The United States of AwfulI’m disappointed in our country, but I’d still never leave Because I realize if we do the work how much better we can be In my short life I’ve already seen so much change in this country And a lot of it’s good but a lot of it’s also ugly I’m too used to seeing families on the news mourning Because some idiot came to school and shot their child without warning Other countries are looking at us and damn do we look ripe A bunch of do nothing, obese, entitled whiners Who won’t take action but love to gripe When we were young we used to cut grass and babysit But this generation here is the laziest When tragedies happen we come together and sing songs But man that’s what we should’ve been doing all along It seems everyone has their favorite reasons to hate each other We treat our women like objects instead of wives and mothers We make it all seem like some super hard riddle But we’ll lock you up for weed and give murderers acquittals We give big businesses tax breaks and deductions We got child abductions and government corruption We mistreated the indigenous people with no fear And ran them out just so we could make our home here It’s like we try so hard to outdo our own infamy We have money hungry leaders, racism, and bigotry We assume police will fail us and they behave true to form A good cop is barely more common than a unicorn We removed God from our t.v.’s, our schools, and occupations We’re decreasing our humanity while increasing our population We use hateful words and dirty looks instead of compliments And we’ve forgotten how to use our manners and our common sense We shove handfuls of unhealthy food in our faces It’s disgusting how much of what we have gets wasted Let’s turn this thing around before it’s too late So we can all still be proud to live in the United States Code TalkerWhen my boss asks me how I’m doing What she actually means is what am I doing Because here in the workplace we speak in codes And things sound like one thing but mean another In the world of fake smiles and pretending to care People ask you if you caught the game even when they didn’t They look up what’s trending to have something to talk about Then bring it up to hide the fact that their life is mundane They say “I guess we’re gonna stop on every single floor”, And chuckle But what they really mean is “I cant wait to get off this elevator” Everyone’s voice is just a little bit higher Because I guess a deep voice equals scary The people who take the stairs will be sure to let you know it And the people who work the hardest are given the most work When you ask someone how they’re doing, You almost never get a real answer Because honestly they’re miserable, And wish they were somewhere else So they say “Well I’m here” or “Another day in paradise” Followed by “How ‘bout this weather though” To divert your attention from the sadness in their eyes Then there’s lots of before’s and after’s Where you really just say the same thing twice Like asking someone if they have plans for the weekend Then asking them how their weekend was Or on every day but Friday you say “Is it Friday yet?” Then when Friday comes you say “Thank God it’s Friday” If a woman is beautiful, you can’t come out and say it Instead you have to use “You look very nice today” If you’re sick and don’t want anybody to know You simply blame it on allergies If you’re not sick but really need to take a day off You start coughing real loud the whole day before Nobody really cares about your kid’s baseball game And if you actually did do anything cool They’ll just use it to start some rumor or gossip, Like how does she have the money to do that, I wonder who watches her kids, Or I bet he does a lotta drugs and cheats on his wife There’s a guy who walks in with you the same time every morning That always makes sure you have your badge As if he doesn’t know you There’s the “Do you wanna buy Some of whatever my kid is selling for school?” lady And that idiot who always talks About that one Christmas party from 3 years ago When so and so got drunk. Haha, wasn’t that hilarious? No, it’s actually not that funny And believe it or not there’s still the guy Who points with both his hands and makes finger guns And people actually think he’s cool, but not as much as he does And the quiet guy with the headphones on Who’s always “listening to his music” Knows everybody’s business Because they think that he can’t hear them It’s kinda like high school all over again, Except you can’t cuss as much or get high in the bathroom You got the cool kids, the cliques, The teacher’s pet and the outcasts And personality will take you ten times further than ability “You’re special” is the nice way of saying “You’re stupid” And “That's just the way we've always done it” Means they don’t want your suggestion And if someone sarcastically tells you they hate you They mean it. I promise. They told me. If you make friends with someone of the opposite sex No matter what, people will think y’all are having sex People joke around about their work wives and work husbands But never go home and tell their real wives and real husbands The workplace is the fakest environment I know of I guess that’s why I’m so bad at it. I suck at pretending So if you see me in the hallway and I’m no good at small talk Don’t get your feelings hurt. I’m really just here to make money Award Winning PoemThe clock on the wall says 2689
And at 2700 I’m jumbled I might go sane What if my mind stops arguing with me? I swear I’ll make a fire and burn my slap bracelet I’m tired of being stared at by plangent grasshoppers Who quantify the unequivocal dalliance of the equinox As if they’ve discovered my awareness of their alien consanguinity I was friendly with the big one But two days before last he instructed me to strike the dog Undoubtedly she comprehended his uttering Immediately thereafter she ate him Bad dog I exclaimed as I hurled a toenail at her I strolled into the pervicacious effluvium I skulked the tornado I looked up at an all green sky In a startled collapse I spit My saliva metamorphosed into a cacophony of winged field mice That pummeled and divided a polyester piñata It spilled forth uplifting phrases my enemies had spoken of me On shards of paper that I stuffed in the pocket Of my canteen case. I was low on toilet tissue My TV had a flat tire but I lost the perfect baseball bat I needed to cut it into ninths I jumped the mud between the pick-up sticks and gassed the noodles from their hat The glowing shadow unraveled itself From a cross-legged epiphany I fell awake and laughed at the sadness of a herniated barricade beneath the most delicious lightbulb placard Once upon a time
0 Comments
MARVINLA gem marvin café sending persuasive emails glorious menus chicken parmesan sandwiches with fries pot au chocolat venmo because that’s how you pay in a pandemic just swing by at dinnertime but it’s may 30 protests got big then huge then violent owners keeping watchful eye waitress kelly needs a ride home i give my address close by she can wait on my covered porch for her boyfriend she doesn’t call or come it gets dark then fires, shattered glass restaurant/neighborhood/city/state/country in ruins natural outcome to festering disease. That’s how you pay in a pandemic. THE BLESSING OF A PANDEMIC BLACKOUT |
Michael McGill is a poet from Edinburgh, Scotland who has recently been published in Lunate, Briefly Zine, The Haiku Quarterly, Write Now, Dream Journal, 433, Lucky Pierre, Stone of Madness Press, Dreams Walking, Milly Magazine, Versification, The Daily Drunk, Rejection Letters, FEED, 24 Unread Messages, The Cabinet of Heed and detritus. His overheard comments and photopoems regularly appear on Twitter @MMcGill09 and Instagram @michael7209. |
In Hidden
Hills, I watched
Kim Kardashian
scatter moon
dust.
