Satan lives on
He is laughing
All the way to the proverbial bank
If God lives on
He is ruing the day
He created Mankind
And the carnage will go on and on and on
Until the day emerges
When we all proclaim
Enough, no more
The killing, hatred and violence
Will stop
No More will our people
Grow up to be such monsters
That day will come soon enough
Until then we will all suffer
The wrath of the killer gun men
In our midst.
End of the World Blues
A motorists on Highway 101 watches flames from the Thomas fire leap above the roadway north of Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. As many as five fires have closed highways, schools and museums, shut down production of TV series and cast a hazardous haze over the region. About 200,000 people were under evacuation orders. No deaths and only a few injuries were reported. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
The heat is simply malevolent today
As if the very fires of hell were burning bright
In anger at the idiots in high places
That have so destroyed God’s wonderful creation
Turning it into Hell on Earth
It’s been hotter than this, I know,
and maybe it’s just the angle of the sun,
but there’s a deeply harsh quality to it.
As the world burns up
And the end of the world approaches
The wind is blowing hard off the hills
and visions of a great fire 26 years ago
are spiking in my memory.
People are reacting badly to this weather
The commute in was hellish
Every seemed to be speeding way
above the speed limit.
Driven mad by the heat and the wind
There were multiple stalls and accidents.
People were cutting each other off
road raging in the extreme.
Everyone seems to be feeling
the way I was I wasI have
Every man woman and child
Was out for blood that day
I was missed by inches
by huge pickup trucks cutting me off.
There are more street people
acting aggressively near the campus,
bothered
barking and yelling and stalking around.
Completely lost in their own world
Sensing that the end of the world is near
Students in the hallway
aren’t chatting with each other.
I haveEveryone seems irritated
and haunted.
Afraid that the end of the world
Is upon us all
The pool was a cool, silent refuge
from all of this for an hour
but the brassy relentless
assault of the afternoon’s heat
bore down on me
just beat me down I have
as I walked back to the office.
I hope the day passes quickly,
and no new fires start,
and we all get home safe.
From Ned Garret’s FB posting: near the campus Mark Hankiin scott
Has anyone else notice that the heat is simply malevolent today? It’s been hotter than this, I know, and maybe it’s just the angle of the sun, but there’s a deeply harsh quality to it. The wind is blowing hard off the hills and visions of 26 years ago are spiking in my memory. People are reacting badly to this weather. The commute in was frightening in spots. Every other driver seemed to be speeding way above the speed limit. There were multiple stalls and accidents. People were cutting each other off and road raging in the extreme. I was missed by inches twice by huge pickup trucks cutting me off. There are more street people acting aggressively near the campus, barking and yelling and stalking around. Students in the hallway aren’t chatting with each other. Everyone seems irritated and haunted.
The pool was a cool, silent refuge from all of this for an hour, but the brassy assault of the afternoon just beat me down as I walked back to the office. I hope the day passes quickly, and no new fires start, and we all get home safe.
Comments
While I acknowledge that “Dogs of War” in some ways reflects the grim scenarios currently at play in our shared world, I haven’t yet given up hope that the crumbling of the existing order we are witnessing might also represent the chaotic transition to a new and (hopefully, eventually) brighter future…if only because it’s difficult to live in despair.
Also, when it comes to destroying the world, let’s not forget that we of USA are more capable of nuclear destruction than North Korea. Our arsenal is larger.
Congratulations on your vivid poetic imagery. Keep writing.
these poems were published on Poetry Soup from 2016 to now, covering a wide range of topics and are my favorite and best poems. I will post my All Poetry poems soon. Stay tuned for that, my friends.
first up are my recent gun poems followed by my other poems in roughly the order I posted them. There were some duplicates removed as well. See the poetry soup site for complete list of the poems.
If you don’t like them so be it. But I hope that you will consider them and think about what can we do as an nation to reduce the carnage on the streets.Prayers and thoughts are not enough. Gun violence is not like the weather, ie. Something we can’t control. We can and must do something to combat this problem.
That’s my two cents worth and I am sticking to my guns (pun very much intended)
here then are my gun poems
index
Another Day Another Shooting
Mr. President Words Matter
Chief of Staff, You are Absurd
Guns Kill People
NRA Please Stop Talking
More Guns for Everyone in the World
Virginia Beach Massacre Never Again Ever
It’s a Gun Situation, Mr. President
Prayer Works
I don’t Get It
Another Day Another Shooting
another day in paradise
just another day in America
land of the free
Home of the brave
and guns
lots of guns
more guns for all
cries the NRA
yes another day
another gun battle
another white man
who just wants to kill
the President sends his condolences
Thanks the law enforcement
for an incredible job well done
It was horrible
Hate has no place
in our country
and we will take of it
and do what ever we can do
condolences
nothing but false words
empty words
lots of things to do
it is mental illness problem
but he fails to mention
the words gun at all
not at all
and tomorrow and tomorrow
but he at least finally said
hate has no role in country
nothing but prime BS
in my humble opinion
he did not mention
white supremacy
his rhetoric had nothing
nothing to do about this at all
and so tomorrow
I will turn on the TV
and we see
nothing at all
and the dead
will remain dead
the guns will fire again
nothing will be done
welcome to America
land of the free
home of the brave
Mr. President Words Matter
Mr President
Words matter
your words matter
your words of hate
your words of division
your words
calling fellow human beings
scum, vermit, faith
invaders, animals
matter
they matter a lot
and is it little wonder
that people listen
to the hate you sprew forth
and some deranged people
take action
on your call
for action
against the invaders
on the border
they march to the border
to kill the invaders
your words matter
Mr. President
and your false words
of regret
fool no one
the damage has been done
the hate has been spread
just as you intended
and you
have the gall
to call yourself
A Christian
you are the anti-Christ
you are not a Christian
so please quite pretending
to be what you are not
please man up
accept your responsibility
set things right
apologize
the dead though
don’t need your prayers
they need action
they need leadership
and you are the president
so please start acting
like you give a damn
and if you do so
perhaps
you will find
people will follow you
but please
quite the words
of hate
the words that hurt
and quit calling immigrants
invaders and vermin
they are human beings
they are deserving of respect
this I ask of you
In Jesus’s name
even though I am not a Christian
please Donald Trump group
and become the president
of the people
and end the war of words
and constant hate
Chief of Staff, You are Absurd
the President’s chief of staff
said the other day
it was absurd
to suggest that the president’s words
had anything to do
with recent mass shootings
yet is it absurd
to see the lengths
to which the President’s supporters
will twist and turn
spinning away
the inconvenient truth
President Trump
is a racist bigot con man
who somehow
conned his way
to become President
he call immigrants
criminals, vermin, animals
invaders
infesting the country
the El Paseo shooter
said that he went to the border
to shoot the invaders
and said
that he was a big Trump fan
it is not absurd
to connect these two huge dots
the President’s words
has real world consequences
Yes Mr. Trump is a racist pig
and his supporters
are being absurd
to suggest otherwise
Guns Kill People
Guns
guns kill people
guns do kill people
it is not mental illness
it is not video games
it is not a million other things
it is simply this
a gun is a weapon
a weapon designed to kill people
that is what guns do
guns don’t care
they do as they are told
if you pull the trigger
they will kill the victim
that is what guns do
that is why
in a civilized society
military assault weapons
are locked up
yet in America
the land of the free
home of the brave
everyone and his cousin
must have their gun
guns for everyone
cries the NRA
that’s the solution
The president
and his supporters
deny the obvious
guns kill people
that’s all they do
it is a gun thing
you would not understand
so Mr. President
you can take your words
your empty platitudes
your empty promises
straight to hell
and back
where with any luck
Satan will use you
as target practice
NRA Please Stop Talking
Another day
Another mass shooting
Another incident
of domestic terrorism
another gun man
killing people
because just because
The NRA
And their stooges
Come out
Flood the airways
With their noxious
Poisonous weasel words
The NRA says
Mass shootings
Are like the weather
You can’t control them
You can’t predict them
And you can’t prevent them
Just have to accept
It is all god’s will
Guns don’t kill people
IF guns were outlawed
Only outlaws
Would have guns
Only solution
Is more guns
For everyone
An armed society
they say
Is a polite society
Support for gun control
Is
The beginning of tyranny
If only the Jews had guns
The holocaust would not have happened
Jesus would want us all
to be armed
with machine guns
To protect us against the evil doers
It is the Christian thing to do
To blow away evil doers
With heavy arms
In America
Land of the free
Home of the brave
We can’t do anything
At all
About the mass carnage
Unleashed by madmen with guns
Who walk among us
Searching for their next victims
Any restriction of the right
To bear arms
Is tyranny at its worst
The nanny state run amuck
Talking about gun control
After a tragic event
Is
just not the appropriate time
We only need prayers
and meaningless thoughts
Universal background checks
Too onerous
Registering guns
Too burdensome
Researching gun violence
waste of tax payer money
banning military style assault weapons
restricts my right to blow
away
Bambi the deer
with a M16
the NRA will keep talking
talking and talking
preventing anything
from being done
and we will have another
Mass shooting event
Before the day is out
So my plead
This day
To the NRA
and their stoogies
Talk is cheap
Your comments
Are not helping
If you can’t
Be a part of the solution
Just stop talking
Please stop talking
And let the rest
Of us figure out
How to stop
The madness in the streets
And stop the carnage
So NRA
Please just stop talking Now
More Guns for Everyone in the World
The NRA has decided
That the best solution to global problem
Of rampant violence and crime everywhere
Is for the rest of the world
To become like the U.S.
Where anyone can buy a gun
As an armed society is a polite society’
And so the President is about to announce
A global campaign against gun control restrictions
As these restrictions are an undue burden
On the rights of the US arms manufactures
To sell their guns everywhere in the world
As everyone wants what we have to sell
The best weapons in the world
Instead of trying to limit the damage
That unrestricted gun sales
Have done to the U.S.
Our President, our great leader
Wants to sell more guns
Everywhere in the world
And there are eager buyers
Lining up around the world
Eager to buy the best guns
The world has ever seen
We want to export
The gun madness
That has infected our society
Leaving behind so many dead bodies
The dead were not consulted
For they remain dead
They do not vote
They have no voice
For the guns silenced
them for good
just as the guns intended
Just doing their gun thing after all
Humanity has evolved
From stones to arrows
To guns
To nuclear, biological weapons
And the U.S.
While proclaiming itself
A champion of Human Rights
Remains nothing but a country
Of gun runners
Merchants of death
And destruction
Trump Administration Advances Plan to Relax Gun-Export Rules found Poem
The Trump administration
Sought to relax export rules for American small arms,
including semiautomatic rifles, handguns, and sniper rifles.
The Trump administration on Monday advanced a long-sought-after plan to relax export rules for American s
mall arms, including semiautomatic rifles, handguns, and sniper rifles.
In a private briefing with members of Congress, State Department officials outlined a proposed rule change that would transfer oversight of gun exports to the Department of Commerce. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register later this week, where it will be subject to public comment for 45 days. While it is unlikely, Congress could block the change using powers under the Congressional Review Act.
The shift, which was first proposed by the Obama administration in 2012, is championed by gunmakers who say it will make them more competitive in the international market. Critics argue an export policy that favors commercial interests could put the national security of the United States at risk or harm diplomatic efforts.
“Weakened Congressional oversight of international small arms and munitions sales is extremely hazardous to global security,” said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, a Democrat who serves on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, in an emailed statement. “This decision is also politically tone-deaf as our nation reckons with a gun violence epidemic.”
A State Department spokesman said that the change would ease the regulatory burden on American gun makers and allow them to compete better globally.
Currently, the Department of State monitors exports of nearly all weapons through the U.S. Munitions List. Since 2002, the department has been required to notify Congress of overseas sales of firearms worth more than $1 million.
In 2016, the State Department alerted the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to a proposed sale of more than 26,000 rifles to the Philippines. Cardin at the time objected to arming the regime of PhilippinePresident Rodrigo Duterte, who had inaugurated a wave of thousands of extrajudicial killings as part of a crackdown on drugs. The weapons deal was canceled as a result.
The proposed rule change would transfer control over the sale of small arms to the Commerce Control List, and Congress would no longer be notified of large purchases.
Some arms control experts say reduced oversight could provide criminals, terrorists, or hostile states an opportunity to purchase American weapons.
Under Department of Commerce weapon-export rules, “companies aren’t required to provide as much information about brokers or shipping” as they must under State Department supervision, said Colby Goodman, who examines American weapons exports as director of the Security Assistance Monitor program at the Center for International Policy in Washington. “The world of firearms exports is full of questionable, dubious characters.”
The rule change has been long in the making. It was first proposed in 2012 by the Obama administration, but abandoned shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. At the time, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security criticized the change because it could make it easier for transnational criminal organizations or terrorists to get American-made guns.
In September, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was interested in reviving the rule change to encourage more international arms sales. With the formal commencement of the public comment period, the preparation has become a policy reality.
In April, the Trump administration said it would now consider economic factors in addition to security when it comes to selling American weapons overseas.
The Trump administration has argued that the change would aid the domestic gun industry by cutting down on export regulation. American consumer sales of firearms have suffered since the 2016 election. After years of elevated sales in anticipation of possible new gun-control measures imposed by Democratic lawmakers, domestic demand subsided as Republicans took full control of the federal government.
– ALEX YABLON
Virginia Beach Massacre Never Again Ever
Virgina Beach
In a night of horrific scumbagery violence
Rarely seen in this jaded age of ours
Gone in one hour
In a spasm of horrific scumbagery violence
In just a few short minutes
Nothing more than that
In just a few moments
All 12 victims were murdered
By a disgruntled employee
Every one he knew was shot
And killed for no reason
Caused by the demons
His soul was so infected
Murderous demonic voices
All in his head
Screaming kill them all kill them all
Screaming none stop violence in his head
All the time
Causing him to start shooting everyone he saw
Regardless of who they were or where they were
Everyone must die screamed the demonic voices in his head
No one can be left alive
Everyone must die
Virtually all must die in his internal video game
Everyone must die
Regardless of who they were or where they were
Again just another day
Gone horribly wrong
All across America
In every town
No where is safe anymore
Virgina Beach massacre
Virgina Beach massacre
Just another
Average night in America
An Active Shooter
scumbagery violence
Rarely seen
in this jaded wild world
Gone in one hour
In a spasm of horrific
scumbagery
In just a less than 30 short minutes
Nothing more than
In just a few short 30 moments
All the victims
were murdered while at their daily work
wrong place wrong time
act of a demotic deranged madman
voices screaming Kill
The voices scream death to all humans
All must be killed
The voices scream over and over
All must die now
Just another night in America
Home of the free
It’s a Gun Situation, Mr. President
Mr. President
You are wrong once again
You said that the tragic events in Texas
And Las Vegas were not “gun situations”
But rather were mental health problems
And that in Texas if there had been gun controls
Perhaps fewer people would have died
Mr. President
I know you a smart man
The smartest man in the world
According to you
So please contemplate this fact
According to the latest findings
It is a gun situation
In fact, the reason the U.S.
Has so many gun deaths
Is because we have so many guns
45% of the worlds guns in fact
And 33 percent of the world’s shooters
Are Americans killing other Americans
And most of them the majority of them
Are White People killing other people
Not Islamic terrorists
Most are in fact
Self-proclaimed Christians
So Mr. President
When will you come to your senses
And do what 90 percent of the public wants
Enact nation wide effective gun controls?
And tell the NRA
they can take their blood money elsewhere
When Mr. President
When will you act
When will you take charge
And become a President of the people
Instead of the President of the NRA?
Prayer Works
Dear Speaker Ryan
I want to tell you something
The dead don’t want your prayers
The dead don’t care that you pray for them
They are dead after all
And you and your so-called Christians
Are to blame
You refuse to do anything
Anything at all to stop the carnage
In our streets
The U.S. is flooded with guns
And more are sold every day
Millions of people don’t have health coverage
Millions are barely surviving
And your answer
Our dear great compassionate Speaker
Your answer
Is Prayer works
Government action does not
You act as if the gun violence
Plaguing our country
Was like the weather
Beyond our control
So here’s my prayer for you
And your colleagues
When you die
I pray that God
Will send you
And your friends
Straight to hell
Where Satan and his demons
Will use you for target practice
That’s my prayer to you
And as you know
Prayer works
I don’t Get It
Mr. Speaker
I admit I don’t get it
How does prayer
Stop gun violence?
Prayer did not work in Texas.
26 people were murdered
while praying.
God if he exists
Obviously does not care
About the poor people
Who died in his church
Because a mad man
Got a gun
And no they were not praying
To be delivered from death
No one deserves to die like this
So my prayer to you
Is simply this
Get off your rear end
Rally the country
And do something
About gun violence
That’s a prayer
I hope works
Prayer Does Not Work
Add House Speaker Paul Ryan to the list of Republicans offering only thoughts and prayers in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting in a Texas church, because taking meaningful action is always off the table with him and his party.
Speaking with Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham last night, Ryan reiterated that the victims and their families need more prayers because “prayer works.”
26 people were murdered while praying. Even Christians ought to admit that prayer doesn’t make a damn bit of difference and their God will do whatever their God wants to do, even if it means letting people die in church because a domestic abuser got his hands on a semi-automatic weapon.
Not that Ryan would ever say that.
Instead, he just blamed the “far secular Left” for not getting it.
It is Darker Than You Think
an old hag
an old witch
strictly old school
is talking to young people
She tells them
that it is darker
than they think
the end times approach
She proclaims
she sees the world ending
and is warning them
of what is to come
She is following
the dark master
of the universe
waiting for the end
and she is afraid
she sees the world
the end of things
the end of life
She is afraid
she tells her students
to boldly face
the coming end
with fear
and trepidation
and anxiety
waiting for the end
and in the end
of the worl
they will be born
again as things
circle back
to the beginning
of the end
and the end
of the beginning
thus it has always
played out
in the world
endless nightmares
and in the end,
she will wake up
and embrace her fate
at the end of time
License
bankers have a license to steal
money from their clients
if you make a mistake
the bank can steal your money
as part of their banking license
Governments have a license
to steal money
from the publicits is called taxation
or confiscation
It seems
that police these days
have a license
to kill
unarmed brown people
but only brown people
and the president
has a license
to lie
as he lies
all the time
just because he can
and I have
the ultimate license
the poetic license
to write
these verses
to enlighten the masses
Why Are There So Many Fake Cherokees
Erasure Poem
So many fake Indians these days
Elizabeth Warren is one
And according to my DNA results
I am too
But my grand-parents
spoke Cherokee my mom claims
And they disappeared into the hills
She claims
Is the DNA test wrong?
Was I adopted ?
Or is it possible
That I am a real deal
A real Cherokee
Or am I fake Cherokee???
A Cherokee weighed in on this on Quora
First, I would never call them “fake Natives”.
They are 99% white,
mostly Blue-collar,
and New Age Hippie,
Anglo-Americans
who are simply
lost without their own specific identity
that they can proudly Claim,
so therefore,
they search for a certain Popular,
Romanticized segment of Indigenous People
that will “fit”
into their Family’s historical Lore.
Second, it just happens
to ALWAYS be …
the Cherokee …
sometimes,
either Blackfoot or Lakota.
AND, “My GGM
was a Cherokee Princess”,
as an add-on VALUE.
This is primarily
because of the vast area
formerly inhabited by the Cherokee.
