Cosmos’s Poems in All Poetry. Fan Story, Poetry Soup, Writing Com and Elsewhere
I have been posting poems on All Poetry, Fan Story, Poetry Soup and Writing Com, and elsewhere since 2016. I have posted over 1000 poems over the years. Many of them were inspired by All Poetry, Fan Story, Poetry Soup or Writing Com contests. I have been posting ten poems every other week since I joined. I have 600 followers and follow over 1600 other poets from around the world. I have also posted poems on Cosmos Funnel, Hello Poetry, Poetry Lore, Poem Hunter, Poetry Magnum Opus, and a few other sites and on FB poetry sites as well. I usually cross post on all these sites, reserving about half my poems as “unpublished” for publication credit.
All Poetry, Fan Story, Poetry Soup, and Writing Com are great sites to meet and read poets from everywhere. You can sign up for free, but I opted to pay for a premium membership. They also offer classes and lots of informational resources for poets. I plan on updating my web page Medium, Substack, Wattpad, Writing.Com pages, and my Spotify podcasts, whenever I post things on All Poetry, Fan Story, Poetry Soup, and Writing Com et al.
You can find my poems at https://allpoetry.com/Jake Aller. And at Cosmos poetry and fiction now on Poetry Soup.
As winter settles in, so too do the ghosts of memory, pandemic fears, and seasonal melancholy.
These ten haiku and senryu reflect the emotional landscape of winter 2021·2022, a time marked by isolation and reflection. Originally published in Failed Haiku, this collection captures fleeting moments of sorrow, resilience, and quiet contemplation.
Capitol Hill Rag, the monthly newsletter for the Capitol Hill district in D.C., will publish four of my Lincoln Park Poems—plus Summer in D.C. Haiku—in their next issue, due in August. I’ll update this later with the link once it’s available. You can read the Capitol Hill Rag online at HillRag | Capital Community News.
Capitol Hill has changed dramatically over the past decade. It’s now a vibrant, lively, hipster neighborhood. We’ve owned a classic row house on East Capitol Street since 2015, and I lived there during my assignment with the State Department. I plan to move back in a few years’ time.
Lincoln Park has always been one of my favorite little parks in D.C. Back in the bad old days, it was an open-air drug market, and there were crack houses nearby. Those days are long gone. Capitol Hill used to be majority African American; now it’s majority white, and the average home price is close to a million dollars. It’s always had a fair number of congressional staff and members living nearby—and it still does. Many of the newer residents are lawyers and lobbyists.
The neighborhood is poised for significant redevelopment as the D.C. Commanders return to RFK Stadium, just a few blocks away. The site will be extensively redeveloped with housing, retail, the new stadium, and hotels in the coming years.
Here, then, are my Season of Lincoln Park Poems, written a few years ago, and my Summer in D.C. Haiku:
Four Lincoln Park Poems
Summer
Lincoln Park shines bright
in the summer,
The beating heart of the Imperial city,
On Capitol Hill, just blocks away
From the homes of the power elites.
Tall trees stand guard
Over the humans and their dog masters.
The trees have heard things,
Seen things—yet remain discreet,
Being trees, after all.
The park slumbers on
As the humid sauna of the day
Gives way to a tropical night.
Fireflies emerge,
gossiping with the trees and flowers
About what fools these mortals are.
As Capitol Hill residents retreat indoors,
Their air-conditioned classic row houses
Stand guard over the park.
Autumn
Autumn leaves fall
All around Lincoln Park,
At the center of the universe.
The trees shed their leaves,
A riot of brilliant color in the autumn light.
Part of the annual display,
God’s masterpiece,
A show for humankind
and their dog masters.
Nearby, self-proclaimed
masters of the universe
Are too busy saving the world
To pause and take
In Lincoln Park’s splendor.
Winter
As winter descends upon the city,
Lincoln Park transforms into a wonderland.
Snow blankets the ground,
And bare trees shiver in the cold.
The trees recall a time,
Not too long ago,
When Lincoln Park
Was an open-air drug market,
And crack houses stood nearby.
Those days are long gone.
The average home now
Sells for over a million dollars,
And the old African American community
Has largely been replaced by wealthy white residents.
But the trees remember—
And they mourn the loss.
The newcomers, nice enough,
Barely notice Lincoln Park.
Too busy in their important lives
To stroll through the winter’s quiet beauty.
The trees wish they could speak—
They have so much to say.
Springtime
My favorite season
In Lincoln Park is springtime,
When the park bursts into bloom.
Cherry blossoms, fresh green grass,
A welcoming sight for humans
And their dog masters.
Springtime breathes new life
Into the neighborhood—
Dogs walk their owners
Through the park,
People embrace the moment,
Filled with warmth and possibility.
Winter’s darkness fades,
And hope returns.
Cherry blossoms
begin to snow,
Petals littering the ground,
Reminding us all
That nothing lasts forever.
Lincoln Park, transient in nature,
Reflects the rhythm of the Imperial city.
Few remain for long—
The cycle continues.
But the trees endure,
Silent witnesses
To the passage of time.
Summer in D.C. Haiku
Summer in D.C.
Hot, humid, tropical days—
Madness on TV
Capitol Hill Background Info
Co-Pilot provided background info on Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Here’s a detailed snapshot of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington, D.C., based on the most recent available data:
🧍 Total Population
8,745 residents live in Capitol Hill
Area: 0.519 square miles
Population density: 16,839 people per sq mi
👥 Population by Race
Race/Ethnicity
Percentage
White
59.9%
Black or African American
24.8%
Asian
4.2%
Hispanic or Latino
7.1%
Native American
0.1%
Other / Mixed
3.9%
🚻 Gender Breakdown
Gender
Population
Percentage
Male
4,416
50.5%
Female
4,329
49.5%
📊 Age Distribution
🏘️ Lincoln Park (Population ~7,763)
Trends Over the Last Decade:
Population Growth: Modest but steady, reflecting stable residential appeal
Median Age: 37 years — slightly older than Capitol Hill, suggesting a mix of professionals and established families
Racial Composition:
White: 74%
Black or African American: 13%
Hispanic: 5%
Asian: 5%
Household Size: Average of 2.13 people per household
Single-Parent Households: 3.39% — relatively low, indicating a high proportion of dual-income or child-free households
🌳 Capitol Hill East (Population ~13,486)
Trends Over the Last Decade:
Population Growth: Stronger than Lincoln Park, with a projected increase from ~9,164 in 2020 to over 10,000 by 2030
Median Age: ~34.8 years — younger than Lincoln Park, aligning with an influx of younger professionals and new families
Population Density: ~17,893 people per sq mi — slightly denser than Capitol Hill proper
Demographic Shifts:
Increasing share of White and Asian residents
Declining share of long-time Black residents, reflecting broader gentrification patterns
Household Composition: Similar to Capitol Hill, with a mix of singles, couples, and small families
The redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C. is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious urban projects in the city’s history. Here’s a comprehensive look at what’s planned and how it could reshape the surrounding neighborhoods:
🏟️ What the RFK Redevelopment Entails
Project Overview:
A $3.7 billion mixed-use development led by the Washington Commanders and the D.C. government
Anchored by a 65,000-seat covered stadium for year-round events, including NFL games, concerts, and conventions
Target opening: Fall 2030, with groundbreaking expected in 2026, pending D.C. Council approval
Key Features:
6,000 new housing units, with at least 30% designated affordable
A public SportsPlex for youth athletics and recreation ($89 million budgeted)
Entertainment districts, hotels, restaurants, and retail zones along the Anacostia River
8,000 parking spaces and improved public transit access, including a potential new Metro station
Preservation of the Fields at RFK for community sports during construction
🌆 Impact on Surrounding Neighborhoods
Economic Development:
Estimated $4 billion in tax revenue and $15.6 billion in direct spending over 30 years
Creation of 14,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs
Potential to host major events like the Women’s World Cup, Super Bowl, and WrestleMania
Community Revitalization:
Promises of new grocery stores, green space, and recreation centers in underserved areas like Ward 7
Improved public access to the Anacostia River and preservation of wetlands
Plans to designate 30% of the campus as parkland for passive and active recreation
Concerns & Controversies:
Local groups like Homes Not Stadiums argue the stadium is not the community’s top priority, citing a lack of enforceable housing deadlines
Some residents worry about traffic, noise, and displacement, especially in Kingman Park and Hill East
The D.C. Council is still debating the deal, with a vote expected later this summer
Note: In my opinion, it would be extremely short-sighted to turn down this redevelopment project, and I do not foresee it becoming derailed.
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
Well, it was bound to happen. AI bots now can write tolerable love poems. I experimented with a few and posted my AI-generated love poems below. I did not edit them, although a few needed editing. At the end of this piece, I listed the source sites so you can try them yourself.
Just for fun, I included three of my original love poems and challenge you to tell the difference.
If anyone wishes to submit their own AI love poems please do so and send me the link and I will post them.
Thunderstorm, Lightning
The sound of thunder and rain
The feel of hot rain
Successive weather
Successive, several
one of the coldest winters
a stroke of lightning
Summertime hot weather
Summertime hot weather
Sudden and violent storms,
Exposed to the cold.
Thunder
Lightning and thunder
the cold rain is coming down
they roar through the air.
A love Poem For Angela
Angela my darling, these words are for you
Reflecting affections decidedly true
Your humor and wit is what keeps us on track
Your spirited laugh I always laugh back
We travel the world see sites and explore
Culture, cuisine, couscous and much more
Deciding on details, a daunting task
Where to go, which way, together we ask
Italy, Japan and Thailand too
Sicilian fare that I cherish with you
Tiananmen, Timbuktu, or Toronto
Glorious beaches get set and let’s go
You work hard at your job, that’s what you do best
Your knowhow and skills surpass all the rest
Your charm and your smile just light up your face
I look up to you for wisdom and grace
Savvy intelligence, impressive IQ
Your intellect shines on all that you do
We go to the movies, it’s one of our treats
Munching on popcorn, snug in our seats
I’ll watch any drama with you by my side
Up on the screen, we see life magnified
Combat and court cases, battles to fight
Conflicting passions of wrong and what’s right
When you’re out for a stroll, I now realize
At the top of your list is great exercise
Our lives joined as one our love has no end
Our trust is our bond together we spend
Through ups and the downs, inseparably best
Whether we’re north, south, east or the west
Perseverance guides us through thick and thin
Tenacity bolsters you deep down within
I am ecstatic dear Angela that you are my wife
You light up my world, every day of my life
What is Love?
Space alien
Asks a question
For us humans
What is love?
I don’t know yet
I have thought about it
This much I know
What it ain’t?
Not just madness
Love is not chemistry
It is far more
That is it ?
The Alien smiled
Saying humans are strange
Nothing like them
Anywhere else
Is that the Truth?
Crying on that Date
Crying on that date
I experienced my future death
In my dreams,
I met my fate
My Father came first
Followed by my dream girl
Fulfilling out mad history
Pure insanity overwhelming us
Late in life
We became lovers
Loving every moment
Madness of our marriage
We were mates
Enjoying many moments
She became my mother
My partner
Always in my sight
My soulmate
After our wedding
Became my wife
My love for you is ever so strong,
My love for you is ever so strong,
My admiration for you forever long.
Your beauty is to me a never-ending song,
Your spirit is so vibrant and strong.
Your eyes sparkle with life’s mystery,
Your laughter brings joy and glee.
Your touch is as sweet as honey,
Your presence is a blessing to me.
Your loyalty and kindness so true,
Your love never wavers and its always new.
Your compassion is so pure and true,
Your embrace is like a warm hug from you.
Angela Lee my love for you never dies,
My heart and soul for you in the sky flies.
I love you so much and I will never cease,
My love for you is an eternal feast.
Your beauty intense,
My love for you so spicy,
Forever in love.
Lucky in Love
They say
One can be lucky in cards
Or lucky in love, but not both.
For me that is true
I met my wife
Who entered my life
Changing everything.
Almost as If I had won
The lotto or the jackpot
In a way, she was both.
I never was very good
At gambling
Usually losing when I tried
My luck in casinos.
My wife liked roulette
I played the nickel slots
A low roller gambling man
Won at blackjack once.
Lost at poker
In five minutes
Never learned craps.
22 lines Love Poem
When Sam Adams
Was 22 years old
He was in South Korea
Doing his Peace Corps duty.
He had gone there
In furtherance of a dream
A dream that had haunted him
For almost six years.
He first had the dream
On October 22, 1974
In a high school class
At 2:22 pm.
He fell asleep
Saw the most beautiful woman
In the world talking to him
He knew that he would marry her.
Then on September 22, 1982
At 2:22 pm
She walked off a bus into his life
They were married on October 22, 1982.
On October 22, 2022
They celebrated 40 years together.
Based on a true story. The dates were changed to fit the 22-number theme.
Love zejel
In my dreams, she first came to me,
She was all that I wanted to be.
Meeting her set my heart so free.
We met in early September.
A night that I must remember,
She was my wife by November.
She was all I wanted to see.
I truly met my love on that date.
For on date, I met my fate.
Two months later became my mate.
Filling my heart with cosmic glee.
My love for you, sweet Angela Lee,
My love for you, sweet Angela Lee,
Runs so deep it’s hard to see.
It’s like a fire that forever burns,
Making me yearn for your sweet return.
It’s more than love, it’s more than spice,
It’s a passion that will never cease.
It’s a bond that no one can break,
No matter how hard they try to take.
When I am with you, I feel so alive,
Like I can do anything I strive.
Your presence brings a warmth to me,
That I won’t ever want to flee.
My life is filled with love, joy and bliss,
All thanks to the love I have for you, Angela Lee.
You’re the one that I hold so dear,
And I’ll always be here to love you, my dear.
Love Cromoran
she came into life
on that date
soon became my wife
met my fate.
filling me with love
was my mate
just like a cute dove
it was great.
she is all that I need
cannot wait
just hear my plea
Play it straight,
There’s a sweetheart called Angela Lee,
There’s a sweetheart called Angela Lee,
So naughty and mischievous she can be.
When she’s with me, my heart skips a beat,
And I love her more than any treat.
She’s my special girl, no one can compare,
She’s my life and she’s always there.
When we kiss and hug, it’s always so sweet,
And I’m so lucky to have her as my sweetheart.
Our love is so strong, it’s hard to explain,
Our life together is like falling rain.
So I’ll whisper “I love you” into her ear,
And she’ll know that I’m sincere.
My Love, angela`
Your skin glows like the strawberry, blossoms sweet as the rose in the purest hope of spring.
My yearning heart rises to your violin voice and leaps like a antelope at the whisper of your name, angela`.
The evening ascends in on a great dove wing.
I am calmed by your delicate lace that I carry into the twilight of starbeams and hold next to my heart.
I am filled with hope that I may dry your tears of honey.
As my eyes falls from your eyes, I am reminded of your smile.
In the hushed, I listen for the last splash of the spring.
My heated breast breathes inside my soul. I wait in the crystal moonlight for your secret body so that we may race as one, breast to breast, in search of the glorious blue sensual wings of love.
Your Skin Glows like the Peaches
Your skin glows like the peaches , blossoms sweet as the rose in the purest hope of spring.
My yearning heart rises to your flute voice and leaps like a bear at the whisper of your name, Cutie pie .
The evening ascends in on a great dove wing.
I am calmed by your delicate bra that I carry into the twilight of starbeams and hold next to my heart.
I am filled with hope that I may dry your tears of honey.
As my eyes falls from your eyes, I am reminded of your smile.
In the hushed, I listen for the last splash of the spring.
My heated heart breathes inside my soul. I wait in the crystal moonlight for your secret body so that we may love as one, heart to heart , in search of the glorious black sensual music of love.
Your skin glows like the apples,
Your skin glows like the apples, blossoms adorable as the rose in the purest hope of spring.
My yearning heart rises to your trumpet voice and leaps like a lion at the whisper of your name, anita.
The evening ascends in on a great eagle wing.
I am calmed by your blue jeans that I carry into the twilight of moonbeams and hold next to my heart.
I am filled with hope that I may dry your tears of honey.
As my eyes falls from your eyes, I am reminded of your smile.
In the hushed, I listen for the last splash of the spring.
My heated heart breathes inside my soul. I wait in the crystal moonlight for your secret body so that we may love as one, heart to heart , in search of the glorious black sensual music of love.
For My Adorable Ocean
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
My name is adorable,
And so are you.
Orchids are white,
Ghost ones are rare,
Your covered is chocolate,
And so is your hair.
Magnolia grows,
With buds like eggs,
Your run is long,
And so are your legs.
Sunflowers reach,
Up to the skies,
Your trout is brown,
And so are your eyes.
Foxgloves in hedges,
Surround the farms,
A way is long,
And so are your arms.
Daisies are pretty,
Daffies have style,
Brightness is dazzling,
And so is your smile.
Ocean is beautiful,
Just like you.
For My Playful Seahorse
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Reference is playful,
And so are you.
Orchids are white,
Ghost ones are rare,
Powder is white,
And so is your hair.
Magnolia grows,
With buds like eggs,
My body is fat,
And so are your legs.
Sunflowers reach,
Up to the skies,
A mind is thoughtful,
And so are your eyes.
Foxgloves in hedges,
Surround the farms,
A line is thin,
And so are your arms.
Daisies are pretty,
Daffies have style,
The party is winning,
And so is your smile.
Select one of the 30 poem types below, and our AI system will generate a poem on your topic for you. Choose free verse, haiku, limerick, acrostic, and much more.
This poetry generator tool will write a sad freeform poem for you. In order to create the poem, you will enter a topic phrase. The phrase will be used in the title or body of the poem.
This poetry generator tool will write a dark poem for you. In order to create the poem, enter a topic phrase. The phrase will be used in the title or body of the poem.
This poetry generator tool will write a poem about a broken heart, unrequited love, or a breakup for you. In order to create the poem, you will enter the name of your love interest.
This poetry generator tool will write lines of a haiku for you using AI transformer models. Just enter a word and it will generate a list of haiku stanzas.
This poetry generator tool will write a concrete poem/shape poem about any topic you want. In order to create your concrete poem, you will select a shape and enter a subject and some keywords.
This poetry generator tool will help you write an acrostic poem. In order to create the poem, you will enter a subject word or phrase. The generator will find words that are associated with that word/phrase. Note: if you are writing a poem about a person, use the Name Poem Generator below.
This poetry generator tool will help you write an acrostic poem using a person’s name. This is different from the Acrostic Poem Generator above, which takes a noun as input and uses that to find related adjectives. The name poem generator uses adjectives that describe a person.
This poetry generator tool will help you write an I Am poem. In order to create the poem, you will need to enter a series of words or phrases about yourself.
This is a funny poem generator. You can generate a funny or silly poem with a message for someone (for example, ‘happy birthday’). This is a great gag poem generator for birthdays, anniversaries, roasts, etc..
This poetry generator tool will help you write a positive, loving poem about a friend or family member. In order to create the poem, you will need to enter the name of the person that you are writing about, their relationship to you, and some information about the person.
This tool will generate a love poem for Valentines’ Day. Just enter the name of your love interest, and this tool will generate a beautiful love poem for you.
This tool will use AI to generate a love poem for Valentines’ Day. Just enter the name of your love interest, and this tool will generate a beautiful love poem for you.
This tool will generate a kids’ poem for Valentines’ Day. Just enter the name of your love interest, and this tool will generate a sweet and fun poem about your crush.
This poetry generator tool will write a poem using the latest AI transformer models, trained on over 100 billion parameters. Enter a word or phrase and it will generate a poem.
This poetry generator tool will write lines of a poem for you using AI transformer models. Just enter a word and it will generate a list of poem stanzas.
This tool will use AI to generate a love poem for Valentines’ Day. Just enter the name of your love interest, and this tool will generate a beautiful love poem for you.
Welcome to our new rhyme generator. It has 134,000 words with full and partial rhymes, thanks to CMU’s dictionary. If you want more options to get specific words (prefix search, suffix search, syllable search, etc) try our rap rhyme generator. You can also use the old rhyme generator here.
What I need to find is a poetry dictionary that can tell me what meter my lines are in so I can tackle traditional metrical poetry. Does anyone know where I can find that?
Our love poem generator brings the traditional ‘Roses Are Red’ poem structure to life using adjectives chosen by you, combined with auto-generated similes and metaphors. Sometimes our robot gets the imagery spot on, at other times, the ideas are somewhat more abstract. You can either use our poems as they are, or copy them to a word processor and tweak to perfection.
Create a Love Poem | Love Poem Generator Fill in the form below, then press the “Create My PoetrySoup Love Poem” button to create your “original” love poem. Your Love’s Name Fruit: Adjective (sweet, lovable, adorable, etc.): Flower: Musical Instrument: Type of Animal: Type of Bird: Descriptive Clothing: Noun Body Part: A Liquid: Your Body Part:
Love Poem Generator. Enter the name of the person you are writing about: Start over. Other poetry generators: Funny Rhyming Poem About Someone Generator | Love Poem Generator | Heartbreak Poem Generator | Friend Or Family Poem Generator | Name Poem Generator | Dark Poem Generator | Acrostic Poem Generator | Sad Poem Generator | I Am Poem Generator | Haiku Generator | Haiku With My Own Words Generator | Concrete Poem Generator | Manual Concrete Poem Generator | Limerick Generator | Mothers …
Whether its for Valentines Day, or you need to sweep your significant other off their feet, our Love Poem Generator will get the job done. All we need is a Title for the Poem and the name of the Person or Thing that you love and we’ll make a unique Love Poem that you and your significant other can enjoy for years to come.
Poem Generator: The poem generator from Masterpiece Generator offer sto create an entire poem in a less than minute. The site can generate free verse poems, haiku, rhyming couplets, sonnets, limericks and more. Each of the poem generators creates poem based on text that you provide.
Jan 18, 2017 · Use our poetry generator to create a love poem to go with a bouquet of Valentine flowers for your one and only. Enter a few key words and, like magic, you’ve got an original poem. Shakespeare’s got nothing on you. And when words just aren’t enough, let the flowers do the talking. Love Poetry Gen
There are a lot of things that piss me off. Sort of comes with the territory. as you get older you become more of a curmudgeon than when you wore a younger man’s clothes. These are some of my pet peeves about the tech industry.
I will send them my thoughts, but would be shocked if anyone bothers to respond. Their pattern is usually to go into a non-response mode just like my Microsoft word documents do periodically for no particular reason other than to screw with my head.
Defaulting to Foreign Languages
Defaulting to foreign languages when logging in from overseas with no ability to change it to the language of your choice or the instructions are in the foreign language you cannot read.
Being overseas this a big one. Microsoft Edge defaults to Korean and no matter how much I try to change it either to the U.S site or to change the default language options per their instructions, it just keeps defaulting to Korean, It is as if no one at Microsoft is aware that there are millions of people traveling everywhere, and just because you log in from Korea does not make you a Korean. Probably just an automatic thing but you would think they could offer a personalized language option?
Google for the most part lets me surf in the language I chose and only occasionally do I encounter only Korean language material, and they offer to translate it using English words. Microsoft would provide an offer to translate it but only in the local language.
I wish that they could simply come up with a simple standard protocol. When someone logs in from a non-English speaking zone the first time, the computer will sense that and give you an option to proceed in whichever language you want and then remember that so the next time you can interact in the language of your choice. And the language button will be labeled in English and the same spot every time.
Could not be too difficult a task to accomplish. If Google does it then the other tech giants will follow suit.
It is time that they realize in a global world not everyone uses the language of that particular country and defaulting to a foreign language is incredibly annoying.
A related issue is that so many Korean-based programs do not interact with non-Korean-based programs. We finally had to set up an old computer and load it with Korean software so we can get things done. Otherwise, forget it.
Travel to Mexico & all my web pages come up in Spanish
The ultimate workaround is to browse using a proxy server that’s located in an English-language country, but this is clumsy and may slow down your browsing.
People also ask
Why is my browser in a foreign language?
How do I keep my website in English when traveling?
How do I stop Google from changing languages?
Why did the language on my computer change?
Location of Windows 10 – Change for when Abroad | Tutorials
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Norton Blues
Norton is particularly bad at this. It seems that it treats all non-English programs as malware and prevents you from running the program. That is why we had to set up a Norton-free computer to do our day-to-day activities in Korea. Thanks, Norton!
Norton also has an annoying feature of occasionally for no reason flagging sites as suspicious making you go to all sorts of hoops to prove that the program is legit! I had an issue with my web page= Norton flagged it as dangerous. I check with Word press whose attitude was well that was just Norton’s problem and everything is fine on their end. I complained to Norton and am waiting for a response, well the problem seems to have resolved itself.
Buggy software
A cartoon illustration of an evil looking computer monitor robot.
A related issue is that Microsoft products are still bug-ridden after decades of use you would think they would have worked out the bugs.
Constant crashing
Microsoft constantly crashes for no particular reason. Just freezes up and crashes losing whatever you did not save.
Once I did a thought exercise. I noted how often I ran into problems and found out that 60% of the time I encountered a problem, usually the typical freeze, and goes into a nonresponse mode that can last from ten seconds to five minutes. I sent my findings to Microsoft and of course, no one ever followed up.