Hills, I watched
Kim Kardashian
scatter moon
dust.
A woman on Skype;
an electric family
she sees, hears, alone.
an electric family
she sees, hears, alone.
Last night, I thought
of Natalie
Wood
drowning
in darkness…
of Natalie
Wood
drowning
in darkness…
EG Ted Davis is a poet living in Boise ID with work that has been published in various online and in print literary journals.
It is my path
My path can lead to
right and/or wrong.
It contains both
good and evil,
but I, as it's walker,
have been given the
independence to step
between the two,
the ability to decide.
I can make it narrow
or I can make it wide.
I can make it curvy
or I can make it straight .
I can stay on it
or I can step off,
to its sides, each side
lined with ditches.
I can step into them,
I can even
stumble into them.
I can stand at rest.
I can even go
backwards but
not too far.
No matter how
I walk my path,
It has a beginning-
with birth,
and an ending-
with death.
It is my path,
and on it
I must travel.
right and/or wrong.
It contains both
good and evil,
but I, as it's walker,
have been given the
independence to step
between the two,
the ability to decide.
I can make it narrow
or I can make it wide.
I can make it curvy
or I can make it straight .
I can stay on it
or I can step off,
to its sides, each side
lined with ditches.
I can step into them,
I can even
stumble into them.
I can stand at rest.
I can even go
backwards but
not too far.
No matter how
I walk my path,
It has a beginning-
with birth,
and an ending-
with death.
It is my path,
and on it
I must travel.
Boise (of now and to come)
What once was open spaces,
are now crowded out by greed,
what once was a lower cost of living,
is now outrageous in taxation,
what once was country quiet,
is now intercity noise ridden,
what once was one of the top five
greatest places to reside in by polling,
is now polled in the bottom five-
as another Arizona or southern
Californian overpopulated desert...
and dare we call this Progress.
are now crowded out by greed,
what once was a lower cost of living,
is now outrageous in taxation,
what once was country quiet,
is now intercity noise ridden,
what once was one of the top five
greatest places to reside in by polling,
is now polled in the bottom five-
as another Arizona or southern
Californian overpopulated desert...
and dare we call this Progress.
Caution
Caution your words,
for ugliness spoken can
become your present reality.
Caution your thoughts,
for your imagination
conjures good and evil-
in the quietness of the your mind,
which can hasten one's death.
Caution for what you wish,
for wishes do indeed come to pass.
May the fruits of goodness
overpower the shadow
of darkness-that pulls
from behind, dragging
down your mind.
for ugliness spoken can
become your present reality.
Caution your thoughts,
for your imagination
conjures good and evil-
in the quietness of the your mind,
which can hasten one's death.
Caution for what you wish,
for wishes do indeed come to pass.
May the fruits of goodness
overpower the shadow
of darkness-that pulls
from behind, dragging
down your mind.
Mr. Martin's writings have appeared in; "Universal Oneness" and "Taj Mahal Review," two anthology books from India, "Alive Now," 'Mature Years, "Poets'Espresso," among others. He won two "Faith and Hope" poetry awards and published two chapbooks. He is also a pianist and the organist at First UMC of Wind Gap, PA for the past 27 years. His main writing influences are Kahlil Gibran and Pablo Neruda; Kahlil for his wisdom and prose, and Pablo for his wildness. |
The Surfacing
The far beneath and far inside,
a million fathoms and a million miles,
the home of the abyss,
the nothing seen
but everything valued,
treasures hidden in the depths,
eternal engines kicking their feet,
birds of mystery flapping their wings,
Magus lighting up the dark,
internal secrets clawing at the walls,
the heart of the substance
pulsating at a fever pitch,
the mystery of the deep out of view,
curiosity building with each thought,
the arms of intrigue grabbing
a hold of the mind, the body,
the heart, the spirit, the soul,
the beauty inside in
a seductive mood
coming outside of its shell
with its eyes of deeps oceans,
its rose gardens permeating the air,
its blood surging through the veins,
its music filled with intensity,
its many fathoms taking form,
its engines running at full capacity,
lighting up the
callous chasms of the soul
with their fiery torches,
prose running at full speed,
the pulse of the music
coming to the surface
as the many fathoms
come into view
revealing their internal secrets,
their touch with infinity,
and their travels in the divine.
a million fathoms and a million miles,
the home of the abyss,
the nothing seen
but everything valued,
treasures hidden in the depths,
eternal engines kicking their feet,
birds of mystery flapping their wings,
Magus lighting up the dark,
internal secrets clawing at the walls,
the heart of the substance
pulsating at a fever pitch,
the mystery of the deep out of view,
curiosity building with each thought,
the arms of intrigue grabbing
a hold of the mind, the body,
the heart, the spirit, the soul,
the beauty inside in
a seductive mood
coming outside of its shell
with its eyes of deeps oceans,
its rose gardens permeating the air,
its blood surging through the veins,
its music filled with intensity,
its many fathoms taking form,
its engines running at full capacity,
lighting up the
callous chasms of the soul
with their fiery torches,
prose running at full speed,
the pulse of the music
coming to the surface
as the many fathoms
come into view
revealing their internal secrets,
their touch with infinity,
and their travels in the divine.