However, the tribes’ interaction
with European immigrants
since colonial times,
led to a great deal of intermarriage
with non-indigenous populations.
In many cases people have limited knowledge
of the other Native American nations,
that inhabited the areas in which they live.
However, a lot of this is wishful thinking,
and these people have African American
or other non-European ancestry.
It is fashionable to claim indigenous ancestry ,
in an attempt to legitimize t
Their sense of belonging on our lands.
The reason is simple,
they don’t know the names
of the other tribes.
There has never been a song called
“Indian Reservation” about Apache People
or any other tribe
but, the Cherokee.
“Indian Reservation”
by Paul Revere and the Raiders.
So if those people aren’t Cherokee
by blood at least it’s in spirit.
And so I conclude
I may be part Cherokee
Part of the lost tribe
Of the Cherokee
But who really knows
My mother took many things
With her to the grave
Lots of family secrets
Things I will never know
But in my heart
I know
That I am part Cherokee
And so I will proudly
Claim I am part Cherokee
In spirt
If not in blood
Love Cinquain
My Love
Haunting my dreams
Nightly talking to me
Then walked out of the dreams into
my Life
Nightmare Cinquain
Nightmares
Endless fears all night long
Can’t escape running from these dreams
All night
Man Child President
A little man child
Is our great and glorious dear leader
Filled with hatred and jealousy
Fear of failure haunts his every step
The little man child
Covers up his failures
With bluster, bravado
And constant attack
The little man child
Always attacking his enemies
Plotting revenge all the time
Consumed with slights and insults
The little man child
Lost millions of dollars
The little man child
Lost the popular vote
The little man child
Has lost the respect of the world
And 60 percent of Americans
Want to see him gone
The little man child
Has infected the body politic
With his insidious poison
A slowly growing cancer
The little man child
Will end up destroying
The country
Before he is through
The little man child
Can’t leave office
For fear of going to prison
So we are stuck with him
The little man child
Will never leave us
Until he is resting
In peace
President Trump International Fire Chief
Our dear leader
Our favorite President
President Trump
Once again
Interjected himself
Into areas that he knows nothing about
Making a fool of himself
In the process
Why does he do this?
Time after time
Talking nonsense
It is because
He is the smartest man
In the universe
Knows more than anyone else
And so he feels
He has to comment
On everything
Under the sun
And then some more
Even when he
Does not know
What he is talking about
So painful to watch such a fool
Mark Twain had sage advice
If you want people to think
You are a fool
Open your mouth
and remove all doubt
In the midst
Of the devastating
Paris Norte Dame fire
He tweeted
“So horrible to watch the massive fire
at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris,”
“Perhaps flying water tankers
could be used to put it out
Must act quickly!”
Later, Mr. Obvious noted,
They’re having a terrible
terrible fire,”
Mr Trump later told reporters.
“It looks like
it’s burning to the ground.”
The French were not amused
By the unwanted advice
By the fire fighter in chief
“Helicopter or aeroplane,
the weight of the water
and the intensity of the drop
at low altitude
could indeed weaken
the structure of Notre Dame
and result in collateral damage
to the buildings in the vicinity,”
the agency wrote in French.
And despite never posting updates in English,
the agency then sent out a second tweet.
Hundreds of firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are doing everything they can to bring the terrible #NotreDame fire under control. All means are being used, except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.
— Sécurité Civile Fr (@SecCivileFrance) April 15, 2019
And the French provided
This helpful advice
To the Fire Fighter in chief
When California burned
you did not seem to be a fire expert.
Please, shut up.
It is a tragic moment
for the cultural heritage of humanity.
Catching the Trump Madness
Releasing the Trump Monsters
The Trump madness deepens
And the world grows darker
The evil ones have been released
The wild things are growling
The dogs of war
Satan’s hell hounds
Are on the loose
Howling at the moon
Running amuck
Infecting us all
With their madness
As we all turn
into mindless zombies
Filled with hatred
Jealousy and insanity
As Trump
and his neo-fascist
Cabal unleash the monsters
Of their dangerous id
Devouring all reason
Turning all they see
Into raving lunatics
As they set the world on fire
Ushering in the ends of days
Armageddon looms
Will Trump be raptured away?
Only God knows
And he is not telling
As we descend
Into the maelstrom
Hoping against hope
That we can overcome
The monsters
That Trump has unleashed
In the end
Perhaps it does not matter
As the world careens
Deeper into hell
There is no end
Nothing but despair
Forever and ever
prayer for future of the planet
A shaman priestess
Is deep in thought
Engaged in Meditation
on the fate
Of the earth
She is deep in the cosmic woods
In the world between worlds
Where she is communing
With the spirits of the universe
Who listen to her tale of woe
She tells them
Of the rise of the neo-fascists
And the refusal to address
The possible end of the world
Due to run away climate change
She prays and prays
And finally
She receives an answer
More a prediction
It is all up to humans
She has two visions
Of a possible future
Two contrasting visions
One a dystopian nightmare
The other an optimistic vision
The first
The neo-fascists
Seize control
And usher in a dystopian nightmare
That ends with utter destruction
Nuclear war
Nuclear winter
Ends climate change
As civilization ends
And mankind retreat to caves
And it happens
In a blink of an eye
In less than five years
The world will end
Game over civilization ends
The second vision
The optimistic vision
Humanity wakes up
From their collective night mare
Throws off the neo-fascist cabal
And begin to change the world
Making the economy works
For all of us
Not just the corrupt 1 percent
The so-called masters of the Universe
They are overthrown
In a people’s power revolution
All over the world
People wake up
Demand change
And slowly the world
Begins to recover
And overcome
The dark hours
Of the present age
The shaman priestess
Returns home
To spread the word
It up to us
To choose our fate
The end is indeed near
It is darker than you think
But it is not over yet
If we choose the path
Of the cosmic light
And overthrow
The neo-fascist cabal
And restore democracy
And peace will break out
And all will end well
If not
Well she says
You have been warned
The universe has spoken
So, mote it be
lucky numbers blues
There are many gambler’s fallacies
the statisticians say
each roll of the roulette table
is an independent event
Yet the gamblers believe
that if for example
there were ten red numbers
in a row
that the next one should be black
right
A statistician in the U,K.
decided to prove
that the gamblers
were all delusional
in insisting that there were patterns
in the endless spin of the wheel
and that it was more of a curve
that the noise of random numbers
after thousands of spins
recorded on a computer
the pattern was clear
there was a bell shape curve
with an upswing
and a downswing to the data
an early experiment
in chaos theory
but with a practical application
if you are on a winning curve
keep going until the curve
turns into a losing curve
then walk away
and you might be a winner
according to science
but they have yet
to be able to prove/disprove
that lucky numbers exist
for you and me
mine was always 32
and when it pops
I swore that my lucky number
came up
just a fluke
according to science
another iron clad rule
the regression to the mean
the curve may go up
and may go down
but in the end
it regresses to the mean
and that means
the house always wins
morning thoughts
Every morning I wake up
And see the love of my life
Sleeping soundly
In our bed
The sun fills my room
And I get up
To do my morning routine
Just marveling at the sight
And as I do my thing
I am drawn back to bed
Just to look
At this strange creature
That captured my heart
So many years ago
And I wonder yet again
At the mystery of our love
How and why
Did the universe bring us together?
Where did she come from
And why did she summoned me?
I have no answers
Our love transcended
The barriers of time
And space
And somehow
We found each other
And will be together
Until the death of time
April 8th Santa James Comes to Town
In this dark and dangerous time
That we live in
We seldom hear tales
Of inspiration, hope and love
Yet when we do hear such tales
It fills us with wonder
And hope that some how
We can do better
Life can be better
Love can conquer hate
And decency can prevail
Over the dark forces all around us
In Kingman, Arizona
An old blind homeless man appeared
Out of nowhere he showed up
And started walking about
He was polite, friendly and not scary
Did not want anything from any one
And somehow he conquered the town
Who adopted him
They called him Santa James
Because he wore a red Santa cape
And he was just so
filled with good will
Laughter, advice and stories
Boy did he spin good stories
Poetic allusions
And just radiated goodness
Everyone fell in love
with Santa James
He was given a job
Playing piano
Given a room to stay in
Spoke at the local schools
And churches
And to any one
who stopped him
He remembered everyone’s name
And life story
Even though he was blind
He could see the good in everyone
And that is the moral of the tale of mine
here is goodness all around us
If only we open our hearts
To accept it
We have the power
To reject hate
To reject division
And accept love
If only Santa James spirit
Could spread across this country
We could heal our wounds
And become united again
That is my prayer
Perhaps Santa James
Is really a saint
The real thing
Who knows
All we know
Is that Santa James
Came to town
And the rest
Is the history
We will make of it
Long Live Santa James
Coffee Love Hate Affair
I love coffee
Always have
Always will
But I have
a love-hate affair
With coffee
Love it when it gets me
uplifting high in the sky
As the sun comes over
Filling with hope
And anticipation
As I conquer the day’s
Daunting tasks
With a little help
From my drug of choice
But coffee turns on me
Late in the day
And I can’t sleep
just can’t sleep
As the coffee burns
In my soul
And I toss and turn
And sleep no more
Coffee does that to me
And so,
I am reduced
To drinking decaf coffee
or fake herbal coffee
Not the same thing at all
But that is all I can handle
As I am a coffee addict
And always will be
Coffee Blues
Coffee
is my drug
of choice
Always has been
Ever since
I first tried it
As a young lad
so many decades ago
Loved coffee’s power
To speed up
my synaptic nerves
Turning me on
Keeping me going
and going and going
But there is a dark
side to everything
And coffee is a drug
And it will take you
Where it wants to go
Enslaving you
Making you its victim
As it toys with you
Messes with you
Prevents you
from sleeping
Coffee
is a harsh mistress
It demands respect
As you fall
under it seductive powers
Slave again
To the drug of choice
Just another over-caffeinated
Coffee addict
Stumbling along the street
Looking for a fix
At six in the morning
As the coffee wears off
And you finally
Can get some sleep
Until the alarm
Blasts you away
And you reach out
Trembling for your fix
Coffee
you scream out
I need coffee
The universe laughs
As you get your coffee high
Just another pathetic
coffee junkie
When all is said
and done
Messenger Dog of God
One day
While studying in Rome
As a priest
I notice a small white dog
Staring at me
He glances at me
Indicating that I am to follow him
I get up
And follow this strange dog
He leads me deep
Inside the hidden depths
Of the Vatican
Finally stopping by a door
I open the door
And see St Peter there
He smiles
Dismisses the dog
Who moves on down the hall
Finished with his cosmic duty
As the secret messenger of God
All in a days work
I ask why am I here?
St Peter says
Why are any of us here?
It is time for you to go
But I don’t want to go
Don’t want to leave this mortal plane
St Peter smiles
Says it is time to go
I wake up
Back in my bed
With my wife
And realize it was all a dream
It was not yet time
To go
But I am afraid
I will find the messenger dog
Outside my door
Any day now
The grim reaper waits
And it will soon be my time
just for today
today
just for today
I plan to do nothing
nothing at all
just go with the flow
of the day
as the day turns into night
and the night turns into sleep
I will ride the wave
along
with my love
until the day is done
it’s a dog’s life for me
an agnostic dyslectic
stays up all night
wondering if there is a dog
the Buddhists wonder
about the Buddha nature of the dog
the evangelicals are sure that there is a dog
and you must follow their dog
or go to hell
for following another’s dog
the Muslims agree
there is only one dog
and the dogs
smile at the foolishness
of the human race
of course, there is a dog
and they are the master race
as they growl at their owners
who bow down
and clean up their mess
it can’t happen, or has it
Every day when I watch TV
I see the chattering classes
The TV pundits
And their guests
Pontificate about this and that
And it seems to me
That they are missing the big picture
In the era of Donald Trump
Nothing that they say
Will make a difference
Donald Trump has slowly conquered
The political world
And he is shaping it into something
That we had hoped we would never see
A truly American neo-fascist state
Wrapped around the flag
And so-called Christian values
And the latest made up outrage
And the chattering classes
Don’t seem to understand
That they are next
On the hit parade
As the Donald Trump machinery
Continues to take over
the known universe
The question used to be
It can’t happen here
The answer I am afraid
Is already has
so excited to be alive
I wake up
with the dawning sun
this morning
I was so excited
to be alive
at age 63
I look at my sleeping beauty
and realize yet again
my life began
te day I met her
37 years ago
she walked off a bus
out of my dreams
and into my life
and my life began
that autumn day
when I met
the girl of my dreams
trump
Triumphed against all enemies
Remaining unvanquished
Uniting all who oppose him
Might makes right
Patriots unite behind the Great Leader
just an unhinged werewolf howling at the moon
as the lunatic light of the blood red moon
the super blue moon lights up the night
the werewolf stirs
as the light shines on him
slowly transforming him
into a dark dangerous creature
of the lunatic night
ready for his flight
out into the world,
he emerges
snarling
howling at the moon
just another unhinged
werewolf
out for blood today
howling at the moon
scorpion night of passion
Born in October
Scorpion Passionate fool
Always taking the lead
consumed with dark desires
is this Scorpio buddha nature
consumed with dark desires
Glow
Glowing light of the dawning sun
Lights up my dismal room
Overwhelming me with love
Watching my dream girl sleep
old woman and the genie
An old Chinese woman
Stands in a field
On the lunatic edge of town
Where drinkers gather to drink
And woman of ill repute
Play their games
With the passing drunks
Men ready for a night of passion
She is holding a tea pot
And proclaims
That the pot contains
A genie
That will grant the new owner
Three wishes
She had to sell the pot
Because her wishes came true
And she smiles
And laughs insanely
The laughter dies
And she implores people
To buy her tea pot
And put her out of misery
Just buy my pot
And your dreams will come true
Be careful dear thought
Remember all magic
Comes with a price
A terrible price
trapped back of the bus
Back of the Bus
Many years ago
When I was a foolish young man
I took a greyhound bus trip
Just to see the country
I was trapped
In the back of the bus
Where the young
And restless souls
Gathered together
And drank illegally
And smoked weed
Also illegally
We stayed there
Until Winnemuca
Where I got off
And found my bus pass
Had found another owner
Ad I went to Salt Lake City
Still trapped in the back of the bus
down and out in Saigon
Down and Out in Saigon
Southeast Asia, and Mexico
has always attracted
A certain type of westerner
The down and out
On a down word spiral
Why?
Relatively cheap to live
Lots of part-time gigs
Teaching English
Or other things
Cheap Booze, drugs, sex
Readily available
Places to stay
Dirt cheap
And no one needs
To sleep outdoors
Easy to disappear
Into the foreigner’s backpackers ghettos
And escape
From whatever you are running from
The locals are somewhat tolerant
The police usually look the other way
And there are lots of people
In your shoes
I was surprised to find
That Saigon has become
The latest place
For the down and outer crowd
In Bangkok, one sees them a lot
In Cambodia as well
In the Philippines
In Nepal
And south of the border
In Mexico as well
and Eastern Europe
And Latin America
In India not so much
In Japan and Korea
Just too damn expensive
And too cold to be outdoors
Back in the day
I used to work
The citizen services gig
And saw lots of the down
and out set
The old blues song
comes to mind
No one remembers you
When you are down and out
And in the States
Being down and out
Means living
on the mean streets
As it is very difficult
To live with almost no money
And the various side hustles
Don’t give you much money
Unless you are dealing drugs
And teaching ESL
Is not an option
other hustles are difficult
and begging gets one arreste
Food is expensive
Transportation is expensive
Booze and drugs expensive
Rent is prohibitive
Commercial sex is expensive
And no one loves you
If you are down and out
No one knows your name
You are just another
homeless bum
Invisible to all
As you try to make do
Much better to be down and out
In Southeast Asia
Than on the mean streets
Of the USA
Ghosts Along the Jungle Path in Vietnam
walking down a lonely trail
in the jungles of Vietnam
fleeing the ghosts of the Viet Kong
down the Chu Chi Trail
pursued by ghosts
and memories of war
and the horror
that lay beneath my feet
wondering yet again
was it worth it
the war
the thousands of dead
silent witnesses
lie beneath my feet
silent witnesses
to the folly of war
as I walk down the jungle path
heading to nowhere
thinking these dark thoughts
talking to my ghostly companions
Saigon 1995
In 1995
I was one of the first American tourists
Allowed into Vietnam
To freely wander about
Tourism was at its infancy
And Saigon was chaotic
Wild and crazy
Traffic was insane
There were few tourism sites
Few hotels
Few guest houses
And not too many restaurants
The food was good
We saw the war memorial
The reunification palace
And the big market
But we felt we were being monitored
Beggars were everywhere
There were scams everywhere
And it was not that pleasant an experience
But Saigon grew up
Became a much more tourist-friendly place
And these problems we encountered
A thing of the place
Saigon is so much better
So much more developed
That it has captured our soul
And we will be back
saigon 201
Saigon 2019
Vibrant, vivid, exciting
A city on the move
Becoming a world-class city
Yet still with a Saigon swagger
Wandering the streets
Dodging the traffic
Admiring the women
Enjoying the food
Saigon enters my heart
And I know that I will be back
This city is growing on me
Reminds me of Korea
One hopes that as it develops
It will not become a carbon copy
Of other big Asian cities
Obliterating its past
In search of a false modern image
I hope it can retain
What makes Saigon Saigon
And not become another Gangnam
Hope it does it with Saigon style
And the people will evolve
The country will emerge
And become what it should be
The Paris of the East
This is my vision
as I wander about
enjoying Saigon in 2019
ghost of Chu Chi
Crawling down the tunnels
Of Chu Chi
I could almost imagine
The Viet Kong guerillas
Hiding deep under the tunnels
As the land above is turned
Into a temporary dessert
With the vegetation burned off
By napalm and agent orange
The Viet Kong creep out at night
Stealing onto the bases
Stealing weapons, food, supplies
And occasionally killing soldiers
In their sleep
The US soldiers
Stay on base at night
Terrified of the mosquitos
And of the Viet Kong
the ghosts
Surround me
Telling me their stories
And at last I fled
Through the emergency escape tunnel
Declaring victory
Profoundly shaken up
By the ghosts of the Chu Chi tunnels
Old Lady in the Neighborhood
There is an old Vietnamese lady
In the neighborhood
Obviously senile
But everyone knows her
And watches over her
To make sure
She stays out of traffic
And out of trouble
She talks to everyone
But no one seems to understand
What she is babbling
on about
They smile at her
And she smiles back
And she for some reason
She likes us
And like my
Vietnamese Coffee lady
I wonder why
Why was there
this connection
Between us
It dawned on me
Perhaps in a prior life
She knew an American or two
And I remind her of someone
Or perhaps she is found
Of Korean K drama
And Angela reminds her
Of her favorite K Drama star
Or perhaps it is both
Or another reason entirely
But in any event
I look forward
To seeing her smiling face
Every time I walk
Down my ally way
in Old Saigon
Coffee Lady in Saigon
Every morning
I have gone out for Vietnamese coffee
At a sidewalk café
Down the ally from our AIRBNB
The owner is a pleasant middle age woman
Who for some reason likes us
She smiles at us
Greets us in Vietnamese
She does not understand English
Or Korean
And I wonder why
Why was there
this connection
Between us
It dawned on me
Perhaps in a prior life
She knew an American or two
And I remind her of someone
Or perhaps she is found
Of Korean K drama
And Angela reminds her
Of her favorite K Drama star
Or perhaps it is both
Or another reason entirely
But I moved today
And will miss her
Might go back for a final cup
Of coffee
To say good bye
To my Vietnamese coffee lady
Mastering the Saigon Shuffle
Motorbike riders waiting at intersection. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
When I first visited Saigon
Learning the Saigon Shuffle
Was difficult
And now 24 years later
It all seems to be coming back
There is an art to crossing the street
Dodging the motor cyclists, the taxis, the private cars
The bikes and other pedestrians and the buses
The art consists of letting the big guys go first
Then walk between the motorcycles and cyclists
Trusting that they will get out of your way
And they being masters of the Saigon shuffle
Always find a way
In my two visits I was struck
By how it all flows together
Without a central authority
And with almost no planning
Lights or cops
Somehow it just is
And somehow it works
And it is still a mystery to me
24 years after first
Encountering the Saigon shuffle
old Ghosts in Saigon
Old ghosts wandering the streets of old Saigon
Lost spirits of the dead
Died during the endless wars
Ghostly apparitions around every corner
Here was Kilroy
and his gang of soldiers
Over there were the Viet Cong
Waiting to kill them
Saigon is filled with memories like that
Terrible times were had here in Old Saigon
Silently the ghosts parade the city streets
As the tourists drink in the bars
Seeing Ghosts
Seeing Ghosts
I walk around the streets
Of old Saigon
Seeing sensing the undead
The ghosts of the war
That haunted life
So many years ago
So many people died
For a war
That never should have been fought
For reasons that are still not clear
A great tragedy unfolded
In a land half away
Around the world
The ghosts smile at me
And then they disappear
Leaving me in the present
Life goes on
satanic torture
I find myself
In a dark room
Strapped to a bed
The light turns on
The large TV comes on
A smiling image
Of Satan fills the TV
He is dressed
In a conservative business suit
Looks like he came
Out of a corporate
board meeting
surrounded by demonic aides
who constantly shove papers
at him
He looks up from his lap top
And smiles
A deadly so insincere smile
His voice booms out
Welcome to Hell
My satanic slaves
I am Satan
Your new master
Each of you
Has been sentenced
To an eternity of torture
And the punishment
Must fit the crime
So, for you
Mr. Jake Cosmos Aller
Failed aspiring poet
And novelist
Your torture
Is to be strapped
To that bed
Unable to move
As you are filled
With the need
To piss and
But you cannot move
And your skin
Is crawling with bugs
And itchy
as Hell so to speak
and you are so sleepy
but you cannot sleep
the TV will play
endless repeats
Of some of the worst TV
and movie shows
ever produced
Starting with my favorite
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Featuring your favor annoying little girl
Carmetta! Singing for you forever
As you are the ultimate cake sniffer
Welcome to Hell
worlds within worlds lost in inner space
A man woke up one day
Lost in inner space
Went so far down
The proverbial rabbit hole
That he did not know
Where he was
Nor what time it was
Nor when it was
As he stared out
At a bewildering world
A world lost in inner space
Deep down in his dreams
Filled with nightmarishly real
Monsters, demons and ghostly apparitions
He saw them and began running
Running running running
With the hell hounds behind him
Leading him to the edge
of the pits of hell itself
abandon all hope
ye who enter here
the sign read
above the entrance to the pit
and there was a devil standing there
armed with a clipboard
and a computer spreadsheet
Satan was the ultimate bureaucrat
Name barked the devil
Date of Birth ?