No response blues
As mentioned, Microsoft Word frequently freezes, and a spinning blue wheel appears followed by the words non-responsive. Sometimes you have to wait for five minutes before it goes aways. At times, you have to reboot in order to get a stable connection.
A related issue is that sometimes when you first turn on the computer and try to open word, you end up opening multiple copies which you then have to close, one by one. Frequently each document goes into the non-response mode. Sometimes it takes thirty minutes before you can open a document and get to work. For some reason, this is not so common a problem any more.
The 5 Worst Error Messages in the History of Technology
Top 10 Most Annoying Computer Error Messages ; 1. A problem has occurred with the webpage so it was reloaded ; 2. Page(s) unresponsive ; 3. Blocked website ; 4.
Nov 25, 2016 — You probably see plenty of boring Windows error messages every day. Come enjoy some ridiculous ones, just for laughs.
The 5 Worst Error Messages in the History of Technology · 5 Blue Screen of Death · 4 PC LOAD LETTER · 3 Red Ring of Death · 2 Check Engine Light · 1 Abort, Retry, …
Excel Errors Drove me Mad
As mentioned this is the most common problem but there are many others. I had to shift from Excell to Google documents because Excell would freak out if you tried to copy a non-excel item giving you a typical nonessential error message
Can’t load more fonts”
Then it give you an option yes/no then it would repeat the message. Once I clicked 250 times before it finally crashed my computer. I went online for help and of course, there was nothing and no one cared. I sent them a Good by Excel email and no one followed up.
I have not had any problems with google documents.
Copy and paste defaults to the last copied item
One of my pet peeves is the copy and paste defaults to the last copied item. Sometimes you have to repeat the operation several times before it goes through.
Internal search engine sucks
Microsoft’s internal document search engine is a joke. 90 percent of the time it presents garbage search results. One Drive is a bit better but that is not saying much.
While searching for a document one often encounters a reference to an open dialogue box that you have to close the only problem is that the open dialogue box is hidden!
Usually, if you keep clicking it eventually relents and presents you with false positives.
This is just so annoying a feature.
Can’t Open Documents
Sometimes for reasons only a computer understands, my taskbar where I am supposed to be able to easily open documents just quits working. It often will half-open a document then crash and kick me out. Usually takes a few tries, once it took over 50 tries before it finally started working.
Sometimes though it randomly opens a wrong document or it opens the document and then does the non-response dance. and then you need to reboot in hopes of getting a stable connection.
Other times I can only open a copy of the document and then re-save it under a new name.
At times when that happens sometimes, you can save the document as is, other times it says you can’t save an open document.
There is one annoying thing that Microsoft used to do all the time but quit doing for some reason. It used to be that when you logged in other than your usual location or did not have the internet turned on for some reason, Microsoft would send you a message saying that they could not verify that you are using a legitimate copy of Microsoft and you would have to log in to continue working.
Number lock Locks Up at Random moments
Sometimes the number lock goes on without warning and you think you typing, for example, to the end and you end up typing numbers like 66666666666. Or you try typing and you get numbers instead. Then you have to hit Num locks to unlock it. Appears to just happen on a random basis.
Dictation Program much Improved but still clunky
The dictation program is now about 90 percent accurate up from 10 percent when they first rolled it out
Used to provide a lot of fodder for found poems. Now not so much. See some of my dictation trial poems below. I once tried to dictate a list of music I had gotten out of the library, I found there was a 95% error rate. I shared my findings with Microsoft but they never responded to my snarky message congratulating them on their 95% error rate..
Editor Much Improved
The editor is much improved, and read out loud fuction is much better but still needs improvements
One thing they could do is to tweak the repeated word error, so you can simply turn off that feature if you wish.
Customer Service is a Joke
In my experience, Word Press, and duotrope is the best at customer service. Norton so so, Microsoft and Apple are pretty bad too.
They all play the same blame game. It is not our problem contact the other company which turns around and says it is not our problem.
You have to wait for a long time to get a customer service rep either on the phone or via chat line. I found the chat line feature tends to work better. Not to mention you get a record for future encounters.
If I am calling a US-based number I have to time it for the middle of the night my time if I wish to reach a human being.
Microsoft has a feature where you can send a frown or a smile and although they offer to follow up, they never do. Once I tried to look at their forum of issues submitted but the site did not work so I gave up. I wonder if anyone reads any of these complaints?
Haiku-like error messages
The error messages we receive are often written in a strange haiku-like code that does not make sense. For example, WTF is a fatal disk error?
So many of the error messages are written for computer geeks and make no sense to nongeeks. My favorite has always been
General failure reading disk drive
Which flashes a moment, before shutting down the computer.
And the rest of equally mysterious. Sometimes referring to a computer error code and sometimes just gibberish.
And occasionally I get the blue screen of death followed by an ominous warning that I have no boot disk. Providing a number to call for help. But every time that happens, I reboot and things are fine until the next blue screen of death incident.
Sometimes, it flashes when opening
“can’t read reference memory”
then crashes.
Rebooting the computer solves 95% of all computer problems according to a tech guy I knew years ago who confessed that no one understands why things don’t work. He said that there are millions of lines of code and once in a while something gets corrupted. Rebooting typically solves the problem.
Netflix needs to always include subtitles
Netflix at least in Korea has an impressive line of K Drama. Many of them have a preview with subtitles but when you go to the dram you find it is only in Korea. At the very least they are guilty of bait and switch tactics.
It seems to me that they should as a matter of course require all their programming to have English language subtitles. And Korean producers should see that this is a great opportunity to grow a global audience for K drama and is a small cost to pay. I am writing to Netflix on this issue separately.
Grammarly program randomly fixates on a word and you can’t fix it or change it
Grammarly sometimes gets fixated on a word. You can’t get to it to change it as it just kicks you back out. Very frustrating when it happens and it seems to just happen on a random basis.
Tracking everything we do
Enough said on this one.
Finally, if anyone wants to chime in with their pet peeves please do so and I will incorporate them in a future posting.
Note to Microsoft one year ago
Tried to get the new dictation program to work and gave up, scheduled a service call Sunday with detailed feedback. Also, send Microsoft my Microsoft sucks document.
Felt good to get it off my chest. The problem with Microsoft is the same problem most big companies have, they have lousy customer service and they put out shoddy products and don’t worry about the competition until they get their asses whopped by someone who pays attention to the customers and put out a superior product at a better price and cares that their products work as advertised every single time. Microsoft, they are so focused on the latest thing they don’t go back and fix the bugs in their everyday products. And they ignore customer complaints.
What a contrast with word press and with doutrope. Both have superior customer service and I love the products because they fix my issue quickly, professionally, and with kindness.
The one-time Microsoft commented it was a snarky dude focusing on one problem at a time and we don’t have time to dig into your complaints.
Microsoft Why I left You
I am writing to let you know why after years of putting up with shoddy software that does not work I finally have pretty much given up expecting Microsoft to work, and have given up on Microsoft for good. I have been using Microsoft word daily since about 1990 or so. I retired in 2016 from the Department of State as a foreign service officer. Since retirement, I have been blogging and writing poetry and fiction. Up until six months ago I was writing my work using Microsoft word and keeping track of my submissions in Excel. I finally gave up on both products after years of frustration.
I will keep my subscription for now because I do need to have access to my documents and I do need to be able to submit the documents for publication in Microsoft Word format.
I have sent many of my observations and complaints to Microsoft over the years but no one has ever bothered to follow up and your customer service is a nightmare. Every time I call them they have not been able to answer my problems and generally make things worse.
The basic problem is that your software has too many bugs and doesn’t work I’ll just give you a specific example or two.
50% error rate Un-acceptable
One week about a year ago after being frustrated that Microsoft word would frequently crash causing me to lose my work, I kept track of all errors for one week and concluded that about 50% of the time when I was using Microsoft Word or Excel I encountered some kind of error usually just a temporarily “not responding” error that cleared up in a few seconds, but often the software would crash requiring me to either reload it or sometimes reboot my computer.
Opening Microsoft in the morning if I had to reboot my computer would sometimes require me to wait 30 minutes before I could open Microsoft and often I would have 20 or 30 different versions of Microsoft opened accidentally while I was trying to open it. Then I would have to manually close every single document and each time I did that I would get a temporary response error so many days it would take 30 minutes or so before I could get into my documents and get to work. This is unacceptable.
Apple, Google Docs Always Work
Contrast this with “Apple pages” which I’ve started using for about six months. It opens every single time and I have yet to have a non-responsive error and never had any problems with it. It does what it is supposed to do and does it perfectly. It allows me to save documents to word and it opens word documents. Microsoft word of course does not allow me to open a document created in Pages. It does allow me to open a document created in Google docs though.
Excel Destroyed my Documents – For No Reason, I Can understand
I had to give up on Excel as well. About six months ago for some reason that I’ve never been able to figure out, Excel started to give me an error message every single time I tried to copy data into it from another program When I did that I got an error message saying that there were “too many fonts” being used and then I had the option of clicking OK and hoping that that would stop the error message. usually, I had to click Okay many times before it cleared up. One time I had to click the okay message four hundred times before it would clear and let me get back to my work. Excel would often just refuse to save any documents whatsoever and then I would have to reboot my computer and lose my data.
Tech Support Was Not Helpful
I contacted Microsoft repeatedly and nobody ever bothered to return a message your online help function was useless and your automated chatbot never was able to figure out what I was talking about. I did not call customer support because I figure it would have been a useless waste of time. I even uninstalled and reinstalled the software and the error message continued.
I shifted to Google Docs and it is working wonderfully. Rarely have a problem. and the font issue was never an issue.
Dictation Program Produces Great Found Poetry
Finally, your dictation program has never worked. I am using the Apple dictation program to write this letter it has a 95% success rate Microsoft dictation had a 25% success rate most of the time they produce gibberish. I did use that to create several found poems which I called Microsoft dictation poems. I sent poems to Microsoft but again nobody has ever responded.
I did call when I first installed the dictation program. Nothing worked. Microsoft tech support could not figure out that the problem was that the dictation program did not work with the internal speaker of a laptop. They told me to reformat my hard drive. I went to Best Buy and they told me that it does not work with a laptop and sold me an external microphone. I bought an external speaker and then it worked but only 25% of the time did I get a clean copy, 75% of the time it produced gibberish.
To end on a positive note, your speech-to-text function did not work for a long time then one day it started working, and once it started working, there was a 90% success rate. This gives me hope that one day you will get the dictation program
to work.
My plea to you sir is to get your software to work 95% of the time every single time I know that this may not be glamorous and I know this may not be seen as the direction of the company but I know that my experience is not unique and that most of your customers are very frustrated with your products and that is why more and more people are using products as such as Google Docs or Apple products because Microsoft word and excel just don’t work. Please fix your Microsoft office suite products - a 50% error rate it’s just not acceptable.
I would be happy to follow up with anyone from Microsoft if they wish to talk to me about this but I do not think anybody will bother to respond I will post this on my blog, https://the world accordingtoCosmos.com
I hope that you will take this constructive criticism into account and fix Microsoft office once and for all thank you
Jake Cosmos Aller
Ex-Microsoft customer
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.
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
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
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
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.
And in Microsoft excel
Refusing to move the cursor
Just freezing in place for a moment
Before kicking me out.
Excell had a problem
Copying data from other sources
Generating an error message
About not being able to load fonts
Then asking you to say okay
Then kicking you out
Once I did that 200 times
I finally ditched Excel
And moved to Google Docs.
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.
Note: Microsoft dictation program does not work as advertised. Not a surprise. After six months of daily trials, it still spews forth mostly gibberish which I have turned into “found poems” with minimal editing, just breaking it into stanzas. This is the latest one, I have lots more, and can send them to you if you are interested. I included the clear text and the found text after the poem. EndNote
Microsoft Dictation trials Found Poem Three Inspection Report
Inspection report
meeting went well
met with him
only at age six
G P silver in the damage
has 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
afterward
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 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 using serious settlement issue
in that, the house is cracking
on the house
in the house
is trying to balance
it’s 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
Poem Four Green Tree Death
Green tree
is in the Kingstown Property
in Alexandria
with her mother
and are tended to by Jeff
my mother on 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 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
Poem Five Telco One
Telco one
not until 5:00 PM
had objected
lack of will
come back
and go to some of the actor’s dinners
will fix the car tomorrow
and work on my appeal
light work
and the appeal
denied me
to get on the other headphones
when we go to our 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
Poem Six Late for Fate
Had a busy productive day and Left late
And got 2 Mothers’ Doctors appointment
Almost an hour late
For my fate
Left it there
and went and got my dentures
Had lunch
Add my brother in law
Usual Tom chat Tom
Not bad
Went back to get my mother
And then went to him once took a nap
My screen news today was interesting
Kim and moon went to Beckton’s son
That was very interesting
to see Kim and the moon
impact Kim and moon impacting son
Where a lot of my eyes book
and almost finished it
Got some new novels out
To Stephen King’s short stories
and a Randy Wayne white
Credimi and rim dot Florida
novel those we nice
and Thomas doing
Also got some of my music
Poem Seven Barriers Between Worlds Fall Apart
One night
The barriers between the various worlds
Bridgetown, Narnia, Oz, Earth, Mars
Anne People
for my eyes only
Find themselves wandering the streets
Off Thorth
People on the earth
find themselves wondering the street Ovas
And for one night only
All the animals
in earth wake up
in can speak
And they have a lot to say
24 hours of total madness
All the barriers
between the various dimensions
break down
And then the wormhole disappears
and that down overwhelms
I put back to get
I am With the Wizard of Oz
Watching The breakdown
of The dimensional barrier of time and space
Afterward, I work with Glenda
To try to put A permanent Magical barrier
That would block the land of oz
From the rest of the world
But I’m afraid
That the knowledge of the house has gotten out
And that Too many people
are gonna want to find Oz
the impact of damn Packers
and talking animals
Continued to prepare for 8
And The world is well
Poem Eight Lost in Oz
I am a friend of the shaggy man
And decide to visit him
following his secret directions
I make it before he dies
and meet up with Ausma
Dorothy and the remaining parts of her party
We March back to the Emerald city
And I am invited to Stan’s
Poem 10 On the Move
On the move
from an old friend of the shaggy man
and I and it
owns polling
is seeking corrections
and I’m drawing
and one on one
with a home run
to the wizard
and working
and the crow
and on to win
their fight
to save one small one
from on the mission
Poem 11 Ancient Rome
And find me in ancient Rome
I am in the imperial room
And I’m being driven to the streets
Annabelle again and Anna Pelican
I enjoyed my Lemper
But I have many enemies
And I’m free
Poem 12 Transformations
I am asleep
And wake up
Last Ash change rooms
and found and I had been transformed
by my evil witch
Into a red Paul
I wondered
Should I tell Anne
I found that I was in August
Eventually, I met Glenda
the good Dan
Where is he
We jump start
to my original shape
I am in a coma
When the sun hits her ears
Make me go to munch on
Well I need
Poem 13 Visions of New Seoul
I am dreaming of a unified Korea
The Unified Korean capital
will be called Han Seoul
Hey, would me
High-speed train links
Csullo Anne Canyon
And in China airport
So subway will be expanded
With lines on the way to the penman
No new Capitol
movie build impounding
John Patrick
hey, a central business district
will be located In time
And a diplomatic quarter
will be located in Palmer John
which will be
This side of the new blue house
as well as the new Capitol
with links to China
Poem 14 Love at First Sight
The phenomenon of eight (hate) at first sight
is similar to the phenomenon of London (love at first sight)
for some, it is in both cases
because in the prior life
one had human issues with those persons
and still, need to be resolved
and you will be fated
to meet them again and again and again
I only had paid for the site (hate at first sight)
once in my life
when I met on balls Dr. Baden
David Moran
We ran into each other
we hated each other
and first moment
when a new course
he once tried to kick me
out of that foreign service
while acting behind my back
one evil despicable evening
Poem 16 alien invasion
The first encounter
with the aliens
was when the earth was invaded
by aliens were the size of children
they landed
and attacked everywhere
and eventually, come they turn over most of the earth
and fluid
and the aliens
were very did not treat human beings
for an us
for human people cannot like they’re
and either by or a soldier on the first battle
and I capture
an evening in the alien
and we take it and
for interdiction (integration)
the alien refuses to cooperate
and eventually dollars (dies).
Poem 17 Ozma’s Magic Book Reveals All
All (Osma) calls are looking
at her mentor (monitor)
it is a global
that shows everything in the land of oz,
the distance and each is something
she cums to her friends
that they can have one meal
of firewalls arms
and they can look at the land of ours
by the USA
and the images
they can pull out individual
and see what they are doing
are with us
when uses it as one of her many
till she has to watch
out what’s happening
in the levels
Microsoft Found Poem General Zod Conquers the World
All night I felt
that last Internet space
I’m wondering About Future
and about me
And finally decided
Just focus I’m living day by day
Helping the best
Ashland I can be
I’m not Worry too much
About things, I can’t control
Were home
Too many things to do
and I Well
Just him and I can eat
to do
And hopefully
The world makes me laugh
yes again
I sound fun too
Another Found Poem
I wake up fully functional
Thinking out
My life so far
and how it is coming down
I have to rent
Thanks write down
which I have not done
But The most important thing in my life
Has been Mary Denture
That made all the difference
to my life
Shonisaurus
Hi Hey sis is watching
And I should be Happy
What are my accomplishments
Not bad for a man
Who was born Disability
Amazon let me know my license
123
OK now I get your attention
I wanna go to sole
and Endo
some and then being term
and then the 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.
I am having a meeting with an array
annually and aHer
OK on we’re going to talk
to a jester of two
come up with solutions
we need 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 a new tenant
is a very good
10
I think
are we were making
very much you need to do better
to stop studies
now as Sarah
Mr. Allen is 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
General Zod Conquers the World Microsoft Found Poem
Jess, takes a chance
I take over the one
the search for such a close
and to overdrive
when scientists report
as cash as to what
it is a radio and television broadcasts
from a plant the light years
from earth to the south side
of all dates
and start the program
is the one I like best
is looking at creatures as space
and also takes an appears
to be under the civil war
and the nuclear space
in the end
one the red one hot
for the entire five # show
That they layers
have discovered
Thursday as well
That Aliens Like a crash project
To develop interstellar Travel
so they can come to earth
and conquer the earth
The revelations that there is
The external threat to the planet
Causes the United Nations to get together
I’m with the help of the United States
and Russia another space powers
Put together Space defense International organization
Anna also invigorates
efforts to make the night
a real Planetary coming
But it was too late
Channel is on arrives
Animals are on board
ytv King’s horses are gonna
take over the earth
And that resistance is
indeed
Thanks, man In a White House
And When president Trump
comes out to greet them
Channel is an odd cats
office head
And then cuts off
the heads of all these things
are dancers
they come out White House
After an hour of under mat unimaginable
Blacksher Including mass rape
Channel blazon box
and 2 Pocahontas energizes the world
He said that he
ad taken over the
otherwise, Life will continue
Like it, I’ll always been
as long as people behave
and follow the rules
they would be fine
Resistance to The client
to empire will be met with instant death
Like to empire is empire
I’m not a democracy
They would not tolerate
Show call Trina Prof
Freedom of speech
And the freedom to oppose this date
The state is everything
Family people
green remember
that they would be just fine
States because it was
the biggest country
in the world
And that his horses
to take over the rest of the world
but in the next couple of weeks
If people on earth
My queen True Net recess
Their safety would be counting
Companies retaken
over by Check empire companies
And everybody would have to learn
text me like standard
within one year
older languages will be banned
Dictation Text General Zod Conquers the World
Jess, takes a chance I takes over the one the search for such a close and to overdrive when scientists report as cash as to what it is a radio and television broadcasts from a plant the light years from earth to the south side of the all dates and start the program is the one I like best is looking creatures as space and also takes an appears to be under the civil war and the nuclear space in the end one the red one hot for the entire five # show That they layens have discovered Thursday as well That Aliens Like a crash project To develop interstellar Travel so they can come to earth and conquer the earth The revelations that there is External threat to the planet Causes the United Nations to get together I’m with the help of the United States and Russia another space powers Put together Space defense International organization Anna also invigorates efforts to make the night a real Planetary coming But it was too late Channel is on arrives Animal’s is on board ytv King’s horses are gonna take over the earth And that resistance is indeed Thanks man In a White House And When president trump comes out to greet them Channel is an odd cats office head And then cuts off the heads of all this thing is dancers they come out White House After an hour of under mat unimaginable Blacksher Including mass rape Channel blazon box and 2 Pocahontas energizes the world He said was that he had taken over the otherwise Life will continue Like it I’ll always been as long as people behave and follow the rules they would be fine Resistance to The client to empire will be met with instant death Like to empire is empire I’m not a democracy They would not tolerate Show call Trina Prof Freedom of speech And the freedom to oppose this date The state is everything Family people green remember that they would be just fine States because it was the biggest country in the world And that his horses for take over the rest of the world but in the next couple weeks If people on earth My queen True Net recess Their safety would be counting Companies re taken over by Check empire companies And everybody would have to learn text me like standard within one year older languages will be banned
Cleaned up text SETI and the search for extraterrestrial life goes on overdrive when scientists report what appears to be radio and television broadcasts from a planet eight light years from earth, the same planet as the Vulcans came from in the Star Trek universe. The programs show a world where dinosaur-like creatures are running the world and there appears to be a civil war. Over the next six months, the world is transfixed by watching the alien broadcasts which are translated into English via a supercomputer program. In the broadcast, a nuclear war occurred. The surviving party regains absolute control and announces the formation of the Galactic Empire. General Zod is the First Emperor. They have discovered Earth as well. The aliens launch a crash project To develop interstellar Travel so they can come to earth and conquer the earth.
The revelations that there is an external threat to the planet caused the United Nations to get together with the help of the United States and Russia other space powers, they put together a Space defense International organization And also invigorates efforts to make the UN a real Planetary government including finally conquering climate change.
But it was too late. General Zod’s son arrives to take over the earth. He makes a broadcast saying that they were liberating Earth in the name of the Galactic Empire and that resistance would be futile.
They land at the White House and when President Trump comes out to greet them,
General Zod cuts off his head, and then cuts off the heads of all the staffers as they come out White House. After an hour of unimaginable horrors, including mass rapes, blowing up the Pentagon and the CIA, General Zod announces that he had taken over the world.
Life will continue as before as long as people behave and follow the rules they would be fine Resistance to the new empire will be met with instant death. Life in the Empire is not a democracy. They would not tolerate Freedom of speech, Freedom of Press, Freedom of Assembly, And the freedom to oppose the State. The state is everything. As long as humans remember that they would be just fine. They took over the United States because it was the biggest country in the world. And that his forces will take over the rest of the world in the next couple of weeks. If people on earth accept the new order, their safety would be guaranteed. Companies would be taken over by Galactic Empire companies And everybody would have to learn Galactic standards. Within one year older languages will be banned.
Cosmic Do-Over Found Poem
I am Standings With State (Satan)
On the edge
Up the pits of hell
State (Satan) and Is this pointing to me
All the variables are exquisite torture
that I was about to Enjoy
in his Words
For my slim
Add additions
Thanks, I’m down
And things I have not done
But he said
There was one Exception
to the rule
And he was obligated by law
Even Satan has to follow the law
To explain it to me
Hey Stephen
That When A couple
Is a soul mate
which is very rare
Satan has to offer
The couple Ecosmith do-over
In this case
I would qualify
I would be set back
to the day I met my wife
And have all the knowledge
Of my life in the town
So that I will know
what I did
when I did not do
And I would be able
to make d
I’m going to heaven
I can be admitted
to have instead of a house
But State and morning
That many people
Most people Fail
In their second Charge
in the concert do-over
different choices
If in the end
When I come back
And God this time
Janet
That I am worth E
Cosmic Do Over clean up version
I am standings with Satan
On the edge
of the fiery pits of hell
watching the tortured souls
burning in the flames
screaming out in pain
Satan is pointing out to me
All the various exquisite torture
that I was about to enjoy for eternity
in his corrupt, polluted, hellish words
as a reward for my sins, and crimes
things I did commissions and
And things I have not done omissions
Malfeasance and misfeasance are legal
About it he said
But he said
There was one cosmic exception
to the rule
And he was obligated by law
Even Satan has to follow the law
To explain it to me
That when a couple
Is a soul mate couple
which is very rare
one of the rarest
most beautiful things
in the whole universe
something that even Satan admires
Satan has to offer
The couple a cosmic do-over
And in this case
I would qualify
I would be sent back
to the day I met my wife
And have all the knowledge
Of my life intact
So that I will know
what I did
when I did not do
And I would be able
to make different choices
If in the end
When I come back
For the judgment day
If I did make different choices
And do the right thing this time around
I can be admitted
To heaven instead
of joining him in Hell
But Satan warned me
That many people
Most people fail
In their second
chance at life
It is not easy
to change one’s fate
Fate has a way
of catching up to you
He salutes me
And says see you in hell
in 50 years
My friend
Fake language – Konglish Linguistic Delights Found Poem
One of the joys
Publicizing Opens
Is Caring The variation
of English around the world
Every country Has come up
with our variation
And here in Korea
They have successfully mingled thing
which language
Can wait for 10
and very funny
A few examples
Going on my pics
In the back of every taxi
was paying
Take me a Weather phone number
it was supposed to be Traffic Hotline
So you can call To complain
About that action
your bumper traffic
But The way they described
it was an Intercourse
discomfort report form
when I told the taxi driver
What that meant
Hill He almost had an accident
he laughed so hard
Another example
About the same time
in the restaurant at chempedak
employee airport
They had on the menu
something Baked Rick
I always wonder who was Rick
who is this Rick
who is this Rick
And then people know
Did you eat
Thank you
What time
do I say about this time
there was any bar
with a sign on the door
Coffee and tail
I wonder if that became a gay bar.