Iron Air
Higher up than the
gangly Sunflowers
that oversee the
well-being of the roses,
up higher than the top
of the white picket fence,
o'er the roof tops, the rocky cliffs;
we look up higher toward the
floor of that fat lazy cloud,
somewhere in the nigh
where wars are waged
over disputed boundaries marked
our by barbed wire fences,
where the cold air
battles the warm,
fighting for dominance
over the other, the eternal clash
between armies of the hot and cold,
war horses galloping in the wind,
warriors with war clubs and spears,
grenades and missiles and bombs,
louder than the loudest
clap of thunder that maims
the brittle ears of the earth
and awakens the lazy clouds
that lay around the mountain
peaks from a deep sleep,
A war-zone below the heavens,
the tyrannical ruler of the winds,
a cold spirit rising up from the dust,
a smoldering corpse laying at its feet,
a headless specter clasping a scroll
with the secrets of the mystic skies,
the skies unseen with the naked eye,
a space beneath a deeper space,
where eternal wars are waged
as the iron air fights for dominance
in the unsettled skies,
the mightiest over the weaker.
gangly Sunflowers
that oversee the
well-being of the roses,
up higher than the top
of the white picket fence,
o'er the roof tops, the rocky cliffs;
we look up higher toward the
floor of that fat lazy cloud,
somewhere in the nigh
where wars are waged
over disputed boundaries marked
our by barbed wire fences,
where the cold air
battles the warm,
fighting for dominance
over the other, the eternal clash
between armies of the hot and cold,
war horses galloping in the wind,
warriors with war clubs and spears,
grenades and missiles and bombs,
louder than the loudest
clap of thunder that maims
the brittle ears of the earth
and awakens the lazy clouds
that lay around the mountain
peaks from a deep sleep,
A war-zone below the heavens,
the tyrannical ruler of the winds,
a cold spirit rising up from the dust,
a smoldering corpse laying at its feet,
a headless specter clasping a scroll
with the secrets of the mystic skies,
the skies unseen with the naked eye,
a space beneath a deeper space,
where eternal wars are waged
as the iron air fights for dominance
in the unsettled skies,
the mightiest over the weaker.
Muse on the Loose
Thalia, Euterpe, and Terpsishore,
three naughty mythical muses,
conspiring at liberty,
having fun with my mind,
making me dance at funerals,
laugh during solemn prayers,
whistle in the
passion of the sermon,
dance during the National Anthem,
sing in movie theaters,
disrupt all solemn moods
with mocking gestures,
leaving me alone at my desk
of poetic wood constructed,
my inspirational habitat,
my Utopian sanctuary,
the home that lives in my heart,
the landing platform
for all muses for the moment
at the height of my dependency,
my reliance upon their assistance,
flying around in my frustration,
laughing at my stupidity,
flitting about above my mind,
flapping their polka-dot wings,
clowns of the serious skies
in an inspirational caper,
teasing me with their whimsical minds.
Damn you, you pompous muses.
Come down from your high places.
Have mercy for my incompetence.
Come into my home, my desk.
Spill your juices into my heart.
Fill my mind with your words,
you damn muses on the loose,
clowns of the segacious skies,
mockers of everything vital,
Come down to me.
three naughty mythical muses,
conspiring at liberty,
having fun with my mind,
making me dance at funerals,
laugh during solemn prayers,
whistle in the
passion of the sermon,
dance during the National Anthem,
sing in movie theaters,
disrupt all solemn moods
with mocking gestures,
leaving me alone at my desk
of poetic wood constructed,
my inspirational habitat,
my Utopian sanctuary,
the home that lives in my heart,
the landing platform
for all muses for the moment
at the height of my dependency,
my reliance upon their assistance,
flying around in my frustration,
laughing at my stupidity,
flitting about above my mind,
flapping their polka-dot wings,
clowns of the serious skies
in an inspirational caper,
teasing me with their whimsical minds.
Damn you, you pompous muses.
Come down from your high places.
Have mercy for my incompetence.
Come into my home, my desk.
Spill your juices into my heart.
Fill my mind with your words,
you damn muses on the loose,
clowns of the segacious skies,
mockers of everything vital,
Come down to me.
Missiles in the Breath
Missiles of microscopic dimensions,
of iron, skin, blood, and sand,
half human and half beast,
half steel and half flesh,
like gargoyles jumping
off their mounts
in armored bodies with seven heads,
with razor sharp talons of steel,
dipped in the blood of the oleander,
the perfume of the macabre,
the venom of the flying beast
with talons outstretched,
poised to fly through porous channels
down through dark corridors,
eyeing its way to the
heart and lungs,
ripping through the flesh
and spreading its venom
to targeted places of vulnerability,
launched from random platforms,
from demonic plantations,
sown by the slaves of the beast,
nurtured by the heat of the nadir sun
shining up from the pits of hell
and reaped by the hands of the devil.
Out into the dark night it flies,
out into the light made dark,
into the pure air made impure,
into the holy air made unholy,
the virginal air made contaminate,
the good made evil,
the flight of the missile,
half human half steel
with its talons dipped in venom,
then the beating of its fists
against its proud brass aegis.
The victory of the evil germs,
of the missiles in the breath.
of iron, skin, blood, and sand,
half human and half beast,
half steel and half flesh,
like gargoyles jumping
off their mounts
in armored bodies with seven heads,
with razor sharp talons of steel,
dipped in the blood of the oleander,
the perfume of the macabre,
the venom of the flying beast
with talons outstretched,
poised to fly through porous channels
down through dark corridors,
eyeing its way to the
heart and lungs,
ripping through the flesh
and spreading its venom
to targeted places of vulnerability,
launched from random platforms,
from demonic plantations,
sown by the slaves of the beast,
nurtured by the heat of the nadir sun
shining up from the pits of hell
and reaped by the hands of the devil.