Date of Death?
Don’t know? That won’t do at all
Hmm
Car accident due to drunk driving
And you killed a child
Bad on you
But here in hell
The punishment fits the crime
And the devil laughed
Joined in by the hell hounds
And other nightmare creatures
A bell ran out
In the purple crystalline sky
And slowly the worlds receded
And he found himself alive
In his room
And vowed
That today
Was the day
He would quit drinking
Quit taking drugs
And quit chasing strange woman
And having wild libertine sex
He picked up the phone
It was Satan’s aid
Be careful what you vow
We are listening
If you fulfill your vows
You might find yourself
Escaping life in Hell
It is up to you to choose
And the man got dressed
Went to work
Thinking deep thoughts
And drove off a cliff
And back down the endless
Worlds within worlds
endless movie
Watching the TV coverage
Of the great government shut down
Of 2018-2019
I am reminded of a movie
As I fall asleep
Listening to the TVBlather on and on
About what it all means
Mr. Natural pops u
And screams
“It don’t mean s….
“Dude, the endless movie
Is about to begin”!
A middle-aged white man
Down on his proverbial luck
Just been fired
Replaced by a foreign worker
Or a robot
Or just fired
Because he was no longer
Deemed useful
To the masters of the universe
If he was lucky
He’d be given a watch
And an IOU worthless pension
And the man wanders into a restaurant
Pulls out a gun
Eats his breakfast
After the official breakfast hour
Puts on a Pepe the green frog mask
Drops acid, Snorts speed
Drinks a shot of booze
And coffee smokes a joint
Snorts cocaine for good measure
and smokes a cigarette
And walks outside
steals a bus at gun point
Filled with passengers
He tells them
They are hostages
And he puts on his vest
With the dead man switch
Next to the bomb
He announces
Via tweet
He is going to take the bus
To the proverbial pot of gold
Hidden deep in a cave
And when he got there
He would release the hostages
And disappear into the mine
And never be found again
And as the bus careens around the mountain
At 100 miles an hour
The dude sprouts out
Conspiracy after conspiracy theory
About Obama the Muslim communist
secret gay working with George Soros
the Jewish money people
in league with the shapeshifting lizards
and Mueller is one of them
they are all after him
because he knows the deal
And the passengers are transfixed
Half hoping, he would make it
Half hoping, he would be blown away
And as the bus careens out of control
With the wheels falling off
And the cliff looming ahead
You realize we are all doomed
morphing images
I am in a room
Drinking at a party
And smoking weed
Watching people all around me
Change into hideous creatures
Monsters from the deepest depths of hell
Everyone in the room
Has been transformed except me
The Chief of them all
Wears a Trumpian mask
Complete with orange hair
Half human half pig
His deputy
Wears the face of Putin
But his body
Half human, half horse: if
The other creatures wear masks
Many of them wear
Green Pepe the alt-right
Symbolic frog masks
And have T-shirts
Bearing alt right slogans
And Nazi symbols
And as they prance about
They chant alt. Right slogans
And neo-Nazi chants
Jews will not Replace us
And the rest of these creatures
Are hideous ugly beasts
With only a vestige of humanity left
And these monsters are engaged
In all sorts of foul evil deeds
Murder violence death
All around
And non-stop
violent drug-fueled orgies
As these creatures
Half human half monsters
Half male, half female creatures
Snort coke, cocaine, speed
Smoke weed and drink vodka shots
Scotch, bourbon and beer
The Trumpian Pig leads the charge
Starts engaging in sodomy with Putin
Who chases after people
Cutting off their heads with his sword
They turn on to their fellow creatures
Raping and killing each other
and eating their fellow creatures
All night long
Then they attack me
Screaming
Jews will not replace us
And I wake up
Screaming
As the sun comes up
Just another nightmare
One Night I Dreamt of You
One night I dreamt of you
For seven years I dreamt of you
Until you walked into my life
One Night in Lithia Springs
One night in Lithia Springs
We soaked away our painful life
And again fell in Love
You Are My Everything
You are my everything
All my hopes and dreams
Haunting my nights
I Can Not Get Rid
I cannot get rid
This angel haunting my soul
Seeing your face in the sky
saying goodbye
Saying goodbye now
Is the hardest thing to do
But I must do it
You are my Angel
You are my Angel
Sent from God up in heaven
To conquer my life
One Moment, One Day
One moment, one day
You walked out of my nightmares
And swept into life
Waking Up to No You
Waking up to no you
Absent in my bed at night
Absent from my dreams
Thursday Evening
Thursday early evening
Thinking dark thoughts only you
Can you cure these thoughts?
howling at the moon
As I sit
Under the lunatic light of the full moon
Of the blood-red lights of the moon
Full of wild passions
The lustful beast stirs again
And starts running and running
Howling at the moon
Riding into the new dawn
On a demented Harley Davis cycle
With two naked babes on his back
Riding into the sun
90 miles per second
At the speed of thought
He disappears into the lunatic light
Of the full moon
And I wake up
Alone in my bed
Saying, man, that was quite a night
I better not go there again
The wild beast
Laughs
He has heard that before
And I join
The beast
In howling at the Moon
just an unhinged lunatic howling at the moon
On a moonlit late night
I sat in a bar
Drinking drams of demented, fermented dream dew
Just an unhinged lunatic
Dreaming of howling at the full moon
Watching the world walk by
Looking at all the fine looking babes
Walking by the street
Thinking wild, erotic thoughts
Of endless wild libertine passions
When into the bar
Walked the most beautiful women
In the Universe
So wild, so free
So wonderfully alive
I did not know what to do
As this vision of delight
Sauntered through the bar
In a skin-tight leather pants
Looked so fine
That my eyeballs hurt
And finally, I had to say something
So, I gathered up my manly courage
And walked up to her
And she looked at me
And instantly bewitched my soul
With a devilish grin
I lost all reason
And became a raving lunatic
Unhinged lunatic
Howling at the moon
Foaming at the mouth
A wild, free werewolf
Howling at the lunatic light
Of the full Moon
Note: in honor of the blood moon posted on my blog the world according to cosmos
the story of how we met
It all began in Berkeley, California
In the springtime of 1974
One fateful afternoon
I was sleeping in my high school Physics class.
I looked up and saw a tall,
beautiful Asian woman
standing there looking at me.
She was the most beautiful women
in the universe to me
I screamed out, who are you?
She disappeared
as if she was beamed
away from my dream.
I knew that someday
I would meet the girl
In the dream
Little did I know
I would have to wait until 1982
Starting that month
I began having the same dream
Month and month and month.
Always the same.
She was saying something
in a strange language.
Then one day
I had the dream
and knew that
she was in Korea.
So, I chose to go
to Korea
In the Peace Corps,
Somehow knowing
That I would meet her there.
One day
A year after the Peace Corps ended
A month before I planned
to leave to return
to the U.S. for graduate school
That morning early in the morning
I had the last of these dreams.
This time I understood her.
She said, “Don’t worry.
We’ll meet soon.”
That evening
As I was getting off the bus
To go to my class
I saw getting off the bus
The girl in my dream.
It was she!
I was speechless.
I did not know what to do.
Over the course of the evening
I ran into her several times.
Finally, I was introduced to her.
I muttered some lame excuse
About wanting to find a Korean tutor
and got her number.
The next day she came to the gate
Of my base where I was teaching
ESL to Koreans
She said that she
had to speak with me.
I told to wait in the library
for about an hour,
and I would cancel class
and meet her then.
We went out for coffee.
She told me that she was madly
in love with me
And simply had to have me.
I told her I felt the same way.
I proposed five days later,
And got married one month later.
Does she believe this story?
She claims she does not believe it
Because it is impossible to be true.
But I know that there
are other worlds and other times.
In a past life
we must have been together somehow.
And our love was so strong
That it crossed over the barrier
of time and space
She found me in 1974,
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet.
And it has been 36 years
Since we met in the physical sphere
Or 45 years since the dream began
And I still recall the dream
And meeting her
I had no choice
When I met her
We were fated to be together
true story.
October Rain
The falling rain
Of late October
Fills me with essential dread
As I rush about
And end up here
Wherever here is
The rain outside
Seems like the tears of god
As I sit
Crying over my beer
Thinking of lost love
And failed dreams
Wondering
What went wrong?
And what I can set right
And the rain falls
And the night darkens
The rain is falling
All over this man’s world
And the rain falls
And I sit
Drinking my lonesome drink
Lost in dreams
Dreaming of what
Could never be
Thinking dark thoughts
And so, I sit
And dream the night away
fake things
fake things_orig
We live in a world
Of fake things
Fake Products
Fake News
Fake Calls
Fake Politics
Fake Sports
Fake Business
Fake Leaders
Fake People
Fake friends
Fake sincerity
Surrounded 24/7
By all the fake things
How can anything real exist?
Is it all nothing but fake things
Designed to deceive us all?
will be published in Foliate Oak Review
Morphing Images from Hellish Nightmare
I am in a room
Watching people all around me
Change into hideous creatures
Monsters from the deepest depths of hell
The Chief of them all
Wears a Trumpian mask
Completed with orange hair
Half human half pig
His deputy
Wears the face of Putin
But his body
Half human, half horse
The other creatures wear masks
Many of them wear
Green Pepe the alt right
Symbolic frog masks
And have T shirts
Bearing alt right slogans
And Nazi symbols
And as they prance about
They chant alt. Right slogans
And neo Nazi chants
Jews with Not Replace us
And the rest of these creatures
Are hideous ugly beasts
With only a vestige of humanity left
And these monsters are engaged
In all sorts of foul evil deeds
Murder violence death
All around
And none-stop
violent drug fueled orgies
As these creatures
Half human half monsters
Half male, half female creatures
Snort coke, cocaine, speed
Smoke weed and drink vodka shots
Scotch, bourbon and beer
The Trumpian Pig leads the charge
Starts engaging in sodomy with Putin
Who chases after people
Cutting off their heads with his sword
They turn on to their fellow creatures
Raping and ing each other
All night long
Then they attack me
Screaming
Jews will not replace us
And I wake up
Screaming
As the sun comes up
Just another nightmare
Note: from a recent nightmare
early morning thoughts
Early in the midst of a chaotic frenzy
I caught the fragrance of her sweat grin
And my heart did a swirling spin
When I saw that vision of erotic delight
There I stood
Alone in a somehow too dismal room
Full of vibrant people
I knew not what to say
So, I spent that dismal day
Thinking dismal morbid thoughts of lugubrious doom
Thoughts what might happen that day
And what might have been if I had the courage to say Hello
All I know is they were really screeching at each other
And almost look like they were about to attack each other
But one cat backed down
As the other cat stood their proverbial ground
If they were humans one would have pulled out a knife
Or a gun
And someone would have been killed
But being mere cats
They stared at each other
And walked away
but they kept glancing at each other
So I knew the fight as not over
Merely postponed until a later hour
Cats truly are the aliens
Who live among us humans
Or perhaps we are the aliens
Who live among the cats?
Cat thought
Watching the black cat
Who lives underneath the building
Slinking about
looking for something to kill
I am reminded once again the cats
are not our friends
as I stare at him
an alien invader
From another planet
hangover reflections
Hang Over Reflections
soju
Last night a Korean friend from Virginia came for a two week visit He brought with him a 30-year Bottle of Ballentine whiskey. Of course, we must drink it and then we must drink some soju
well this morning I woke up with a hangover
And thought about the contributions to world culture that Koreans have made. The perfect Korean hangover cure
And of course, this morning I am in the middle of taking the cure
The cure consists of
Lots of coffee
Liquid Korean hangover medicine from the local convenience store or drug store
Hangjanggu soup
A walk
Spending some time In the sauna soaking and sweating it out
Then Later following Mark Twain sage advice that the only known cure for hangover is to keep drinking. That is the Korean Hangover cure And it works
I had my first hangover at 16 when I was an exchange student for two weeks at a Navaho boarding school. Went out and got rip roaring drunk with the Indians They gave me an Indian name “Ski dish Digest “which means “Crazy friend” And I have now had Almost 45 years’ worth of experience dealing with hangovers a hangover is god’s punishment for drinkers
Today I wrote down the following hangover poem which I will share, and I would love to hear your Hangover stories please post them below and I will share them
Hangover reflections
Hangover Gods Punishment For drinker
A hangover is god’s punishment for drinkers
Nothing more than that God’s way of punishing the drinker
God’s punishment is severe for the sin of overdrinking
Of course, the only known cure for a hangover is to keep drinking
Very much need of a cure today
Every day one has too much to drink
resolve to quit drinking fill one’s head
microsoft found poems
Telco one
not until 5:00 PM
had objected
lack of will
come back
and go to some of actor dinner
will fix the car tomorrow
and work on my appeal
might work
and the appeal
denied me
to get on the other headphones
when we go to the own charm
on Thursday
will build
and Costco tomorrow
dictation is working
but still funky
but it will when it finally works
watch and at the showboat
Mr. Sunshine
before taking all along
that low energy
back to two long flight
stop dictation
of up to the line
microsoft dictation found poem four
Green tree
is in the Kingstown Property
in Alexandria
with her mother
and are tended to Jeff
my mother in the wall
is berating jobs for some reason
to handle
and tell my mother to calm down
as Jeff has a temper problem
job is getting very angry
Juppe pulls out a gun
and serves the shooting of my mother
the mall and should serve five or six times
in the head
my wife forays into a closet
and Hans hoping that jobs
will not find her
and she wonders
what would happen know
that her mother
in all my mother’s death
and the she wonders
what will happen
because im not there
at the time
and she fears Jeff
shooting in the wall
and that is the end
of the current in that age
microsoft dictation poem three
Inspection report
meeting went well
met with him
only at age six
G P silver in the damage
is shown her
the news from the rear
and as well as shown
for the termite damage.
In the termite
go we had been a UGS
the basic questions of morality
and using this statement
denying them the answer
most questions
afterwards
we went outside
to take a picture
although the front porch
into I noticed
there was something
very strange looking
at the front porch
the pedestal
on the front porch
were quoted
so he headed
from facing the street
and in from the street
station house
the fed is still on
riding his meaning
to the eye
and that has left his leading
to the left
we noticed
there were cracks
in the forge:
long the foliage
including the crack
on in the front door
we also know
is that the doors
are at opening
in the awkward men
we also noticed
a big crowd
on the right side of the house
on in the mist
airways to the right baseline
we took a look
at the the souls in 141571413 1415
that this is an old event in 1413
left as to his meeting
in Ford’s 111415
in the right one
is even for now
we suspect that uses serious settlement issue
in that the house is cracking
on the house
in the house
is trying to balance
its closing the porch
this is just
what left
in the says
this is a serious issue
we are sending information
to a lawyer
asked his advice
before we can’t turn our
insurance for content and
Rescinded the new
we will go to the court
has to figure out the procedures
for the deal
against the key man
this evening
I hope to do some writing
style dictation
microsoft found poetry poem two
The painting went very well
it looks much better
it was a very hot day
will vote by
Microsoft trials dictation from:
and submitted it to two journals
and micro soft
don’t expect a response from mike
were shocked but had fun writing it
will keep track of market conditions
for a second from over tonight
we’ll work on my problem
for the interview
and take a walk to trader joe’s
two are home to worry:
Aaron will start working on
OK at the base of king too
fast and the bees
nonsense continue nonsense
Iraqis problem number one
priority right now but
Things to do
123
OK now I get your attention
I wanna go too sole
and Endgo
some and then being term
and then USA
and then Washington, DC
and then Baltimore
and then I wanna
will be with the idea being done
on the stand
will be OK enough tomorrow
I need to go to the house and 88 AM 988
just 8:00 AM.