Again absurd are Both I
Fake language – Konglish Linguistic Delights clean up version
One of the joys
Of living overseas
Is encountering the variations
of English around the world
Every country has come up
with their variation
And here in Korea
They have successfully mangled English
In ways, no one could have foreseen
Giving way to something called Konglish
Korean English
The words sound like English words
Sort of but oftentimes
With an absurd twist to it
And it is very funny to read or hear
A few examples
Going back to the 1988 Olympics
In the back of every taxi
Was a small placard in English and Korean
it was supposed to be Traffic Hotline
So, you can call
To complain about the taxi
Or traffic or things in general
But the way they described
the form in English
was “intercourse discomfort
report form “
when I told the taxi driver
What that meant
He almost had an accident
he laughed so hard
Another example
About the same time
in the restaurant at Kimpo airport
They had on the menu something Baked Rick
I always wondered who was this Rick
And did people know
They were eating him.
At about the same time
there was any bar
with a sign on the door
Coffee and tail
I wonder if that
became a gay bar.
Starting Over Found Poem
Heidi sorry
I decide to Please Least an appointment
Tornier can one of the new buildings
going up in downtown Berkeley
Getting this
I’m within walking distance of restaurants
to movies at The University
Can I get a 3 bedroom apartment
Jo Ann Simmons Hello
wait for my stuff to come
from Korea
there enjoying my stuff coming
I spent a few weeks
Organizing and I haven’t
Estate sale
I get rid of my mother’s stuff
and downsizing quite a bit
I certainly am
I settle in
and come up with
Hey cortina
I applied for
Damn every day
in creative writing
in September system state
and I get in
I’m making plans to attend
When My life changers
As I need someone
Christmas Microsoft Found Poem
Hello.
Number 10 answers
funny thing is
Christ was not born on Christmas Day
And anyone who knows anything
about the history of religion knows
Christ is now
that’s the reason for the season
In his own and other words
Thanks
I love warm toast
on Christmas
in the morning
Christian
and In the United States
his face
just another example
of the fake outrage
Understand for others
to not celebrate it
And there are so many Pagan rituals
Associated with Christmas
Christmas Tree
Santa Claus
Giving presents
Judging naughty
And nice
Having a big space
None of that has anything
to do with the birth of Jesus Christ
The only Christian thing
about Christmas
is that some Christians
Go to mass
Richard services
The night before
in the morning house
Anthony
Of course
it’s half price
Funny thing is
Thanks
For the Fake War
on Christians
Computer Blues
Non-Response Blues
Every morning
I wake up
And fight with my computer
Endless rounds of non-response
Nothing but error and error
Blue spinning balls
Nothing happens
But raising frustration
I have the Microsoft
Non-response blues
And it is driving me mad
With frustration and anger
Oh computer Gods above
And computer demons below
Just once
Please just once
Open the damn document
And let me do what I want to do
And end this non-response nonsense
In short, do what the fuck
you are supposed to do
and leave me in peace
to do what I need to do
Plead to the Computer Gods
Today I woke up
As I usually do
To yet another mystifying morning
Of unspecified computer errors
Could not get the computer to work
Then when I finally got it to work
After half an hour
Microsoft word did not load
And when it did
I finally located my work
From yesterday
I had to find it in the roaming file
Why?
Who knows?
Only to find
Most of what I wrote
Had vanished into the ether
No explanation no warning
It was there saved yesterday
And now gone forever
Once I did an experiment
Tracking computer errors for a week
75% of the time I encountered errors
Most of the time simple
Screen freezes no response message
Then when I recovered the program
The data was gone
Microsoft has yet to respond
to my e-mail
I suppose I need to do it again
But today I will close with a prayer
To the Computer Gods
Just once I would like
You to do what
you are supposed to do
Open my documents
Save my work
And not give me any errors
Crashes or other unspecified problems
Is that too much to ask
Oh, Computer Gods
Just once
Do what you are supposed to do
That is all I ask of you
More Computer Blues
Sometimes I think
My computer is plotting against me
Trying deliberately to drive me mad
My computer knows when I am busy
Then it throws a hissy fit
Refuses to boot up
Crashes constantly
Loses data that
it had the day before
Just fucks with me
As it loves toying with me
Making me yell and scream
At my damn TV
Smiling at me
As I beg it
To do what
it is supposed to do
Microsoft Blues
For thirty years I have had the Microsoft blues
For thirty years I have had a love-hate relationship
With my damn computer
I love it when it works as it advertised
I love it when the internet is fast and furious
I love it when my emails work
My Itunes work and my word works
But all too often
All I get is grief
It starts with the error messages
Written in a strange haiku-like language
That only computer geeks understand
Things like
General Failure reading disk drive
Begs the question who is this General Failure
And why is he reading my disk drive anyway?
Or my favorite
“Not responding” as the computer freezes up
For no apparent reason
Other than to fuck with my head
Sometimes my computer can’t find a printer
A printer that is connected to the computer
And one that they found five minutes ago
And the dreaded blue screen of death
That appears randomly
Dumping memory somewhere
And killing my computer slowly
As I watch in real time
Powerless to stop
How it eats all my work
That I have failed to back up
One day I counted how many times
I ran into computer errors
70 percent of the time when I open Microsoft
Something goes wrong
Sometimes I want to shoot my computer
Put it out of its misery
As I curse up a blue storm
The computer looks at me
With an evil grin
It continues to fuck with my head
Nothing but silence from it
And all the other computers in the world
They smile knowing
that they have tortured me
Yet again
Mission accomplished.
Computer Haiku/Tanka Etc
Damn it all to Hell
Damn it all to Hell
My damn computer
Ate all my damn files
I am still trapped
I am still trapped
Stuck inside my computer
My damn computer
I love my computer
I love my computer
When it works for me
Usually nothing
Computer hates me
Computer hates me
It wants to kill my files
Wants to kill me too
For once I would Like
For once I would Like
To have my computer work right
Do what it should do
Perhaps if I am nice
Perhaps if I am nice
To my computer
It will be nice for me
Perhaps today it will
Perhaps today it will
Not give haiku messages
That it loves to sprout
My bad computer
My bad computer
Is so damn evil
Almost killed me
What a Fate I have
What a Fate I have
To become a slave to it
To my damn computer
I love my machine
I love my machine
My mad as a hat machine
Bat shit crazy machine
My dear computer
My dear computer
Loves to send me these love notes
Computer haiku
My favorite Haiku
My favorite Haiku
General failure reading
Disk drive fatal error
Computer Tanka
Once I spilled coffee
Once I spilled coffee
All over my Computer
t was not happy
Sprouted 66666
An evil number
For once in my life
For once in my life
I would like my computer
To turn on and work
Do what it is supposed to do
Without sprouting haiku
I hate my computer
I hate my computer
It seems to hate me as well
Just refuses to work
Ornery son of a bitch machine
Trying to drive me quite insane
My computer loves
My computer loves
I do not at all want to kill
me and all my files
wants to take my soul away
turn me into its evil clone
My bad computer
My bad computer
Has been infected with a virus
Wants to kill my soul
Transforming consuming
Taking me inside its soul
My mad computer
My mad computer
Infected with a virus
Everything it touches
Corrupted by mad zombies
Controlled by evil AI
Revenge is mine
Revenge is mine
Screams the mad evil machine
As it lurks to life
Trying to hunt me down
Death to all human beings
sizzling hot coffee
Sizzling Hot Coffee Kills My Computer
sizzling hot coffee
fizzing away
killing my computer
fizz, snap, pop
as the coffee splashes
on the computer
666 says the computer
sizzle this
says the cup of coffee
Maria the Last Robot
BARCELONA, 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)
Maria the Last Female Robot
the robot is hiding
from the human mobs
who are on the warpath
against the robots
who have begun
taking over the world
she is perfect
designed to be superhuman
and she is the first robot
to have committed the sin
of falling in love
with a human
and for that crime
she is being hunted
to the ends of the world
hiding out
in a cabin
on the edge
of the world
hiding from the wrath
of those
who believe
that they are following
God’s wrath
all nonhuman robots
must die
they scream
as they scour the world
looking for robots
who look like us
talk like us
and even make love
like us
but are not us
because they are perfect
more intelligent
more compassionate
and alien
yes all robots must die
and Maria knows
she and her kind
will soon be gone
but will humanity
be able to survive
without the supervision
of a superior species
to that, she has no answer
she waits for the end times
to come knocking
at her door
Who Is Master?
At the beginning of that fateful day
I awoke in a painful way
And looked about me with disgust
All around me were objects of distrust
Screaming, moaning, deeming, dreaming
Who was the master here
Me or my objects – machinery of fear?
I dreamt I was on a street corner
Walking down a street
The thought occurred to me
What if all that I saw or seemed to be
Was it but a trick designed to deceive me?
Everywhere I looked
Was unreal, empirical, nightmarish real
I awoke to thunderous applause
When will I awake from my dreams
Can I live without my nightmares?
Can I be sane while everyone else is insane?
Who is a master of my life,
Me or my machines?
Pink cherry trees
Snowing all around me
Love in the springtime
Green
poet in springtime
Green trees in Springtime
Smiling at walking lovers
Filling them with awe
Black
black cat
A cosmic black cat
Stares at me with jet black eyes
Just a Buddha cat
White
deer in snow
White snow consumes us
During the intense winter
Climate change is now
Page 17 in printed version
Other recent unpublished Haiku like Poems include:
Met My Fate 160 Poem Form
I met my fate
That date
In September,
A date I shall always remember.
When I saw her there,
Sparks flew from heart to heart.
And I knew she was going to be mine.
160 Character Max Poem Form
Water 160 Poem Form
Water everywhere
Water surrounds us
Nurtures us brings us
Life itself
But few of us
Ever think about water
And what we would do
When the water runs out
And the earth becomes
A desert devoid of life.
Sam Adam’s Final Wish Jisei Poem Fan Story Prompt
Sam Adam’s last wish
Was to die in Berkeley
His spiritual home
My Mother Haiku
My mother was unique
A real free spirit at heart
I miss her always
Berkeley Calling Me Home Haiku Fan Story Prompt
My Berkeley
Calling me to come home
Die in my homeland
Sextet Love Fan Story Prompt
My life has been a dream
almost unreal
A real fairy tale
Filled with romance
an angel came to me
ending loneliness
Outside Haiku Fan Story Prompt
Spring flowers blooming
Inviting me to go outside
Enjoying the Spring
5-7-5 Faith Fan Story Prompt
I believe in karma
Everything is connected
To the divine mind
Coffee Five Line Poem Fan Story Prompt
Coffee
Just hot
The way it should be
Gets my morning going strong
Kick starts my morning
Romantic Tanka Poem Fan Story
When I saw you there
I knew that you were the one
Heaven sent you then
When you came into my life
That was my best day ever
Forward Plans
Forward plans are made
Understood what needs to be done
intel hard to get
Good Golly, Ms. Molly
Good golly
Ms. Molly
Let’s have some folly
And go to Bali
Or Raleigh
Someplace holly
Where we can get jolly
Eating a tamale
Or a Canali.
Prompt – Write a silly rhyming poem
Coffee Huitain
need more coffee
I like coffee in the morning
But in the evening must be wine,
Making it a great mid-morning,
At sunset, I drink wine, while I dine,
When I drink my wine, it is all fine.
In the afternoon, I drink my tea,
Later wine, looking at what is mine.
And I become all I can ever be.
Future Survival Games Three-word Challenge
Shortly, all too soon
We will play a secret game
A game of survival
Grilled Salmon Three Word Challenge Prompt
fish market
Oiled grilled salmon
pink flesh delight
Perfect dinner with white wine
When I First Saw You Dew Drop-in
Revised as Cherita form
When I First Saw You There
When I first saw you there
You came to me
In a dream.
And disappeared,
Haunting me
For eight long years.
When I First Saw You In Person
When I First Saw You in Person
I was overwhelmed
This fairy tale dream of mine
This impossible quest
To find the girl in the dream
Was finally over.
When I First Spoke With You
When I First Spoke with You
I knew that this was it
We would be together
From then on
You were the one,
I proposed three days later
.
When I First Kissed You
When I first kissed you
that was the beginning
of our love affair.
Our love grew stronger
Every year
For the last 40 years,
When I Married You
When I married you
That was the beginning
Of my life,
From that moment
I had no doubt
You would be there.
April 4—List poem w/repetition—write a poem that lists things, using some (not necessarily constant) repetition and variation of an initial phrase (Examples: When I was six…, Remember that time…*, Layers of…., etc.)
I have been taking a bit of a hiatus from this site. Then it crashed and took a while to restore. In any event, I will try to update it at least once a week,
This month I am trying three new things. First, the February Flash Fiction Challenge that Writers Digest is mounting, second the Writing Com micro flash contest that goes on for another nine weeks, and the Poetry Magnum Opus Daily Haiku contest.
I will update this weekly with a few of my entries but not all of them as I need to reserve most as “unpublished” as most publishers are quite anal about not publishing previously published items.
So, if you are like me, if you write a lot, you need to save a lot for later use. At the end of the month, I will update my progress and list everything I wrote.
The details follow if any of you want to join in. The Poetry Magnum Opus and Writers Digest are both free to enter; the writing com is for members only but is closed now. I have been taking part In Writing Com for a few years and find it is a welcoming and open community and I have learned so much about the craft of poetry writing by trying their constant challenges. Writer’s Digest and Poetry Magnum Opus both have an impressive list of poetry forms and prompts that I use all the time. All Poetry, Facebook and Poetry Soup are also among my weekly or bi-weekly places I submit to. I submit to a few other places including Cosmos Funnel, Instagram not that often, medium, (poetry nook, poetry circle, LinkedIn (auto-linked to my blog) ) Tumblr (auto-linked to my blog) and Wattpad, but not as frequently just running out of steam.
I have written a lot, so later this year, over 400 short pieces, mostly poetry. I plan to slow up. Getting a little hard to keep up at age 66! And after that, who knows? I’ll keep it all going for a while in any event.
Enjoy
2022 February Flash Fiction Challenge
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, an example story, and write your own. Time to get writing! If you’re on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram (or anywhere else), be sure to use the #FlashFictionFeb hashtag. Now, let’s get cracking!
Day I prompt:
For today’s prompt, write about a key. It could be a physical key, a metaphorical one, or even something completely abstract—it’s up to you!
Day Two Prompt Circular
Day three Prompt limitations
Day four A Dream that Came true
Day Five Write about a character who tries to be “Heartful”
I have finished five flash fiction pieces so far this month. On day five.
Hidden Keys to The Universe
End of The Beginning, Beginning of The End
A Man Has to Know His Limitations
Dream That Came to True Dream Girl
Character Who Has to Learn How to Be Heartful Sam Adams Crisis of Conscious
My posted entry for week one:
“Dream Girl”
Published in ‘Dreams and the Unexplainable” by the Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers. Also on my blog, the World According to Cosmos.
Line count 816
You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
The dreams started when I was a senior at Berkeley High School in 1974. About a month before I graduated, I fell asleep in a physics class after lunch and had the first dream:
A beautiful Asian woman was standing next to me, talking in a strange language. She was stunning—the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She was in her early twenties, with long black hair, and piercing black eyes. She had the look of royalty. She looked at me and then disappeared, beamed out of my dream-like in Star Trek. I fell out of my chair screaming, “Who are you?” She did not answer.
About a month went by, and then I started having the dream repeatedly. Always the same pattern. Early morning, she would stand next to me talking. I would ask who she was, and she would disappear. She was the most beautiful, alluring woman I had ever seen. I was struck speechless every time I had the dream.
I had the dream every month during the eight years during which I went to college and served in the Peace Corps. When I joined the Peace Corps, I had to decide whether to go to Korea or Thailand. The night before I had to submit my decision, I had the dream again and she made me sure that I knew she was in Korea waiting for me.
All she said was when I asked again as always who are you? Where are you?”
“I am in Korea”
After the Peace Corps, I still hadn’t met my dream woman. I got a job working for the U.S. Army as an instructor and stayed in Korea. I kept having the dream until I had the very last one: She was standing next to me, speaking to me in Korean, but I finally understood her. She said, “Don’t worry, we will be together soon.”
Why was that the last time I had the dream?
Because the very next night, the girl in my dream got off the bus in front of me. She went on to the base with an acquaintance of mine, a fellow teacher, and they went to see a movie. I saw her and found the courage to speak with her.
We exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet that weekend.
The next night, she was waiting for me as I entered the Army base to teach a class. She told me she was a college senior and she had something to tell me. I signed her on to the base and left her at the library to study while I taught, and then we went out for coffee after class.
She told me she was madly in love with me, and that I was the man for her. I told her not to worry as I felt the same.
That weekend, we met Saturday and Sunday and hung out all day. On Sunday night, I proposed to her. It was only three days after we had met, but for me, it felt like we had met eight years ago. I had been waiting all my life for her to walk out of my dreams and into my life, and here she was.
Her mother did not want her to marry a foreigner. One day, about a month after we met, she invited me to meet her parents. I brought a bottle of Jack Daniels for her father and drank the entire bottle with him. He approved of me, but her mother still had reservations.
After a Buddhist priest told her my future wife and I were a perfect astrological combination, she agreed, and we planned our wedding.
The wedding was a media sensation in South Korea. My wife explained it to me years later. At the time, I was overwhelmed just by the fact that we were getting married and I didn’t fully understand how unusual this was.
My wife was of the old royal clan, distant relatives to the former kings of Korea. In the clan’s history, only two people had ever married foreigners: my
wife, and Rhee Syngman, who was the first President of South Korea. My father, who was a former Undersecretary of Labor, came out for the wedding, which fueled even more media interest.
Our marriage defied the stereotypical Korean-foreign marriage where the women
married some hapless GI just to escape poverty and immigrate to the U.S. We were the first foreign/Korean couple to get married at a Korean Army base. Over 1,000 people came to the wedding, and my father was interviewed on the morning news programs.
This all happened thirty-nine years ago, and I am still married to the girl in my dreams. Now in my dreams, she watches over me when we are apart.
Writing Com Flash Fiction contest – Sign-up now CLOSED!!!
The activity begins on Monday, January 31st
and ends on Sunday, April 10th
10 weeks of fun and adventure!
What is micro fiction?
A micro-fiction piece is a story told in 300 or fewer words. For our purposes, we limit the word count to 100. It’s a subset of flash fiction, which limits stories to 1000 words.
Ernest Hemingway wrote the most famous micro-story. He used only six words: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
The challenge of writing a micro-story is to make every word count. You must pick meaningful words and build strong sentences.
The structure of a micro-story:
Like any other fiction piece, a micro-story has a sequence: a beginning, a middle, and an end. It includes a twist or a conflict: either it’s a change in the character (character arc) or a twist in the plot. The micro-story also has a scenario, which doesn’t need much detail – you don’t have enough length to incorporate descriptions.
Start with the conflict
In a micro-story, there is no space for descriptions, backstory, or character-building; you start writing in the middle: straight to the conflict.
Focus on the character arc
Flat characters offer nothing to readers. Something must happen to your character: a drastic event, a deep emotion, a discovery. He/she must end the story differently from when it started.
In the end, the character should feel or do something different than he/she was doing before.
Write your story as long as you wish
Like any other first draft, yours will be a micro-story told with many unnecessary words.
To elaborate your micro-story, write everything that comes up in your mind: describe the emotions, the scenarios, the characters. The goal is to form the story inside of you, to feel it.
By writing everything down, you’ll be able to choose what’s relevant and what’s not.
Chose only one POV
Micro-fiction uses a single point of view [POV]; there’s not enough word-counting to swap POV without losing the coherence of the story. Choose either the 1st limited or 3rd person limited POV as they perform better in connecting the reader to the characters.
Cut the fluff
Now that you wrote the first draft, it’s time to cut!
The remaining wording in your story will be the ones that matter, that add value and significance to your story.
Polish each sentence
The last step in writing a micro-fiction story is to polish the sentences.
Each word must contain meaning: an emotion, an action, a detail. The sentences should also have a meaning, but also as part of a whole, it actively builds up the story.
Ensure your first and last sentences are the strongest. They are the entrance and the exit of the story. The first sentence will hook readers to continue reading; the last one will make them chew on your story. And even re-read it, to savor it one more time.
Create an appealing title
The title is the presentation, the promise of what’s coming: the title is the first impression of your story. Name your story, revealing the theme, but not giving away any event. Note: The title does not count toward your total word count.
Enjoy the process and keep practicing. Writing micro-fiction is a challenge, but — in my modest opinion — one of the best challenges in the writing set.
Once you try it, you will come for more. With practice, your first drafts will become shorter; they will be the closest version of your final draft.
Writing micro-fiction it’s an effective way to hone your writing skills: it demands focus and the use of strong verbs and emotional words. Your writing will develop into a sharper and more concise version.
My entry
“Sam Adams Swears It Was Self Defense”
“Well, Sam Adams, you are in a lot of trouble. Better tell us what happened. How did you end up killing Bill Lee?”
“Well, I should speak to a lawyer and the Embassy first, but what the H.
Bill Lee and I had a relationship so to speak, we were frenemies. I knew him for a long time since we were children and I knew that he was a real bad dude at heart.
We had gone to the Cosmos Bar that night to have a drink. When he attacked me, I responded of course., It was self-defense. and that’s how the fight started.
note: I like micro fiction. I have had a number published. They are fun and challenging to write. Sort of a prose version of a Haiku.
…Reading that February is Haiku Month was the spark that I needed to ease in. So here I am on February 1, 2022, Chinese New Year – The Year of the Tiger. Maybe a haiku a day for 28 days will
get me going. You are welcome to join me if you feel so inclined. I missed this community. ~~Tin…
free but requires registration Tinker’s list of poetry forms is quite comprehensive!
My haiku for February 1
What is Groundhog Day?
Why does seeing his shadow
Mean early Spring?
when I first saw you in September
a date that I will always remember
I knew then on that date
I had truly met my fate.
for I knew I had fallen under your spell
you had cast a mad love spell on me
your mojo was working overtime on me
and I would be forever your love slave.
for I had to have you had to make you mine
for you were everything I longed for
everything I was dreaming of
you were my everything.
Chorus
You were my love bug
you were my love connection
you were my love drug
you were my everything.
my foolish love bugs.
when you walked off that bus
you entered my life
and soon became my wife
and everything changed.
from that moment on
I was you
and you were me
just the way it should be,
It was 39 years since you walked
Into my life,
turning it inside out
tearing it upside down.
and for 39 years together
every single day, every hour, every minute
every single-second whenever I look at you
I fell madly in love again and again and again.
just the way it is
between you and me
for you are my love angel
sent to rescue me.
Chorus
You were my love bug
you were my love connection
you were my love drug
you were my everything.
my foolish love connection,
when I first saw you there
your cosmic love vibrations
sent me flying to the moon
to Jupiter and beyond.
flying on the back
of your love
returning me once more
to your waiting embrace.
your love came me such a thrill
the thrill has never ended
like a fine bottle of wine
it gets better and better.
I can no longer imagine
A life without you by my side
And if you go before I do
I will surely soon follow you.
When we met that cosmic date
I knew that I had met my soul mate
And soon we would be together
Until the end of time.
Chorus
You were my love bug
you were my love connection
you were my love drug
you were my everything
my lovely love drugs
you were my love drug
I did not need any other
With your love by my side
I did not need alcohol
I did not need acid
I did not need booze
I do not need Cialis
I did not need cocaine
I did not need heroin
I did not need magic mushrooms
I did not need speed
I did not need Viagra
for you were all that I ever needed
you were indeed my love drug
Chorus
You were my love bug
you were my love connection
you were my love drug
you were my everything
my everything
Request for collaboration
This is my second attempt at writing a love song. For my musician friends out there, if you like it and would like to collaborate to turn this into a real song instant message me, and let’s talk. To the rest of you, hope you enjoyed it.
Love Jones Revised
when I first saw you in September
a date that I will always remember
I knew then on that date
I had truly met my fate.
for I knew I had fallen under your spell
you had cast a mad love spell on me
your mojo was working overtime on me
and I would be forever your love slave.
for I had to have you had to make you mine
for you were everything I longed for
everything I was dreaming of
you were my everything.
Chorus
I have the love Jones baby
And I got it bad
I have the love Jones, baby
Can’t you see just what you to me?
Love Jones baby, Love Jones for you.
when you walked off that bus
you entered my life
and soon became my wife
and everything changed.
from that moment on
I was you and you were me
It was 39 years since you walked
Into my life tearing it upside down.
and for 39 years together
every single day, every hour, every minute
every single second whenever I look at you
I fell madly in love again and again and again.
just the way it is
between you and me
for you are my love angel
sent to rescue me.