Out into the dark night it flies,
out into the light made dark,
into the pure air made impure,
into the holy air made unholy,
the virginal air made contaminate,
the good made evil,
the flight of the missile,
half human half steel
with its talons dipped in venom,
then the beating of its fists
against its proud brass aegis.
The victory of the evil germs,
of the missiles in the breath.
Museum
Museum of lofted elegance in space
Formed by the sun and clouds in haste
Paintings hung on the walls of the firmament
Filling the skies as a sacred enlightenment
Works assembled for the poetic eyes
Of beauty portrayed as beauty lies
Morning's brightness peeking through
Skies of black and pink and blue
A canvas suspended above the mighty earth
Erected by mystic hands to now from birth
Colors arrayed in a dreamy sequence
From a mind beyond artistic excellence
A poetic drifting of the mind and body
An exotic feeling of joy and melancholy
An intensive pleasure in the heart and soul
A feeling of the inner self in control
A truth that beauty has an influential voice
That speaks in the spirit as the heavens rejoice
Museums of the skies in thy poetic splendor
Come forth to my eyes I to thee surrender
Myself of skin and bones and earthly mind
To thy face and everything that lies behind
Formed by the sun and clouds in haste
Paintings hung on the walls of the firmament
Filling the skies as a sacred enlightenment
Works assembled for the poetic eyes
Of beauty portrayed as beauty lies
Morning's brightness peeking through
Skies of black and pink and blue
A canvas suspended above the mighty earth
Erected by mystic hands to now from birth
Colors arrayed in a dreamy sequence
From a mind beyond artistic excellence
A poetic drifting of the mind and body
An exotic feeling of joy and melancholy
An intensive pleasure in the heart and soul
A feeling of the inner self in control
A truth that beauty has an influential voice
That speaks in the spirit as the heavens rejoice
Museums of the skies in thy poetic splendor
Come forth to my eyes I to thee surrender
Myself of skin and bones and earthly mind
To thy face and everything that lies behind
Harjeet Singh is an Indian English poet and short story writer. He earned a Master's degree in English from his district college Hoshiarpur (Punjab). And he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. His father, Principal "Joginder Singh," was a keen lover of the English language and his guidelines have made Harjeet able to grasp some of the fundamentals of this language. His work has appeared in Indian, Canadian & American magazines. Readers can reach him while searching in Google “Harjeet Singh Poet or poems”. |
Youth and Money
Youth and money are the ornamental things
Which can be wielded for a long time
if they are wantoned away advertently.
If quidam wants to frivol them away
like greased lightning,
Then it’s very easy strategy,
Youth languishes in the vast libido.
Money dissipates with unduly lofty longing,
forgetting the bare essentials of life.
Which can be wielded for a long time
if they are wantoned away advertently.
If quidam wants to frivol them away
like greased lightning,
Then it’s very easy strategy,
Youth languishes in the vast libido.
Money dissipates with unduly lofty longing,
forgetting the bare essentials of life.
Fragrances
Fragrances showing tender relic
of departed, olden issues,
Panoramic view of pastness.
Recollections of antique days.
Sundered stickum acting toscin
Heavy errand to discard them.
Person passing sideward pavement
Though he be without acquantaince.
Whiff of passerby when passes
Stranger swells when ticker’s timbre
Former visions dangle nearly.
Feelings tower touching summits.
In remoteness, whilom rhythm(music)
Lyrics echo into mollusk
Flowing stations after listen.
of departed, olden issues,
Panoramic view of pastness.
Recollections of antique days.
Sundered stickum acting toscin
Heavy errand to discard them.
Person passing sideward pavement
Though he be without acquantaince.
Whiff of passerby when passes
Stranger swells when ticker’s timbre
Former visions dangle nearly.
Feelings tower touching summits.
In remoteness, whilom rhythm(music)
Lyrics echo into mollusk
Flowing stations after listen.
He never becomes former
His grandeur remains stable
Despite the ravages of time.
No other rank is immune to ex-
Mortals become victim one day
But his art is perused and spread.
Voluntarily he espouses the department
of liberal arts.
With tiring efforts he wins favours
And makes a farm in others' hearts.
His primordial target is to earn name and fame,
Hearty voice on befitting issue,
He carves embroidery on sheets
and on the sands of heart.
Infinitely his art remains
as current and the vogue is great.
His art describes the era and span
And creatures, rituals and traditions of his time.
From beginning to end he encounters with
the calibre of language, themes, subject- matters
and universal forms.
Sometimes he speaks heart’s matters through characters.
He chews the dish of disinterestedness and honesty
In hey day his art is studied by myriads,
After eternal rest, he is the choice of millions
From start to finish he remains
the pulse reader of crowd.
He remains wordless until his mentation speaks.
He reduces his own tastes for the sake of theatre.
His long voyage in the literary world is archived as a record,
The creature of liberal vein, no stranger to
grip the current issues of his time,
He fritters away whole life in papers and ink,
He never becomes former.
Despite the ravages of time.
No other rank is immune to ex-
Mortals become victim one day
But his art is perused and spread.
Voluntarily he espouses the department
of liberal arts.
With tiring efforts he wins favours
And makes a farm in others' hearts.
His primordial target is to earn name and fame,
Hearty voice on befitting issue,
He carves embroidery on sheets
and on the sands of heart.
Infinitely his art remains
as current and the vogue is great.
His art describes the era and span
And creatures, rituals and traditions of his time.