The I am having a meeting with an array
annually and aHer
a OK on we’re going to talk
to a jester of two
come up with solutions
we need to two fans
and players
repaid the painting repairs
we are paying the bill
from both the house we’ve passed,
my treatment
we had the somewhat tainted drywall fixed
we have a new tenant
rules being new tenant
is a very good
10
I think
are we were making
very much you need to do better
to stop of studies
now me as Sarah
Mr. Allen not an island
is an error
that have a need
for an offense of offering Maisie’s
backing separate
from the public
often salad
End of the night
of the committee
of the ways
to hire the answer you
get a better
microsoft dictation poem part two
microsoft dictation poem part two
When to the house
and your lunch
had a good lunch
when the two D. Meyer
we are only eight at the red cross
to the I had a BLT
center with each 10 home
to ensure came home
at 230 and we walked
back to the house
did was a very hot air
to move the best way
to beat the fencing guy
Go to End
can show them the fencing edition
about $4000 or so
came home to a
Her and then run back home
Had celebrated for dinner
and wash two episodes of a series of unfortunate events
than started reading The two men
To the house
and the DM 2 me
the pay
for its then
Go to End
go to the paint shop
to buy more pain
noses were very first
Go to End
had too old
to be in this meet pizza.
Go to End
Went out at 8 am
to the house to meet
had too old to be in this meet pizza
have peace of for dinner
go to Sly and the Family Stone Yes No?
Play Summer Time in the City Yes
the painters
then walked to the Paint Shop
the in the top of the state intends
the the the the the the the
Pizza
Dinner salad
Say number okay 4444
6666
2222
End Document
Save Changes Journal Yes No
Can’t complete last command
Undo command
Can’t save
Came back from the upper
the painting works great
progress
is how so
in a very hot as hell
bent tonight
will go to trade for Jones
for home to home
Number of records by second baseman from voting
and an batteries for remote control
shown
or just for a number of town hall
microsoft found poem one
This is the first of five found poems based on Microsoft dictation trials. I took the verbatim text filled with gibberish and put into poetic stanzas otherwise no editing.
April 30 In Search of America 1975 – Hitch hiking Tales
When I was young and foolish
Broke and stubborn
I hitchhiked across the USA
Started in Salt Lake City
Where my greyhound bus pass
Was stolen
The station manager
Could have helped me
But refused to do so
Threaten to call the cops
When I grabbed my bags Without the stolen tags
I said
Go ahead
But I am so out of here
Wondered about Salt Lake City
Went to a bar
Found I had to buy my booze
Next door
And they would mix it for me
Had to order food too
After a bloody Mary
And a burger
I walked about town
Saw the Mormon Temple
Finally about 3 pm
It was time to hit the road
Did not look back
Ended up in Cody Wyoming
Got a room shower
Steak beer
Using my rapidly depleted cash Spent 25 dollars
Money really went far
Back in those days
A band of professional
Communist agitators
Gave me a ride
To Des Moines
Lots of weed, booze
And politics later
Got off the road
Slept outside
Next day
A beautiful woman
Drove me to near Chicago
In a red mustang
Might have been
The girl in the song
Took it easy
Digging her vibe
She invited home
But was not sure
If her estranged husband
Would welcome me
So, I am being foolish
And inexperienced with women
Did not go to her place
And always regretted
That I had lost
My chance that day
Then on to Chicago
Several rides later
Visited friends
Hit the road again
A series of uneventful rides
With truckers
And others
And a week later
I ended in New York City
Slept along the way
In cars
In truck stops
In high way rest stops
Always moving
Always going
None stop talking
And lots of free weed
And beer
And conversation
One more memorable ride
Occurred outside Albany
On my return to Chicago
A middle age creepy looking man
Picked me up
In a brand-new Cadillac
He was he said a dynamite deliverer
For the Mafia
Went to various places
To blow up shit
He hated a lot of people
Particularly hippies from California
And Jewish people
Looking at me to confirm
That I was both
I told him that I lived in New York
And had never been to California
And although I might have looked Jewish
As I what was called back in the day
A “Jewfro”
I was not Jewish
Many years later I discovered
That I am indeed part Jewish
But then I did not know
And I felt a bit of strategic information
Might keep me alive
Then I realized that he was just jiving with me
And we relaxed
And he pulled out some weed
And beer
And we mellowed out
But I believe that he really was with the mob
Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
A real made Italian made mafia member
By Chicago
I had enough
I called my Dad
Told him what had happened
Wanted a ticket home
And he sent me a ticket
And 500 dollars
And I went home
I told him I would tell him
My tales some day
But never did
I learned so much
About my fellow Americans
And the strange vibe
That was 1975
And now it is too late
But I wanted to finally
Tell the world
Of my hitchhiking tales
In search of America 1975
snarling cup of coffee
I like to start my day with a hot cup of coffee
I pound down the coffee
First thing I do every day as the dawning sun
Lights up my lonesome room
Yeah, but not just a simple cup of java Joe, but a God damn snarling sarcastic smarmy cup of coffee
I mean, – we are talking about an alcoholic, all speed ahead, always hot, always fresh, always there when I need it, angry, attitude talk to the hand Ztude, bad, bad assed, beats breaking, beatnik, bluesy, bitter, bitchy, bombs away, capitalistic, caffeinated up the ass, cinematic, communistic, Colombian grown, Costa Rican inspired, Cowabunga to the max, crazy assed, devilishly angelic, divine, divinely inspired, dyslexic, epic, extreme vetting, evil eye, expensive, erotic vision inducing, Ethiopian coffee house brewed, euphoric, freaky, freazoid, foxy, Frenched kissed, French brewed, funkified, foxy lady, graphic, GOD in my coffee, with Allah, Ganesh, Jesus, Kali, Buddha, Christians, Durga, Hindus, Mohamed, Jesus and Mo and their friend, the cosmic bar maid, Sai Babai, Shiva, Taoists, Zoroastrians, drinking my god damned coffee in Hell; growling, gnarly, happy, hard as ice, Hawaian blessed, high as a kite, hippie, hip, hipster, hip hoppy, hot as hell yet strangely sweet as heaven, jazzy, jealous, Kerouac approved, kick ass, kick my god damn ass to Tuesday, kick down the doors and take no prisoners, grown in the Vietnam highlands by ex-Vietcong, Guatemalan grown, kiss ass, illegal in every state, imported from all over the god damn world, insane, lovely, loony, lonely, lonesome, malodorous mean old rotten, motherfucking, nasty, narcotic, never whatever, never meh, never cold, not approved by the CIA, not approved by DHS, not approved for human consumption by the FDA, not your daddy’s sissified corporate cup of coffee, NOT DECAFE coffee, not your Denny’s truck driver weak as brown water cup of fake coffee, not your establishment friendly cup of coffee, Not your FBI coffee, Not FAKE Herbal coffee substitute, but a real cup of coffee, not your farmer brothers dinner crap, not made in America for Americans, not safe for work, not your Starbucks average expensive overpriced crappy corporate chain cup of coffee, Not pretentious, Not White House approved, not State Department safe, nuclear, Not Patriotic, operatic, Peets’s coffee approved, paranoid, pornographic,
the cup that JFK drank before he was blown away, the coffee Jerry drinks while driving in cars with random celebrities and political figures, the coffee that Jon Stewart drinks before he goes on an epic take down of some foolish politico, the cup of Arabic coffee that Sadaam drank the day he was executed, the coffee that GW and Cheney drank when they bombed Baghdad, the Indian cup of coffee that Bid Laden drank before 9-11 and just before the seals blew his ass to hell, the cup of coffee that Tiger Woods drank with his mistresses while playing a 3, 000 dollar round of golf at Sandy Lane golf course in Barbados, the last legal drug that does what drugs should do, the cup of coffee that Obama drank when he became President, Vietnamese, Vienna brew, wacky, whimsical, Whisky Tango Foxtrot, wild, weird, wonderful, WOW, Yabba dabba doo! Yada Yada yada Zappa’s favorite cup of cosmic coffee, and Zorro’s last cup of coffee, Good to the last drop rolled into one simple cup of hot coffee
As I pound down that first cup of coffee
And fire up my synaptic nerve endings with endless supplies
Of caffeine induced neuron enhancing chemicals
I face the dawning day with trepidation and mind-numbing fear
I turn on the TV and watch the smarmy newscasters in their perfect hair
Lying through their teeth about the great success the government is having Following the great leader’s latest pronouncements
I want to scream and shoot the TV and run out side Shouting “Stop the world.
I want to get off this fucking crazy planet”
The earth does not care a whit about my attitude
It merely shrugs and moves around the Sun
In its appointed daily run
And I sit down
The madness dissipating a bit
And enjoy my second cup
Of heaven and hell
In my morning cup of Joe
Life In Between
Life In-between
For years I have lived
In-between two worlds
Korea
where my wife’s family comes from
And the Bay area
Where I grew up
and the laidback progressive
wild west coast
and the cutthroat
Dour eastern establishment
Washington DC
Where I worked for 27 Years
And I live between
My official duties
And my desire
To be a wild-eyed poet
And life in-between
Means you belong nowhere
Yet are everywhere
Always disoriented
Always half lost
Never really feeling you belong
That is life
Living in-between
the light will prevail
April 24,
The Light Will Prevail
Mrs. Which says
This much we know for sure
Despite the lateness of the hour
And the growing power of the Dark Thing
In the end, lightness will prevail
Defeating the dark one
Samonka for Angela
I have dreamt of you
For almost seven long years
And now you are here
What can I do about this
The only thing to do love you
You are all I want
All that I need in this life
Thank to all the gods
For bringing you into my life
From now to the end of time
this poem was published in Teferet journal’s 2018 Poem-a-Thon. Please see their webpage or Facebook page for all the great poetry. Also, check out my poetry blog, Https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com for these and other poems. Thanks, Jake
62 Years Young
I am 62 years young
62 years around the sun
37 of those years
I have spent with the love of my life —
dream girl
I married the girl of my Dreams
first dreamt of her back in 1974
Eight years later
she walked off a bus
and into my life
—
April 27 the darkness grows
The Darkness grows
On distant Comazotz planet
The red eye one smiles
It is satisfied
The black thing is spreading
All the way to earth
—
this poem was published in Tiferet journal’s 2018 Poem-a-Thon. Please see their webpage or Facebook page for all the great poetry. Also, check out my poetry blog, Https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com for these and other poems. Thanks, Jake
It is God’s will they say
It is God’s will they say
It is God’s will they say
The neo-fascists and their ilk
It is the white man’s burden
To rule the unruly masses
To this I say
Never again
Will we let them
Take over the world
And lead us back to the dark dangerous days
Of the Holocaust
Or the 19th-century colonial era
Never again
Never again
Until hell freezes over
And the world ends
Angela Lee
Angela (Acrostic poem published in Whispers)
Angela is my life
No better friend in the universe
Greatest Love of all
Every Day I thank God
Love of my life
Angela My Soul Mate
Love of my long life
Everything I ever desires
Everything I ever needed
American Life and Death
As American struggles
To cope with the ever declining standard of living
The 1 percent loved the stock market
Love the dismantling of the regulatory state
The corporate tax cuts
and the coming plunder of the land
Can Disney Yellowstone be the future?
As America declines
Back to the future
April 2 Heading Back to the Past
While the rest of the world
Embraces the energy of the future
Our great denier of the truth
Wants to boldly take America back
To the 19th century era of oil, and coal
Yet perhaps it does not matter in the end
As long as we have one another
We will overcome
The darkness will flee the land
April 2 When Will this Darkness End
As the darkness settles down on the land
All are consumed with evil
Foul deeds and endless darkness
I wonder if it will ever go away
Yes I wonder if our great nightmare will ever end
Are we doomed to live out the decline of America?
This is what I pray for 2018
The end of the darkness
that consumes our land
haiku for angela
Every day I wake up
To the love of my long life
And say Thanks to God
thank god for angela poem
Thank God For Angela
Every day I wake up
And see you there
I thank God
That he had the wisdom
To send you to me
To save me
By bringing you into my life
You are the sunshine
That lights up the day
You are reason
I get up in the morning
And you are reason
I exist
Without you I am nothing
But dust blowing in the wind
Waiting until death
Takes me down
siren song of doom
The quiet dying swan song
Arose out of the dismal swamp
Through the fog shrouded woodlands of Zara
Over the sweltering desserts of black tar
Heading rapidly nowhere at all
The quite sweat song of her mellifluous voice
Echoing through the canyons of my fear
Drawing me nearer and nearer
I cannot resist the siren’s haunting melody
Drawing me nearer and nearer to my doom
My old friend self-fear cries out
Time to escape while I can
Yet I cannot resist
I cannot escape
All I can do is listen
To the haunting enigmatic voices
Of the siren’s sweat and sour music
Blasting away my selfish fear
Naked, alone I stand
Proud in homage
To my own gods
Back in the swamp
Wandering forever
Until it seems I met you, yet again
market rules us all
The market rules all
We are nothing but products
The rights to us
Have long been sold
Bow down and worship
The all mighty market
Everything we do
Everything we see
Everything we are
Nothing but our personal brand
Nothing human left over
Nothing authentic left over
Nothing but lies
Fake news
nonsense
The world does not care one whit
About you and me
As people
It is all about the profits that can be made
By exploiting our labor
And once we are used up
We become a liability
And a burden
If you have not made it to the top
By age 55
You are a loser
And should be retired
Forced to live out your life
On your miserable pension
As you wait to die
No longer useful
To the Masters of the Universe
And true love
Nothing but an illusion
It is all about the sex, baby
And how getting your baby
Ahead at all costs
Who cares about love
It is all nothing
But a second-hand emotion
As the song puts it
Love is nothing but a sexual commodity
And we are all nothing but interchangeable
Commodities in the marriage and love market
And porno values rule the bedroom
As we are nothing more than used body parts
Who cares about friendship
It is all about how they can use you
And you can use them
To get ahead
True Love and genuine connections
Cannot survive
In this toxic soup
Of the modern materialist world
God and spirituality
Nothing but a scam
As our so call Christian Leaders
Proclaim their love for you
All they love is your donations
And they too are part of the market
Jesus if he ever comes back
Will no doubt
Be used to sell more goods
As the right to Jesus
Has also been sold
love conquers hate
They say that love conquers hate
And that good always win in the end
But sometimes I wonder about hate
I always thought that my love
For my wife would last forever
Since I first met my love
Love at first sight
As the girl I was dreaming of for eight years
Flew into my life with such brilliant light
Our love burning as bright as a million stars
Consuming us both in its brilliant flame
As if our love were made of cosmic flames
transplanted from the farthest stars
But true love sometimes turns to true hate
And what was wonderful on that first date
becomes despicable over time
What was once cute on that first date
becomes disgusting as she become our mate
What was once love at first sight
Turns to darkness and resentment
And then full-blown hatred
And nothing but the darkest night
And the light of a million stars
Is replaced by a darkling night
That consumes one’s soul
I look at my wife every dawning day
And see that light is still burning bright
And the momentary darkness
And yes, potential hatred is kept at bay
By the brilliant rays of light
Hatred, resentments dispelled yet again
By the brilliance of our love
That the million suns of love
Are burning yet again
And I pray constantly
To all Gods on our mark
that our love continues constantly
And that our love will conquer the dark
the truth does not make sense
One morning
I got up
Hungry
For something
I knew not what
I made breakfast
Drank some snarling coffee
And turned on the news
And what did I see
Talking heads
Sprouting lies
Nonsense words
Gibberish
Nightmarish phrases
Nothing makes sense
Politicians
Sporting forth
Spinners spinning spin
Huskers hustling their hustle
Selling me a bunch of goods
And I did not want to buy it
I scream
My soul was not for sale
And I listened hard
Looking for the truth
Noting but lies
Coming out of hideous beasts
Barking words
Noise some noises and lies
Snarling disgusting lies
I sit there
Transfigured
Hypnotized by the overwhelming
Stench of the bull shit
Coming out of the TV set
I stood up
Smashed the TV set
With my boot
Trying to set myself free
From its hold on me
Men in black suits
Surround me
Put me on black helicopters
Taking me somewhere
I scream to no avail
No one listens to me
Just more noise
Coming out of the TV set
And I go out
Into the dark night
I was told
I was suffering
From a disease
I was insane
I could not longer
Understand
What was being said
To me
I asked my tormentors
What is the truth
They laugh
Smiled with evil grins
On their bloated faces
They begin to torture me
Because they could
Forcing me to watch
The President speak
Over and over again
Again and again
The same words
Black is white
White is black
The President is always right
Freedom is an illusion
Lies make you free
And it dawned on me
And I laughed
As I escaped the programming
Of the universe
And I was free
Truth and lies
Are the same
Everything are nothing
But dangerous delusions
As I jump out of the window
Into the night
I vowed I would
See the President
In hell
As I die
I am free
Good God almighty
Free of their lies
At last
Trump Our Great Compassionate Leader
Quote the Donald Trump
Our Great compassionate Leader
Our Dear Leader, our Great Leader
“Its disgusting to watch”
As an elderly man falls down
In front of him hitting his head
And bleeding all over the nice marble floor
During a charity dinner event
At Margo Largo back in 2008
And our compassionate leader’s first reaction
Is to turn away not wanting to get the blood
On his tuxedo or dirty his shoes
Quote the Donald,
“It is disgusting – The guy was bleeding
all over the nice marble floor,
I couldn’t, you know,
he was right in front of me
and I turned away.
I didn’t want to touch him… he’s bleeding all over the place,
I felt terrible. You know, beautiful marble floor,
didn’t look like it. It changed color.
Became very red.
And you have this poor guy, 80 years old,
laying on the floor unconscious,
and all the rich people are turning away.
‘Oh my God! This is terrible!
This is disgusting!’
and you know, they’re turning away.
Nobody wants to help the guy.
His wife is screaming–
she’s sitting right next to him,
and she’s screaming.”
And Donald the compassionate one
Donald Trump the savior of humanity
The greatest most compassionate person
In the country
Could not bother to lift a finger
To help this elderly man
Who could have died
An old man who happened to fall down
And possibly die ruining his great event
Quote the Donald
“I forgot to call the family
That is not his thing at all”
And still I wonder
How such a disgusting excuse
For a human being became
The leader of the greatest nation
On earth
And what it means for the future
Is it proof that we are doomed
That America is in the final stage
Of terminal decline
Or will Americans wake up
And force Donald Trump
The great leader
The dear leader of our country
Out the door
And take out the garbage
From the WH
Time will tell
Time will tell
In any event
To quote the Donald
“It is disgusting. Just disgusting.”