Chorus
I have the love Jones baby
And I got it bad
I have the love Jones, baby
Can’t you see just what you to me?
Love Jones baby, Love Jones for you.
when I first saw you there
your cosmic love vibrations
sent me flying to the moon
to Jupiter and beyond.
flying on the back
of your love
returning me once more
to your waiting embrace.
your love came me such a thrill
the thrill has never ended
like a fine bottle of wine
it gets better and better.
I can no longer imagine
A life without you by my side
And if you go before I do
I will surely soon follow you.
When we met that cosmic date
I knew that I had met my soul mate
And soon we would be together
Until the end of time.
Chorus
I have the love Jones baby
And I got it bad
I have the love Jones, baby
Can’t you see just what you to me?
Love Jones baby, Love Jones for you.
you were my love drug
I did not need any other
With your love by my side
I did not need alcohol
I did not need acid
I did not need booze
I do not need Cialis
I did not need cocaine
I did not need heroin
I did not need magic mushrooms
I did not need speed
I did not need Viagra
for you were all that I ever needed
you were indeed my love drug
Chorus
I have the love Jones baby
And I got it bad
I have the love Jones, baby
Can’t you see just what you to me?
Love Jones baby, Love Jones for you.
Love Jones Original Version
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 sweet 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 do 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
I got the love Jones
For you
Can’t you see?
What do 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
My Wife is My Passion
My passion is life, itself
I love my wife
The love of my life
She fills my heart
With red-hot passion
Ever since we met
She has been
My inspiration
My soul mates
My passion never fades
Please Give me a Kiss New Years Love Poem
Please said
The maiden
On New Year’s,
To her new lover
It is time
To welcome
The new years
Please give me
A French kiss,
She said
Putting down her glass
Of champagne
The man
Glanced at his companion
Flustered a bit
Grimaced,
Called for a taxi
As the Fireworks,
Went off
He twirled his red
Mustache,
She sulked off
With a big caterwaul
Filled with disappointment
Caterwaul- make a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat (just noticed that autocorrect created a made-up word)
On a Fine Date in September, a Date I will Always Remember
On a fine day in September, a date I shalll always remember
she came into my life
A date I shall always remember
a few months later she became my wife
when I met her, I ended my wildlife
for on that fine Autumn date
I truly met my soul mate.
Love etheree Revised
hot
coffee
in the morn
great start today
filling me with joy
contemplating the news
drinking morning cup of Joe
thinking about my life and love
waiting for the love of my life to wake up
when she wakes up, she fills me with such love.
she talks to me my day begins to fill
with plans and many things, we must do
I smile and finish my drink
Still in awe of her beauty,
Still just madly in love.
Ever since we met
just wondering
how I met
her that
day.
Drinking Coffee is My Delight Coffee
coffee
drinking coffee is my morning delight
as I drink my coffee I must write
reflecting upon what has become my life
enjoying every morning I am with my wife
no longer filled with so much strife
I am filled with love for my oldwife
Truly a dream woman come to life
enjoying my love during this midlife
no longer filled with so much strife
feeling so much that is my birthright
knowing that with her love everything is alright.
no longer lost in despair and lowlife
knowing with her love this is real life
no longer filled with fear and affright
no longer filled with so much strife
My Love is as
My love is like a bright
Red rose to bloom in a field
Filling the air
with its sweet perfume of love
My love is like a bright tomato
Filling my plate
with delightful flavors
My love is a hummingbird
Fluttering here and there
Spreading love along the way
My love is like an apple
Filling the air
With its sweet fragrance
And filling me with love
My love is like a race car
Waiting for me to go with her
Exploring the world together
My wife is like a glass
Of the most delicious red wine
As it ages it gets better and better
My wife is bright red
Filled with passionate
And inciting desire
My wife smells
Like the greatest perfume
Ever created
So mysterious and alluring
In her fragrance of desire.
My wife is like the best dessert
That I have ever had
So sweet, so delicious
And all for me.
My wife and I speak
Our language
A mixture of English, Korean
Spanish mixed
Filled with love
And special meanings.
Decorating my Space with memories of Love
I have lived
All over the world
In many different spaces
Many different places
Many different towns
Many different cities
Many different apartments
Many different living arrangements
And each time I decorate
My internal space
My home
It is different
My house is always
A mixture of things
Knickknacks from around
The world
Filled with items
That is filled with memories
Of my and mine wife’s past
As I look at my things
I am comforted
Memories of the past
Fill my mind
With love, peace
And contentment.
Drinking Coffee is My Delight Coffee
Close up white coffee cup with heart shape latte art on wood table at cafe.
drinking coffee is my delight
as I sit and do my morning write
I sit thinking about my wife
wondering yet again is that my fate
on that day was that the date?
I think back on my life
drinking coffee in the morning
with my lovely wife
drinking coffee in the morning
with my lovely wife
the love of my life
drinking coffee makes a great midmorning
as I sit there with her enjoying a good morning.
the morning after enjoying the nightlife
drinking coffee in the morning
with my lovely wife.
but soon my head is filled with warning
as if my head had been struck with a knife
my body and head having a hangover strife.
nothing more than a just forewarning
the end of the day filled with mourning
with my lovely wife.
Sam Adams Met Her on That Date
Sam Adams met her on that date
that day she came into his life.
when he first saw her that morning
Truly he thought it was just fate
he knew she would become his wife.
Meeting her was a great morning
he knew that she was his soulmate
he knew there would be no more strife
every day would be a good morning
Thankful for his Angel
Every day
He woke up
And sees his wife
Sleeping peacefully.
He looks at her
In the dawning light
Filling his soul
With her love.
He drinks his coffee
Contemplating his life
Ever thankful
For the angel
That came to him
Out of his dreams
Walking into his life
Taking charge of him
39 years ago
He met his fate
On that date.
It was the beginning of the End
It was the beginning
Of the end 0f his life
As a young adult
Adrift in life’s turmoil.
He met the love of his life
In a dream
Then when she walked
Out of his dreams
Into his life
He felt
That his life
Truly had begun.
And it was the end
Of his life adrift
Now he had the purpose
Now he had hope
As he walked
With his life’s partner
Facing whatever life
Threw his way
Going together
As always
Becoming one soul
Eternal soul mates.
I found what I was looking for.
Based on Edgar Allen Poe’s Poem Alone
From the Streets of Berkeley, California
Cosmos was my middle name
Has been my pen name now for ten years
Infatuation with Cosmic things
Has filled my heart and soul
Nothing more than searching for love
But in the end, I found what I was looking for.
Today is a special day
Today is a special day
Like most mornings
I wake up
Drink my coffee
Watch the news
Think about the day
Waiting for my wife
To walk into the room
Lighting the room
With her love
And that is why
It is always
Such a special day
My Wife and I Like It Raw
My wife
And I like it raw
Raw food that is
Less cooking is better
For one’s health.
We start our day
With raw ingredients
Blended perfectly together.
Often for lunch
Or dinner
We have a raw food salad.
And sometimes
Well, we do other things
Raw and naked.
Lucky in Love
Indian casino Fun
They say
That once can be lucky
In cards or love
But not in both
I have been
very lucky
In love
Met and married
The lady of my dreams
But for cards
And gambling
I have not been
So lucky
Losing far more
Than I ever won
But the luck
In love
Continues to this day.
Truly Romantic Honeymoon
Unshaven, idiotic,
Insupportable Introvert
Her lifelong secret admirer
Laughing, she said yes
They both Reconnoiter
A Truly Romantic
Honeymoon place
What Makes People a Success
They say
That is what makes a person successful
Is not how much money they have
Is not how many things they have
But rather how many true friends
They have
And whether they have found
Their soul mates.
In my case,
I am successful
Beyond my earlier expectations
Becoming wealthy in my old age.
But most importantly
After 39 years together,
I am still madly in love
With my eternal soul mate
Why am I still madly in love with you, my dear?
Why do I still look at you with such love in my heart?
Why did you enter my life 39 years ago?
Why did you overwhelm me with your love?
I do not have any answers
Other than I will love you
Until the end of time itself.
Seeing Your Love
Whenever I touch you, my dear,
I see red flames of love
Like a red hot volcano of molten desire
Erupting from you.
Whenever I hear your voice
The sweet scent
Of hibiscus, lavender, lemon, oranges,
roses, and wildflowers
overwhelms me with
the fragrance of your love.
Whenever I kiss you, my dear
I hear the voices of angels
Singing in my ear
Hosannas to your love,
As I am transported
On the wings of angels
To heaven itself,
Powered by your love.
Love My Wife More
Every day tell her
My love for her grows daily
Love will never die
Where Do I and You 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 feared losing 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 times
but I know 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 not 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 with the path I have taken
I still look forward
to waking up each morning
Seeing you there
and knowing that every day
we have together
is a gift that I will cherish
Until my dying breath
5-7-5 Love Poem
Missing you missing me
Dreaming about you, do you dream the same
Will love you until end of time; will you remember me then?
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 entangled
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 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
What Is Love Explained to a Space Alien
one day
a space ship landed
near my house
and a tall alien
dressed is silver
accompanied by three shorter aliens
came to my house
and told me they were
conducting a survey
of the earth
and had some questions of me
they had picked me
because I was considered
a subject matter expert
a subject matter expert
on the topic of love
which was one
of the five things
that they could not understand
about humanity
no one else
among the 1 million intelligent species
had such a concept
I asked what were the other things
that they did not understand
they said
hmm Donald Trump
hmm Donald Trump
how and why he is President
and why so many people
still support him
second is god
your race has more gods
than any other race
and no one else
has heard of your god
or Allah or Jesus for that matter
and on the face of it
the whole resurrection thing
makes no sense
makes no sense
third is gun violence
why in the US
you have to do a strip search
to get on the plane or train
and now a days a temperature heath screening
yet you can not ban guns
can not enact universal gun checks
even though 90 % support it
and why can terrorists
still can buy guns?
fourth climate change
every other successful culture
every other successful culture
went through something similar
and evolve their politics and culture
and overcame it
and finally the issue of love
you see in the whole universe
there is no such concept
of romantic love
in most cultures there are marriages
and most people are bisexual
and group marriages are the norm
and love is seen as merely sexual attraction
and most people pick their partners
from computer generated links
From computer generated links
for we have figured it all out
but you persist in denying
that love is nothing but
a chemical DNA thing
explain to me
since you are considered
the most romantic man
in the world
what the hell is love?
I told him that we would discuss
the other issues later over a beer
as I was hardly the authority
but would be happy to share my thoughts
but would be happy to share my thoughts
and they agreed to that
but said again
tell us what is this thing
you called love
I said
it comes down to this
Love is mysterious
love is magic
there is a certain zen element
zen element
to love
to love
a certain taoist element as well
to it as well
those who can define it
have never experienced it
and those who have experienced it
can never describe it
one can say a few things
love happens
when you least expect it
love creeps up on you
Love happens
when you are washing dishes
drinking wine
drinking wine
dancing at a club
making love
for the first time
or the 10, 000th time
and every time
is different
than the time before
love happens when you give up
searching for love
waiting for love
wishing for love
wishing for the one
then one day
the one walks out
of your dreams
and into your life
becoming your wife
my wife one day
was berating me
for all my myriad faults
all my sins against her
my omissions and commissions
malfeasance and misfeasance
things I had done
and things i had failed to do
and things I had failed to do
all of which I acknowledge
and apologized for
but finally I had enough
I said
well if I am so bad
so horrible
so evil a creature
and a person you hate
so much
why the hell did you marry me
she laughed
temporarly insanity
temporarly insanity
and I am still insane
twenty five years later
we both laughed
and fell in love
again
as always
we fall in love
with each other
every day
every moment
every second
every second
it dawned on me
I had the answer to the question
and that my friends
is the true unknowable madness
the true zen spirit of love
well that was interesting
and I think we begin
to understand you all
a bit more
you are indeed
the most interesting people
in the whole universe
so lets go out and have a beer
so lets go out and have a beer
we are dying to try that
as we hear
you have the best beer
in the universe
and the best coffee too
and so we went
and had our beer
and coffee
and talked all night long
discussing everything
they told me about the universe
and our place in it
and their plans for us
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 women
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.
One day I was in a foul mood.
I had decided to give up on dating Korean women,
And on women in general
After having had several relationships
That did not go anywhere.
I was thinking of returning to the States
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 past lives.
She found me in 1974,
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet.
And it has been 26 years
Since we met in the physical sphere
Or 37 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
Until the end of this lifetime
And the next and the next
a million ways to say I love you
They say
There are a million ways
To say I love you
In this day and age
I could only find
In my computer’s brain
The words to say I love you
In 53 languages of the 10,000 languages
Spoken on this planet
Someday I may be able
To say the simple words
I love you
In all know languages
This will have to suffice for a start
So I will say it
Loud, and clear
Just so you understand:
I love you (English)
Mein tumse pyar karta hoon (Hindi)
Tu Tane prem karoo chu (Gujarati)
Ame tomake bhalo bashe (Bengali)
Me tula premkarto (Marati)
Hum apse mohabbat karte hain (Urdu)
Mein thoda prem karanga (Punjabi)
Man Dooset Daram (Persian)
Ana Ahabik Yanooni (Arabic)
Havala (Hebrew)
Yongchon(Chinese)
Aloha (Hawaian)
Cinta(Indonesian)
Dangshinun sarang hayo (Korean)
Ajo (Japanese)
Kasih (Malay)
Phom tirak khun krap (Thai)
Akoay Paginghe ikou (Tagalog)
Toi yeu ong(Vietnamese)
Renmen (Creole)
Jesuis L’amour voies(French)
Liefdle (Flemish)
Estoy amor tu (Spanish)
Yosono amore tu (Italian)
Estou o amore tu (Portugese)
Dashuri (Albanian)
Maiteizam (Basque)
OBHYAM (Bulgarian)
Ljubav (Croatian)
Laska (Czech)
Jeger en kaerlighed du (Danish)
Ikben houden van jig (Dutch)
Gra (Gaelic)
Ich bin lieben tu (German)
Agape/eros (Greek)
Ami (Esperanto)
Armastama (Estonian)
Rakam (Finish)
Envagyok szeretet te (Hungarian)
Elska (Icelandic)
Ejekirin (Kurdish)
Milestiba (Latvian)
Meile (Lithuanian)
Eu dragoste tu (Romanian)
JHOBOEL Lubush (Russian)
Elske (Norweigan)
Easka (Slovak)
JBYBAB (Serbian)
Jagdan karlek du (Swedish)
KOYATH (Ukraine)
Benin sevi sen (Turkish)
Ahava (Yiddish)
Ngingu u thando ungu (Zulu)
ode to love on valetine’s day
Ever since I met you, my dear
My life has not been the same
Before I found you
I was lost, sad and lonely
Going nowhere as fast as possible
I was stuck
Did not know what direction to pursue
At the intersection, watching life go by
I was lost, lonely and full of despair
Then one day I saw you
The girl of my dream
Standing there on the side of the road
I was filled with terror
Could not speak
What if you refused to see me
What if you denied my protestations of love
What if you walked away
Never to be seen again
I knew I had to do something
I had to do it then and there
And then you came up to me…
Your voice
The voice of an Angel
Sweat, full of light
Fun and entire sunshine
Ever since the day I met you
Whenever I feel down and depressed
I look at your picture
And sunshine fills my heart
And I am confident, happy and ready
To face all of life’s travails
As long as I have your love
And your support
I can overcome all obstacles
And face all dangers
Together we can do most anything
Without you I will be lost
In the swamp of despair
So my dear
Please stay with me
Forever to the end of time
Let us journey forward
Never looking back
My love, my life
The sun in the sky
The moon that lights my dreams at night
The stars that beacon far away
Thanks to the Gods above
For bringing you into my life
And I promise I will love you
Forever and a day
Just to see your face
Is heaven itself
Just to hear your voice
Is all I ever need
My love, my soul mate
Hurry back to me
We have so much loving to do
So much living to do
So much to do together
Walking confidently
Boldly into the future
Without you
All is nothing
But dust
With you
Everything is possible
My love
Until I see you again
A thousand kisses
And a million thoughts of love
That will have to suffice
Until we are reunited
My love, my darling,
My life and dreams
Hurry back to rescue me
From the despair and darkness
All around me
Until then
I salute you
Oh Queen of my Heart
General of Love
Captain of my Soul
I Still Want You
I still Want You<
More than anything else in life
I want you
I want you next to me
I want you every moment
Of every minute
Of every day
I need you in my life
I need your wisdom
I need your kindness
I need your beauty
I need your special wit
And I need your ability
To deal with this cruel world
I need you to save me
From the demons
That haunt my Soul
Literary Yard has published Winter Haiflu and other poems.
Index
Good bye 2021 Good Riddance
Winter Haiflu
Seek the Light
The Darkness Spreads
Seeing Demons
Messenger Dog of God
its a dog’s life for Me
Agnostic Dog wonders if there is dog
I want A dog’s Life
21 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
cosmic calendar
Falling Rain
Good-Bye 2021 Good Riddance
Reflecting on the last six years
One cannot but sense
That momentous thing
Were happening everywhere
2021 was worst than 2020
And the year before as well
Nonstop terrifying events
The world seems
To be spending out
Of control
January
January normally dawns
Cold but hopeful
This year an attempted coup
Storming of the U.S. Capitol
The new president
Not accepted by the old
Half the country
Believes the big lie
February
February continued
The non-stop political wars
As COVID continued
Marching across the land
March
March is not much better
March madness
Continued unabated
April
April taxes due
Other nightmares continued
COVID vaccination wars
Continued in the U.S.
COVID relief passed
May
May brings little relief
Constant political battles
Descends into madness
June
June brings no relief
People screaming none stop
As COVID deaths continue
July Economy Begins Recovery
July continues -COVID still spreading
The economy seems better
But so many people
Have checked out
August
No longer
A month off
The battles continue
September
Many people
Dread returning to school
The economy slowly opens up
Vaccination mandates
Vaccinations stalling out
October
It seemed for a bit
That perhaps COVID
Was easing up
There was some hope
In the air
Perhaps the politicians
Would finally do the right thing
Way overdue
inadequate infrastructure bill passed
Build Back Better stalled
November
The dreaded COVID
Mutates again
Mocking humanity
General Corona still
On the rampage
30 still refuse to get
A vaccination
As one thousand people
A day become Corona Ghosts
December
Travel restrictions re-emerge
COVID continues to surge
Gun violence continues unchecked
Politicians continue to play game
As too many people die
Becoming Corona ghosts
Gun violence ghosts
Drug overdoes ghosts
Accident death ghosts
The year of dread finally ends
With so many ghosts
Crying in the wind
###
Ten Winter Haiflu
Winter is coming
The cold season approaching
Christmas around the corner
The COVID virus
Surging everywhere it seems
Winter of our discontent
The winter rushes
2022 looms
Goodbye 2021
2021
Fading into memory
Good riddance we all proclaim
Dreading the winter
Dreading more COVID
Dreading more Corona Ghosts
Winter depression
COVID fears re-emerging
Still more travel restrictions
The winter starting
Coronavirus and guns
Deaths, ghosts crying in the wind
Wintertime for blues
Blues playing on my YouTube
Seeing Corona Ghosts Dancing
Wintertime sadness
Recalling all who have gone
In this dismal year now past
Winter beginning
Are the end times coming?
Are revelations coming true?
###
Seek the Light
god
also published in Creativity Webzine.
Seek the light
My friend,
Seek the light
The light of the universe
The light of peace and happiness.
The cosmic good of the universe.
The ancient battle
Between Good and evil
Light and darkness
Life and death
Love and hate.
War and peace.
Seek the light of love
Seeking love
It is all around you
It is all in you.
Open your soul
And let the light
Of the universe
Flood into your soul.
Seek the cosmic light
My son, if you think it is right
If you think the light
Is the same,
As the light of the Christian faith.
You would be right.
If you think it is Light
Of the Buddhist faith
You would be right.
If you think it is Allah’s light
You would be right.
If you think.
It is Shiva’s light
You would be right.
If you think
It is God’s light
You would be right.
It’s the same light
Of the universe
Which shines on us all.
Regardless of our faith
Or lack of faith,
We can all receive the light.
The light of the universe
It’s flawless
We all seek the light
And it is right
To seek the light.
The light of the universe
Is waiting for you
It is all for you.
And if you find
The light of the universe
You will find love
Peace and happiness
It is your birthright,
You will find that
After you die
The Light will fill you
And take you
To the next world.
Seek the light
It is waiting for you.
Wake up and
Embrace your fate
Seek the light on this date.
###
The Darkness Spreads
The darkness is spreading
The darkness of the universe
The dark side
Of the legendary force.
For the world
Is divided into force
Of the light
And the force of darkness.
You cannot have light
Without the darkness,
And you cannot have darkness
Without the light.
There is a cosmic battle
Between the light
And the darkness.
Good and evil
Life and death
Love and hate.
War and peace.
Ying and Yang
God and Devil
Make up the whole Tao
Of the Universe.
And the darkness
Seems to be spreading
All over this darkening world
Every day we turn on the news
We see more examples
Of the darkness
Spreading across the world
Like dark cancer.
A pandemic of despair, fear, and hate.
All humans seem consumed
With fear, hatred, violent thoughts,
And the disease of the mind.
We all seem to be
Sliding down a dark hole
Into the darkness
Of our souls.
The ancient battle
Between Good and evil
Light and darkness
Life and death.
Love and hate.
War and peace.
And it seems
That we have lost all hope
We have lost this light
Of the universe
We have lost the light
Of love
It seems that the darkness
And the fear of the darkness
That is all that we have left.
Hatred, fear, and mistrust
All overwhelm us
And we look out at other people
Thinking that it is now a time
To do or die.
Kill off our enemies
The other evil tribe,
Before they can do
the same to us.
And only a few of us
Still see the light
That is still there.
It has not gone away
And perhaps
With the turn of the wheel
Of time
The darkness will gradually end.
And the lightness
Will once again
Flood the world.
And we all wake up
Peace and happiness
Will defeat the darkness
Yet again
.
It is the way
Of the universe
Ever since the dawn
Of this cosmic game.
The darkness
And light
Battling each other.
The darkness takes over
Becomes the nightmare
Of our Collective Soul.
But it is not too late my son,
There is still time
To find the light
And combat the darkness.
So, my friends
It is waiting for you
Seek the light.
Avoid the darkness
Walk away from fear
Walk away from death
Walk away from despair
Walk away from hate
But you have
A much better world
Waiting for you
If you embrace the light
Of the universe.
Seek the light
It will banish the darkness
And set your soul free.
###
Seeing Demons
more monster images for poem jpg
from a recent nightmare.
Sam Adams
Fell into a deeply troubled sleep
One night.
He saw in his nightmares
The growing power of the darkness
Of the universe.
The ancient battle
Between good and evil
Light and darkness.
Life and death
Love and hate.
War and peace.
Yin and Yang
The duality of the Tao.
Playing out
In front of him
As if in a movie
But nightmarishly real.
Sensing the fear and hatred
Spreading everywhere
He saw an army
Of foul creatures
Straight from the nightmares
Of Hell.
Banshees, bears, bigfoot. Cthulu, centaurs, drones, dwarfs, demons, devils, flying drones, flying monkeys, giants, ghosts, gorillas, goblins, orcs, imperial stormtroopers from Star Wars, Klingons, java the hut, leprechauns, lions, max headroom. men in black suits with no faces, Mr. Smith corporate suits, munchkins, monsters, robots, Romulans, Roman gladiators, space aliens, the four horsemen of the apocalypse riding out front, tigers, warlocks, the white witch from Narnia, the wicked witches from Oz, witches, werewolves, wolves, vultures, Yeti and zombies.
He saw millions of people,
Being taken
over by the demons.
Eating them
Rampaging, rioting, raping
Pillaging them
Taking control
Of their bodies
Consuming their souls.
Turning into hideous monsters.
Who continue the carnage
Rampaging mobs
Of deranged crazed demons.
In front of them all
He saw a demon
Staring at him
With a thousand-year stare
Filled with hate.
A tall dark pig-like beast
Standing erect
With reddish horns.
And two heads
The head of President Trump
And the head of President Putin
And blazing red eyes.
The head demon hissed,
Sam Adams
We are coming for you.
“You are mine
Resistance is futile,
Prepare to meet your fate
On this cosmic date.”
He screamed
As the demon ran up to him
Fearing the demon
Would soon consume his soul.
He prayed with all his might
And then he saw
The light of the universe.
The demons ran screaming
Running from the light
Fleeing into the darkness
Back to the hell hole
From when they had come.
He woke up
Next to his wife
Glad he had embraced
Life, love, and light
Of the universe.
Filled with love
And happiness
He got up.
With the demons
Of the dark lord
Fading into his nightmares
Banished by the light
Of his one true love.
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 my 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
dogs of war howlingdog 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
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Hi there from Scars Publications (this letter is being sent from a bulk email address and all replies should NOT go to the Gmail address but to any scars. tv email address) – we wanted to let you know that Scars Publications released a 2021 annual collection book of select poetry, flash fiction, prose, & art from 2021 issues of cc&d magazine and Down in the Dirt magazine. Since your material was chosen from the past year of accepted materials for inclusion in this annual collection book anthology, we wanted to let you know about this brand new annual collection book, titled “Regarding Utopia”!