From beginning to end he encounters with
the calibre of language, themes, subject- matters
and universal forms.
Sometimes he speaks heart’s matters through characters.
He chews the dish of disinterestedness and honesty
In hey day his art is studied by myriads,
After eternal rest, he is the choice of millions
From start to finish he remains
the pulse reader of crowd.
He remains wordless until his mentation speaks.
He reduces his own tastes for the sake of theatre.
His long voyage in the literary world is archived as a record,
The creature of liberal vein, no stranger to
grip the current issues of his time,
He fritters away whole life in papers and ink,
He never becomes former.
Sibanda is the author of Notes, Themes, Things And Other Things, The Gushungo Way, Sleeping Rivers, Love O’clock, The Dead Must Be Sobbing, Football of Fools, Cutting-edge Cache, Of the Saliva and the Tongue, When Inspiration Sings In Silence, The Way Forward, Sometimes Seasons Come With Unseasonal Harvests, As If They Minded:The Loudness Of Whispers, This Cannot Be Happening :Speaking Truth To Power, The Dangers Of Child Marriages:Billions Of Dollars Lost In Earnings And Human Capital, The Ndaba Jamela and Collections and Poetry Pharmacy. Sibanda's work has received Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations. Some of his work has been translated into Serbian and German. |
Demons Against Demos
rolling stones from high
giving democracy no sigh
police brutality against blacks
in the US, police brutality in Zim
crushing demos in Zim
instead of crushing demons
criminalizing peaceful protests
caring for the corrupt and cruel
rolling,rolling stones from hell
hence health institutions are not well
giving democracy no sigh
police brutality against blacks
in the US, police brutality in Zim
crushing demos in Zim
instead of crushing demons
criminalizing peaceful protests
caring for the corrupt and cruel
rolling,rolling stones from hell
hence health institutions are not well
Choked Chalks Flying In The Air
Teachers threw all their magic marks
Out of the window and went home
Their starved ears had been patient
Only to become lies` dance-floor
They were the uncarpeted base
In a nightclub of famine and fools
They trooped out , unprepared
And unable to dance to the disco
Of peanuts and pauperisation
Fibs were played as an addition
To the dancing of folly and failings
Their restaurant reserved for none
But hunger, helplessness & hardships
Out of the window and went home
Their starved ears had been patient
Only to become lies` dance-floor
They were the uncarpeted base
In a nightclub of famine and fools
They trooped out , unprepared
And unable to dance to the disco
Of peanuts and pauperisation
Fibs were played as an addition
To the dancing of folly and failings
Their restaurant reserved for none
But hunger, helplessness & hardships
Iconography
pursuing peace
in his topography
on the wall
a painting of a dove
and an image of a lamb
in a landscape of depth
in his topography
on the wall
a painting of a dove
and an image of a lamb
in a landscape of depth
BOBBY Z is an avid writer and Blogger, also has video’s, audio’s a podcast and has Authored the Book Tales Of The Junkyard Dog. A rather abrupt and unusual Collection of Poems providing insightful and comical commentary on life, the Convergence of the past and the present, and the trails and tribulations of Relationships---BLOG https://talesofthejunkyarddog.wordpress.com |
IS THAT YOU
HEY HAVE I SEEN YOU,
MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE.
MAYBE YOU WERE JUST WALKING OUT.
OR I WAS JUST WALKING IN THE DOOR.
YOU SEEMED SO DIFFERENT.
YET I KNEW IT WAS YOU.
DIDN,T HAVE TIME TO TALK.
OR OUR PASTS TO REVIEW.
DID YOU EVER WONDER.
WHY IT HAD TO TURN OUT THIS WAY.
FUNNY, THOUGHT I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU.
JUST THE OTHER DAY.
FADED FRIENDSHIPS.
THAT DISAPPEAR WITH TIME.
CONFLICTING PERSONALITIES.
THAT JUST NEVER DID RHYME.
POSSIBILY WE NEVER MET.
BUT THEN AGAIN I DON’T THINK THAT’S TRUE.
IT’S VERY OBVIOUS YOU DID KNOW ME.
AND I DEFINETLY DID KNOW YOU.
MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE.
MAYBE YOU WERE JUST WALKING OUT.
OR I WAS JUST WALKING IN THE DOOR.
YOU SEEMED SO DIFFERENT.
YET I KNEW IT WAS YOU.
DIDN,T HAVE TIME TO TALK.
OR OUR PASTS TO REVIEW.
DID YOU EVER WONDER.
WHY IT HAD TO TURN OUT THIS WAY.
FUNNY, THOUGHT I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU.
JUST THE OTHER DAY.
FADED FRIENDSHIPS.
THAT DISAPPEAR WITH TIME.
CONFLICTING PERSONALITIES.
THAT JUST NEVER DID RHYME.
POSSIBILY WE NEVER MET.
BUT THEN AGAIN I DON’T THINK THAT’S TRUE.
IT’S VERY OBVIOUS YOU DID KNOW ME.
AND I DEFINETLY DID KNOW YOU.
THE SKY IS CRYING
THE SKY IS CRYING---ARE WE FINALLY DONE.
THE WORLD IS ON FIRE---NO WHERE TO RUN
TOTAL DISRESPECT---OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALT.
MOTHER NATURE IS UPSET---TIME FOR THE PAIN TO BE FELT.
EARTH QUAKES AND TUSAMI’S---ARE NOW ALL THE RAGE.
THE SUN REFUSES TO SHINE---NO TIME TO TURN TO A NEW PAGE.
OVER POPULATION---3RD WORLD COUNTRIES HUNGER RULES.
ISLAMIC TERROIST’S PREVAIL---GOVERNMENTS CONTROLLED BY FOOLS.