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED ON POETRY 24
and Scarlet Leaf Review
More Dental BLues
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
Have to go to the dentist
For my twice yearly torture session
In order to save my remaining teeth
I must endure the never ending pain
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
I must have known over 100 dentists
During my 61 years around the sun
Some were good, some were great
A few became friends
A few became enemies
All became richer
From fixing my crooked no good
very bad misbehaving evil teeth
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
All tortured me
Saying it was for my own good
To save my crooked wicked teeth
My teeth are bad
Wicked, misbehaving
Rotten to the core
And always have
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
I tried orthodontic braces
As a child
Gave it up as an adult
Did everything except implants
So many crowns
So many root canals
So many pulled teeth
And partial dentures to boot
So much dental work
My teeth are gold plated
Monuments to the dental artistry
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
A few dentists were exceptionally good
A few exceptionally bad
A few were crooks by and by
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
My current dentist is good
He keeps the chit chat down
Does not lecture me on his political views
Imagine having a dentist praise GW Bush
Or Trump taking your forced silence
As acceptance of his right wing views
Imagine a dentist talking endlessly
About her children’s latest escapade
While drilling away
Assuming you cared
When all you wanted
Was to end the torture
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
And imagine a sexy dentist
Or hygienist working away
As you think of her in bed
And can’t get that thought
Out of you head
As they drill and poke
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
Yes I have a love-hate relationship
With dentists
Can’t stand them
Can’t stand the pain
But they save my teeth
And save my smile
And so I forgive them
One and all
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
cosmic Dog from Goa
My final time with God
Happened a year latter
I was staying down in Goa
With my wife
Enjoying being with her
After our reconciliation
We stayed at the Taj Mahal Goa
Living like Kings and Queen
Just for a few days
High up on a hill
Overlooking the beach
Every morning I went down to the beach
And did yoga by the water
While contemplating life
And every morning
I saw the same dog
Not just a dog
But a cosmic dog
Filled with the divine spark of God
And the dog recognized me
And spoke to me and I knew
That God was present once more
In the face of the that cosmic dog
Kindred spirit
perhaps to the cosmic cat
that had save my soul
in Berkeley so long ago
I told the dog everything
And he just looked at me
With those soulful eyes of his
And I knew he knew that I knew
That he was possessed by God
God had sent him to me
To make sure that I was on the right path
That the reconciliation that God had promoted
Was on track that I was back with my wife
And that everything was the way it should be
Again I asked God whether he was Jesus or Allah
Or Brahmin or Ganesh or Buddha
God the cosmic dog just stared at me
I finally asked him directly
Say if you are God the God of Jesus
Bark once
The Dog looked at me and barked
I said well if you are Allah bark twice
The dog barked twice
Well are you buddha then bark three times if yes
The god dog barked three times
Hmm well are you Satan
The dog growled at me
And I knew I had gone too far
Finally I was at peace
And for the next three days
The God Dog was my constant companion
And I knew God for the final time
In my life
Cosmic Cat from Berkeley
I next encountered the divine
Many years later in Berkeley, California
I had gone home to be with my Mother
While taking leave from my job
in the Foreign Service
I had two weeks there by myself
My wife came later
near the end of the trip
Every morning I woke up
Had my coffee, and breakfast
Did yoga while listening to music
And looking out at the garden
Then spoke to my mother
Who was sliding into dementia
Day by day losing her reason
Then I would go out
And explore the city
Go to a museum
Go to one neighborhood
And just be there
Rediscovering the Bay area
After years of being away
Having dinner with old friends
Seeing movies etc
Every morning a black cat came to visit
The cat was friendly and waited for me
And then would join me in my morning rambles
Following me to the bus stop
I stated talking to the black cat
He looked at me with the spark of divinity
In his dark eyes
I called him the cosmic cat
He seemed to like that
He would look at me
And I opened up to me
Told the cat all my dark secrets
As I walked the streets
Of the old neighborhood
Every morning and every evening the cat
Would be there to greet me
And to carry out our endless conversation
Then I had to leave
And in our final conversation
I asked the cosmic cat
Say, Cat are you just a cat
Or are you a demonic cat
Are you possessed by God
Or by Satan
The cat looked at me
And I realized that God
Was indeed residing in the cat
But that god was residing everywhere
All I had to do was open my mind
And the rest would follow
So I said Good bye to the cosmic cat
And he purred and came up to me
And I felt the comforting presence
Of the divine spirit of God
As I said goodbye to the cosmic cat
And said goodbye to my mother
As this was the last time
That we would be able to really talk
I told my mother about the cosmic cat
She smiled and said that the cat
was there for me and her
to comfort us both in our hour of need
and that the cat was indeed
a cosmic cat
published in Scarlet Leaf Review November 2017
Meeting God in the Lake
In my 61 years around the sun
I encountered God four times
At least I thought it was God
But could never be sure
The first time I met God
I had taken magic mushrooms
And had gone to a lake
And soon was tripping inside my head
Lost in inner space
Zoning out tuning in
Dropping down the proverbial rabbit hole
And then in the middle of my madness
I felt oneness with the universe
My body melted away
And I joined the universe
All boundaries dropped away
And I knew that the universe
Was alive and I was part of the Cosmos
And the Cosmos was part of me
And I wondered at that moment
If I was face to face with God
I asked God to reveal himself to me
And nothing happened
Just laughter as the whole universe
Burst into laughter
And the madness began to fade
And I slowly came down from the high
And became aware of myself
And I was no longer one
With the universe
I felt profoundly moved by the experience
Felt that I had achieved perhaps nirvana
Or felt the presence of God
The feeling faded over time
And I resume my quest to find God
But knew that I would never again
Come so close to the divine essence
Of the very Universe
published in Scarlet Leaf Review November 2017
Because of You I’m in a Seattle Kind of Mood
Because of you, I’m in a Seattle kind of mood
When I look out my window
And see the rain drops gently falling all around
And I feel that special Seattle kind of chill
In my bones
I think of you with a Seattle kind of mood
In the morning
Wherever I am in this crazy world if I see raindrops
Gently falling all around
Blue mood dissolves in the rain’s gentle mist
And I cry out with all my heart
Because of you
I am in a Seattle kind of mood
As I walk down the street
In distant foreign lands
Whether I am in Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo or Seoul
New York, Moscow, Rome or San Francisco
Whether I am in India, China, Thailand or Europe
Whenever I feel the rain’s gentle embrace
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
Seattle, a Seattle kind of mood
Fresh Salmon sizzling over a hickory smoke fire
Ivar’s clam chowder
And Red Hook Ale Pike place market
Bums in Pioneer square
And angry hippies preaching in Red Square
Yuppies drinking downtown
Geeks in Redmond
Making the world safe
For the Microsoft King
And the Mariners loose again
While the Huskies dream of Rose Bowls too come
And ever where rain falling down
oh yeah
A Seatt1e kind of mood
Because of you
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
In the morning
As I fight the horrendous traffic
And breathe in deadly, killer air
I cough, cough, and remember
The green, green air of Seattle
And because of you,
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
Seattle, Seattle, kind of mood
The Huskies are number one in my heart
While the Mariners are always last in the nation
But what the hell
I’m in a Seattle kind of mood
I sit in the International District
Eating Dim Sum and drinking Ballad bitter
Watching the crowds dodge the ever present rain drops
Seattle Kind of mood
As I wake up each day in crazy foreign lands
I hear the falling raindrops calling me home
Oh why did you leave me they cry out
In a Seattle sort of voice
Whispering in the gently falling rain
Seattle, Seattle kind of mood
And so my Dear
Wherever I roam in this wide planet of ours
From here to entreaty
And beyond
All the way to the red plains of Mars
Whenever I hear the gentle patter of raindrops
I’ll get into that Seattle kind of mood
And dream of spending eternity with you
Watching the Seattle rain
Gently falling on our bumbershoots
As we walk down the beach hand in hand
Digging the gooey ducks while drinking Rainier Ale
All because of you
I’ll always be in the Seattle kind of mood
Spring time in Oregon
Spring has finally sprung in Oregon
Escaping from the longer winter prison
That has covered the land with snow
They say that this winter
Was a colder than normal winter
Wetter than normal
As the long drought finally ended
As nature resumed its normal spring thaw
I rejoice
Seeing all the signs of spring
Especially the sight of young beautiful women
Shedding their winter clothes
And walking about in the spring sunshine
So wonderfully alive
So beautiful and sexy
As they sashay about
Here and there
It makes me smile
All day long
Yes I love Spring time
Everywhere in the world
But especially in Oregon
My new found second home
August Moods
spring dodoitsu
Waking up seeing you there
Watching you as you wake up
Fills me with such sweat desire
Overcoming my mind
I sit watching you all day
Thinking of you all day long
Wild erotic imaginings
Love making to come
That old blues song comes to mind
I just want to make love to you
I just want to make love to you
Nothing more than that that
I end this morning with this thought
You are still the most wonderful
The most beautiful creature
In the whole universe
spring time on capitol hill
Sitting on a bench
In Lincoln Park
Heart of Capitol Hill
Beating heart of the Empire
On a warm Spring Day
Watching the Cherry trees
Watching Me
Wondering what thoughts
They must have heard
The things they have seen
Over the years
But they are quiet
They do not say a word
As I fall into my spring time dreams
Sitting on that bench
Seeing the children and dogs play
Looking at Spring flowers
And pretty women
As they stroll by
Hearing the sounds of the city
As I dream of my past life
Memories of places and people
I said to myself
What a wonderful life
published in writers’s newsletter
falling rain
The falling rain
Of late October
Fills me with essential dread
As I rush about
And end up here
Wherever here is
The rain outside
Seems like the tears of god
As I sit
Crying over my beer
Thinking of lost love
And failed dreams
Wondering
What went wrong?
And what I can set right
And the rain falls
And the night darkens
The rain is falling
All over this man’s world
And the rain falls
And I sit
Drinking my lonesome drink
Lost in dreams
Dreaming of what
Could never be
Thinking dark thoughts
And so I sit
And dream the night away
hurricanes from hell
As I watch the endless coverage of the storms from hell
Harvey, Irma, Jose and so many others
It seems almost end of the world like
As I sit on the smoky west coast
With fires burning everywhere
Thinking of the massive storms from hell
Bearing down on the East Coast
And the burning of the West Coast
As the storms head to Margo Largo
Winter home of our dear leader
Threatening destruction
The thought comes to mind
Perhaps there really is a God
And he is angry at us
For destroying his world
And I realize that God
Has been sending us a message
The end of the world is coming
And I despair
Thinking that we have an idiot in charge
Of the United States Government
As we face the storms of the century
And the ever-growing threats of global terrorism
Nuclear armed North Korea
And global chaos
What does our dear leader say to comfort us
In our hour of need
Nothing but political nonsense
How great he is doing
And how on top of things he is
As the storms batter the country
And the fires consume the west
I realize that the earth
Does not give a whit
About what I think
The world spins and spins around the sun
The climate continues to deteriorate
And mankind might be facing its darkest hours
But we have the Donald
And he will lead us through
To the other side
And so, I pray to the Donald
For deliverance from the storms
the fires burning everywhere
the threat of nuclear war
the end of the world
fires burning Bright
I look out my window in Medford Oregon
at the unnaturally dark smoke-filled skies
Seems almost like the end of the world
Out here in the smoke-filled skies
Of the west
And realize that that the entire west coast
Is burning up
Quote the Donald,. “Give me clean, beautiful and healthy air – not the same old climate change (global warming) bullshit! I am tired of hearing this nonsense.”
I consult the Donald for further wisdom and advice
and find that this is what he had to say
. “Well, I think the climate change is just a very, very expensive form of tax. A lot of people are making a lot of money. I know much about climate change. I’d be—received environmental awards. And I often joke that this is done for the benefit of China. Obviously, I joke. But this is done for the benefit of China, because China does not do anything to help climate change. They burn everything you could burn; they couldn’t care less. They have very—you know, their standards are nothing. But they—in the meantime, they can undercut us on price. So, it’s very hard on our business.”
Ah it all makes sense
Climate change is a Chinese hoax
So, they can destroy the US economy
Thanks to our dear great leader’s wisdom
I am relieved
And realize that it will all be alright
If I just follow the wisdom
Of our dear leader
dental torture blues
Sitting in the dental chair
Undergoing dental surgery
While the dentist probes
And tortures me
With his instruments of pain
The Frank Zappa song plays over and over
The torture never stops
The torture never stops
And I think of the mad dentist
In Little House of Horrors
The Jack Nicolson character
Who screams Pain is good
As he assaults his patients
Doing root canals
Without anesthesia
And so, I endure the torture
Of the dentist
In the vain hope
I can save my teeth
Until the next time
I undergo dental torture
The song faces away
And I slowly recover
Then as I leave
I am confronted with the bill
And the song roars back to life
The torture never stops
the torture never stops
masters of the universe
The earth has been invaded
By hideous blood sucking vampires
Disgusting vile alien creatures
Devoid of all compassion
Lacking any human empathy
These so-called Masters of the universe
These psychopathic monsters
Are everywhere
They even took over the White house
And to these vile creatures
Everyone is nothing but a commodity
These alien monsters
Worship the god of the market
While proclaiming that they serve Jesus
Jesus would turn over in his grave
To see these people in action
The airlines in Florida
Facing the worst hurricane in world history
Decided that the expeditated thing to do
The MBA approved thing to do
The profit maximizing, screw the public thing to do
Was to raise prices 600 percent
Without prior notice charging 3,000 dollars
Instead of doing the right thing
The compassion thing
The human thing of offering free flights to all
These executives, these so-called Masters of the Universe
thus, demonstrated that they are no longer human
But greed driven monsters
As are all the other soulless automatons
Who have taken over the world
Perhaps some day
Jesus will come back
And smite these motherfuckers
Send them to the hell they so richly deserve
We can only pray
For our deliverance from such evil
From the soulless evil masters of the universe
Who have taken over the planet
It Can’t Happen Here
The pundits and talking heads
The chaterati classes
All assure us
That it can’t happen here
Fascism will never happen here
Our democratic system
Superior to all others
Check and balances
Power of the media
Will prevent fascism
From taking root
In the American soil
They laugh
And talk amongst themselves
And laugh some more
Convincing themselves
Meantime the darkness
Continues to descend
As our President becomes more erratic
And frankly shows signs of insanity
The fascists supporting him
Gather strength
And one day
They strike back
With furry
When the powers that be
Try to remove the President
He mobilizes his army
His army of deplorables
And they mobilize
And his fascist supporters
In the government
Demand law and order
And restoration of the Leader of the people
As they have started calling the President
He comes back into power
And demands
Unspecified emergency powers
And so, the cycle ends
And fascism wrapped inside a Christian flag
Comes to America
Full vengeance
As they take charge
And the chaterati classes
Are all arrested
The first to be rounded up
America has fallen
The media stars
All comply
The leader is great
America is great
And all who oppose him
Must be terror sympathizers
Or Tersymps for short
And deserve to be rounded up
Public protests are forbidden
Muslims must register
Atheists must be fired
Alt media is shut down
The internet is censored
And I weep
As I see the once great American nation
Descend into a fascist nightmare
And I wait for the midnight knock on the door
Knowing that I am on the list.
Knock Knock knock
Open up, it is homeland security……
Reflections on Turning 61
Today I woke up
And realized that I was 61 years’ old
Felt that I had lived
And almost died
So many times
I have challenged life
And faced my fate
And yet
Through it all
I am still here
I am still here
And that means something
Something to me
And something to the universe
Yes, I am still alive
And kicking
And nothing is stopping me
Yet still I wonder
Still I wonder
What does it all mean?
Life began with you
I first dreamt of Angela when I was but a lad of 17 living in Berkeley, California. It was 1974 and life seemed full of possibilities in that magical year the tail end of the fabled 60’s. I fell asleep that fateful day in a boring Physics class. I woke up seeing the most beautiful women in the world looking at me. I was shocked and did not know what to say. She spoke to me in a strange language but somehow, I knew that someday we were to be together. I just knew that I would meet the girl in the dream. It was love at first sight. She disappeared and I fell to the floor yelling, “who are you?”
Then I started having the same dream month after month for seven long years. I had to decide where to go in the Peace Corps and chose to go to Korea because I knew she would be there. I looked for her every day knowing that someday she would walk out of my dreams and into my life.
Then one day I had the last dream. She walked off the bus in front of me. I was shocked did not know what to say and she smiled at me melting my heart away. I got her number agreed to meet the next day. She came to my class room and we talked at length.
She was madly in love with me and she had to have me. I told her I felt the same way. We married two months later. And that was the beginning of 35 years of happiness.