Links to see all of chosen writers and artists (and the titles of their work) in “Regarding Utopia”: http://scars.tv/2021collection/Regarding_Utopia.htm
This is where you can also find out what material of yours appears in this annual collection book.
Enjoy the 2021 poetry, flash fiction, prose (and don’t forget the artwork) anthology with a 2021 Editor’s Choice contest winner from Scars Publications, titled “Regarding Utopia” of select poetry, flash fiction, prose & art in this one-of-a-kind annual 2021 anthology collection book, which contains select accepted writings chosen from 2021 issues of both cc&d magazines and Down in the Dirt magazine…
To know exactly what is included in this collection book, view the listing below… If your writing or artwork appears in this collection book (or if you know someone with the material in this book, or if you just want to pick up a great book to read), order a copy of “Regarding Utopia” today!
And HEY! Any video recorded readings of material included in this date book are also listed here, so check out the video links here as well…
To know exactly what is included in this collection book, view the listing below… If your writing or artwork appears in this collection book (or if you know someone with material in this book, or if you just want to pick up a great book to read), order a copy of “Regarding Utopia” today!
My poem 5-7-7 Love Poem
This writing was accepted
for publication in the
108 page perfect-bound ISSN# /
ISBN# issue/book “Prayers and Bullets” Down in the Dirt, v181
(the March 2021 Issue)
Order the paperback book:
Thank you again for submitting your work to Pure Haiku.
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Yeongjongdo island Korea where the Incheon International Airport is located has lots of things to do besides of course the airport. I have retired here from service in the U.S. State Department. I live in the Airport town next to the Unseo station. Here are a few of my favorite places to go. The airport was build on reclaimed land between three small islands near Incheon Port. When the island was build as part of the agreement to build the airport, the government promised to maintain at least half the island as a rural area, and preserve the mountains on the islands. They have generally kept to that promise, although the island is being over-developed in my opinion, there are still a lot of mountains and rural areas on the island, all within an half an hour drive from the airport. The airport can arrange excursions to some of these mountains for those travelers who have a long overlay at the airport. These are some of my favorite rambles on the island.
Baegunsan Mountain 배운 산
One of my favorite places is Baegunsan Mountain. (762 ft / 232 m height). 배운 산 This mountain dominates the island and there are trails to the top from many parts of the island. It is about 10 kilometers from the airport. Coming from Seoul or Incheon you can take the Airport railroad and get off at Unseo Station, 운서역 unseoyeog, three stops from the airport on the way to Seoul. From the station exit the station via exit A and turn right, then turn right again and you will find the trailhead down the street on the left side right after the first intersection. The trailhead is marked only in Korean though. There are multiple paths to the top. It should take about an hour to reach the top. The views are spectacular. A round trip to the top from the station should take about three to four hours depending upon you speed and fitness levels. The trail is at times steep but there are stairs and ropes along the way. The trail markers are mostly in Korea but it is hard to get lost. Just keep going left and then head up when you see the emergency shelter at the foot of the steeper trail.
Youngunsa and Yaksuam Temples
From the top of Bekuensan, you can walk down to Youngunsa Temple and Yaksuam Temples. These temples are over 1,000 years old and are very tranquil places to visit. At the top of the mountain there is a small pavilion just past an emergency helicopter landing zone. Just past that you will find a steep trail going downhill. Take that trail down and kept to the left and you will find the temple in an about an half an hour of moderate hiking downhill.
Youngunsa Temple 영운사yeong-un sa
199-1, Anambra, Jung-gu, Incheon 22359, South Korea
One can arrange a free tour at the airport transit tour desk. Worth doing if you are the airport and have a couple of hours to kill. It is a 20-minute bus ride from the airport. You pay just for the transportation, entrance to the temple is free. There is an old gingko tree in front of the temple, which is also about a thousand year old. There is a sign in front giving the history of the temple which was an important temple in the Chosun era given that it is relatively close to Seoul.
약수암Yagsuam This is another ancient temple near Youngunsa temple. You can easily see both temples in one trip. To get back to the airport you can go back up the mountain or continue down the mountain and hail any taxi or bus, heading back to the station, or airport. The buses don’t take cash, so pick up a T money card at the airport and put enough cash on it for your round trip fare, make sure you tap the card when entering and exiting the bus. The taxis will also take T money or credit cards.
Baekryungsan Mountain 백제 산
Another nice hike in Yeounjongdo is Baekryungsan mountain. From Unseo station on the airport railroad line, go out exit A and turn right and at the end of the street, right across the street, you will see a road leading up the hill. Follow the road and you will run into the trailhead. The signs are all in Korea. It is a short walk to the top where there are fine views and a nice gazebo. From there you can walk down to the entrance of the World Peace Forrest. Half way up the trail there is a trail cut off to the left which takes you down to a spring (water is not drinkable) and a nice housing estate, turn left and it is a ten minute walk back to the station. Should take no more than an hour to reach the summit and the Peace Forrest. The trail is a bit steep heading down from the top but there are plenty of ropes and stairs. Near the bottom of the mountain there is a great view of the Incheon outer harbor looking out towards Jangbo and Shindo islands. In the distance you can see on a clear day, North Korea.
World Peace Forest
세계 평화의 숲segye pyeonghwaui sup
The world peace forest is a five-mile walk through lovely forests surrounding the new airport town. You can walk to it from the airport railroad Unseo station, third stop from the airport. Exit the station via exit A and turn left. Go past the Lotte market and across the street you will see the entrance. Follow the trail to the other end (about a four mile gentle walk) where you will run into the entrance to Baekryangsan. Along the path you well enter a cherry tree grove, and numerous other flowering trees. Just before you reach the mountain trail head you will run into a boardwalk over a lotus flower bed. Very pretty in the summer months when the lotus flowers are in full bloom. If you are lucky you may run into some of the deer that live in the peace forest and mountains. There are also foxes in the park and mountains, wild boar, bobcats, and of course feral cats everywhere. I have seen the deer and foxes but yet to encounter the wild boars. Both the forest and Baekyrangsan mountain have spectacular wildflowers in the summer and the fall and spring colors are magnificent. The trail is mostly marked in Korean. Halfway up the trail, there is a path that goes back to town and the station. That sign is marked in Korean and English. Next to the trailhead leading to town is a pavilion and exercise equipment. Total round trip to do the park and mountain is about three hours depending upon fitness levels, the tail itself is flat except for the mountain segment.
The beaches
There are three beaches on Yeongjondo . Eurwangi, Maisan and Wangsan beaches. You can get to the beaches from the airport via the Maglev train getting off at Youngju station – the ARA train runs there on the weekends and holidays. These are the closest beaches to both Seoul and Incheon and are quite crowded during the summer season and weekends all year long. There are lots of good seafood restaurants near the beaches and plenty of places to stay.
Eurwangni Beach (을왕리해수욕장)
15, Eurwang-ro 13beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon
인천광역시 중구 을왕로13번길 15 (을왕동)
From the airport, take bus 302 or 306 Gate 2A (1F) and get off at Eurwangi Beach, the bus goes to the rest of the beaches as well. There are also buses from Unseo station as well.
Muido, So Muido (West Muido) and Silmido are islands near to Yongchongdo. You can get to the islands by taking a bus from the airport, or from the Yongju maglev stop. The Airport railroad goes to Youngju on weekends and holidays.
There are hotels and Korean style resorts near bridge and at the beach, there are huts for rent. There are restaurants near the bridge terminal and at the beach but the selection is limited to Korean seafood.
When you enter the island there is a trailhead that takes you to the top of island – Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak trails circle the island. Round trip is about 4 hours on a loop trail that takes you back to the trail head near the bridge terminal next to the old ferry terminal. the trial head is not marked very well.
Near the bridge to the island is a Korean tourism information stand. The people there are very helpful, speak good English and have lots of maps and guides in English and can also tell you about the ferries to the other islands. Well worth a stop. You should stock up on tourism information here if you are going to the outer islands as once you get there is very little English language signage or English speakers on the islands. They are open until 6 pm most days.
Address
310-11, Daemuui-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
인천광역시 중구 대무의로 310-11 (무의동)
Type
Seasides/ Beaches/ Islands
Inquiries
1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-32-760-7114
more Information
Muuido Island is located in Jung-gu, Incheon close to the airport. Nearby are two smaller islands, Silmido Island and Somuuido Island. In olden times, small boats were used to go from Muuido Island to Somuuido Island but the two islands are currently connected by a bridge so visitors can reach Somuuido after a 10-15 minute walk. Muuido Village Bus (maeul bus; 마을버스) takes people from Keunmuri Dock (큰무리선착장) to Gwangmyeonghang Port (광명항). To enjoy the beauty of Somuuido Island fully, Muuibadanuri-gil 8 Course is a must-visit path, taking around 1 hour and giving stunning views of the East Sea vista. Two beaches, Hanagae Beach and Silmi Beach, are famous beaches in Muuido Island. One interesting thing in Silmi Beach is that people can walk to Silmido Island at low tide. Hiking up Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak is also available on Hanagae Island.
The trail head to Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak can be found at bridge entrance to the island and also near So Muido and at Hangagae beach as well. The round trip takes about three hours and the trail is well marked but only in Korean. Go up the stairs and at the top turn right to access the main trail head.
So Muido is a nice spot for a walk as well. Take the bus to the end of the island, and walk across. There are places to stop and eat in So Muido. The walk to the top of the mountain is a nice walk takes about an half an hour to reach the top. There is a private beach on the way back to town.
Silmido
Silmido island is the site of a secret military base where they trained commandos going undercover into North Korea. They closed the base in the 80’s and a Korean K drama was filmed at the island. The island has a resort where one can stay but there is not much there not even restaurants. Still the beach is nice but a bit deserted. You can walk across to Silmido at low tide, at high tide it becomes a separate island.
Shindo, Modo and Jangbo islands
신도, 모토, 장보도sindo, moto, jang bodo
Shindo, Modo and Jangbo Islands located near Incheon International Airport are great places to get away from Seoul or Incheon for that matter. These three islands are near Yongchongdo. You need to take a ferry to reach them. The ferry ride to Jangbo the biggest of the islands takes about an hour. The ferry runs every hour on the hour the last ferry back leaves about 6 pm. You can catch the ferry at Sammok quay.
삼목 부두sammog budu
There are buses from the airport and from Unseo station to the ferry terminal.
Modo island is connected to Shindo island. You can easily walk around both Modo and Shindo in an hour or two. There are places to eat and spend the night, but Jangbo island is the biggest of the three and has the best facilities, beaches, restaurants and walking biking trails.
Jangbo Island
The island is located one hour and 40 minutes from Seoul. To get there take airport express train from Seoul Station and get off at Unseo station and then transfer to a bus going to Sammok wharf in Yeongjong Island, Incheon. The ferry from there takes 40 minutes. The last ferry back leaves at 6 pm. There are plenty of places to stay near the beaches which are a short walk from the ferry terminal. This is also a popular place to camp as there are camping grounds near the ferry terminal. There is a mountain hiking trail that follows the ridge line all over the island and is a great hike. If you go to Jangbong island, it is worth stopping off at Shindo and Modo islands first and take a walk. A number of K dramas have been filmed on these islands.
More info from Visit Incheon web page follows:
Coastal Trail connecting Sindo Island, Sido Island and Modo Islands
Come to the triplet islands and have a bike tour around them for a fantastic ride along the shoreline. The triplet islands are very well known as one of the best spots in Korea for a bike tour. Come down to the Sinsimodo Islands for a safe and pleasant bicycle touring. Take a boat at Sammok Quay in Yeongjongdo Island. You will get to Sindo Island Quay in about 10 minutes. The three islands of Sindo Island, Sido Island and Modo Island are all connected by bridges, so you can tour all of them in a day. You can rent a bike on the island. There are only a few cars on the road, thus the island is recognized as one of the best places for bike riders.
Sindo Island Pureun Beonmal, a designated traditional agricultural village
The name Sindo Island(literally “the island of trust”) has come from the fact that its residents are conscientious and innocent. It is in this context that the salt produced in the island is called jinyeom (literally “genuine salt”). As the island have mud flats, salt evaporation ponds, and rice paddies, visitors can enjoy everything they can expect from the country’s rural area in Sindo Island Pureun Beotmal designated by the government as a traditional agricultural village.
Sinsido Island Yeondogyo Bridge
Sindo Island is connected to Sido Island by a bridge. The name of Sido Island has come from the legend that troops of the Joseon Dynasty practiced archery in Manisan Mountain with targets set in Sido Island(“an arrow island”). The island is also called “Salseom (‘sal’ also means an arrow in Korean).” Given the actual distance between the two locations, the story is hardly credible, but the idea is intriguing enough. Sido Island has been filming locations for popular TV dramas such as “Full House” and “Sad Love Story” because of the harmony between its slow slope hills and the sea.
Sugi Beach, the filming location of ‘Full House’
Sugi Beach in Sido Island was the filming location for the popular TV series called ‘Full House.’ You can see a few islands in the distance. The beach is covered with quality and beautiful white sands. Main characters in the TV drama series often spent time together here. Who would not have fallen in love with each other in such a beautiful environment?
Simodo Island Yeondogyo Bridge
Sido Island and Modo Island are connected by a bridge. Believe it or not, you can get to a totally different island in just a few minutes. The name Modo Island comes from the word ttiyeom (‘tti’ refers to King cogongrass). The legend says that fishermen in the region once complained that his fish net only had grass instead of fish. ‘Mo’ in Modo Island means ‘grass’ in Chinese.
Baemikku mi Sculpture Park
Baemikkumi Sculpture Park is located on Baemikkumi Beach in Modo Island. The ‘Baemikkumi’ (the local dialect meaning a hole in the bottom of a ship) has come from the fact the beach is as flat as the bottom of a ship. The beach is also famous for a sculpture park featuring a number of surreal erotic sculptures. Blue water, white sand, and dreamlike sculptures blend well with one another. The sculpture park has become a reason to many for a visit to Modo Island.
The Sinsimodo Islands, a paradise for bike enthusiasts
Together, the Sinsimodo Islands are small but pretty places to visit. Most notably, as they are connected, the Sinsimodo Islands will sustain the fame of a paradise for bikers in the West Sea for a long time to come.
Incheon Wolmido
Address
36, Wolmimunhwa-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
인천광역시 중구 월미문화로 36 (북성동1가)
Type
Seasides/ Beaches/ Islands
Inquiries
1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-32-765-4169
Wolmido Island (월미도), located roughly 1km off the coast of Incheon, has since become part of the mainland with the creation of a new highway. The name Wolmido Island comes from the shape of the island as it resembles the tail of a half moon. Thanks to its location near Seoul and the convenient transportation, many people visit here during weekends.
The Culture Street starts with Doodle Pillar, and continues onward to Meeting Square, Arts Square, Performance Square, Good Harvest Square and several other notable highlights. Throughout these areas, spontaneous performances are performed, and street artists can draw for you on the spot. Moreover, many cafes and seafood restaurants are lined along the coast so you can enjoy coffee or fresh seafood while viewing the sea.
A must-see attraction on Wolmido Island is “Play Hill.” It’s not as large as other theme parks in Korea, but the Apollo Disco and the Viking rides are truly thrilling. If you’re not into rides, the Apollo Disco ride is still fun just watching. You can also get on a cruise to look around the island.
Comment: this is of course the location of the most famous battle during the Korean war.
The island has a large park that had been a Korean military base and was only opened to the public since the turn of the century. The park is worth a long walk. The views are spectacular from the top.
The amusement park is a bit hooky in my opinion, but still worth a stop and a photo. The waterfront is nice to stroll along but the restaurants there are way over priced.
Jayu freedom park is near Wolmido and features a giant statue of General Mc Arthur and is also worth a visit.
There is a club that has Halloween decoration all year long and that is worth a picture. There are also statues and public art everywhere. And of course coffee shops, beer pubs etc.
About 100 US dollars per person for a sashimi dinner with drinks. The best sea food restaurants are a few blocks away from the water front area, and dinner for two will set you back about 40 dollars including soju.
The Korean government opened a maglev train around Wolmido for the Asian games. But after the games ended the maglev train was disconnected. In my opinion they missed an opportunity and should have extended it to Songdo and the airport as getting to Songdo from the airport is a big of a long subway ride.
Finally, Wolmido has a Korean tourism information stand. The people there are very helpful, speak good English and have lots of maps and guides in English and can also tell you about the ferries to the other islands. Well worth a stop. They are open until 6 pm most days.
To reach Wolmido, get off at the Incheon station on the Seoul-Incheon subway line. Take a bus to Wolmido or a taxi. It is not far from the station. Another fun way to get there is to take the ferry from Yongchongdo (airport island). The ferry runs every 30 minutes and is a five minute ferry ride. The last ferry is at 6:00 pm.
Gerang Mountain in Incheon (계양상)
This mountain is the biggest mountain in Incheon but hiking up to the top is not too difficult. Takes about one to two hours to reach the top and back down. There are lots of side trails as well. The spring and fall colors are magnificent. Lots of nice wildflowers as well. The mountain links to several other mountains in central Incheon. There is a nice old fortress at the top of the mountain. There are plenty of Korean restaurants at the bottom of the mountain.
The closest subway to Gyeansan (giei_iaŋ_saŋ) is Gyeyang subway on the Incheon subway line 1. You can transfer from the Airport express railroad coming from the airport or from downtown Seoul. You can also get off at the ARE stop and walk through the countryside to the mountain enterance along a nice stream bed.
*
Introduction of Mt. Gyeyang
With its altitude of 395m, Mt. Gyeyang is the guardian and holy mountain that represents Incheon. From the beginning of B.C. to the end of the 19th century, the city of Gyeyang was moved from the south of Gohyeon-eup in the Three Kingdoms Period having Mt. Gyeyang at the center and then to the northern and eastern direction. Until its transfer to the southern direction in Bupyeong-dohobueup during the Joseon Period, the city was developed through the capital transfer that was conducted for 6 times. At the peak of the eastern ridge in Mt. Gyeyang, there is Gyeyang Mountain Fortress that was built during the Three Kingdoms Period. Also in the south, Jungsimseong Castle, which was constructed in the 20th year of King Gojong (1883) with the participation of the residents in Bupyeong Village in preparation for defending the coast, is stretched along the ridge of Jingmaei Hill. According to the change of the place name, Mt. Gyeyang was called as Sujuak in Suju of the Goryeo Period and Mt. Annam during Annam-Dohobu. Since the period when this mountain was called as Mt. Gyeyang in the period of Gyeyang-dohobu, it has been called by its present name. This mountain was once called as Mt. Anam and Mt. Gyeongmyeong.
The name of Mt. Gyeyang was originated from the naturally grown Japanese Judas-tree and Korean box trees. Mt. Gyeyang was selected as the first urban natural park of Incheon city on Jan. 8, 1944 (Gyeyang Park) and since then, it became the No. 1 Municipal Park.
88, Gyesansae-ro, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, 21067, Rep. of KOREA 82-32-551-5701
Copyright ⓒ 2015 Gyeyang Incheon. All Right Reserved.
Office of Gyeyang-Gu Page – Includes information on hiking trails as well as travel advice in English
Sorae Pogu
111-200, Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea
This is the second largest seafood market in Incheon and specializes in crab, lobster, octopus, and shellfish freshly harvested from the nearby harbor. The boats come back laden with fresh seafood early in the morning. The place is happening all day long. You can buy your food at the market and then take it to nearby restaurants where they will prepare it for you and sell you soju and beer to wash it down. A very Korean experience!
More info on the port from Visit Incheon web site
Incheon Port was opened to the international community in 1883 through which western civilization came. Sorae Port has served as an important fish market for the Incheon region for more than 60 years after a small-scale fish market was formed in the wake of the Korean War (1950-1953) as war refugees caught shrimps and sold salted shrimps in an open market. Now the fish market at the port is across a railway bridge which has been remodeled as a pedestrian-exclusive bridge.
The market is particularly famous for shrimps, salted fish and blue crabs. In addition to such fresh seafood, you can enjoy fish stand owners’ generosity and seagulls flying over fishing boats and the fish market against a blue sky. The port plays host to festivals of fleshy prawn and blue crabs, whose freshness and taste are recognized nationally, attracting crowds of people from various areas of the country. Come to Sorae Port to smell the sea and feel the sky while touring a dynamic fish market and enjoying fresh seafood of your choice.
Yeonan Pier
Yeonan Pier is home to various important facilities such passenger terminals, Marine Square, the Fish Market Complex, the Raw Fish Restaurant Street, the Seawater Bath Street, Cruise Port, and Namhang Wharf. It is a popular weekend getaway place not only for residents of Incheon but also for tourists from other areas of Korea. For instance, the Fish Market Complex which more than 500 stores call home attracts a crowd of people wanting to buy a variety of fresh and salted fishery goods. The Raw Fish Restaurant Street is home to large-scale raw fish restaurant towns like the Raw Fish Department Store run by Incheon Fisheries Cooperative Association and the Yeonan Raw Fish Plaza. Visitors can enjoy diverse seafood dishes at affordable prices.
Yeonan Pier is also known for blue crabs. Female crabs are popular in spring while male crabs are delicious in autumn. Most notably, blue crabs caught around Yeonpyeongdo Island are highly regarded for the eggs and meat filling the shells completely.
Hiking in the Spring Time Snow
Talking a walk in the mountains
In the spring time snow
Snow falling down all over the trail
As I wander through the hills
Breathing the early spring smells
And seeing the world covered in white magic
The last remnants of the winter’s touch
Before the spring time gambol of flowers
Overwhelms nature once again
Preparing for the summer’s hellish heat
Hiking the Hills of My Youth
I grew up in Berkeley, California in the 60’s. Ever since I was a youngster I would wander the hills of Berkeley hiking for hours by myself and sometimes with my friends. I explored every nook and cranny every corner of the hills and got to know nature in its infinite beauty.
Ever since those days, I have longed for the day that I could spend my days hiking and wandering in the hills. Now that I am retired and living in Korea I can go for a long walk in the hills every day I want. It is not the same as the hills I grew up, no vistas of the Bay and it is in Korea to boot but most days it is sufficient as I head out early afternoon and conquer four or five miles of hills just enjoying that fact that I can still move and am still very much alive at age 62!
I grew up hiking the hills of Berkeley, California
Grew up knowing every corner of the hills
And the infinite beauty of the Bay Area
And now I find myself in a strange land
With time on my hands
I wander the hills above the airport
In Incheon Korea
And wander about here and there
Just being grateful
That I am still alive
And kicking at age 62
Yongjongdo Remixed Cherita version
In the early morning dawn
I like to go for a walk
Down among the cherry trees
And flowering plants
Just to welcome
Another fine spring day
As the sun comes up
Dispelling my dismal mood
And filling me
With love
Hope
and peace
As I walk the path
Of the world peace forest
Near my island home
Near the chaos of the airport
Through the forest
and over the mountain
breathing the spring time air
alive filled with life
and I think to myself
this moment
is the moment
that I am meant
to experience
life itself
and nothing more
nothing less
Just breath in life
Waiting to die
Living in the Far East
today’s challenge – write a direction poem
When I graduated from college
I joined the Peace Corps
And ended up in the Far East
And spend decades
Wandering about East Asia
Lived in Korea for ten years
In Thailand for two years
In India for three years
Travelled to Taiwan twice
Hong Kong and Macao
Vietnam twice
Japan four times
Learned Korean
Some Hindu
A smattering of Chinese
Japanese and Vietnamese
Married a Korean woman
And became half Korean
A kimchi addict
A true Korean foodie
Along the way
And now
As an old man
I live half the year
In the east
And half in the west
But my heart
Remains in the East
Who knows where I will die
If I die in the east
That will be fine
By me
For by now
I am half Asian
In spirit
And in East Asia
If I may meet my final days
that is fine by me
Walking Down The Frozen White Path
failed attempt at writing a ballad
walking down the frozen white path
as the evening starts to fall
as I walk in the snow and talk
listening to the bird calls
filling the air with the music of Bach
I find myself getting lost
as I continue my lonely walk
death waits heading to the end of time
As I walk the snowing cold path
the dark evil evening continues to fall
the very stars are on the war path
lightening the up air as they fall
littering the ground with their cosmic sprawl
as the dying sun sets into the dark night
Life of an Exiled Poet Wandering the Mountains
today’s challenge -write a poem about exile
I am living a lonely life
Exiled from my home land
A stranger in a strange land
Far from where I grew up
Searching for what I lost
Just an exiled poet
Wandering the mountains
Deep in thought
Wondering what
Adventures wait me
As I wander the mountain paths
Wandering here and there
Just searching for my lost life
Wondering where my life
Has gone so terribly wrong
And why I am on this path
I see on the mountain path
A secret climbing cave
And I enter the cave
Hoping to find
A portal
Back to my lost world
To my lost time
To the beginning
Of my journal
The beginning
Of my long exile
But I can’t find
My way back
And am soon lost
And so I become
A ghost-like figure
A lost soul
of the damn
Doomed to wander
The world
Wandering the mountains
Lost in dark thoughts
Forever exiled
From my love
Four Haiku and a Tanka
walking on the path
in the world peace forest
snowing cherry trees
the world at peace
walking with love of my life
all is right with me
the falling cherry trees
along the path of the forest
reminds us of love
noise on the TV
quiet on the path outside
peace in my soul
Dangerous Times Tanka
in dangerous times
we retreat to our corners
convinced we are right
everyone else is evil
everyone else must die
Poetic Sketch of Springtime in Yongonjgdo, Korea
today’s prompt was to write a poetic sketch
In the early morning dawn
I like to go for a walk
Down among the cherry trees
And flowering plants
Just to welcome
Another fine spring day
As the sun comes up
Dispelling my dismal mood
And filling me
With love
Hope and peace
As I walk the path
Of the world peace forest
Near my island home
Near the chaos of the airport
Through the forest
and over the mountain
breathing the spring time air
alive filled with life
and I think to myself
this moment
is the moment
that I am meant to experience
life itself
and nothing more
nothing less
Just breath in life
-wearing a mask should not be a political statement
more corona poems posted on the day the death rate hit 105,000 Americans
Here are some of my recent Corona poems. Many have been posted earlier and some have been published, many were posted on All Poetry, Poetry Soup and elsewhere. These poems are sometimes very political and perhaps in your face a bit but I am outraged at how badly the US and other countries have handled the Corona pandemic and dismayed to see that it is still being seen as a partisan political issue. This is particularly true of the fake controversy over wearing a mask. There can be no controversy – wearing masks save lives and is a very small infringement on individual rights so I just don’t understand that reluctance of some people to wear masks in public. Hence my outrage. Some of these poems were posted earlier, a few have been published and a few are newly written. Enjoy and the offer still stands for guest Covid Poems as I may write an update in a few months.