THE SKY IS NOW CRYING---ITS MUCH TOO LATE TO RUN.
THE ANTI-CHRISTSILENTLY AWAITS.
WHILE THE MASSES AWAIT THE APPEARANCE OF THE CHOOSEN ONE.
THE WORLD IS ON FIRE---NO WHERE TO RUN
TOTAL DISRESPECT---OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALT.
MOTHER NATURE IS UPSET---TIME FOR THE PAIN TO BE FELT.
EARTH QUAKES AND TUSAMI’S---ARE NOW ALL THE RAGE.
THE SUN REFUSES TO SHINE---NO TIME TO TURN TO A NEW PAGE.
OVER POPULATION---3RD WORLD COUNTRIES HUNGER RULES.
ISLAMIC TERROIST’S PREVAIL---GOVERNMENTS CONTROLLED BY FOOLS.
THE SKY IS NOW CRYING---ITS MUCH TOO LATE TO RUN.
THE ANTI-CHRISTSILENTLY AWAITS.
WHILE THE MASSES AWAIT THE APPEARANCE OF THE CHOOSEN ONE.
THE 50’s
TIMES ON THE STREET…..WE ALL SHALL RECALL.
THE 50’s WERE SPECIAL….HARMONIZING IN THE HALL.
WALKING TO SCHOOL….UPHILL BOTH WAYS .
PEGGED PANTS AND BOX CAR SHOES……THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
PUT A NICKEL IN THE JUKEBOX…..WHAT DO YOU HEAR
EARTH ANGEL & IN THE STILL OF THE NITE….STILL BRINGS A TEAR.
STICK BALL IN THE STREETS……PITCHING PENNIES & NICKELS AGAINST A WALL.
COLD WATER FLATS……WITH TOILETS IN THE HALL.
RIDING OUR BIKES….MOST OF THE DAY.
SKINNY DIPPING IN THE HUDSON RIVER….AND THE NEWARK BAY.
THE GIN MILLS WERE ALWAYS BUSY….ON A FRIDAY NITE.
LEATHER JACKETS WITH COLLARS UP…..ALWAYS READY FOR A FIGHT.
FALLING IN LOVE….AT THE FRIDAY NITE DANCES.
GOING TO THE DRIVE IN….FOR A LITTLE ROMANCING.
CONTAINERS OF BEER…..AND THUNDER-BIRD WINE.
THE ONLY SOURCE OF FALSE COURAGE….WE HAD AT THAT TIME.
TAKING THE TUBES TO THE CITY…..CATCHING A MOVIE AT THE SQUARE.
SNEAKING INTO #6 SCHOOL FOR A MID-NITE SWIM….ALWAYS READY TO COMB OUR HAIR.
THE NEWS WAS A NICKEL….EVERYONE HAD A PAPER ROUTE.
BURGERS AT THE WHITE MANNA….DOO WOP MUSIC & ALAN FREED AT THE PARAMOUNT.
BRASS KNUCKLES & SWITCH BLADE KNIFES….AND THE ALL TIME FAVORITE BASEBALL BAT.
ALWAYS READY FOR A RUMBLE…..AT THE DROP OF A HAT.
CHOPPED DOWN MERC’S & BAD ASS FORD’S. WE ALL HAD A DUCK’S ASS ON OUR HAIR.
WE WERE ALL JD’s…. BUT WE DIDN’T CARE.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS…. AND MAY BE LOST FOREVER.
THE ABOVE IS JUST A BRIEF REMINDER…..THE FIFTIES (50’s) WERE SPECIAL
& MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER.
THE 50’s WERE SPECIAL….HARMONIZING IN THE HALL.
WALKING TO SCHOOL….UPHILL BOTH WAYS .
PEGGED PANTS AND BOX CAR SHOES……THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
PUT A NICKEL IN THE JUKEBOX…..WHAT DO YOU HEAR
EARTH ANGEL & IN THE STILL OF THE NITE….STILL BRINGS A TEAR.
STICK BALL IN THE STREETS……PITCHING PENNIES & NICKELS AGAINST A WALL.
COLD WATER FLATS……WITH TOILETS IN THE HALL.
RIDING OUR BIKES….MOST OF THE DAY.
SKINNY DIPPING IN THE HUDSON RIVER….AND THE NEWARK BAY.
THE GIN MILLS WERE ALWAYS BUSY….ON A FRIDAY NITE.
LEATHER JACKETS WITH COLLARS UP…..ALWAYS READY FOR A FIGHT.
FALLING IN LOVE….AT THE FRIDAY NITE DANCES.
GOING TO THE DRIVE IN….FOR A LITTLE ROMANCING.
CONTAINERS OF BEER…..AND THUNDER-BIRD WINE.
THE ONLY SOURCE OF FALSE COURAGE….WE HAD AT THAT TIME.
TAKING THE TUBES TO THE CITY…..CATCHING A MOVIE AT THE SQUARE.
SNEAKING INTO #6 SCHOOL FOR A MID-NITE SWIM….ALWAYS READY TO COMB OUR HAIR.
THE NEWS WAS A NICKEL….EVERYONE HAD A PAPER ROUTE.
BURGERS AT THE WHITE MANNA….DOO WOP MUSIC & ALAN FREED AT THE PARAMOUNT.
BRASS KNUCKLES & SWITCH BLADE KNIFES….AND THE ALL TIME FAVORITE BASEBALL BAT.
ALWAYS READY FOR A RUMBLE…..AT THE DROP OF A HAT.
CHOPPED DOWN MERC’S & BAD ASS FORD’S. WE ALL HAD A DUCK’S ASS ON OUR HAIR.
WE WERE ALL JD’s…. BUT WE DIDN’T CARE.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS…. AND MAY BE LOST FOREVER.