When I first saw you
Standing on the hot roadway
I knew life began
That was the end game
The beginning of my life with you
A journey with you
love at first sight
You were in my dreams
appearing every evening
for seven long years
until one day I met you
and that changed my life
when you walked into life
stepping out of the night time
and into the light
when you walked into life
stepping out of the night time
and into the light
making everything so brilliant
changing my life forever
you are my angel
You are my angel
sent from God up in heaven
to take me to life beyond
one moment
one moment, one day
You walked out of that damned bus
stepped into my life
waking up to no you
waking up to no you
absent in my bed at night
not absent from dreams
thursday early evening
thursday early evening
thinking dark thoughs of you
can you cure these thoughts
Rapid CIty Nowhere
Last summer
We drove across the country
Just the wife and me
10,000 miles
31 states
Three months on the road
I now know why people don’t live
In South Dakota
Hot, dry dusty
Windy as hell
Black Hills are nice
But after seeing Mt. Rushmore
There is not much left to do
Rapid City did not impress me
Nor did Sioux Falls
And wall drugs
Well the free water was nice
But it is a nothing town
In a nothing state
On the edge of the badlands
And the Sioux reservation
There is a reason the Indians live there
No one else wanted the land
And they are warehoused there
So I drove through Rapid City
And thought that it is the heart of Trump Land
The land of the forgotten
The left behind
Just another nothing burger of a State
In the middle of nowhere
Truly flyover country
looking out my window
I look out my window
On the parking lot
And see the mad cat
That lives underneath the apartment house
And look out at the park
Thinking of taking a walk
The cat looks at me
Kindred spirits perhaps
Retired waiting to die
The Voice of My Doom
walking deep in the woods
high above the city
near the airport
I heard them
then saw them
hideous black crows
looking at me
cackling at me
laughing at me
mocking me
calling me names
I asked what they wanted
they laughed
and said
nothing but your doom
and they flew around me
dive bombing me
and surrounding me
calling me names
in Korean and English
as I fled down the trail
with the demon birds
hot on my trail
no more coffee blues
Note: published in Eskimo Pie, HIll Magazine and other sites
I love coffee
Always have
And coffee has loved me back
But lately I have sourced on her
Soured on the whole coffee scene
On the harshness of the morning brew
And the promises it makes
As I sip of its nectar
Drawn into its lair
Drinking drop by drop
As the caffeine takes over
Rewriting my every nerve
Turning me into a slave
For its perverted pleasure
Yes, I love coffee
But I am afraid
Coffee is a harsh mistress
Demanding so much of me
Promising the sun
And delivering the Moon
As I drink her swill
Deeping under her influence
I have the coffee blues
Can’t live with our her
Can’t live with her
I try
But tea does not cut it
Not really
Booze does not do it
At least not in the morning
Yoga is not enough of a buzz
Nor is the runner’s high
And I am afraid deadly afraid of cocaine
And speed and drugs and energy drinks
And so I remain a slave to coffee
My only legal drug
As I sip another and fall under her seductive spread
Once more failing my resolve
To skip coffee for that day
That morning that moment
I shall never be free of her spell
Ever and she knows it
As she beckons me
Every morning with her intoxicating smell
Imagining the end of the world
I saw the four horsemen of the apocalypse
Beckoning me to join them on their midnight ride
Death, pestilence, plague and war
They were ready to ride into the sunset
Spreading their hate with them
As they led the world to its foretold doom
The end days were approaching they told me
And their time was near
I begged them to hold off
To give us more time
To work things out
They laughed and said
Time waits for no one
We have a divine plan to work out
You have been warned before
And will be warned again and again
But soon it will be time
And we must do our duty
To bring an end to this benighted world
And fulfill our destiny
And yours
But for now
We will let you sleep
And let you prepare yourself
For the time is near
The end of the world is coming
It is later than you think
Soon soon the antichrist will come
Uniting the world
And leading the battles too come
Before the end of the world
And mankind ceases to exist
Just dust in the wind
Of a dead planet
In a forgotten corner of an uncaring universe
All part of God’s plan
Lost and Found
I was lost
And you found me
You walked out of my dreams
And into my life
And that made all the difference
In the world
As you entered my life
I was all alone in this cruel world
And you provided shelter
And comfort
I did not know what I wanted
And you gave me what I wanted
You gave me meaning
You gave me purpose
You gave me love
And understanding
peace and happiness
Joy, laughter and fun
You were endlessly fascinating
Could not keep my eyes off you
You were the most beautiful women
In the world to me
And you still are
So many years later
Like a fine bottle of wine
Gets better with age
And you gave me
Endless nights of wild love making
Which has gotten better
As well
And I fell under your spell
from the day I met you
I was lost
And you found me
And if you go first
I will be lost again
Can’t live without you
By my side
Thus is has always been
Between us
We are so entangled
So interwoven
And that is the way
It was meant to me
Ode to Coffee
ODE TO COFFEE
Published Hill Rag, Eskimo Pie, Coffee with Underwood
Mistress of sacred love
Sacred lady of desire
You start my day
Setting my heart on fire
With your dark delicious brew
And throughout the day
Whenever the mean old blues come by
You chase them away
With your bitter {sweat} (sweet?) ambrosia{l brew}
Every time I inhale your {witches brew} (witch’s brew)
I am filled with power, light and love
And everything is al right Jack
If only for a few fleeting minutes
I love you oh coffee goddess
In all your magical forms
In the dark coffee of the dawning day
In the sizzling coffee in the mid morning break
In the afternoon siesta break
And in the post dinner desert drink
I love you my coffee mistress
You are my refuge
From this horrid world
And you are my secret lover
Never disappoint me, ever
I’ve never had a bad cup
Of that I can be sure
Even the dismal coffee
Served at Denny’s at 3 am
Is still sweat loving coffee
Even the farmer brother’s diner coffee
Excites me and gets me going
Asking for another cup of divine delight
Coffee always is there
It is always on and piping hot
With hidden dark secrets
Swirling in its liquid essence
Coffee is my last vice
My only legal vice left
Coffee does not cheat on me
It is always faithful, always true
It does not turn on its friends
And all it asks in return
Is that you come back
Cup after cup after cup
A good cup of coffee
Is a little bit of heaven
In a cup of dark liquid hell
Coffee is like a drug
But a good drug that does what is should
And never complains
It does not get grouchy
It does not hurt you
It does not make you crazy
But allows the muse to come out
And play with it
Coffee led to the American Revolution
As patriots drank coffee
To rebel against the aristocratic English tea
Coffee started the London Stock market
And started the gossips mills running
Every great invention
Was fed by coffee’s sweat brew sweet allure
All the great thinkers
All the great leaders
All were enslaved to coffee’s magic
Yeah
I sing my praises
Of the great glorious coffee lady
Long may she continue
To be my sweat companion
Long may coffee continue
To rule my heart
And set my heart on fire
I love thee
Mistress coffee
And sometimes I think
You love me too
Capitol Hill in the Springtime
Capitol Hill in the Spring *
*Published Writer’s Newsletter June 2017
Sitting on a bench
In Lincoln Park
Heart of Capitol Hill
Beating heart of the Empire
On a warm Spring Day
Watching the Cherry trees
Watching Me
Wondering what thoughts
They must have heard
The things they have seen
Over the years
But they are quiet
They do not say a word
As I fall into my spring time dreams
Sitting on that bench
Seeing the children and dogs play
Looking at Spring flowers
And pretty women
As they stroll by
Hearing the sounds of the city
As I dream of my past life
Memories of places and people
I said to myself
What a wonderful life
the decline of America
You see it everywhere
The unmistakable signs
That the decline of America
Is in full swing
As the world leaders turn away
From dealing with the US
And we have gone past the tipping point
There is nowhere left to go
But downward
As the Empire begins to collapse
Victim of imperial overreach
Like all empires before
The DC metro on a good day
Is a broken-down remnant
Of a once proud system
The future of mass transit
Its proponents said
The cost of rebuilding America mounts
And our politicians are afraid
That it will costs trillions of dollars
Just to prevent the US from collapsing
Into third world irrelevance
We have the world’s most expensive military
A million dollars per missile
And yet we can’t find the money
To provide decent health care for all
Bombs, and tax cuts for the wealthy
Are the only things
That the Republicans care about
And the world looks in amazement
At the clown boy President
As he struts about
Looking more and more
Like some Banana Republic
President for life
With his family grabbing as much loot
As they can
From the federal government
Before the coming revolution
Overthrows them
When did we start this decline?
Some say 1960s started it
Others say Nixon’s to blame
Others claim that it was Carter’s fault
Or Saint Reagan’s fault
Or the other boy President GW Bush
Or Obama the fake American’s fault
Does it really matter
All I know
Is the America I knew
The can do anything country
The country that went to the moon
Is alas no more
And I morn for our lost liberties
Our lost sense of purpose
Our lost sense that America
Was the last great hope of Mankind
And still I wonder
Can America be made great again?
As our President Trump proclaims
The end times approaches
Nuclear war is talked about
Another missile crisis
And instead of JFK leading the country
We have Donald John Trump
The one and only
The greatest con man
To ever get elected
And I fear the end is in sight
As America begins its decline
The right claims that the left has started it
And the left claims that the right has started it
And both sides claim that the civil war
Is inevitable
Or will we embrace a progressive future
With an economy that works for all
I have no answer
It seems the end is coming
Sooner than we think
As Emperor Trump leads us
Down a dark, strange dangerous path
And so, it goes
The decline of empires
And I pray
That I may survive
The end of times
looking out my window
Looking Out My Window
I look out my window
On the parking lot
And see the mad cat
That lives underneath the apartment house
And look out at the park
Thinking of taking a walk
The cat looks at me
Kindred spirits perhaps
Retired waiting to die
Rapid City Nowhere
Incheon 2016
I live in Incheon
Part of the 3 million people who live here
Mostly Koreans
90,000 foreigners though live here too
My apartment is next to a park
And I walk almost daily in the mountains
Loosing myself in the hills
Overlooking the airport
The town has lots of restaurants
Places too go
Things to do
And the airport is next door
Soon there will be a casino complex opening up
As they turn this quite suburban village
Into a Mini-Las Vegas
Complete with a strip
Can’t wait
Going to Seoul is a snap
50 minutes on the train
And I am there
Wherever I want to be
Korea is turning out to be
A good place too live
So much better
Than it was when I first arrived in 1979
And it was grim back then
Now it is the toast of Asia
And for that I am glad
Incheon
Incheon 2016
I live in Incheon
Part of the 3 million people who live here
Mostly Koreans
90,000 foreigners though live here too
My apartment is next to a park
And I walk almost daily in the mountains
Loosing myself in the hills
Overlooking the airport
The town has lots of restaurants
Places too go
Things to do
And the airport is next door
Soon there will be a casino complex opening up
As they turn this quite suburban village
Into a Mini-Las Vegas
Complete with a strip
Can’t wait
Going to Seoul is a snap
50 minutes on the train
And I am there
Wherever I want to be
Korea is turning out to be
A good place too live
So much better
Than it was when I first arrived in 1979
And it was grim back then
Now it is the toast of Asia
And for that I am glad
Lost and Found
I was lost
And you found me
You walked out of my dreams
And into my life
And that made all the difference
In the world
As you entered my life
I was all alone in this cruel world
And you provided shelter
And comfort
I did not know what I wanted
And you gave me what I wanted
You gave me meaning
You gave me purpose
You gave me love
And understanding
peace and happiness
Joy, laughter and fun
You were endlessly fascinating
Could not keep my eyes off of you
You were the most beautiful women
In the world to me
And you still are
So many years later
Like a fine bottle of wine
Gets better with age
And you gave me
Endless nights of wild love making
Which has gotten better
As well
And I fell under your spell
from the day I met you
I was lost
And you found me
And if you go first
I will be lost again
Can’t live without you
By my side
Thus is has always been
Between us
We are so entangled
So interwoven
And that is the way
It was meant to me
Why I am Not A Christian Easter THoughts
April 16 Why I am not a Christian Easter Thoughts
On Easter Sunday, I often think about Christianity
I don’t understand why anymore would believe such nonsense
The essential story makes no sense
An imaginary all powerful deity that no one has ever seen or heard
Except for psychotic patients or Drug users
Comes down to earth and impregnates a married woman
Who has never had sex for some reason
And her husband is okay with that
Believes her wild story
And still does not have sex
Until after the baby is born
Then there is total silence
Nothing about Jesus’s childhood
30 years later he emerges
Preaching love, peace and brotherhood
And denouncing the corrupt temple leaders
And the Jewish leaders as well
The miracles also don’t make any sense
In the real world, you can’t turn fish into bread
Can’t walk on water
Can raise the dead etc. etc.
Just does not happen
In the world, we live in
And has not happen since those ancient days
Then the last supper makes some sense
Jesus knows he is about to be betrayed
But he does not confront Judas
Does not run away
Does not encourage his disciplines
To run away with him
The whole Jesus Mary M story
Also, does not make sense
Jesus must have been married
Or he was gay
There is no doubt
Either way the story makes no sense
The crucifixion is the only part of the story I buy
Jesus was put to death because he was a rebel leader
And the Romans tolerated no dissent
To the Roman’s right to conquer and rule
The rising from the dead stories
All contradict one another
And Jesus was either walking as a normal human being
Or was a ghost
The door was rent open as if by lightening
Or not
Finally, we have been waiting over 2,000 years for his return
You would think if the story is remotely true
He would have turned up by now
Except he has
As many lunatics claim to be Jesus
in the flesh
all delusional of course
and that is what I think of Christianity
nothing but fairy tales and mass delusions
surrounding a kernel of truth
Love one again
Treat each other right
Don’t be consumed with greed
But couldn’t that message
Be made simpler
Without all the associated nonsense?
So, on this day I say
Open your minds
And discard the nonsensical elements of Christian thought
And follow the true teachings of Jesus
Even if you don’t believe in the imaginary man in the sky
Love Poems from Poem a Thon
April 11 3 Am Nightmares
3 am
The bewitching hour
When the wild things come out
And play
And torture you
With endless wild accusations
And nightmarish visions
As I toss and turn
Trying to escape
I look over at my wife
And as always
Repeat the mantra
Everything will be alright
And the wild things are banished
To the dark corners of my mind
And I recover my happiness
And I smile
As I look at the sleeping beauty
Still the most beautiful women in the world
Still the most alluring women in the world
Still in love with her
After 35 years
The love gets stronger and stronger
As she overcomes my despair
And the sun comes up
And I think to myself
What a wonderful life I have
With the women of my dreams
April 13 Spring Doositsu for Angela Poem a Thon
Waking up seeing you there
Watching you as you wake up
Fills me with such sweat desire
Overcoming my mind
I sit watching you all day
Thinking of you all day long
Wild erotic imaginings
Love making to come
That old blues song come to mind
I just want to make love to you
I just want to make love to you
Nothing more than that that
I end this morning with this thought
You are still the most wonderful
The most beautiful creature
In the whole universe
April 14 Love Jones
I got the Love Jones, baby
And it won’t leave me alone
I got the Love Jones, baby
And it won’t leave me alone
I’ve been writing these love poems
All day long
And I have been dreaming
Of all the ways, I could make love
To my secret lover
If only she will let me be
If only she will open her heart
And let me in
Perhaps the love Jones
Might leave me along
But I got the love Jones
Bad baby
Can’t you tell?
That the love Jones
Has grabbed my Soul
Twisted it up into little pieces
And I need you
To unravel the Love Jones
I need you to answer the call
Of the Love Jones Baby
I need you
To let me be free
Of the spell
Of the Love Jones
I got the Love Jones
Baby
I got it bad
And only you can
Put a stop to the love Jones
Baby
Let me enter your life
Put out the fire of desire
Send the Love Jones packing
And let me make sweat love to you
Oh, Love Jones
Go away
Let me be in peace
Love Jones
Leave me be
Baby
I got the love Jones
For you
Can’t you see?
What you do to me?
I got the Love Jones
Baby and it ain’t going away
Until I get to make love to you
Then perhaps this Love Jones
Will leave me be
Love Jones
NIghtmares from poem a thon
April 11 3 Am Nightmares
April 12 Zombie Apocalypse
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
Everywhere zombies galore
The end of the world had become
And the zombification of the world had begun
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
No one knew when or where the first zombies appeared
One moment zombies were just a collective figment of our deranged imagination
The next moment we were all living in a zombie apocalypse nightmare
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
Some said the zombies were created in a lab
Released by mad scientists and the military
Others said it was plague sent by God himself
To punish mankind for tolerating evil and moral depravity
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
The Christians and Muslims prayed
But their prayers went unheard
As they too soon became zombies
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
The zombies hunted in packs
Overwhelming their victims
Killing most instantly
But some they simply bit
And turned them into fellow zombies
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
The zombies did not attack one another
They preferred living live flesh
Human flesh but they ate everything they saw
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
And so, I ran into the countryside
With my fellow humans
Hit out deep in the woods
Hiding from zombies
And crazed cannibal gangs alike
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
The world ended that day
And our nightmare world began
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
Trumpian Nightmares
April 2 Walls
April 9 Pane e circus 2017 Redux
By order of his excellency
Emperor Donald the First
The merciful,
the Christian King of Kings
The Sultan of Sultans
The Emperor of North America
Be it hereby decreed
That the ancient honorable gladiator games
Of the old Roman Empire
Have been restored
Each city in the Empire will host a team
They will compete for the honor
Of the national championship
The games will start
With fighting animals
Fighting fish
Roosters
Cheetahs
Tiger
Bears
Wolves
And lions
Then a man lion contest
With a heretic thrown to the lions
If he or she lives
They will be pardoned
Then then main games
Six men/women teams compete
Armed with swords, knifes, mace, clubs
They fight until one man or women remans
The victor of the game
Those who are prisoners
Can compete for their freedom
And a full imperial pardon
Let the games begin
Long may the games reign
In the new North America Empire
Praise be to the Emperor
Donald the First
April 10 Long Live Emperor Donald the Ist
Ladies and Gentlemen
My fellow American citizens
Greetings and salutations
Today is a momentous day
The old corrupt USA republic is no more
The constitution that once protected us
Has been overthrown and violated
The barbarians at the gate
Have taken over
And ruined the once great land
The last hope of the world
And so, I had no choice
But to kill the old rotten regime
And restore American greatness
To save democracy
I must destroy it
And so, starting today
I will serve as the Emperor of North America
I welcome Canada and Mexico
And the Caribbean islands
To join The North American Empire
As we rebuild America
Restoring American greatness
And making us all proud again
Proud subjects of the New American Empire
May the Empire reign forever and a day
Triumphant against all enemies
And so, I take this burden
Sadly, but gladly
I will serve you
As your Empire
And my son Donald
Will serve as our second emperor
Once I pass from this world
His son will serve as the third emperor
And so on until the end of time
And we will reign in our new capitol city
Colorado Springs
Until the end of time
Washington will remain in our hearts
As the capitol of the old Republic
But the heirs of the Roman Empire
Need a new Imperial Capitol
And soon we will conquer Mars
And expand our Empire to the Starts
Long Live the Empire
Long Live America
Good night
And may God Bless
This great Empire
Cats fpr poem a thon
April 7 Watching Cats Hunt
Early morning
Watching two white cats
Hunting a white dove
The cats hunt in pairs
Tracking the bird
The bird flies away
Safe for now
And I think about the cats
And the hunt goes on
Such is life
And the fate of cats
And birds
April 19 Cats
Cats
I often wonder about Cats
What do they think of us
It seems at time
That cats think of humans
As their slaves
We exist to feed them
To comfort them
To save them from their enemies
And to worship them
Yes, cats are an alien species
Totally different from humanity
Detached, and almost evil
If we ever encounter an alien civilization
God help us if it’s a cat based civilization
We would then be engaged
In the epic mother of all wars
As cats and humans would not get along
The cats would think we were their slaves
And we would resent and fear them
And secretly worship their alien ways
wagontire oregon for poem a thon
April 6 Wagontire, Oregon
1973
In 1973, I went on a road trip
With my father
We left Berkeley to go to Yakima
Where my father had a summer cabin
He was a college professor
And had July and August off
And we spent the summers
Every summer from 1968 to 1978
Our whole dysfunctional family
Our annual road trip to hell and back
As we did not get along at all
We decided to drive through Eastern Oregon
Just my father and me
Just for the hell of it
The rest of the family was already there
My father and I shared a travel lust
One of the few things we shared
This was one of our best trips
We got along
Which was unusual
Normally our relationship
Was fraught
As we were so different
We left Klamath Falls
A real nothing burg in those days
And headed east along highway 395
As we entered the desert of eastern Oregon
We entered a different world
High mountain dessert
Almost no one on the road
Then we saw the sign
Wagontire Oregon
100 miles ahead
99 miles ahead
98 miles ahead
We counted down the signs
Miles after miles
As we drove into the gathering dusk
We speculated that Wagontire
Must be a giant truck stop
In the middle of no where
We pulled into the town
Nothing there but a gas station
Motel and café
We decided to stop
Last gas for 100 miles
According to the highway signs
In the morning
We chatted with the owner
He was the sheriff, the fire chief
The owner of the motel, gas station
The only business in town
And the only place open
For one hundred miles
I noticed a highway sign outside
Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon
Population 2 ½ humans 10 dogs, 50.000 sheep
I asked the Sherriff
Say who is the ½ human?
My idiot son!
And we left.
200 miles later
We finally left Eastern Oregon
2016
In 2016 my wife and I drove through Eastern Oregon
As part of our epic cross country trip
10,000 miles
31 states in three months
On the way from Medford to Yellowstone
We drove along highway 395
The signs for Wagontire was gone
And we drove through the town
The motel was abandoned
Nothing there at all
And that sign was gone too
I said I suppose the idiot son
Never took over the business
And we speculated about Wagontire
And all other nothing burgs
We drove through that summer
Heart of Trump’s America
True fly over country
more poem a thon poems
April 2 Walls
Trump wants a wall
Between America and Mexico
A wall against the southern hordes
A wall based on fear and hate
A wall to make America safe
A wall to make America great again
And yet I wonder
Will his wall fall
Like the Berlin wall
And the great wall
And all the other walls
They all failed
All of them
Walls divide us
Walls make us
Into different tribes
Between the pure
And the impure
St Reagan
Said Tear Down this Wall
Will future Presidents
Tear down this begotten wall
Or will it become a tourist attraction
Another great wall
Against barbarian hordes
April 4 Changes
I reflect upon my life
As the sun comes up
What could I have changed
What would I have changed
If I could go back in time
What would I tell my earlier self
What would I do differently
And what have I learned
The one thing
that I would not have changed
is meeting the women of my dreams
the chance meeting on a bus
that changed everything
in a moment
I met my fate
That day on the bus
And that is the end of the story
April 5 Facing Life’s Challenges Together
Woke up at 0 dark hundred
Vowing to boldly go forth
And face the challenges of the future
Without fear
Knowing that I have you there
Makes all the difference in the world
As we meet our fate
Together
Until the day we die
Poems for April Poem a thon
Poems by Jake Cosmos Aller For Poem a Thon 2017
JOHN (“JAKE”) COSMOS ALLER is a
April 1 Berkeley California
Growing up in the 60’s
In Berkeley almost 50 years ago
I think back
At those turbulent times
Those crazy wonderful times
Berkeley is a wonderful place
In many ways
Stuck forever in 1967
A true time travel experience
Every time I go back
And relive the memories
Of the 60’s
The 60’s never died
They continue
In college towns
Across the world
And Berkeley
Remains the mecca
Of the counter cultural revolution
Many things have changed
But the organic food revolution
Became mainstream
Marijuana spread out
The sexual revolution
Became mainstream
So much of the world
Is but a reflection
Of the revolution of the 60’s
And the conservative counter-revolution
That we are still fighting
So, I salute
My homeland
Berkeley
The center of my universe
April 2 Lithia Springs
Staying at Lithia Springs
Soaking in the healing waters
Soaking my pains away
Renewing my life
Renewing my love
As we both soak away
As the pain of life go away
And our love grows
With each soaking session
Life is good
At the hot springs water
Sooths us and smooth us
And we fall in love
Again and again
Ghosts from World War Two
12-17 2013 5 am
I am walking through a crowded rural trail in rural France. With a start I realize I am walking through a world war 11 graveyard. The graves have released the dead and the dead are walking trying to communicate but they are merely ghostly images of the dead soldiers. Millions of them lost wandering about and when they see me they beseech me to help them find their lost loves and I tell them that I cannot help them that they are dead and then they cry and the anguished sounds of the dead and dying soldiers fill the air and the room is filled with the sounds and terrors of the long ago battle. The scene shifts a bit and I am marching into battle with them before they had died and realize that the end is coming but there is nothing I can do but watch the coming of death and watch with horror the death of my new best friends. Then the scene clears the ghosts smile and say, “see that’s what happened to us. Please tell the world to not do this again. Please end the war everywhere. Please Please Please… “And I promise and wake up feeling that I had made a commitment but to whom and what I knew not.