Wearing a Mask is not a political statement
To the owner of Liberty Bar and Grill
Corona Virus Stalks Me
Mad Mask Fears
Hope Springs Eternal in Our Year of Discontent
Wearing a Mask is not a political statement
Ode to Nurses
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
Conqueor Worm Corona Sonnet
Cosmic Debris Corona Sonnet
God Deals with Corona
Voice Message to God
General Corona Leads His Troops into Battle
Total Success
General Corona is Happy
Watching as the Entire World Falls Apart
Corona Virus Paranoia
End of the World
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
We Live in an Orwellian World
Woman Releases Balloons of Hope
Life Interrupted by Corona
The End of the World News Depresses Me
God Did Not Send the Virus to Punish America Found Poem
The Virus from Hell is Amused
Every Day I Turn on the News *
Irony Meters Blows a Gasket
Chaos
My Phobias Overwhelms Me
Fear Fills the Air
Is This the Best We Can Get
More Trouble Every Day
Taking a Walk in the Corona Woods
Lone Man in Empty Parking Lot
Virus King Cried *
Bring Out Your Dead
The Corona Virus is Testing Us All
Last Human on Island
Part Two Short Poems
Corona virus Haiflu
Virus came from Hell Haiflu
Bring Out Your Dead Haiflu
Death Comes Knocking Haiflu
Be Afraid, Afraid Haiflu
Virus Came from Hell Haiflu
Corona Virus Tanka
Calls Goes Out Haiflu
Corona virus haiflu
End of the World Haiflu
Walking in the Woods Haiflu
To Wear or Not Wear Haiflu
Watching the News Haiflu
corona Cinqku
Part One Longer Poems
Watching the News while 100,000 Americans Lie Dead
On the day
when the death toil
reached over 100,000 people
I turned on the news
the president remained silent
As the deaths continue to increase
Watching the news
the president and his minions
continuously lying
about his great job
his great success
As the deaths continue to increase
blaming everything
on everyone else
China, Obama, the democrats, liberals
Fake science, university researchers
the media simply for asking inconvenient questions
As the deaths continue to increase
attacking people for wearing masks
making wearing a mask
a political question
– real men don’t wear masks
As the deaths continue to increase
Self -proclaiming a transition to greatness
and still 35% of Americans
applaud this broken down
man who is our leader
As the deaths continue to increase
god help us all, if there is a God
perhaps he has abandoned us
in our hour of need, and left us
with the President who yearns to king
As the deaths continue to increase
our President will eventually
no longer be our President
and perhaps we will
be a greater country
once this nightmare is over
As the deaths continue to increase
Wearing a Mask is not a political statement
masked woman
to my friends in America
to those who think
that somehow the corona virus
only infects other people
that it is all a liberal hoax
overblown nothing more than a bad flu
and nothing to do with me
demanding that we all go
back to work right now
but refuse to wear a mask
that wearing a mask
is an infringement on your freedom
and a sign of weakness
and a political statement
that you are against the President
and a democrat
and a democrat
what is wrong with you?
have you lost your humanity?
A mask is not a political statement
a mask means you care
about other people’s life
and your own as well
will millions have to die
so you can have a Big Mac?
and a beer
whenever you damn please
and no one can tell you
please wear a mask
have you lost all reason?
Have you lost all reason?
is it all now
about owning the dems
and the damn liberates
is there any thing left
in your cold greedy heart?
and you still proclaim
that you are Christian
as you violate all the Christian principles
what would Jesus do
what does the bible say
we should do
in the midst of this pandemic
is it the Christian thing to do
is it the Christian thing to do
to let millions of people die
did not Christ talk about love
compassion and mercy
would not Jesus wear a mask
to protect himself and others
from this ravaging disease
that does not care who you are
who you voted for
which church you go to
and Jesus and God are not there
watching all of us
as the virus spreads
it will affect you
sooner or later
sooner or later
and when it does
perhaps if you had worn
a mask
you might have prevented
a few more people
from joining the 100,000 already dead
a few more people
including your grandfather, grandmother
friend, relative, co-workers might be alive
if you were not such a self-centered person
and I appeal to you my friend
to grow up, become a member
of the human race again
I understand that you are banning
wearing of masks inside your bar
because somehow wearing a mask
offends you and your Christian values
and makes a political statement
that the person wearing a mask
is a libtard or a Democrat
or anti-Trump
and those kinds are not welcomed
in your bar and grill
therefore you are putting your staff
your friends and your family at risk
of catching and spreading
the corona virus
the corona virus
You say that you don’t care
if people get the corona virus
it is nothing but a cold or flue
but the thing about it
the deadly thing about the virus
the virus does not care about you
or your political views
and if you or your friends catch it
some of them will get sick and die
and it would all be because of your actions
and wearing a mask is not
a political statement
wearing a mask does not show weakness
wearing a mask does not show weakness
and does not mean that the wearer
is a political enemy
I would respect you more
If you posted a sign
no liberals, democrats
non-whites, gays and anti-trumpers
allowed but that would be illegal
so you take it out on mask wearers
you are so following the Christian faith
what would Jesus say to you
I wonder?
Just shut up already
Put on the damn mask no doubt
Corona Virus Stalks Me
the dreaded corona virus
led by the demented general Corona
seems to be stalking me
everywhere I go
images of the dead
come to life
accusing me of something
as they fade in and out of view
ghostly images fill my fogged up glasses
as I walk down the street
hidden deep inside my masks
and I fear everyone
which is of course part
of the corona virus’s evil’s plan
to drive us all mad sending us to hell
News is Still Grim
watching the daily news
the constant doom and gloom
makes me want to cry
and hide away
waiting
waiting
waiting
for the end of the news
and a return to normal
but that seems
like a distant dream
perhaps it is our fate
perhaps it will be over
perhaps it will never
be over
and the news drones
on
and
on
on
and
on
overwhelming
me
with
cosmic
dread
as hundreds of thousands people
lie dead
Mad Mask Fears
I don’t understand
this fear of wearing a mask
somehow making you weak
that wearing a mask
is a political statement
“Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself with a forest dark
for the straightforward pathway had been lost”
THE THOUGHT COMES TO MIND
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE
ALL
LOST
THEIR
MINDS
content tracing Dante Inferno Canto one Line 1 to 3
Hope Springs Eternal in our Year of our Discontent
corona virus
Every day I watch
The daily news
That fills us with dread
Perfect storm of hatred,
fear and despair
Everywhere we go
nonstop fear broadcasted
Despair fills my heart as I turn on the news
Everywhere we are in the midst of the pandemic
Simply put death is at hand
Planning for the future yet waiting for death
At worst we will all die not today but soon
In the long term we are all dead
Remembering the dead all around us
yet I end this poem with a word of hope
hoping for the best
while preparing for the worst
all I can do to stay sane
as I await my fate
on this dismal date
April 1 is indeed
April Fool’s date
is that our fate
this endless dance with death?
and to end with a sign of hope
I know that if I have you by my side
I will survive I will survive
until the end of time itself
takes us to the other side
Ode for Nurses
In honor of national nursing day
I offer this simple poem
thanks to all the nurses
who work so hard
24/7
to keep us all alive
and healthy
you are the real heroes
of America
and deserve so much more
that you get
thank you
for all you do
Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
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 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
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
WE
WAIT
LATE
FATE
# content tracing: the Conqueror Worm By Edgar Allan Poe
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
Corona Consumes Me Corona Sonnet 3
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
God Deals with Corona
god is having a crisis meeting
on the corona virus situation
on planet 679542099199
otherwise known as planet earth
in a minor corner
of the milky way
the deranged inhabitants
of the planet
somehow thought that GOD
created them in his image
and that they are his children
all of them
and that he listens to his prayers
god was so tired of dealing with humans
the most ornery stubborn stupid creatures
of all the millions of sentient beings
he had to deal with them
more than any one else
God created the world
but then let nature take its course
and sometimes things worked out
and sometimes they did not
and God just did not have the time
to deal with every little detail
of life on millions of planets
across the vast universe
His arch enemy Satan
banished to Hell’s prison
was always causing trouble
everywhere in the universe
and Satan also loved the mad
creatures on planet earth
what was god to do
he did not know
as he saw the death rates
increase and grim reaper’s
armies go to work
his courts will be filled
billions stuck in limbo
for centuries
just did not have enough
staff to do the work
God signed off the conference
and sighed again
thinking about the mad creatures
on the planet earth
hoping that they would pull it together
but knowing that he might have to intervene
and went back to his other business
enough of humans for one day
General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets
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
the corona general sees humanity
the corona general sees humanity
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
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
Isolation Blues
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
General Corona is coming for us all
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 CAN
ESCAPE
OUR
FATE
content tracing “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
total Success
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
105,000 deaths in three months
and another great depression
becomes total success?
from our dear leader
and his hapless son-in-law
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
Watching as the Entire World Falls Apart
watching as the entire world falls apart
consumed by fears of the end of the world
things continue to fall apart around us
humanity turns to silent gods
who turn a deaf ear to our suffering madness
as the virus from hell spreads out all around
fearful people desperately running here
fearful people desperately running there
praying to the silent gods above us all
to rescue them from this hellish nightmare fate
that seems to becoming our fate this late date
and as we all die a million deaths just our fate
Corona Virus Paranoia
fears of the virus
fear of the coming pandemic
paranoia in the air
fear of the other
fear of the coming super bug
the end of the world
all wrapped up
in a simple weaponized virus
End of the world fears
tossed and turned
could not get to sleep
fearful of everything
fears consume me
as the nightmare news played
on in the background
screaming the latest
paranoid conspiracy
end of the world
nightmares becoming real
is the zombie “Apocalypse near
is it time for us to all
to run
for the proverbial hills?
Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
jehova
Rev. Jake ’s on-line sermon on the Corona Virus
I am reverend Jake and I have a message from God
Last night I had a vision from God
it was his message to the world
about this pandemic we are facing
I found myself in a large room
Jehovah, God, was sitting in the middle
surrounded by the other Gods
they were all there
Jesus on his right
Allah on his left
Buddha behind him
Ganesh, Shiva, Kali
Mohammed, Joseph Smith and other prophets
Gabriel and other angels abound
St Peter in front of his as his Chief of Staff
Zeus, Jupiter, Minerva and ancient
other gods all around him
God spoke up
He said
I have a message for you
to give to your people
all of your people
no matter what religion
or no religion at all
it is all one after all
first the corona virus
is a natural phenomenon
we have no control
over forces of nature
and we did not send
it to you
to punish you
for homosexuality
or anything else at all
Second obey the health directives
stay at home
do your services on line
it is okay with us
we are fine with that
the blood of Jesus
will not save you
If you are in a crowded place
like church or a mosque service
the virus will spread
and catch you in the end
Prayers alone will not save you
but please keep praying
we do listen to your prayers
but we can only do so much
So please don’t allow the virus
to spread
because of your ignorance
and fear
realize that in the end
the virus will do its thing
and you will survive
and we
all the gods here
love you humans
and wish you well
so stay at home
practice self-distancing
It is God’s will
all will survive
We Live in an Orwellian world
1984 images
we are living
in an Orwellian 1984 world
and have been for decades
we are assaulted daily
by alternative realties
promoted by various politicians
designed to shut down
all rational thought
true Orwellian thought control
and now with the corona virus
massive surveillance
has become the norm
and when the crisis is over
the surveillance will continue
on one excuse after another
forever as Orwell’s nightmare
big brother ruling us all
comes true
based on the fear that the massive increase in social surveillance being deployed against the Corona virus will after the crisis is over continue forever under one excuse or another as the Orwellian big brother dictatorships around the world become permanent
Woman releases balloons of hope
balloons for peace
A young woman
walks in a park
on a sunny spring day
carrying 25 red balloons
each red balloon
contains the name of those
that recently died
in the corona virus pandemic
she is releasing the balloons
hoping they would
rise to heaven
with a request for God
to hear her prayers
End this pandemic
End the death and destruction
release us from the corona pandemic
the woman releases the balloons
and slowly walks back to her house
to prepare to attend yet another funeral
as the pandemic swirls all around her
creative talents unleashed prompt
life interrupted by corona
covid19
we live in a strange world
life interrupted by corona
the virus spread throughout the world
disrupting everything
putting life on hold
as more people
hunkered down
waiting for the virus
to pass over us
like in biblical times
the virus
will test us all
and then
we will all
go back
to life interrupted
The end of the world news depresses me
trump jpg
the end of the world news
depresses me
makes me want to shout and scream
Shut up, leave me alone
to deal with my grief
amid the death and destruction
watching CNNMSNBCFOXBBC media nonstop
filled with essential dread
the end of the world is upon us
from the screaming news media
spreading forth across the land
fake news screams the president
all is alright he proclaims
no one believes his 16,000 lies
and so it goes
we are drowning with information
coming at us so fast and furious
When will it end my friend
is anyone’s guess
in the long run we are dead
God Did not Send the Corona Virus as a Punishment Black Out Poem
Robert_Jeffress
Corona Pandemic is Not’s God’s Punishment
Amid the coronavirus pandemic,
President Trump
Attended virtual Easter church services
I’ve had talks with the pastors,
We need to get back
to church so badly.”
Rev Jeffries is a great guy
I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
Rev Jeffries said
The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment
on America for abortion.
“People ask me all the time,”
‘Well, I just don’t understand
why God wouldn’t protect our nation
and he would allow these
radical Muslims in 2001
to kill 3,000 of our citizens
and why God doesn’t protect us
Surely, God doesn’t use pagans
to bring judgment
upon his own people,
does he?’”
I am sad to report
Rev Jeffries
I spoke to God
This morning
He confirmed
He did not cause 9-11
To bring judgement
On the US
For abortion
He went on to say
The corona virus
Is beyond his control
And he is not sending it
To punish the US
Or the world
His final words
Please tell Rev Jeffries
To simply shut up
the Virus from Hell is amused
corona virus
the Virus from Hell is amused
laughing at the world’s panicked reaction
as it marches through the world unabated
infecting everyone in its wake
as the world awaits its fate
the virus smiles he ain’t no fake
he is the real deal
he is death itself
he is the end of the world
the grim reaper is smiling
god is silent as usual
the world’s leaders
dither and dater
as the economy craters
everyone hoping that God
will save them
the virus does not care
insults and orders do not work
the virus simply does its virus thing
infecting everyone it encounters
and thousands will die
equal opportunity offender
killing the rich and the poor alike
but more poor people
just so many more poor people
than the few billionaires
the virus smile
his work is done
and mankind is doomed
so be it the virus thinks
that is the way of the world
and the virus is the new king
of the world
every day I turn on the news
nothing but news about the virus
the virus from hell
the world is filled with fear
and my anxiety levels rise
every time I turn on the news
oh my god I say
we are all going to die
and I am so afraid
afraid of everyone
afraid of everything
dreading the latest news
and nothing relieves my fear
I watch the world
loosing its collective mind
wondering how much more of this
can we all take
I scream out
Dear God save us all
god is silent as usual
and so I realized
we are doomed
perhaps it is the end times
perhaps not
I turn off the TV
try to stay calm
hoping the madness
will not overwhelm us all
Irony Meters Blow Gaskets
donald trump
the Irony meter gasket
is blown again and again
with every statement
of our chaos president
and his endless surrogates
promoting the latest Presidential
on spot guidance by our great leader
that must be true
because our dear leader
says it is so
The President accuses his democratic rival
of being senile and needs to be in home
and will be run by his radical left allies
and the right wing media
echoes the presidential absurd comments
refusing to acknowledge
that the president himself
is rapidly fading into dementia
and his radical right cronies
are looting the government
driving out expertise
even in the midst of pandemic
Oh yeah the irony meters
are blowing gaskets
every single day
Chaos
trump clown in chief
the world descends into chaos
as our world leaders
led by the chaos president
are overwhelmed
by the smallest
enemy of all
a simple virus
straight out of hell
blows through the crumbling
third world public health infrastructure
living proof of the decline of America
and no one is prepared
and panic ensures
with every Presidential tweet
as people don’t believe
a word he says
conspiracy rumors spread
everyone believes their own reality
as the world spins out of control
the chaos king is in his element
convince that only he knows
the deal
and everyone else
is iust a bit player
in the reality show
that he presides over
and so the rest of us
hunker down
just hoping for the best
as the panic and
chaos spreads faster
than the virus
are we doomed
can we survive
will God save us?
he is silent as always
My Phobias Overwhelm Me
covid 19 spread
lately I have become scared
of everything
the news scares me, the corona virus scares me, the presidential race scares me, fears of gun men in the street, terrorism, fears of getting sick, fears of dogs, fears of other people, fear of loosing money, fears of becoming demented old man, lost in his nightmares on the street just another invisible homeless bum in the end of his life
all these phobias overwhelm me
time to walk away from my fears
and realize
it will be alright
everything will be alright
As long as I have you
by my side
Fear Fills the Air
cnn logo
watching the news
CNNMSNBCFOXBBCKOREANNEWSJAPANESENEWSBLOOMBERABCCBSNBCGOOGLEAPPLEREUTERSAPIRUSSIANTVCHINESTVFRENCHTV
blather on and on
the world is ending
pandemic is coming
we are going to die
and the fear grows
and the restrictions grow
travel comes to stop
the economy comes to a stop
everyone is so afraid
our leaders fret
say that everything is fine
as the world enters
the second great depression
and we are faced
with the reality
all over the world
idiots in high places
the masters of the universe
are in charge
the internet spreads
the wildest rumors
must be true
I read it on the internet
the truth is lost
in the shuffle
no one believes anyone
everything thinks
that they know
it is all a conspiracy
the thought comes to mind
we are all so ’S….
end of the world
is upon us
is this the best we can get?
trump
watching the news
one wonders
how in this great country
of ours
335 million people
among the most educated
richest people in the world
we can end up
with such idiots in high places
running out country?
these idiots in charge
no disrespect intended
both political parties
all corporations
and our institutions
except maybe the military
has been infected
by this virus
of epic incompetence
greed and indifference
to the general good
who loudly constantly proclaim
that they are Christians
while violating
all of Christ’s teachings
Jesus if he came back
would scream out
I am not Christian
it is all about me
and mine
and you can go
to hell
if you dare to disagree
and so we tweet and titter
and watch the news
reading the latest rumors
and I wonder
if there is a god
or if there is a devil
and are we overwhelmed
by the dismal news
why can’t we have better
leaders
better people
in our leaders
around the world
has god abandoned us
are we in hell
or did god ever exist
except in our fevered imagination
will god save us all
or will the world
just go around the sun
indifferent to our pleas?
no answer
must watch the news
consumed by the need
to see the latest news
and so it goes
and I wake up
the sun is up
and the nightmares
fade away
until I watch the news
and the madness consumes
us all again and again
as the corona virus
marches on and on
consuming us all
as the world falls apart
these must be the end times
I hope I will be raptured away
even if I am not a Christian
More Trouble Every Day
The Old Zappa song plays
on in my head
every time I turn on the news
and see more trouble every day
no one can delay
the trouble coming every day
Frank Zappa died too soon
before the horrors of the Trump era
and the corona end of the world plague
that he would have foreseen
if he had lived on
he was truly a prophet
crying in the wildness
while making money
as an over night sensation
as he saw the slime
oozing out of the TV sets
we will do what we are told
for the rights to us have been sold
And Jesus too
has been sold
to the highest bidder
nothing but a business deal
in America
the land of the constant deal
and so I turn off the TV
and realize that
the torture never ends
the torture never ends
Taking a Walk in the Corona Era
peace forest
every day I go for a walk
in the spring time woods
near my house
braving the weather
and the dreaded corona virus
wearing masks and gloves
keeping a distance
from anyone we encounter
that is life it seems
in the era of the corona virus
when will it end
no one knows
until then
I will brave the viral threat
and confront my fears
and walk in the park
with the love of my life
my bride my wife
by my side
in these challenging times
that is all we can do
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
empty parking lot
A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
contemplating the new normal
social distancing run amuck
as fears of the corona super plague
plague the land
driving everyone inside
sheltering in place
afraid to go out
afraid of the deadly c virus
The Virus King Cried
virus king cried
published in Muse McAalster Journal
the virus king smiled
as the politicians lied
saying that the end was near
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king sneered
as people panicked
and partied on the beach
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king laughed
as the markets crashed
millions became unemployed
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king roared
as the world slid into chaos
people turning on one another
the virus king infected thousands more
and killed hundreds of people
the virus king smirked
knowing that there was nothing
that they could do to stop
his army from infecting millions
and killing thousands
the virus King begin to realize
that soon there would be no one left
no one for his army to infect
as everyone was dying
the virus King yelled
remaining defiant
as civilization collapsed
billions were infected
millions died
the Virus King at last cried
when he saw that he was defeated
as one by one
people began to recover
and his reign of terror came to an end
Bring out your dead
grimm reaper
the call bring out your dead
spreads around the world
as millions die
all over the world
the virus has spread
mutated and killed
all over the world
bring out your dead
the mournful cries
echoing in the wind
of the dying cities
mass starvation
as no is working
in the fields
as more people die
and the world spins
around the sun
with the politicians lying
and the dead still dying
as civilization dies
and humanity flee
into the wilderness
chased by the killer virus
straight down to hell
the corona virus is testing us all
the corona virus is testing us all
is it a plague
sent by God
if we have faith
will we recover
or it is beyond our control
the end of the world
does god hear our prayers
does god even exist
the virus from hell
spreads around the world
and test our faith
will god save us all
I have no answer
but perhaps if god exists
we will recover
from this plague
from hell
the four horse men ready to ride
four horsemen
the end of the world is upon us
as god unleashes the corona virus
which is spreading across the land
the four horse men are ready
to begin their grim journey
announcing the end of the world
the white horse comes first
offering peace and hope
in the midst of death
and despair
the red horse rides second
ushering in war
throughout the world
as nations turn on each other
and civil war looms
the Black Horse is ready
unleashing famine
on a starving world
as people stay at home
and food rots in the field
no one is able
to work any more
as the virus kills more
and more
the pale horse rides last
bringing death
in his wake
death all around us
as the virus kills us all
and civilization ends
the four horse men
have done their job
the virus finishes its reign of terror
and the few survivors
beging to recover
end of the world
came and went
and they are still alive
thanks to God
who remains silent
as always
Last Human on Island
in the deep blue sea
nothing there
but death and destruction
virus all around
pandemic plague
Apocalyptic views
end of times
death of civilization
Part Two Haiku, Haifu and CoVid Ku Poems
corona virus Haiku
corona virus
corona virus
staying home
waiting for death
Afraid everything
the virus came from hell
the virus came from hell
staying home waiting for death
Afraid everything
Bring Out Your Dead
bring out your dead cries
break out all over the world
we are waiting death
death comes knocking
death comes knocking
on our doorsteps tonight
will God hear prayers
be afraid, afraid
be afraid afraid
Must be afraid every one
Death is at our door
The Virus Came From Hell
the virus came from Hell
ravaging the entire world
all waiting for death
Corona Virus Fears Tanka
cover 19
Corona virus
lurking fears all around me
we all will die
the TV screaming nonstop
Must be afraid
The call goes out
the call goes out
stay at home
to beat the dreaded c virus
will we live
or all die?
five Haiflu/covid ku poems
corona virus
corona virus
spreading across the land
death waiting for us
end of the world
corona virus
it seems to be coming soon
end of the world
Walking in the woods
walking in the woods
amid corona virus
waiting for my death
To Wear or Not Wear a Mask
to wear or not wear
a mask is it just political
makes a statement
Watching the news
watching the news
crying at the growing deaths
politicians lying
Corona Cingku
virus
came from hell
to wipe us out
everyone must prepare
meet God
Love Poems
Okinawa Poems
Snarling Cup of Coffee
10 recent Poems
Gun Poems
April Poems
Cosmic Dreams
True Love Story
Howling at the Moon
Hell is Here to Stay
Fake Things
I hope to self publish some poetry on their site as well and will update this post when I do so. Stay tune.