THE ABOVE IS JUST A BRIEF REMINDER…..THE FIFTIES (50’s) WERE SPECIAL
& MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER.
Grant the wisdom
To defeat the corona virus
Grant the wisdom.
To avoid the misconceptions of life.
Enable to succeed.
Where others have failed.
Like a River.
Allow devotion to flow.
Offer the vision.
To continue dedication to desires.
Whenever down and out.
Provide with a surrogate.
Continue to allow the wisdom
To choose the right path.
The strength and courage.
To maintain a positive attitude.
The confidence to continue.
That allows us to blossom.
Guiding and comforting.
To avoid the conflicts and tragedies.
Offering to brighten.
The dark passageways of life.
Seeking the guidance.
From above.
Have no fear.
You’ll never be alone.
To avoid the misconceptions of life.
Enable to succeed.
Where others have failed.
Like a River.
Allow devotion to flow.
Offer the vision.
To continue dedication to desires.
Whenever down and out.
Provide with a surrogate.
Continue to allow the wisdom
To choose the right path.
The strength and courage.
To maintain a positive attitude.
The confidence to continue.
That allows us to blossom.
Guiding and comforting.
To avoid the conflicts and tragedies.
Offering to brighten.
The dark passageways of life.
Seeking the guidance.
From above.
Have no fear.
You’ll never be alone.
TOO LITTLE TIME
Too little time, too rejoice or regret.
Never enough time, too forgive and forget.
Too little time, to drink from the well.
Never enough time, to release you from the spell.
Too little time, to look thru the ashes.
Never enough time, to view life through rose covered glasses.
Too little time, to stop and stand still.
Never enough time, to walk up that hill.
Too little time, to cherish the thought.
Never enough time, to remember what we were taught.
Too little time, to seek glory and fame.
Never enough time, to accept the blame.
Too little time, too soothe all the pain.
Never enough time, to come in from the rain.
Too little time, to make amends tomorrow.
Never enough time, to relieve all the sorrow.
Too little time, to review the past.
Never enough time to repent, time to smell the roses,
& take your head out of your ASS.
Never enough time, too forgive and forget.
Too little time, to drink from the well.
Never enough time, to release you from the spell.
Too little time, to look thru the ashes.
Never enough time, to view life through rose covered glasses.
Too little time, to stop and stand still.
Never enough time, to walk up that hill.
Too little time, to cherish the thought.
Never enough time, to remember what we were taught.
Too little time, to seek glory and fame.
Never enough time, to accept the blame.
Too little time, too soothe all the pain.
Never enough time, to come in from the rain.
Too little time, to make amends tomorrow.
Never enough time, to relieve all the sorrow.
Too little time, to review the past.
Never enough time to repent, time to smell the roses,
& take your head out of your ASS.
Keith Burkholder has been published in Creative Juices, Sol Magazine, Trellis Magazine, Foliate Oak Literary Journal, New Delta Review, Poetry Quarterly, Scarlet Leaf Review, and Birmingham Arts Journal. He has a bachelor's degree in statistics with a minor in mathematics from SUNY at Buffalo (UB).
People resort to God for too many things
Look at all the things people resort to,
This is in the name of God,
Yet, nothing changes for them,
I mean nothing,
As an atheist, God is not part of the equation,
The world is what it is because of evolution,
Evolution is reality,
Whereas God is like Santa Claus,
Spiritual concepts are nice,
But they don't make reality a better place,
You read about God,
Even see it on television,
People singing in a choir,
Chanting from the Bible,
Yet, nothing changes,
There is still racism,
There is still bullying,
More and more money going to the law enforcement and the military,
Natural disasters will always exist,
More segregation,
More sexism and classism,
Yet, I never see God and Jesus around to help,
This is how I feel,
Believe in what you want,
It is a free world,
Take care for now,
And may the future get brighter any which way possible for you or anyone around.
This is in the name of God,
Yet, nothing changes for them,
I mean nothing,
As an atheist, God is not part of the equation,
The world is what it is because of evolution,
Evolution is reality,
Whereas God is like Santa Claus,
Spiritual concepts are nice,
But they don't make reality a better place,
You read about God,
Even see it on television,
People singing in a choir,
Chanting from the Bible,
Yet, nothing changes,
There is still racism,
There is still bullying,
More and more money going to the law enforcement and the military,
Natural disasters will always exist,
More segregation,
More sexism and classism,
Yet, I never see God and Jesus around to help,
This is how I feel,
Believe in what you want,
It is a free world,
Take care for now,
And may the future get brighter any which way possible for you or anyone around.
Creationism would be a reality if God did things for us on planet Earth
I am an atheist and proud of it,
God is not here,
Or ever was,
Yet, creationism is still believed by many,
The money that goes into the military and law enforcement
is out of this world,
This is the way it is,
And will always be,
God is not real,
Neither is Jesus,
Yet, billions still believe in them,
Look at what COVID-19 is doing to people,
I could go on and on,
Believe in science,
Science will have the answers for COVID-19,
Believing in God and Jesus is a waste of time,
Believe what you want,
It is a free world,
Take care for now,
Try to be good,
And may a better tomorrow loom for you as the future carries forward.
God is not here,
Or ever was,
Yet, creationism is still believed by many,
The money that goes into the military and law enforcement
is out of this world,
This is the way it is,
And will always be,
God is not real,
Neither is Jesus,
Yet, billions still believe in them,
Look at what COVID-19 is doing to people,
I could go on and on,
Believe in science,
Science will have the answers for COVID-19,
Believing in God and Jesus is a waste of time,
Believe what you want,
It is a free world,
Take care for now,
Try to be good,
And may a better tomorrow loom for you as the future carries forward.