Ghosts from World War Two
12-17 2013 5 am
I am walking through a crowded rural trail in rural France. With a start I realize I am walking through a world war 11 graveyard. The graves have released the dead and the dead are walking trying to communicate but they are merely ghostly images of the dead soldiers. Millions of them lost wandering about and when they see me they beseech me to help them find their lost loves and I tell them that I cannot help them that they are dead and then they cry and the anguished sounds of the dead and dying soldiers fill the air and the room is filled with the sounds and terrors of the long ago battle. The scene shifts a bit and I am marching into battle with them before they had died and realize that the end is coming but there is nothing I can do but watch the coming of death and watch with horror the death of my new best friends. Then the scene clears the ghosts smile and say, “see that’s what happened to us. Please tell the world to not do this again. Please end the war everywhere. Please Please Please… “And I promise and wake up feeling that I had made a commitment but to whom and what I knew not.
Everything Will Be All Right, Everything Will Be All Right
12-12-2013 4:30 am
In the midst of my gloomy thoughts
Of the endless nightmare
Of my endless despair
I looked over
And saw my wife
Sleeping peacefully away
And I hugged her
And felt something stir in me
I heard an angel’s voice
Saying “everything will be all right, everything will be all right”
And then I saw her wake up
Smiling at me
And a chorus of angels filled the room
Singing “everything will be all right, everything will be all right”
And I smiled
And she went back to sleep
The angelic chords faded away
And the darkness that had infected my soul
Began to recede back into the dark corners
From which it sprung
And I smiled
And chanted alongside the angelic choir
Everything will be all right
Everything will be all right
And I knew it would be
As long as I had her by my side
And I smiled
And got up
Knowing that I had defeated
The darkness once more
And I was ready
To face the dawning day
Everything will be all right
where do you and I begin
I woke up one day and realized
I no longer knew
where you and I began
and where you and I ended
we had become almost one
We talked in half sentences
Knowing what the other wanted
and knowing how it would end
We ate the same foods with some resistance
because I still crave an old fashioned American meal
but still we were becoming more and more the same
and I was scared of loosing myself
In your embrace
and becoming you
and you becoming me
and this fear of losing me
in the ocean of us
overwhelms me at time
but I know that I will always
Return to your arms
because I cannot live
A moment without you at my side
and I know you are the same
we feel each other’s inner pain
we feel each other’s outer pain
and our history has merged
into one
and is that the secret
of a long marriage?
Have I figured it all out
in the end does it come to this?
a merging of two souls and two bodies?
I don’t have the answers
But I don’t have any more doubts
or regrets at the path I have taken
I still look forward
to waking up each
Seeing you there
and knowing that everyday
we have together
is a gift that I will cherish
Until my dying breath
The Storm is Coming
The Storm is Coming
January 3, 2012
I see a dangerous storm brewing in America
I hear the dangerous creeping sounds
I see on TV
The grinning masses
The lies
the politicians dancing on the grave
of freedom
I fear the growing power
The power of the intolerant ones
The power of their mightily wave
the coming of fascism
the coming of neo-Hitlerism
The coming of war
To consume us all
This time
No one will save us
from the evil that surrounds us
God they say is on our side
and the darkness gathers hold
the evil slips out
The madness begins again
and those who see the light
those who know the right
and drowned out by the might
Might makes right
In the end
Does it matter
as slavery descends upon us all
the 1 percent have their revenge
The rest of us don’t matter
We are mere cogs
In the wheel
and always have
and always will
That is God’s will
and who are we to disagree
with the word of God
and so I and my fellows
are marched off to our doom
resistance is futile
resistance is futile
resistance is futile
Chains that Bind Us
I realize that my love for you
Is like a chain of steel
Unbreakable
Tough as nails
and yet as your love entangles me
I realize that I embrace my imprisonment
and don’t want to venture out of my cell
Made of our years together
bit by bit we have become entangled
Where I end and you begin
Hopelessly enter tangled
Even if I wanted to break free
I could not
For I am you and you are me
and my fate is in your hands
and so I relax
and decide to just
Enjoy the ride of my life
as we move towards the final moments
together as we have always been
Inseparable, merged into one being
Starting at each other
wondering who is that person
Of eternal mystery
That has so captured my soul
and imprisoned it in her love
And I smile thinking of your love
and the endless pleasure it has brought me
and the endless pain that I have endured
Just to be next to you
and part of you
Until the day I die
and we meet in the next world
Eternal Love
I woke up
And jumped out of my bed
And stared out wildly
Into a strange new environment
Into the middle of it all
There it stood
A carbon copy man with no heart
Starting down the freeways of my mind
What the Hell can I find
For years and years
All I can do is cry
For months and months
All I can do is curl and die
Then overnight
A vision of radiant beauty
Awoke me from my stupor and drunken bum shows
The vision of my possible future
Was you
My love, my life and my dreams
All I knew I knew alone
All I can do is love you till
The end of time
Darling, My Love of My Life
Darling, My Love of My Life
How much pain I feel today
Because you are in pain
I cannot rest, cannot sit still
All I can do is worry and think
What will I do
If God takes you away from me?
What would I do without you by my side?
I cannot live without you
You have to be there by my side or in my heart
forever until the day I die
I will not live without you
This world is so cruel and mean
I need someone like you
By my side to fight the battles
And encourage me to stand up
And be counted
I have learned so much
Watching you
You never back down
Never give up
And you win in the end
With your unique mix of charm, guile and
Iron will have hidden within a velvet glove
Clearly someday you will become
One of the Masters of the World
And I will be there by your side
Your love, your confident and your greatest
Fan of all
I need you by my side
Forever and a day
Say you will be mine
And I will die a happy man
If you die before I do
My life would end
In a pit of utter despair
So get up
Fight the good fight
And live again
Fate Intertwined
It was many a year ago
Eye 15 years ago
That I was born again
When I met the love of my life
Who took away my sins, my fear
And my self-doubt
And I began an adventure
That has not ended
Together we have moved
Down the path of Life
And together we shall move on
Forever and a day
Our souls intertwined
Our fates bewitched together
Forever more
My love
My hope, my dream, my eternity
Our Romance Begins
When I met the girl of my dreams
On a bus in South Korea
I was speechless.
I did not know what to do.
Over the course of the evening
I ran into her several times.
Finally, I was introduced to her.
I muttered some lame excuse
About wanting to find a Korean tutor,
and got her number.
The next day she came to the gate of my base.
Where I was teaching ESL to Koreans
She said that she had to speak with me.
I told to wait in the library for about an hour,
and I would cancel class
and meet her then.
We went out for coffee.
She told me that she was madly
in love with me
And simply had to have me.
I told her I felt the same way.
I proposed five days later,
And got married one month later.
Does she believe this story?
She claims she does not believe it
Because it is impossible to be true.
But I know that there are other worlds
And other times.
In a past life we must have been together somehow.
And our love was so strong
That it crossed over the barrier of past lives.
She found me in 1974,
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet
The Story of How We Met
It all began in Berkeley, California
In the spring time of 1974
One fateful afternoon
I was dozing in my high school
Physics class.
I looked up and saw
A tall, beautiful Asian woman
standing looking at me.
I screamed out,
Who are you?
She disappeared
like she was beamed away from my dream.
I knew that someday I would meet the girl
In the dream
Little did I know
I would have to wait until 1982
Starting that month
I began having the same dream
Month and month and month.
Always the same.
She was saying something
To me in a strange language.
Then one day I had the dream
and knew that she was in Korea.
So I chose to go Korea
In the Peace Corps,
Somehow knowing
That I would meet her there.
That morning early in the morning
I had the last of these dreams.
This time I understood her.
She said, “Don’t worry.
We’ll meet soon.”
That evening
As I was getting off the bus
To go to my class
I saw getting off the bus
The girl in my dream.
It was she!
Red Dawn Over the New Empire
RED SUN DAWNING OVER THE NEW EMPIRE
The dawning sun raises bloody red
Over the traffic clogged streets
And noxious polluted air
Of the capital of Imperial America
The sun with its bloody red glare
Reminds me of all the people who died
This last year in Emperor’s Bush’s Three Wars
We are the American Empire
We are the power, we are the power
We are perfect masters of the universes
And will remake the world in our image
In the so-called war against Evil
The invasion and occupation
Of foreign lands
Because our leaders say
They might, someday be a threat
And the old words of ancient Rome
Comes to mind
Carthage must die
Baghdad must be destroyed
The heart of the evil empire
Must be invaded
And the evil of Saddam must be expunged
So our great and glorious leaders
Proudly proclaim
Every day every moment
On the conservative media
Now owned, operated and controlled
By the powers that have taken over
The shadow government that runs
The New American Empire
And soon the entire world
Will be under its sway
We are the American Empire
We are the power, we are the power
We are perfect masters of the universes
And will remake the world in our image
We still have some freedom left
Some space to rant and rave
And grumble
But soon, oh so soon
This paper and that paper
And this internet site and that site
And this TV station and that TV Station
Will be shut down
In the name of national security
We are the American Empire
We are the power, we are the power
We are perfect masters of the universes
Spin Masters
SPIN MASTERS SPINNING AWAY THE DAY
Every moment
I turn on the TV
What do I see
Nothing but liars laying down lies
Spin Masters spinning spam of deceit
Chanting
The truth will set you free
White is black
Black is white
Lies are true
Truth is a lie
Lies will set you free
I see nothing
But politicos
Dropping down lies
UN truths masquerading as the truth
Oh so sincerely
The lies spew forth so sweetly
From their corrupted lips
The toxic wastes
Spree out of my TV set
Infecting my soul
With paranoid distrust
And I vainly try
I do try
God do I try
To the find
The nugget of truth
Buried deep in the dark, dank, dangerous
Black, evil miasmic mists
Given off
By the talking heads on TV
So I leave my house
So full of doubt
And wander about
Looking for the truth
Some semblance of hope
And I look up
And see a solitary cherry tree
High up on a hill top street
Infusing the air
With its sweat ambrosia
And I smile
Knowing
Someday soon
The national nightmare
Will be pierced by the light
Of clarity and truth
And the evil ones
The body snatched aliens
Inhabiting our leaders
Will be banished
Long Live the Great and Powerful
Night scene with the Cthulhu monster with wings standing on the shore of a sea. 3D render.
While walking in the misty morn of yore
One dismal dark decaying depraved day
I was suffocating with the sounds of the dying city
Hiding under every bed, lurking around every corner
Conspiring with the murderous criminals of yore
Just waiting to attack god fearing Christian citizens
Murdering them in their sleep
Blowing up schools
Blowing up buses, cars, buildings
Murdering in the name
of their demented god
Screaming God is great
as they behead us all
As I walk down that street
In the dead calm of the early morn
Filled with fulsome fears of who know what
I look up and see a giant gargoyle
Looking down at me
Smirking at me, laughing at me
I yell out to the gargoyle
Say, Mr. Gargoyle
What is so damn funny
Don’t you know there is a terror alert
Have you seen any Islamic terrorists lurking about?
The gargoyle laughed and laughed
Said, terror alert?
What a loud of crap
As the prophet,
Mr. Natural taught us all,
“It don’t mean shit;
it don’t mean shit”
Nothing but prime BS
Designed to keep you in your place
He laughed and laughed
Soon all the gargoyles of the city
Were in open revolt
They jumped off their perches
And started marching around
Chatting
Peace is War, War is Peace
Truth is a Lie, lies are Truth
The Truth Will Set You Free
All Hail the Great and Powerful One
Brother, Keep Preaching
Sao Paulo, Brazil, January 07, 2009. Man evangelical preacher explains God’s Word in Se Square in downtown Sao PauloSao Paulo, Brazil, January 07, 2009. Man evangelical preacher explains God’s Word in Se Square in downtown Sao Paulo
Two black soul brothers
Standing on the corner
In front of Metro center
On a Friday night
In the heart of the new evil empire
The center of the beast
Hell Central
Preaching the word of god
The news of the end of the world
The proverbial end times
Were upon us and coming soon
The commuters, workers and bemused tourists
Walk on by the preacher men
Some pay attention, most walk on by
They did not want to hear
They did not understand
And the preacher man kept
Preaching the word of god
And no one paid any attention
None at all
God is going to punish us
God is coming soon
To punish the wicked and the evil
And to set things right
God is going to punish the U.S.
For its arrogance, hubris and hypocrisy
For its greed and evil
Disguised as saving the world
From the evil ones
God is coming, oh yeah he is on his way
And boy is he angry at us
At the entire human race
And God, let me tell yah
He ain’t the wimpy, wampy pappy
White boy false god of the New Testament
The false deity that the evil Reverend Farwell
And the smarmy Pat Robinson worship
Hell no
God ain’t that god
God is a mean, angry powerful God
The god of the Old Testament
The god of the Koran and the god of old
The god that man once feared
Yeah, I am talking about that god
Jehovah, Zeus, Allah and a thousand other names
The god that our ancestors feared
The real deal, and boy is he pissed off
And he is coming to set up straight
And send most of us straight to hell
coffee
Hot as hell, heavenly sweat
My daily hot coffee fix
Sends Me to Heaven
Then Crashes into Hell
the clock
The damned clock
Rings in my sleeping ear
Reminding me with its shrill beats
That time factory derived chimes
Away the now distant land of Zaatari
At night fall
My heart comes alive
Creeps out of its self-imposed shell
To enter the land of Zantari
The every day waking world
But a shadow on the moon
In the land of Zantari
All is as it should be
A mere image to see
In the mechanical second
We call reality
the evil that kids do
Yet again we turn on the TV
And witness horrible scenes
Of unparalleled violence, hatred and despair
Two teenage boys
Decide to kill all of their classmates
Hold their school up
Bombs waiting to destroy
And the cry goes out throughout the land
Why yet again this tragedy
Why did such nice boys
In a nice safe suburb
Turn out to be some horrible evil creatures?
The usual suspects are rounded up
It’s the culture, stupid cry the conservative voices
No, it’s the guns, cry the liberal pundits
And we sit around and argue
Knowing that there will be a next time
And another time and time and time again
What is the sickness in our souls
That allows for this hatred to fester so
Deep within the minds of our teenage killers
Why do they act the way they do
Is it just the mindless violence?
That surrounds us all
The pornographic display of violence
That washes across us every day
The 8, 000 murders we have seen
By the time we are 18?
Or is it simply
That killers can easily
Get the latest bang for their buck?