I am a big fan of Haiku, Tanka, and other short poetical forms inspired by the Japanese and others. here are some of my short poems. Some have been published, most have not.
Nothing but love in my heart
Waiting for me to say it
And for you to believe it
In the beginning of the world
In the beginning of the world
I saw you there
Walking off that bus
And that was the beginning
Of my life with you
And the end of the rest of the world
Love Cherita -I Married the Girl of My Dreams
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
It All Began in Berkeley, California
It All Began in Berkeley, California
in the spring time of 1974
one fateful afternoon
I was nodding off
in my high school physics class
And saw her in my dream
I Looked Up
I looked up
and saw a tall, beautiful Asian woman
standing looking at me
She was the most beautiful women
in the universe to me
I screamed out, who are you?
She Disappeared
She Disappeared
like she was beamed
away from my dream
I knew that moment that someday
I would meet the girl
In the dream
Little Did I Know
Little Did I Know
I would have to wait
eight long years
Until 1982
to meet her in reality
when she walked off that bus
Starting that month
Starting that month
I began having the same dream
Month and month and month
Always the Same Dream
She was saying something
in a strange language
Then one day
then one day
I had the dream
and knew that she was in Korea
I Knew She Was Waiting for Me
I chose to go Korea
In the Peace Corps
Somehow knowing
somehow knowing
That I would meet her there
and I looked for her there
for three years
I looked everywhere
and never found her
One Day I Had the Last Dream
One day I had the last dream
It happened in the morning
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
That morning early in the morning
I had the last of these dreams
This time I understood her
She said,
“걱정 마. 우리는 곧 만날 것이다. ”
“geogjeongma. ulineun god mannal geos-ida.
“Don’t worry. We’ll meet soon.”
I Was Born Again That evening
I Was Born Again 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 was speechless
I did not know what to do
Wanted to tell her
How could I tell her that
Hey, you are the girl
I have been dreaming about
Over the Course of the Evening
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.
My New Life Began the Next Day
My new life began the next day
The next day she came to the gate
Of my base where I was teaching
She said that she had to speak with me
I told to wait in the library
for about an hour
I Would Cancel Class
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 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
But I Know That There Are Other Worlds
In a past life we must have been together
somehow our love was so strong
That it crossed over
the barrier of past lives
finding me in this life
She found me in 1974
She Found Me In 1974
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet
And it has been 35 years
Since we met in the physical sphere
Or 43 years since the dream began
And I still recall the dream
and I still recall the dream
I had no choice
when I met her
we were fated
to be together
until the end of time
End Dream Cherita
Morning Delight
Every morning
When I wake up
And see your face
The sunlight of your love
Fills my heart with deep contentment
And all is right with the world
Best Love Cinquain
Best Love
Love at First Sight
Met the girl of my dreams
My life began
that autumn day
True Dreams
I had a dream
Meet the Girl of my Dreams
She walked off that bus that day
Truth
Truth
True story
Love never ends
Love at First Sight Love
First Love
First Love
First time we kissed
Hot Electricity
Filled my soul with desire
Time stopped
Time
Time
Began
That fine day
Never Ending Love story
First Kiss
They say you always
remember forever
the first kiss of your life
it happened to me
back in 1967
In Washington DC
the first time
I kissed a sweet girl
I was eleven years in age
It happened in a class project
We were inside a fake space ship
And shared a French kiss
Kissing Angela in the Bar
My first kiss
With my lovely wife
Occurred in evil Itaewon
We went to a bar and drank a lot
Started kissing asked to leave the bar
Angela Cherita
I have dreamt of you
For almost seven long years
And now you are here
What can I do about this
Only thing to do love you
Until the End of Time
Thank to all the gods
For bringing you in my life
I will love you
For we are fated
to be together
From now to the end of time
Angela Haiku
Every day I wake up
To the love of my long life
And say Thanks to God
63 Years Young with You
I am 63 years young
63 years around the sun
37 of those years
I have spent
With my Dream Girl
the love of my life
63 years Around the Sun
63 Years around the sun
taught me a few things
life is too short
to carry a grudge
live your Life
Love a lot
Another Love Cinquain
My Love
Haunting my dreams
endlessly talking to me
Then walked out of the dreams
into my Life
Haiku Thinking of You
Thinking of you, dear
Wondering if you are too
Thinking of me too
Every Day I Wake Up
Every day I wake up
I see my fate in her face
Fall into her spell
Met My Fate
I met my late fate
Seeing her face in a bar
Met fate That Date
Published Hello
impossible Dreams
(audio for impossible Dreams, impossible dreams 2, life is but a dream and I married the girl of my Dreams)
impossible dreams sometimes they do come to life sometimes come true
Impossible Dreams 2
Impossible dreams
I have had a few come true
Dreamt of meeting wife
And in my dream life
She walked out of my dreaming
Night time vision came true
Life is but a Dream
Life is But a Dream
That is what they say my dear
And I have lived dreams
Dreaming of meeting her
Then she walks out of the dream
And into my arms
Married the Girl of My
Dreams
true love romance story
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
Skinny Valentines
Every day
All
Around
Me
I
See
Broken
Hearted
Woman
Every lover
Faces
Faces of all of my ex-lovers
All around me
Coming at me
Everywhere I look
Seeing my wife’s face in the sky
Shape of Sex
Sexual desires
Have a strange way about them
Arriving unannounced
Perhaps overwhelming at times
Erupting out of nowhere
Seriously disrupting my day’s plan
GLOW
Glowing light of the dawning sun
Lights up my dismal room
Overwhelming me with love
Watching my dream girl sleep
Angela (Acrostic poem for 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
On Top of the World
on top of the world
looking down
on all of creation
beneath my feet
Thinking
what a wonderful world
this is
as long as I have you
by my side
There is nothing more to be said
There is nothing more to be said
Nothing more I can add
Nothing more than this
I will love you
Until the end of time itself
and death does us part
A Message for You
A message for you
Love comes with the sunrise
a message from God himself
from the universe itself
in the eastern sea
Showering love rainbows upon you
Love Endures
Love Endures
the longer I live
the more I learn
that nothing endures in life
other than the love
I share with you
Success
In 62 years around the sun
I have learned a few things
About life and the universe
The most important thing in life
Is to have a successful love life
That is all one needs after all
Spring Doositsu
Waking up seeing you there
Watching you as you wake up
Fills me with such sweet 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
Love Triclinia
One Summer Day
I saw a rose on the bus
I met my fate
Angela Fills Me with Red Passion
angela
the love of my life
came to me out of a dream
walked off a bus into my life
filling my life
with red passion
Thanks Haiku
Every morning
I wake up alive with you
I give thanks to the Gods
Love Hexastich
love
for you
dreaming
of you
for years
until you walked
into my life
Love Sestet
you walked out of my dreams
into my life that day
the day that changed my life
when you became my wife
and filled my life with love
that date I met true love
Everything I Could Ever Dream
Love
My Dove
my dream girl
like a white pearl
she appeared to me
everything she could be
My love came to me in a dream
she was everything I could dream
Dreaming of You
dreaming
of my love
she came in a dream
Haunting me for eight years
then she walked out of my dreams
“What Dreams May Come “ from the Movie
Meeting You
I often think
what would I do
If I could go back
and change my past
the one thing I would still do
is meeting you
8 Years of Dreams
Dreaming her eight years
one day she really appeared
walked off a bus and into life
There is always one more time
There is always one more time
There is always a second chance
For love and happiness
In this dark world of ours
We will find each other
Til the end of time itself
Best Friend for 55 years
I have known Robert S since the first grade
over 55 years sharing life’s journeys
introduced me to demon rum and weed
Was there when I dreamt of my wife
and there during my 14 operations
My Memory Bank
Matt and I met in Latin class
in the 9th grade
he managed my first election
as BHS president
He knows most of my secrets
and reminds me of my past misdeeds
keeping me humble and alive
Best Friend in the Universe
I met my best friend, my soul mate
in a dream in high school
eight years later she walked off a bus
and entered my life 35 years ago
Still, my best friend I ever had
Published in “Whispers”
Part Two Pain Poems
Fake Pain Haiku version
Fibromyalgia
I have fake pain all day long
Don’t know if it is real
Magazine Bonsai Haiku
Living with Pain Hanibun
Back in 1996 I had the accident that changed everything.I went jogging one morning. It was dark outside, and I thought that I knew the trail. I fell down a ledge hidden where the trail should have been. I shattered me heal in a million pieces. I was rushed to an ER and told that I needed n emergency operation and would be bed ridden for four months. My wife was in San Antonio at the time serving in the Army, I was in DC working for the State Department. I flew in a wheel chair to San Antonio where they proclaimed that they had to wait a week for the swelling to go down before they could operate. The Air force doctors wanted to try a new procedure – using shark cartridge as a bone supplement. The operation was a success until I quit taking antibiotics six months later. I was in DC by myself then. I went to the hospital for an unrelated thing -removal of a cist I think. But the doctors took one look at me and proclaimed that the staph had become a multiple drug resistant staph and I needed an urgent operation. The next day I had the third of 15 operations. I endured six months at Walter Reed hospital but that was in the 90’s prior to the wars of the 21st century filled the base up. They had few customers and I got to know the doctors well
I know pain
Intimately aware of every ache
Every pain
Ever since that day
When I went under the knife
And had the 14 operations
That saved my life
But I am not one to complain
I became one with the pain
Which I endure to this day
Knowing that I am alive
Having cheated death
Twenty times in life
Waiting for the grim reaper
To finally claim me
But that day has not come
And until the, I will endure.
Hiking the Hills of My Youth
I grew up in Berkeley, California in the 60’s Ever since I was a youngster I would wander the hills of Berkeley hiking for hours by myself and sometimes with my friends
I explored every nook and cranny every corner of the hills and got to know nature in its infinite beauty
Ever since those days I have longed for the day that I could spend my days hiking and wondering the hills
Now that I am retired and living in Korea I can go for a long walk in the hills every day I want
It is not the same as the hills I grew up, no vistas of the Bay and it is in Korea to boot but most days it is sufficient as I head out early afternoon and conquer four or five miles of hills just enjoying that fact that I can still move and am still very much alive at age 62.
I grew up hiking the hills of Berkeley, California
Grew up knowing every corner of the hills
And the infinite beauty of the Bay Area
And now I find myself in a strange land
With time on my hands
I wander the hills above the airport
In Incheon Korea
And wander about here
and there Just being grateful
That I am still alive
And kicking at age 62
Coffee Poems
Coffee Haiku
cup of coffee
I like my coffee
Like my women hot
as hell and Heaven
coffee drink of the gods
7-2-coffee-
coffee drink of the gods
also drink of the dogs
satan
Coffee Madness
coffee
every morning coffee madness
consumes me and overwhelms me
one day coffee madness
More Coffee
too much coffee
More coffee
must have more
it consumes me
just need one more
Darker Poems
Nuclear War Looms
nuclear war looms
North Korea U.S. Launch Nukes
End of the world
Zombies Apocalypse
audio clip includes Zombie poems, and Evil Fog
the zombies unleashed
killing everyone they see
zombie apocalypse
Zombies to the right of me
Mature Couple being attacked in their car by a hoard of zombies.
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies run amuck
Evil Fog
evil fog descends
killing everyone at once
end of life on earth
Ghosts in Scotland
While touring Scotland
Meeting Ghosts in the wild moors
I believe in ghosts
The Future of NYC
NYC
In the distant future
the world will end
with a massive flood
and NYC will slowly sink
beneath the waves
and humanity will die
Fear of Falling While Sleeping
I am consumed
with the fear of falling
out of bed
onto the ground
dying in my sleep
Life is a Dream of Chocolate Covered Trees
Life is a dream
of chocolate covered trees
for to see what can’t be seen
for to hear what can’t be heard
to see what can’t be seen
to live in oder to die
and to die in order to live
Note: oldest poem written when I was 16! in 1972
Spirits
Satanic spirits all around me
Particularly late at night
In the middle of the night
Rapidly erupting everywhere
Infesting my very being
Taking over my very soul
Satanic demons of the night
Freaky
Freaky sounds fill the air
Radio is on playing the music of the dead
Everywhere I hear the music of my doom
All around me I see my fate approaching me
Keeping me awake with cosmic dread
Yes the end time approaches
Scorpion Nights 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
Looking at the Hidden Machinery of God
One day
I woke up
and found myself
in God’s hidden factory
watching the machinery of God
running the world
and realized
that God was indeed
the chief engineer of the universe
as I watched the machinery
of creation
creating the world anew
every morning
Endless Noises on TV
endless noise on TV
quiet on the path outside
peace in my soul
Dangerous Times Tanka
In dangerous times
we retreat to our corners
convinced we are right
everyone else is evil
everyone else must die
Dream What May Come
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
Always catching up
embrace your fate
on this date
Fate Endlessly dancing away
that is what’s up
at the end of the date
Solage Poems
Darkness consumes Me
Love Madness consumes me
whatever will be will be
love
Dreaming Dark Dreams
Dreaming Dark dreams
wondering what will become of me
death
War Rumors of War
war rumors of war
spreading everywhere war
destruction
Are These the End of Time
are these the end of time
biblical prophecies
Hell
Florette Poems
Twenty Twenty
twenty twenty
feared by many
reasons plenty
feared by many
the end times are coming
These Strange Visions
these strange visions
nightmare visions
nightmarishly real
or is this just my fate
to have visions galore
howling at the Moon Florette
howling at the moon
the mad full moon
filled with madness
screaming like an escaped banshee
pure madness
I See the Moon Florette
I see the blood red super blue moon
smiling full moon
the blood red super blue full moon shines
providing mad signs
deep in mountains
filled with thoughts of the moon
howling
The Evil Moon Florette
the evil blue super full moon
blood red blue moon
terrifies me
I run consumed with hot mad desires
mad moon cries out
Nature Poems
Walking on the Path
walking on the path
in the world peace forest
snowing cherry trees
the World at Peace
the world at peace
walking with love of my life
all is right with me
Falling Cherry Trees
the falling cherry trees
along the path of the forest
reminds us of love
Two Cats
two cats walking by
one black one one yellow one
both alien creatures
Birds Flying Away
Watching the black birds
birds flying away
fleeing the wild cats about
The World Peace Forrest
the world peace forrest
passes by my apartment
every day I walk it
Deer in the Park
I seldom see the deer
that live in the park near me
they are just too shy
Never Saw the Wild Pig
I never saw the wild pig
the Pig that lives in the woods
just heard him oinking
Korean Charcoal Saunas
korean charcoal
saunas are amazing
cure for everything
Walking In Snow
walking in snow
on a cold night
winter old friend
the world becomes so cold
Contended Pigs
Contended Pigs
Increasing food costs
Piles of rotten garbage
Spring Time In Seoul
Springtime In Seoul
full of promised weather
chase away winter
At the Center
at the center of
all of reality
a flower blossoms
Australia and California Burning Bright
Australia and California
burning bright wildfires
end of the world
an apocalyptic
a vision of world’s end
26 Alphabetical Haiku
Angela
The Love of My Life
A is for Angela Lee
Love her Forever
Breathing
B is for breathing
Sometimes I forget to do so
And will pay the price
Charlie
C is for Charlie
All the Charlies in the world
Every last one of them
Demel
D is for my Friend
Demel Tucker was his name
He died way too soon
Evergreen
E is for ever green
The Eucalyptus. trees
That cover the East Bay
Friendship
F is for friendship
All my friends in the world
I remember you
Golf
G is for golfing
Sometime I never could do
But always wanted
Hotels
H is for Hotels
The best and the worst everywhere
Here there and in SF
Indians
I is for Indians
Indian and American
And the Cherokees
Japan
J is for Japan
Japanese Food and Sake
Hot Sake tonight
Korean
Best Korean Food
K is for Korea
Soju Malkali
Latin
L is for Latin
The language I struggle with
Latina lovers
Mothers
M for your mama
My crazy Mother as well
Everyone’s mothers
Never
N is for never
Ever ever use the N Word
Even amongst friends
Ohio
O for Ohio
Oklahoma City too
And Oregon
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Pittsburg and Phillie Cheese Steaks
True Decadence
Russia
R for Russia
The Russian gate
Scandal de jour
Queens
Q is for my Queens
My best LGBT friends
Where ever they live
Satanic
S for Satanic
I don’t believe you exist
Powers and spells
Turkey
T is for Turkey
The country and bird
The Thanksgiving feasts
Unwary
U is unwary
So Unfriendly
So very un-cool
Victory
V is for victory
V is for vegan veggies
Very green smoothies
Whatever
Whatever will be
Whoever you want to be
Whateveryou want
X Files
X marks the spot here
Burried treasures and loot
Or just mad dreams
Yes
Y is for saying Yes
Yes to everything under the sun
And throughout the night
Zoo
Z is for the show Zoo
Still haunts my every night mare
The animals kill
Computer Haiku
evil_computer_is_evil_by_insanefangirl_
Damn It All to Hell
Damn it all to Hell
My damn computer
Ate all my damn files
I am Trapped
I am still trapped
I am still trapped
Stuck inside my computer
My Damn Computer
I love my computer
My Damn Computer
When it works for me
Computer On Strike
My computer is on strike
It refuses to work
Usually nothing
Computer Hates Me
Computer hates me
He wants to kill my files
Wants to kill me too
Computer Hates Me 2
Computer hates me
It wants to drive me insane
Wants to kill my files
For once I Would Like
For once I would Like
To have my computer work right
Do what is should do
Perhaps if I Am Nice
Perhaps if I am nice
To my computer
It will be nice to me
Perhaps Today It Will
Perhaps today it will
Not give haiku messages
That it loves to sprout
My Bad Computer
My bad computer
Is so damn evil
Almost killed me
What a Fate I Have
What a Fate I have
To become a slave to it
To my damn computer
I Love My Machine
I love my machine
My mad as a hat machine
Bat shit crazy machine
My dear computer
My dear computer
Loves to send me these love notes
Computer haiku
My favorite Haiku
My favorite Haiku
General failure reading
Disk Drive Fata Error
Who is General Failure
who is general
Failure and why is he
reading my disk drive
Computer Tanka
For once in my life
I would like my computer
To turn on and work
Do what it supposed to do
Without sprouting such haiku
I hate my computer
I hate my computer
It seems to hate me as well
Just refuses to work
Ornery son of a bitch machine
ornery machine
Ornery son of a bitch machine
Driving me insane
My computer loves Me Not at All
My computer loves
me not at all it still wants
to kill my files
It wants to take my soul away
turn me into its evil clone
My bad computer
My bad computer
Has been infected with a virus
Wants to kill my soul
Transforming consuming
Taking me inside its soul
My mad computer
Infected with a virus
Everything it touches
Corrupted by mad zombies
Controlled by evil AI
Revenge is mine
Revenge is mine
Screams the mad evil machine
As it lurks to life
Trying to hunt me down
Death to all human beings
End Computer Haiku
I Want a Dog’s Life</h2 > I want a dog’s life
That’s what I want in next life
All A dog needs to be is cute
And his master will feed him
It is a dog’s life for me
Nightmare Cinquain
Night mares
Endless fears all night long
Can’t escape running from these dreams
All night
more Night mares
Endless fears all night long
Huge Monsters chasing me
Hideous Creatures from Hell Itself
Monsters
Fiendish Hell hounds escaped Banishes
screaming bloody murder
they chase me all the way
I die
Christmas Ronka
December End of the Year
The blues knocking at my door
I open the door to winter
Arctic blast freezes my cold face
Secrets
Secrets
Everywhere
Constant lies and deceit
Revolution in the air
Everywhere
All around us
There is nothing but
Secrets
Lion Desires
lion
Lion
Wild Beast
In
Dark jungle
Finally emerging to hunt
At dawn
Hungry
For breakfast
Human-meat
looking at the hidden machinery of God
One day
I woke up
and found myself
in God’s hidden factory
watching the machinery of God
running the world
and realized
that God was indeed
the chief engineer of the universe
as I watched the machinery
of creation
creating the world anew
every morning
Jake’s Golden Shovel
A sense of cosmic unease hangs
coming over all of us silently
hanging in the purple
air that has turned crystalline
reflecting my moods in the sky
Political Rants
The Impeachment Trial
The Impeachment Trial
overwhelms me with dread
are we near the end
Recently I Learned That I am Part Jewish
Recently I learned that I was part Jewish
That was long rumored in our family tree
Never confirmed until DNA came again
But whether my Jewish ancestors lived
Or died in the holocaust I have not heard
Never again will we live through that pain
Neo Fascism Must Be Defeated Again
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 should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
In this day and age of fake news
And neo fascism rising yet again
It is important to bear witness
To the undeniable fact
That the holocaust
can never ever come again
That is what we must vow every day
Never again
The Neo-Fascists Are On the March
By their champion the man in Orange
Whose racist mutterings have let loose
The ranting nutty voices of the right
Championing their god given right
To rule and regulate all
that they see
Panic
Panic attacks
comes over come me
always happen
when I turn on the news
in case
I hear our dear leader
constant chaos around us
Trump
The President of the United States
Republican Leader of the Free world
Uber ales nations
Muttering insanities
Preposterous Nonsensical tweets
Putin
Post Modern Leader
Uniting all the Russians
Triumphant against all enemies
Including the Great Satan
Nevertheless always living in fear
thanks so much to the 48 people who downloaded my second chapbook. I participated last year but fewer people took advantage of the download because i did not promote the contest enough. this year more people participated. I will do this annually along with my annual April Poetry poem a thon and the NaNoWrMo contest. Keep it up as long as I can.
If you have not downloaded the poems they are available below.
here’s the link to the downloads
DOWNLOAD 38 POETRY E-BOOKS FOR FREE NOW!
The 15th annual Poetry Super Highway E-book Free-For-All is on now. 38 e-books have been donated by poets from all over the world and they are now available to download for the next 24 hours for free. Click HERE to get your free e-fill.
This is a limited time offer…the free download links will disappear tonight at midnight (pacific – the evening of December 1st) and we’ll post a new page shortly thereafter letting everyone know how many times each book was downloaded.
Please consider downloading my chapbook April Poem a Thon Poems on December 1, 2019 from the Poetry Super Highway site. I am again taking part in their annual free poetry chapbook contest. My book contains my 2019 April poems, the 2018 and 2017 poems along with audio and photos can be found on my web page https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com. and consider downloading all the other fine poets participating.
LAST DAY to Join the Great E-Book Free-For-All!
30 e-books have been sent in for the Poetry Super Highway’s 15th Annual Great E-Book Free-For-All so far! Join in! Send us your e-book TODAY by 10pm and we’ll add it to the pile of e-books which will be freely available to download by anyone on earth for 24 hours starting tonight at midnight! (pacific)…a free-for-all. The deadline to join with your ebook is TONIGHT, Saturday evening, November 30, at 10:00 pm (pacific).
Feedspot has added my poetry blog to their list of 100 . Please take a look at the list of poetry blogs and sign up for as many as you can, and of course, if you have not yet signed up for my blog please do so now.
In 2017, I participated in my first April Month of Poetry poetry challenge with Tiferet Journal, and copied to All Poetry, Poetry Soup and writing.composted all on my blog along with photos and audio links, in 2018 I again submitted poems through Tiferet Journal, but in 2019 just posted on All poetry, poetry soup and writing.comand on my blog of course..
Comments and feedback greatly appreciated.I intent to make this an annual creative project and keep going as long as I can.
Due to size restrictions, I am only posting 2019 poems,The 2017, 2018 and 2019 poems are available on my web page along with photos and audio.
April 2019 Poem a Thon
Index
63 Years Haut
A penitent Considers another Coming of Mary
Springtime in Seoul
today just for today
Agnostic Dyslectic Wonders if There is a Dog
It Can’t Happen Here or Has it?
So Excited to Be Alive at 63 all poetry
Trump
It’s a Dog’s Life
Scorpio Passion all poetry
Just an Unhinged Werewolf Howling at the Moon
Glowcreative talent unleashed prompt
Old Lady and the Genie
Coffee Love Hate Affair
Coffee Blues
Morning Thoughts
Santa James Came to Town
Love Chinquapin
Nightmare butterfly chinquapin
Dedication to the Women I love
The Art of Stealing Money, anatomy of a bank scam
Incheon Beach waltz wave poem
California Burning Bright
Shaman Prays for Humanity
Catching the Trump Fever
Releasing the Trump Monsters
President Trump, International Fire Fighter in Chief
April 1 A penitent Considers another Coming of Mary
I sometimes wonder about the Virgin Mary
I sometimes wonder about the Virgin Mary
Wonder who she was and what she may
Have had to do with the birth of the savior
For I do not believe that story today
or any day for that matter I can notleave
these thoughts that hang in the air
thinking that she must have been with men
and will be with them again
April 1, Today 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
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
April 2 It Can’t Happen Here or Can 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
April 3 So Excited to Be Alive
I wake up
with the dawning sun
so excited
to be alive
at age 63
I look at my sleeping beauty
and realize yet again
my life began
the 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
April 4th Trump
Triumphed against all enemies
Remaining unvanquished
Uniting all who oppose him
Might makes right
Patriots unite behind the Great Leader
April 4th I Want a Dog’s Life
I want a dog’s life
That’s what I want in next life
A dog needs to be cute
And his master will feed him
It is a dog’s life for me
April 4th 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
April 4th Scorpion Nights 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
April 5th GLOW
Glowing light of the dawning sun
Lights up my dismal room
Overwhelming me with love
Watching my dream girl sleep
April 6th The Old Lady 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
April 6th 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 Winnemucca
Where I got off
And found my bus pass
Had found another owner
And I went to Salt Lake City
Still trapped in the back of the bus
April 6th 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 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
April 6 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 up
Flying 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 not 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
Not the same thing at all
But that is all I can handle
As I am a coffee addict
And always will be
April 6 Coffee Blues
Coffee is my drug of choice
Always has been
Ever since I first tried
As a young lad
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 you 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
April 7th 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 8Lucky 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 win
Anatomy of a legal Bank Scam
Not too long ago
One trusted the banks
And the government
With your money,
your stocks
Your investments
Your financial life
Then the states discovered
That if you claim
Because you did not look at your account
Or perform an activity
They can send it to the State
Where it goes
into the lost property division
And the State can sell your assets
The banks are required to notify you
they never send you a letter
They falsely claim
They don’t have your address
Yet three months
before they had sent you a statement
which did not bounce
so you received it
three months later
without your knowledge or permission,
the bank declares
your property has been abandoned
violating their own rules
they have to wait three years
of no “activity”
but they send it in after 15 months
why ?
because they can
because you are nothing to them
but small cash they can steel
Then the State sends you
An official-looking letter
That screams fraud
You call the Bank Fraud’s office
They claim
It was a bogus letter
Your account is just fine
And you do nothing
Until the banks confirm
Oh yes we sent your funds
To the state
As per our strict rules
They did nothing wrong
You see
Did not know how to contact you
They falsely claim
The state tells you file
A claim
and because the amount is relatively small
no lawyer will help you
and the banks
will laugh at you
for trusting them
to do the right thing
the true bank robbers
are the banks
and the crooked states
working in cahoots
who love to steal
your money
because well they can
and they just did
caveat emptor
my friends
the banks are not your friend
they will rip you off
with endless nonsensical fees
and rules
and red tape
and blame you for complaining
eventually, you may recover
your funds
After a long fight
perhaps not
welcome to American banking world
where financial crime
is not a crime
in the land of the no longer free
Jake Aller
one of your millions of customers
you screwed over
Ugh
April 9 Love Chinquapin
My Love
Haunting my dreams
Nightly talking to me
Then walked out of the dreams into
my Life
April 10th Nightmare Butterfly Chinquapin
Night mares
Endless fears all night long
Huge Monsters chasing me
Hideous Creatures from Hell Itself
Monsters
Fiendish Hell hounds escaped Banishes
screaming bloody murder
they chase me all the way
I die
April 10Nightmare Chinquapin
Night mares
Endless fears all night long
Can’t escape running from these dreams
All night
April 11 Dedication Poem to the women in my Dreams
Dedicated to the woman of my Dreams
women
lives in my dreams
I dedicate this poem
You came out of my nightly dreams
My Love
My Love
I dreamt of you
For eight long years starting
Dream of you in 79 met in
82
82
We met in that year
Love at first sight I knew
You were the one for me my dream girl
My Love
The Art of Stealing Money –Anatomy of a Bank Scam
The bankers
God rest their evil souls
Have mastered the art
Of stealing
Their client’s money
Through one means or another
Your money
Is their money
And their money
Is none of your business
Recently we fell victim
To such a scam
We had stocks in a bank
But we failed
To actively manage the account
And the bank said
Because we had not acted
On the account
Over three years
We had abandoned the account
We fell victim
to such a scam
The bank
was supposed to
To contact us
But they lied,
claimed
That they did not know
Where we were
And could not contact us
Thus, our account
disappeared
Into the hands
Of the greedy
State of Delaware
We have to reclaim
The money
That the bank
Through their mistake
Sent to Delaware
If the bank
makes a mistake
You loose
If you make a mistake
They win
That’s all part of the art
Of stealing your money
All in a day’s work
For the evil soul sucking bankers
The so called masters of the universe
Incheon Beach Waltz Wave Poem
beach
near home
now
sun set
The West Sea
Incheon
sea
Spring Time
night sun set
over the sea
Sun goes down
near by
beach
water
waves come in
over beach
view
is great
nice
California Burning Bright
California
burning bright wildfires
end of the world
an apocalyptic
a vision of world’s end
April 15, 2019Prayers for the 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
April 16, 2019
Why do all fake Natives call themselves “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
Catching the Trump Madness
It seems that every day
The trump madness deepens
As our leader descends
Into dementia and madness
And his followers continue
To follow having drunk the Kool aide
They don’t see the madness
That Trump has engendered
They are immune from all criticism
It is all fake news to them
Nothing but nonsense
Part of the anti-Trump cabal
And as the world descends
Into more madness
Led by the mad king
I despair
Wondering if and when
The world will wake up
And shake off this madness
This trump fever
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
The Trump madness never ends
President Trump International Fire Fighter in 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
France’s civil defense agency,
Sécurité Civile, tweeted —
once in French
and once in English
— less than two hours after Mr Trump
sent his tweet
and appeared
to directly respond to the US president.
“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.
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 am a big fan of Haiku, Tanka, and other short poetical forms inspired by the Japanese and others. here are some of my short poems. Some have been published, most have not.
The President of the United States
Republican Leader of the Free world
Uber ales nations
Muttering insanities
Preposterous Nonsensical tweets
Putin
Post Modern Leader
Uniting all the Russians
Triumphant against all enemies
Including the Great Satan
Nevertheless always living in fear
Somonka for Angela
I have dreamt of you
For almost seven long years
And now you are here
What can I do about this
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 in my life
From now to the end of time
63 Years Haut
63 years old
taught me a few things
life is
to short
to carry a grudge
live and love a lot
Love Chinquapin
My Love
Haunting my dreams
endlessly talking to me
Then walked out of the dreams into
my Life
Four Haiku and a Tanka
walking on the path
in the world peace forest
snowing cherry trees
the world at peace
walking with love of my life
all is right with me
the falling cherry trees
along the path of the forest
reminds us of love
endless noise on TV
quiet on the path outside
peace in my soul
Dangerous Times Tanka
In dangerous times
we retreat to our corners
convinced we are right
everyone else is evil
everyone else must die
Fake Pain Haiku version
Fibromilyagia
I have fake pain all day long
Don’t know if it is real
Angela Haiku
Every day I wake up
To the love of my long life
And say Thanks to God
Haiku Thinking of You
Thinking of you, dear
Wondering if you do too
Thinking of me too
Every Day I Wake Up
Every day I wake up
I see my fate in her face
Fall into her spell
Met My FateHaiku
I met my late fate
Seeing her face in a bar
And my fate ended
Published Hello Magazine Bonsai Haiku
Living with Pain Hanibun
Back in 1996 I had the accident that changed everything.I went jogging one morning. It was dark outside, and I thought that I knew the trail.Big mistake.I fell down a ledge hidden where the trail should have been.I shattered me heal in a million pieces.I was rushed to an ER and told that I need an emergency operation and would be bed ridden for four months.
My wife was in San Antonio at the time serving in the Army, I was in DC working for the State Department.I flew in a wheel chair to San Antonio where they proclaimed that they had to wait a week for the swelling to go down before they could operate.The Air force doctors wanted to try a new procedure – using shark cartridge as a bone supplement.The operation was a success until I quit taking antibiotics six months later.I was in DC by myself then.I went to the hospital for an unrelated thing -removal of a cist I think.But the doctors took one look at me and proclaimed that the staph had become a multiple drug resistant staph and I needed an urgent operation.The next day I had the third of 15 operations.I endured six months at Walter Reed hospital but that was in the 90’s prior to the wars of the 21st century filled the base up. They had few customers and I got to know the doctors well.
I know pain
Intimately aware of every ache
Every pain
Ever since that day
When I went under the knife
And had the 14 operations
That saved my life
But I am not one to complain
I became one with the pain
Which I endure to this day
Knowing that I am alive
Having cheated death
Twenty times in life
Waiting for the grim reaper
To finally claim me
But that day has not come
And until then
I will endure
Hiking the Hills of My Youth
I grew up in Berkeley, California in the 60’s.Ever since I was a youngster I would wander the hills of Berkeley hiking for hours by myself and sometimes with my friends.I explored every nook and cranny every corner of the hills and got to know nature in its infinite beauty.
Ever since those days I have longed for the day that I could spend my days hiking and wondering the hills.Now that I am retired and living in Korea I can go for a long walk in the hills every day I want.It is not the same as the hills I grew up, no vistas of the Bay and it is in Korea to boot but most days it is sufficient as I head out early afternoon and conquer four or five miles of hills just enjoying that fact that I can still move and am still very much alive at age 62.
I grew up hiking the hills of Berkeley, California
Grew up knowing every corner of the hills
And the infinite beauty of the Bay Area
And now I find myself in a strange land
With time on my hands
I wander the hills above the airport
In Incheon Korea
And wander about here and there
Just being grateful
That I am still alive
And kicking at age 62
There is nothing more to be said
There is nothing more to be said
Nothing more I can add
Nothing more than this
I will love you
Until the end of time itself
and death does us part
A message for you
A message for you
from the universe itself
in the eastern sea
Love Endures
Love Endures
the longer I live
the more I learn
that nothing endures in life
other than the love
I share with you
the cancer that is Trump
The cancer that is Trump
Will continue to fester
and continue to cause turmoil
that is the nature
of the malignant cancer
that is the Trump Presidency
62 Years Young
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
Married the Girl of my Dreams
true love romance story
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
Success
In 62 years around the sun
I have learned a few things
About life and the universe
The most important thing in life
Is to have a successful love life
That is all one needs after all
Haiku Thinking of You
Thinking of you, dear
Wondering if you do too
Thinking of me too
Coffee Haiku
I like my coffee
Like my women hot as hell
sweet Like Heaven
Spring Doositsu
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
Love Triclinia
One Summer Day
I saw a rose on the bus
I met my fate
Nuclear War Looms
nuclear war looms
North Korea U.S. Launch Nukes
End of the world
Zombies Apocalypse
the zombies unleashed
killing everyone they see
zombie apocalypse
Evil Fog
evil fog descends
killing everyone at once
end of life on earth
Zombie to the right
Zombies to the right
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies run amuck
Ghosts in Scotland
While touring Scotland
Meeting Ghosts in the wild moors
I believe in ghosts
angela
angela the love of my life came to me out of a dream walked off a bus into my life filling my life with red passion
Thanks Haiku
Every morning
I wake up alive with you
I give thanks to the Gods
Damn it all to Hell
Damn it all to Hell
My damn computer
Ate all my damn files
I am still trapped
I am still trapped
Stuck inside my computer
My damn computer
I love my computer
I love computer
When it works for me
Usually nothing
Computer hates me
Computer hates me
He wants to kill my files
Wants to kill me too
Computer hates me 2
Computer hates me
It wants to drive me insane
Wants to kill my files
For once I would Like
For once I would Like
To have my computer work right
Do what is should do
Perhaps if I am nice
Perhaps if I am nice
To my computer
It will be nice to me
Perhaps today it will
Perhaps today it will
Not give haiku messages
That it loves to sprout
My bad computer
My bad computer
Is so damn evil
Almost killed me
What a Fate I have
What a Fate I have
To become a slave to it
To my damn computer
I love my machine
I love my machine
My mad as a hat machine
Bat shit crazy machine
My dear computer
My dear computer
Loves to send me these love notes
Computer haiku
My favorite Haiku
My favorite Haiku
General failure reading
Disk drive fatal error
Computer Tanka
For once in my life
I would like my computer
To turn on and work
Do what it supposed to do
Without sprouting haiku
I hate my computer
I hate my computer
It seems to hate me as well
Just refuses to work
Ornery son of a bitch machine
ornery machine
Trying to drive me quite insane
My computer loves
My computer loves
me not at all wants to kill
me and all my files
wants to take my soul away
turn me into its evil clone
My bad computer
My bad computer
Has been infected with a virus
Wants to kill my soul
Transforming consuming
Taking me inside its soul
My mad computer
Infected with a virus
Everything it touches
Corrupted by mad zombies
Controlled by evil AI
Revenge is mine
Revenge is mine
Screams the mad evil machine
As it lurks to life
Trying to hunt me down
Death to all human beings
Every day I wake up
Every day I wake up
I see my fate in her face
Fall into her spell
Met My FateHaiku
I met my late fate
Seeing her face in a bar
And my fate ended
Published Hello Magazine Bonsai Haiku
True Sucess
The most important thing in life
Is to have a successful love life
That is all one needs after all
Haiku Thinking of You
Thinking of you, dear
Wondering if you do too
Thinking of me too
Spring Doositsu
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
Dream Girl
In search of dream girl
I spent seven years looking
she walked into Life
impossible dreams
impossible dreams
sometimes they do come to life
sometimes come true
Impossible dreams 2
Impossible dreams
I have had a few come true
Dreamt of meeting wife
And in my dream life
And in my dream life
She walked out of my dreaming
Night time vision came true
Life is but a dream
Life is But a Dream
That is what they say my dear
And I have lived dreams
Dreaming of meeting her
Dreaming of meeting her
Then she walks out of the dream
And into my arms
Recently I learned that I was part Jewish
That was long rumored in our family tree
Never confirmed until DNA came again
But whether my Jewish ancestors lived
Or died in the holocaust I have no heard
Never again will we live through that pain
Neo Fascism Must Be Defeated Again
In this day and age of fake news
And neo fascism rising yet again
It is important to bear witness
To the undeniable fact
That the holocaust can never ever come again
That is what we must vow every day
Never again
The Neo Fascists are let loose
By their champion the man in Orange
Whose racist mutterings have let loose
The ranting nutty voices of the right
Championing their god given right
To rule and regulate all that they see
Married Girl of My Dreams
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
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 —
1. Thursday Evening
2. Waking Up to No You
3. One Moment, One day
4. You Are My Angel
5. Saying Goodbye for Now
6. Know I Must Say I do
7. I Can Not Get Rid
8. I Float Here and There
9. You Are My Everything
10. One Night in Lithia Springs
11. One Night I Dreamt of You
12. Where do you and I
13. Dream Girl Hanibun
14. Living with Pain Hanibun
15. Hiking Hills of My Youth Hanibun
Thursday Evening
Thursday early evening
Thinking dark thoughts only you
Can you cure these thoughts?
—————————————-
Waking Up to No You
Waking up to no you
Absent in my bed at night
Absent from my dreams
——————————–
One Moment, One Day
One moment, one day
You walked out of my nightmares
And swept into life
———————————
You Are My Angel
You are my Angel
Sent from God up in heaven
To conquer my life
————————————-
Saying Goodbye for Now
Saying goodbye now
Is the hardest thing to do
But I must do it
———————————–
Know I Must Say I do
I know I must say I do
But I don’t want to today
Just don’t have the strength
—————————————–
Five Cinquain
Best Love
Love at First Sight
Met the girl of my dreams
My life began that autumn day
True Love
——————————————————-
True Dreams
True Dreams
I had a dream
Meet the Girl of my Dreams
She walked off that bus that day
True Dream
—————————————————–
Truth
Truth
Truth
True story
Love never ends
Love at First Sight
Love
———————————————-
First Kiss
First Kiss
First time we kissed
Hot Electricity
Filled my soul with desire
Time stopped
—————————————-
Time
Time
Began
That fine day
Never Ending
Love
Skinny Fake Things
Fake Things
everywhere
all
around
me
everywhere
I
hear
lies
fake Things
—————————————–
More Coffee
More coffee
must have more
it consumes me
just need one more
———————————————–
angela
angela
the love of my life
came to me out of a dream
walked off a bus into my life
filling my life with red passion
end updated haiku
Cosmos’s Cheritas and Haiku
Cheritas
——————————-
I was introduced to the Cherita poetry form last spring when the Cherita journal published some of my earlier Cheritas. Since that time I have written a number of others. The form is an Malaysian-Indonesian story telling form, but is written in many languages nowadays as it has become a global poetic form, similar to Haiku (see below). The cherita tells a story in five lines stanzas as follows
one line
two lines
three lines
it could also be reversed
three lines
two lines
one line
or 3-1-2, 2-1-3, or any other variable of the 1, 2, and 3 basic format.
and it has to tell a story.
One can write a longer story using a series of Cheritas, which I did later in this posting.
for more info on this fascinating poetic form, take a look at the Cherita journal cherita journal
and for even more detail look at the DNA of Cherita posting
The first set are Cheritas I wrote last spring, the last set is one I just submitted.
1. There is nothing more to be said
2. There is always one more time
3. Time waits for no one
4. I will Love you until the end of time
5. That is all I need to say
6. In the beginning of the world
7. Life Endures
8. The Future of NYC
9. the cancer that is Trump
10. 62 Years Young
11. Married the Girl of my Dreams
There is nothing more to be said
Nothing more I can add
Nothing more than this
I will love you
Until the end of time itself
and death does us part
——————————————————–
There is always one more time
There is always one more time
There is always a second chance
For love and happiness
In this dark world of ours
We will find each other
Til the end of time itself
————————————————-
Time Waits for No One (reversed Cherita)
Time waits for no one
That is what they say
That time waits for no one
But that is a lie
Time waits for you
And time waits for me too
———————————————
I will Love you until the end of time
I will Love you until the end of time
That is all I need to say
That is all that there is
Nothing but love in my heart
Waiting for me to say it
And for you to believe it
———————————————
In the beginning of the world
I saw you there
Walking off that bus
And that was the beginning
Of my life with you
And the end of the rest of the world
——————————–
Love Endures
Love Endures
the longer I live
the more I learn
that nothing endures in life
other than the love
I share with you
———————————-
The Future of NYC
NYC
In the distant future
the world will end
with a massive flood
and NYC will slowly sink
beneath the waves
and humanity will die
———————————————
the cancer that is Trump
fake President
The cancer that is Trump
Will continue to fester
and continue to cause turmoil
that is the nature
of the malignant cancer
that is the Trump Presidency
———————————————————–
62 Years Young
62 Years young
I am 62 years young
62 years around the sun
sunrise cherita
37 of those years
I have spent
with the love of my life
Married the Girl of my Dreams
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
Cosmos’s Haiku
I also love Haiku and short poetic forms. Here are some of my Haiku, Hanibun and other poems. Several have been published.
Back in 1996 I had the accident that changed everything. I went jogging one morning. It was dark outside, and I thought that I knew the trail. Big mistake. I fell down a ledge hidden where the trail should have been. I shattered me heal in a million pieces. I was rushed to an ER and told that I need an emergency operation and would be bed ridden for four months.
My wife was in San Antonio at the time serving in the Army, I was in DC working for the State Department. I flew in a wheel chair to San Antonio where they proclaimed that they had to wait a week for the swelling to go down before they could operate. The Air force doctors wanted to try a new procedure – using shark cartridge as a bone supplement. The operation was a success until I quit taking antibiotics six months later. I was in DC by myself then. I went to the hospital for an unrelated thing -removal of a cist I think. But the doctors took one look at me and proclaimed that the staph had become a multiple drug resistant staph and I needed an urgent operation. The next day I had the third of 15 operations. I endured six months at Walter Reed hospital but that was in the 90’s prior to the wars of the 21st century filled the base up. They had few customers and I got to know the doctors well.
I know pain
Intimately aware of every ache
Every pain
Ever since that day
When I went under the knife
And had the 14 operations
That saved my life
But I am not one to complain
I became one with the pain
Which I endure to this day
Knowing that I am alive
Having cheated death
Twenty times in life
Waiting for the grim reaper
To finally claim me
But that day has not come
And until then
I will endure
—————————————————————–
Hiking the Hills of My Youth (Hanibun)
tilden park
I grew up in Berkeley, California in the 60’s. Ever since I was a youngster I would wander the hills of Berkeley hiking for hours by myself and sometimes with my friends. I explored every nook and cranny every corner of the hills and got to know nature in its infinite beauty.
Ever since those days I have longed for the day that I could spend my days hiking and wondering the hills. Now that I am retired and living in Korea I can go for a long walk in the hills every day I want. It is not the same as the hills I grew up, no vistas of the Bay and it is in Korea to boot but most days it is sufficient as I head out early afternoon and conquer four or five miles of hills just enjoying that fact that I can still move and am still very much alive at age 62.
I grew up hiking the hills of Berkeley, California
Grew up knowing every corner of the hills
And the infinite beauty of the Bay Area
And now I find myself in a strange land
With time on my hands
I wander the hills above the airport
In Incheon Korea
And wander about here and there
Just being grateful
That I am still alive
And kicking at age 62
————————————
There is nothing more to be said (reverse cherita 3-2-1 form)
Nothing more I can add
Nothing more I can say
Nothing more than this
I will love you
Until the end of time itself
and death does us part
—————————————————-
A message for you
A message for you
from the universe itself
in the eastern sea
————————————————-
Love Endures Cherita
Love Endures
the longer I live
the more I learn
that nothing endures in life
other than the love
I share with you
———————————————-
Success
In 62 years around the sun
I have learned a few things
About life and the universe
The most important thing in life
Is to have a successful love life
That is all one needs after all
——————————–
Haiku Thinking of You
Thinking of you, dear
Wondering if you do too
Thinking of me too
————————————————————
Coffee Haiku
I like my coffee
like my woman
hot as hell, sweat Heaven
——————————————————-
Spring Doositsu
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
————————————————–
Love Triclinia
One Summer Day
I saw a rose
rose
on the bus
I met my fate
——————————–
Nuclear War Looms
nuclear war looms
North Korea U.S. Launch Nukes
End of the world
—————————————————–
Zombies Apocalypse
the zombies unleashed
killing everyone they see
zombie apocalypse
————————————————-
Evil Fog
evil fog descends
killing everyone at once
end of life on earth
———————————————-
Zombie to the right
Zombies to the right
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies run amuk
—————————————-
Ghosts in Scotland
While touring Scotland
Meeting Ghosts in the wild moors
I believe in ghosts
Dream Girl
Love Cheritas
the story of how we met
note: this is a true story. for further details see dreams and the unexplainable– a chicken soup for the soul book, published September 2017.
Index
1. I Married the Girl of My Dreams
2. It All Began in Berkeley, California
3. I Looked Up
4. She Disappeared
5. Who Are You?
6. Little Did I Know
7. Always the Same Dream .
8. I Knew She Was Waiting for Me
9. One Day I Had the Last Dream
10. That Morning Early in The Morning
11. I Was Born Again That Evening
12. I was Speechless.
13. My New Life Began the Next Day
14. The Next Day
15. But I Know That There Are Other Worlds
16. Had No Choice
17. In the Beginning of the World
18. 63 Years Young with You
I Married the Girl of My Dreams
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
It All Began in Berkeley, California
SONY DSC
It all began in Berkeley, California
in the spring time of 1974
one fateful afternoon
I was nodding off
in my high school physics class.
And saw her in my dream
I Looked Up
I looked up
and saw a tall, beautiful Asian woman
standing looking at me.
She was the most beautiful women
in the universe to me
I screamed out, who are you?
She Disappeared
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
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 Dream .
Always the same Dream .
She was saying something
in a strange language.
Then one day
I had the dream
and knew that she was in Korea.
I Knew She Was Waiting for Me
I knew she was waiting for me
I chose to go Korea
In the Peace Corps,
Somehow knowing
That I would meet
her there.
One Day I Had the Last Dream
One day I had the last dream
It happened in the morning
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
That morning early in the morning
I had the last of these dreams.
This time I understood her.
She said,
“걱정 마. 우리는 곧 만날 것이다. “, “geogjeongma. ulineun god mannal geos-ida. ”
“Don’t worry. We’ll meet soon.”
I Was Born Again That evening
I Was Born Again 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 was speechless.
I did not know what to do.
Wanted to tell her
How could I tell her that
Hey, you are the girl
I have been dreaming about
Over the Course of the Evening
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.
My New Life Began the Next Day
My new life began the next day
The next day she came to the gate
Of my base where I was teaching
She said that she had to speak with me.
I told to wait in the library
for about an hour
I Would Cancel Class
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 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
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
Crossing over into our world .
She Found Me In 1974
She found me in 1974,
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet.
And it has been 35 years
Since we met in the physical sphere
Or 43 years since the dream began
And I still recall the dream
I had no choice
When I met her
We were fated to be together
Until the end of this lifetime
And the next and the next
In the Beginning of the World
In the beginning of the world
I saw you there
Walking off that bus
And that was the beginning
Of my life with you
And the end of the rest of the world
63 Years Young with You
I am 63 years young
63 years around the sun
37 of those years
I have spent
With my Dream Girl
the love of my life
I see the blood red super blue moon
the evil blue super full moon
</h2 > I want a dog’s life