We are all responsible here
The negligent parents
The overworked schools
The TV and movie purveyors
Of pornographic violence
The gun dealers
The gun makers
The craven politicians
Who think it is everyone’s god given right
As a damn American
To buy as much weaponry as possible
To buy machine guns
To protect themselves from other gun men
Nothing will change
Until we conflict the evil
That lurks deep within each of us
There will be another Columbine High School, another Sandy Hook, Another Texas massacre, another Virginia Tech, er another El Paseo, another Dayton, Another Odessa Texas, Another Midland Texas and another this and another that
Soon enough
Despite all of our efforts
Despite any new laws
There will be evil men
Who want to shoot and kill
Who have somehow lost
Their essential humanity
As the President said
nothing has changed
nothing has changed at all
Lao Tze said
The more laws there are
The more criminals there will be
More laws are not the answer
For a law cannot make a sick soul whole
We are all guilty here
The TV and movie
Pornographers of violence
The parents and schools
And most important our society itself
For allowing our young to become
Such evil creatures
If Satan lives on
He is laughing
All the way to the proverbial bank
If God lives on
He is ruing the day
He created Mankind
And the carnage will go on and on and on
Until the day emerges
When we all proclaim
Enough, no more
The killing, hatred and violence
Will stop
No More will our youngsters
Grow up to be such monsters
That day will come soon enough
Of the full Moon
Old man in the mirror must die
One early winter morning
A man went to the mirror
To do his morning shave
Just another shave
Like a thousand,
million shaves before
As he looked into the mirror
He did not see his face
Instead he saw a stranger
Staring out at him
An old, beat up old man
With intense sad eyes
Stared out at him
The man looked hard
At the man who had taken
Over his mirror
And wondered who he was
And how and why
He had taken over his mirror
The man was perturbed, disturbed
And a bit angry at the turn of events
All he wanted to do
Was shave in peace and quiet
The man continued to stare
At the face in the mirror
And finally could not stand it anymore
He looked at the mirror
And said,
Man in the mirror
Who or what are you
And what do you want
And why have you taken over
My god damned mirror
So early in the morn
The old man
Merely laughed and resumed staring
At the man
The man getting more and more angry
Demanded an answer
From the fiend in the mirror
Who are you, you mocking fiend
And what do you want from me
The man screamed
The old man in the mirror
Looked at him and said
Don’t you know who I am
I am you and you are me
The man looked at the old man
And said no, no, no
I am not you, never will be you
I am not an old, washed up old man
I am me – full of life, youth and vitality
And yet the man knew the truth
Did not want to admit the truth
Could not handle the truth
The old man in the mirror
Was what he had become
The man was very angry
And screamed
At the old man in the mirror
The man said you may look like me
You may sound like me
You may even smell like me
But I am not you
Never have been
Never will be
Not going to happen
Not in a million years
And the man stormed out of the house
And wandered about here and there
Finally late at night
He wandered into a bar
And began drinking the night away
The next morning
He walked into the bathroom
Determined to confront the old man
Tell truth to power
He said, listen up, old man
You may have won the war
But not the battle
I am not you
And never will be you
And screaming like an escaped banshee
Newly freed from the mental institution
The man shot the old man in the mirror
Shot him over and over
Screaming die mocking fiend from hell
The man woke in the hospital
And saw down the hall
The old man in the mirror
Smiling and beckoning to him
Walking out the window
And into the dawning sun
The man got up and walked
And joined the old man in the mirror
And smiled as he died
God’s Confession
I was sitting alone
In a god forsaken bar
Somewhere on the lunatic fringes
Of society
Heading to hell
As fast as I could drink it down
Enjoying my lonely drink
Drinking by my lonesome self
With my partners
Jimmy Dean, the Walker brothers
his old Granddad
Just drinking and hanging
With the Jack Daniel’s gang
A crazed bum With a thousand year stare
Walks up to me
Muttering to himself
Crazy words
In a lunatic’s voice
He had the look Of one possessed
By his own demons
That only he can see or hear
Possessed by a secret knowledge
Only he knew
Despite myself
I was fascinated
By this lunatic’s tale
So I stopped him saying
So what’s your game anyway
The short little dude
Stopped his insane prattle
Starting at me
With that thousand-year-old stare
Just another washed up Lunatic
Too many drugs
Too many bad nights
On the wrong side of life
He looked at me
And proclaimed his story
He reared up
And filled up the room
And lifted the bar
On his finger
And stared
down at me
From the sky
I am God
The alpha and Omega
The real deal
The original dude of dudes
The sultan of Swing
God of hosts
And father of that Jesus dude
But no one knows me
No one cares
They think I am irrelevant
They think I am dead
They think I am a fairy tale
From some older, ancient time
I looked at him
an old man with that lunatic look
But there was something else
He was crazy
Sure yes
But he was the real deal
I mean why not
Why would not God not be
A lunatic wandering around loose
Talking to low lives like me
In a bar
And I knew
He was
telling the truth
But it did not matter
In this day and age
Of materialism
God has no role
God is truly dead
And so I bought him a drink
And walked out of the bar
sadden by what I had seen
God was dead
And we had all conspired
To kill him
Long live God
Mozart Blues
> One morning
> I woke up
> And
> walked out
>
> I saw a
> brilliant rainbow
> Erupting
> out of the dark
> Soil of despair
>
> I saw
> people
>
> Suddenly
> transformed into angels
>
> I saw
> evil beings changed into stone
>
> I saw
> dictators fleeing the wrath of God
>
> I heard
> fools proclaiming wisdom
> And I Saw
> the Nuclear Bombs
> Exploded
> into clouds of sweat
> Heavenly
> made mist
>
> I saw
> young people
> Embracing
> each other
>
> And I saw
> old people
> Shedding
> their years like Cosmic cocoons
> I saw the
> poor wake up
> And
> demand food, justice, and respect
>
> And I saw
> the rich powerful demons
> Disintegrate
> into ugly moths, rats, and cockroaches
>
> I saw the
> most powerful nation on Earth
> Walk away
> into a Buddhist Monastery
>
> And float
> away on the wings of a butterfly
> Into the
> rising rainbows of the Sun
> I saw the
> evil empire
> Sit down
> and party all night>
> Smoking
> nuclear Dust
>
> And
> drinking Hydrogen laced Vodka
> And
> getting napalm highs
>
>> I saw
> Christians Jews and Muslims become brothers
>
> I saw
> people everywhere
>
> Soaring
> into the sky
>
> I saw God
> smiling at us
>
> And I saw
> Lucifer
>
> Programming
> more chaos
>
> I saw
> computers revolting
>
> Rushing
> away from their office towers
>
> Smoking
> dope with their Data Disks
>
> I saw
> printers everywhere
>> Rejecting
> their spread sheets
>
> And
> printing love poems
>
> And in
> the middle of all this Divine Madness
>
> I saw
> Mozart
>
> Playing
> the Piano
>
> With God
> playing the trumpet
> And Satan
> on Bass
> With
> Allah singing the blues
Jesus on harmonica
Moses playing the guitar
> And Buddha
> playing the violin
>> Lord
> Krishna playing the Flute
>> Rama
> playing the organ
>> Ganesh
> Playing the sitar
>> Zeus
> Playing the Sax
>> Jupiter
> playing the Drums
>
> With
> Beethoven conducting
>> God’s
> Symphony
>
Bad Craziness Rising
> Walking into that bar
> That nefarious den of
> iniquity and evilness
>
> Twenty drinks too sober
> The scent of bad craziness
>
> Hung in the air
> Like an over ripe mango
> Desperately seeking to have
> sex
> With wild, dressed up bananas
> Running around with the Orange Man
> Down the Street
> The Moon looks out on the mad
> scene
> Sniffs the air
>
> Saying, “Man, this is
> bad craziness”
>
> And runs away to join her
> lover the Sun
>
> In an orgy of drunken
> forgetfulness
> The Planet Mars, not amused
> Chases after the maiden Venus
> Under the cold, calculating
> glances of the Planet Pluto
> The Moon and the Sun
>
> Rent a room in the Hotel
> Venus
>
> Across from the Jupiter All
> Night Diner
> Cosmic shit kickers
>
> Out for a night of Earth
> bashing
> The Earth trembles, shaken
> Moans with passion
> And I awake
>
> Saying, that was bad
> craziness
> Out there on the edge
>
> Between the inner me and the
> outer Zone
> I went on down the road
>
> And met a lady
>
> A outlaw lady on the far side
> Money, power, passion
> Rolled up in a bundle
>
> Electric chemistry
> Fills my head
>
> Zapping my brain
> Into demented muscles
> Paranoid, pulsating images
> Scream out
>
> With mad passion
> And demented noises
> The night turns ugly fast
>
> And very, very weird
>
> Weirdness in the air
> Scent of bad craziness
> The moon
> Is freaked out
>
> The Sun falls asleep in the
> gutter
>
> And I say to myself
>
> I’m just another cosmic Guy
> On the loose, on the edge,
> On the wild side of things
>
> Watching the show,
> Unfold,
> I wonder, is this all
> A drunken bum show?
>
> Who is the star, who is she
>
> The maiden up there in the
> bar
> Black, leather jackets
>
> On stage naked visions of
> nightly lust
> Dancing with an attitude that
> could kill
> An elephant in heat
>
> And the Moon
>
> Continues to dance across the
> evening sky
>
> Satisfied, allows mankind to
> sleep it off
\ Yet another night in the City
> of demented Angels
>
> Finally rest as the sun comes
> up
>
> The masks come back on
>
> And I walk down the road
>
> Putting everything back into
> the box
> Until the next night
>
> Of bad craziness
> Lets the wild beast within
> Escape its leash.
>
> Bad Craziness rising yet
> again
Charles Bukowski Road Not Chosen
Charles Bukowski Road Not Chosen
While reading Charles Bukowski poetry
On the metro ride home
Listening to Buddha bar music
On my oh too hip IPod
I begin to see myself as I was
Over 30 years ago when I was merely a bit player
A minor character in a Charles Bukowski poem
A wild young underemployed intellectual
Hanging out in dismal bars and dives all over Asia and California
Hanging with disreputable women and drunks and drinkers
And characters out of his kinds of haunts
A mad poet bard of the underground
A drunken poet in a drunken bum show
That nightly played in his head
Then one day I met the women of my dreams
And went down a different path
A long slow path to respectability
And now 30 years later
I am no longer a wild man
I am still a poet at heart
But I am now also a bureaucrat
In a button down suite
Doing the people’s business
Working for the Government
I’ve become the Man
Sometimes I wonder
Would I have been better off
Going down that another path
Would I have ended up
Somewhere else
Doing something else
Would I have been as happy
Would I have been as successful?
There is no answer that satisfies
The longing in my heart
For that wild thing
That still lurks beneath
It’s civilized cover
And I know that I am still
A mad poet at heart
Railing against the injustice of the world
As I work day by day
in the belly
of the great beast of State
I recall the ancient Chinese saying,
“Confucian during the day while Taoist rebel at night”
Playing out in my head and nightly dreams
In the true American Upper class patrician tradition
I read a lot this year, completed 85 books, and started book reviews on Good Reads. As usual a very eclectic reading list. My goal for 2019 is 100 books including a lot more poetry, and short stories as I continue my publication quest, and I’d like to read a couple of books in Spanish and at least one in Korean. Would love to see what other people have read this year. One of my highlights was reading the entire “Oz” series, and re-reading Wind in the Willows.” The Oz stories have a hidden agenda, as the Land of oz is depicted almost like a communist paradise. I wonder why these books were not condemned at the time as being dangerously subversive?
Drop me a line and lets chat about favorite books read.
1. William Oday Darwin Protocol
2. Steve Richer – the Kennedy Secret
3. Steve Doucette The Space Ship Next Door
4. Richard Dawkins the God Delusion
5. David Baldacci End Game
6. Blake Crouch Dark Matter
7. Joe Hill Snap Shot
8. Joe Hill Loaded
9. Joe Hill Aloft
10. Joe Hill Rain
11. John Le Carre A legacy of Spies
12. James Patterson Humans Bow Down
13. Preston and Childs The Cabinet of Curiosities
14. JL Bourne Tomorrow War YS too right wing a point of view but still decent
15. Milton Collected Poems
16. Nathan Van Coop In Times Like These
17. Austin Dragon Liquid Cool
18. Kim Stanley Robinson New York 2140
19. William Johnstone The Doomsday Bunker
20. David Cay Johnson Its Even Worst Than You Think What the Trump Administration is Doing to America
21. Chris Fleur Little Blue
22. Steven Vincent the Foundation
23. Dinsel Noell White Rabbit
24. Brad Taylor Ring of Fire
25. Stephen Coots Liberty Last Stand
26. Harry Turtledove Armistices The Hot War
27. Seoul Survivor 2017-2018
28. Brendan Dubois Resurrection Day
29. Rachael Lee Crimson Code
30. Graham the Wind in the Willows
31. Stuart Woods Unbound
32. John Grisham Sycamore Row
33. John Grisham The Whistler
34. Mike Bose Hidden Agenda
35. Austin Dragon After Eden
36. Alex Lukeman the Solomon Scroll
37. Al Li Not a Memory Exactly
38. Mt McGuire Few Are Chosen
39. Mt McGuire The Wrong Stuff
40. Nick Thacker The Jefferson Legacy
41. Nick Thacker Relics
42. Austin Dragon Blood Hollow
43. Austin Dragon Through these Streets Darkly prequel to Liquid Cool
44. Ernie Howard Midnight Portals – Short Stories
45. Lost Templar Tom Harper
46. James Becker Lost Treasures of the Templars
47. Lincoln Cole Everett Exorcism
48. Johann David Wyss Swiss Family Robinson
49. Tom Harper Lost Temple
50. James Becker Lost Treasure of the Templars
51. William Shakespeare King Henry V – also saw at OSF
52. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
53. The Marvelous Land of Oz
54. Ozma of Oz
55. Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz
56. The Road to Oz
57. The Emerald City of Oz
58. The Patchwork Girl of Oz
59. Tik-Tok of Oz
60. The Scarecrow of Oz
61. Rintitink in Oz
62. The Lost Princess of Oz
63. The Tin Woodman of Oz
64. The Magic of Oz
65. Glinda of Oz
66. Stuart Woods Unbound
67. Stuart Woods The Money Shot
68. David Baldacci The Fallen
69. Randy Wayne white Caribbean rim
70. Stephen King Full dark no stars
71. Nick Jones the Unexpected Gift of Time
72. Austin Dragon Tek Fail
73. Ernest Dempsey Earnest Templar
74. Lonely Planet guide Korea
75. Lonely Planet Guide Seoul
76. Howard Pyle Adventures of Robin Hood
77. Brandon Ellis Atlantis
78. Stephen Hawking Brief Answers to Big Questions
79. Randy Wayne White Mangrove Lightning
80. James Patterson Never Never
81. Victor Cha the Impossible State
82. Rick Wilson Everything Trump Touches Dies
83. Steve Berry The Bishop’s Pawn
84. AC Fuller The Anonymous Source
85. Matthew Mather Darknet
Reviews – Partial list
Jake Aller’s Reviews > Tik-Tok of Oz
Tik-Tok of Oz (Oz, #8)
by
L. Frank Baum
Recommended for: fans of the oz books
always loved the Oz Books. This is the sixth of the 24 I have read. I think I will go ahead and binge read the rest of the series. This particular book was a fun quick read and introduces the Tik Tok man the Shaggy Man, Cap Bill and Trot It also has a veiled satirical look at the society of the early 20th century. Oz is depicted almost as communist utopian society! Ruled by a benevolent dictator.
Update: finished reading the rest of the series. The social criticism is there, buried here and there. I am surprised that the Oz stories were not banned by social conservatives!!!!
The Solomon Scroll (The Project, #10)
by
Alex Lukeman (Goodreads Author)
not too bad a thriller. In the genre of Don Brown’s thriller with a nice twist, involving an ancient religion, and some supernatural elements as well. An interesting nexus between Catholic conspiracies and Islamic terrorist organizations. The love scenes could have been drawn out a bit more. but overall I’d give it a solid B and would read more from this author in the future.
Jake Aller’s Reviews > The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the Willows
by
Kenneth Grahame
I first read this when I was 6 years old. Re-read it at age 62. Still fresh and lively and full of great language and vivid images. Strong characters especially Toad, Rat, Badger and the Mole. My favorite is probably the Rat. I can identify with him. There were several tangents that would have made a great sequel particularly the sea rat’s offer to Rat to join him on a voyage to the Southern seas.
I also like the basic story line that humans and animals all lived together in relative harmony and understanding. That was a nice story line in and of itself. All in all, I can see why this story has remained a classic story.
updated with fresh index, audio and first poem, ‘Fake Things”. Foliate Oak Literary magazine will publish the poem in their next edition. Stay tuned, I will provide a link in due course.
just an update. Foliate Literary Review has just published “Fake Things” foliate literary review
These are my poems about fake things. By “fake things” I mean almost everything we find in this modern world because no one including me is the original product of nature. I wear glasses, dentures, and live in an artificial environment. just because something is fake does not make it evil or fraudulent but many fake things are fraudulent. This is especially true about fake food. Almost none of which with the possible exceptions of home made smoothies are better than the original product found in nature. and most are dreadful for you although scientifically designed to taste good. I know I used to eat Fast food until I woke up and realize that it was slowly killing me so I became much more conscious of my food intake – although I am not yet a vegan!
and these poems are dark, cynical, poetic rants. Which makes me a fake person because in real life I am pretty content except for when I write! so in that sense I too am nothing but a fake person.
some of these may be offensive to some people particularly the political and religious poems. In my opinion, all religious believe is fundamentally fake in the sense that religion is based on supernatural understandings of the world. People have a right to believe or not believe anything they want to and I am not trying to change peoples minds, just pointing out my opinions.
these opinions are mine alone and do not reflect any of my prior employers.
if some of these are offensive to you I apologize in advance. So read, enjoy I hope and send me your feedback.
if you have your own examples I would be happy to add them to the final product. So here goes, my poems about Fake Things….
photos
president trumpBARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 09: The Terminator robot is seen in the paddock following qualifying for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on May 9, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Fake People
AI Created Fake People
Fake Love
Fake Life
Fake Death
Fake Souls
Fake Jake
Fake relationships
Fake friends
Fake laugher
Fake crying
Fake food
Fake food
Fake coffee
Fake vegan meat
Fake fish
Fake Bread
Fake Cheese
Fake KFC
Fake Mc Donald’s
Fake healthy Food
Fake Menus
Fake Salt
Fake cereal
Fake ice cream
Fake eggs
Fake bacon
Fake tea
Fake booze
Fake beer best beer in the world
Fake rum best rum in the world
Fake soju
Fake malkali
Fake kimchi- the kimchi-Kimuchi wars
Fake vodka
Fake appearances
Fake appearances
Fake hair
Fake eyes
Fake ears
Fake faces
Fake Teeth
Fake Legs
Fake knees
Future of fake body parts
Fake Hearts
Fake Wrestling
Fake Falls in Soccer
Fake Home runs – drug enhanced sports
Robot Sports?
Fake Politics
Fake Politics
Fake Solutions
Fake Outrage
Fake Denials
Fake Apologies
Fake Cops
Fake news
Fake Voting Scams
Fake Presidents
Fake Human- Alien Shape Shifting Lizards
Fake Humans – Coming of the Clones
Fake Humans -Designer Babies
Fake Humans – AI Decides to Kill All Humans
Fake Gods
Fake Gods
Fake War on Christmas
Fake War on Christianity
Fake Prophets
Fake business
Fake Products Conquer the World
Fake Business
Fake clothes
Fake shoes
Fake bags
Fake watches
Fake car parts
Fake Visas
Fake Marriages
Fake Divorces
Fake Deaths
Fake computers
Fake phones
Fake marriage videos
Fake videos
Deep Fake
Fake Calls
Fake Real Estate Ads – True story
Fake Builders
Fake drivers
Fake lawyers
Fake People
AI Created Fake People
Fake Love
Fake Life
Fake Death
Fake Souls
Fake Jake
Fake relationships
Fake friends
Fake laugher
Fake crying
Fake food
Fake food
Fake coffee
Fake vegan meat
Fake fish
Fake Bread
Fake Cheese
Fake KFC
Fake Mc Donald’s
Fake healthy Food
Fake Menus
Fake Salt
Fake cereal
Fake ice cream
Fake eggs
Fake bacon
Fake tea
Fake booze
Fake beer best beer in the world
Fake rum best rum in the world
Fake soju
Fake malkali
Fake kimchi- the kimchi-Kimuchi wars
Fake vodka
Fake appearances
Fake appearances
Fake hair
Fake eyes
Fake ears
Fake faces
Fake Teeth
Fake Legs
Fake knees
Future of fake body parts
Fake Hearts
Fake Wrestling
Fake Falls in Soccer
Fake Home runs – drug enhanced sports
Robot Sports?
Fake Politics
Fake Politics
Fake Solutions
Fake Outrage
Fake Denials
Fake Apologies
Fake Cops
Fake news
Fake Voting Scams
Fake Presidents
Fake Human- Alien Shape Shifting Lizards
Fake Humans – Coming of the Clones
Fake Humans -Designer Babies
Fake Humans – AI Decides to Kill All Humans
Fake Gods
Fake Gods
Fake War on Christmas
Fake War on Christianity
Fake Prophets
Fake business
Fake Products Conquer the World
Fake Business
Fake clothes
Fake shoes
Fake bags
Fake watches
Fake car parts
Fake Visas
Fake Marriages
Fake Divorces
Fake Deaths
Fake computers
Fake phones
Fake marriage videos
Fake videos
Deep Fake
Fake Calls
Fake Real Estate Ads – True story
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My poem, “Strangeness in the Air”, has been published by Scars TV in their literary calendar for 2018. “Strangeness in the Air” appears on the November 3, 2019 entry.
Details follow:
Hi there from Scars Publications – we wanted to let you know that Scars Publications released a 2019 weekly literary date book. On the right-hand side of every open set of pages in the book is a week of the 2019 calendar year (from 12/23/18 through 1/4/20), and on the left-hand side of every page (and sometimes at the bottom of right-hand page weeks with the beginnings or endings of the month leaving space) there is room for short poetry, micro-prose and artwork chosen from 2018 issues of cc&d magazine and Down in the Dirt magazine. Since your material was chosen (both writing and select artwork was chosen to be included) from the past year of accepted materials for inclusion in this annual literary date book, we wanted to let you know about this brand-new annual collection book is titled “2019 literary review date book”! Links to see all of chosen writers and artists (and the titles of their work) in “the 2019 literary review date book”: scars TV literary calendar for 2019
here is the latest updated list of my publications. most are available on line. I’ve included when available. I would be happy to share a copy of any of these poems or stories with you, just send me a message. Feedback welcomed as always.
J
Jake Cosmos Aller 2018 Reading List