Space Bandits
They are from planet Earth,
They travel throughout the solar system,
They take risks,
Robbery is appealing to them,
They have stolen millions of dollars,
Yet, have never spent a day in prison,
They love to travel the solar system,
In their space pods,
They have seen all the planets,
Even far flung Pluto,
What other crimes will they commit?
They are crafty in their robberies,
This is their life,
They will carry forward as well,
Time will pass,
For the future of these bandits is unpredictable as they move forward in days ahead.
They travel throughout the solar system,
They take risks,
Robbery is appealing to them,
They have stolen millions of dollars,
Yet, have never spent a day in prison,
They love to travel the solar system,
In their space pods,
They have seen all the planets,
Even far flung Pluto,
What other crimes will they commit?
They are crafty in their robberies,
This is their life,
They will carry forward as well,
Time will pass,
For the future of these bandits is unpredictable as they move forward in days ahead.
Things in life you can't choose
Let's face it,
People love problems,
This is stemmed from evolution,
Hence, there is no God,
No Jesus as well,
You can't choose your classmates,
You can't choose you neighbors as well,
In life, you have to wait for a lot of things,
Being waited on at a restaurant,
Traffic,
For buses,
For people who are supposed to meet you,
People are weird in this world,
Choices happen and then go away,
The things listed one can't choose,
If classmates were great there would be no cliques or bullying,
Nobody would have problems with their neighbors, too,
Believe what you want here,
It is a free world,
Tomorrow will come and go,
Take care for now,
Be good,
Try to bypass religion,
Religion has no presence on reality,
May tomorrow be better for you as the future carries forward.
People love problems,
This is stemmed from evolution,
Hence, there is no God,
No Jesus as well,
You can't choose your classmates,
You can't choose you neighbors as well,
In life, you have to wait for a lot of things,
Being waited on at a restaurant,
Traffic,
For buses,
For people who are supposed to meet you,
People are weird in this world,
Choices happen and then go away,
The things listed one can't choose,
If classmates were great there would be no cliques or bullying,
Nobody would have problems with their neighbors, too,
Believe what you want here,
It is a free world,
Tomorrow will come and go,
Take care for now,
Be good,
Try to bypass religion,
Religion has no presence on reality,
May tomorrow be better for you as the future carries forward.
Atheism isn’t a bad concept
It is a reality for some of us,
We don’t believe in God,
The planet Earth is massive in size,
It is ridiculous to feel that something looks down upon us,
To make us feel safe and secure,
The planet is too massive for this to happen,
It is over 4.5 billion years old,
There is too much mass for a human to see others,
Between crime and poverty,
No world peace and natural disasters,
God have never existed in the first place,
This is just how it is,
This is how I feel about this concept,
Religion just tells us stories,
Again, this is a free world,
Believe in what you want,
For me, it is atheism,
Take care and be good,
This is all one can do and ask for as time passes us by.
We don’t believe in God,
The planet Earth is massive in size,
It is ridiculous to feel that something looks down upon us,
To make us feel safe and secure,
The planet is too massive for this to happen,
It is over 4.5 billion years old,
There is too much mass for a human to see others,
Between crime and poverty,
No world peace and natural disasters,
God have never existed in the first place,
This is just how it is,
This is how I feel about this concept,
Religion just tells us stories,
Again, this is a free world,
Believe in what you want,
For me, it is atheism,
Take care and be good,
This is all one can do and ask for as time passes us by.
God is not important to me
God has done nothing for me,
How about you?
I have never seen God,
Or spoken to him,
Or shook his hand,
Yet, billions believe in him,
Stop forcing children to believe in this being,
Enforce children to be good,
To be an asset to society,
There are too many children in the world,
The majority of them are not a blessing,
Yet, the majority love to procreate,
God will never be important to me,
I don't believe in God,
The only way I could believe in God is
if we didn't need a military or law enforcement at all,
As you can see in the world, we need both organizations,
I blame evolution for human problems,
And meteorology for natural disasters,
Both are forms of science,
Whereas, creationism is mere fiction and story telling,
Take care for now,
Believe what you want,
It is a free world,
May tomorrow be brighter for you,
And again, carpe diem.
How about you?
I have never seen God,
Or spoken to him,
Or shook his hand,
Yet, billions believe in him,
Stop forcing children to believe in this being,
Enforce children to be good,
To be an asset to society,
There are too many children in the world,
The majority of them are not a blessing,
Yet, the majority love to procreate,
God will never be important to me,
I don't believe in God,
The only way I could believe in God is
if we didn't need a military or law enforcement at all,
As you can see in the world, we need both organizations,
I blame evolution for human problems,
And meteorology for natural disasters,
Both are forms of science,
Whereas, creationism is mere fiction and story telling,
Take care for now,
Believe what you want,
It is a free world,
May tomorrow be brighter for you,
And again, carpe diem.
Ignorance
This is a sensitive topic,
A topic with many meanings and interpretations,
People need to learn,
To learn about differences in the world,
Ignorance is the easy way out,
The easy way of being informed,
Ignorance is sad,
A sad case to know,
One needs to educate,
To educate through independent learning,
To learn on one’s own behalf,
Ignorance happens in many different circles,
Whether it is religious,
Or skin color,
Sexuality,
Or even a belief in politics,
These are topics with different meanings,
One needs to understand in order learn,
Ignorance will always exist,
There is not much one can do,
This happens in many ways that need to be dealt with,
Take this in any which way that you can,
Education will be our ally,
An ally to help us learn about one another,
This is all that we can do to combat ignorance,
Fate is another way of change,
For fate is with us and hopefully over time ignorance will deplete as the future continues amongst the human race.
A topic with many meanings and interpretations,
People need to learn,
To learn about differences in the world,
Ignorance is the easy way out,
The easy way of being informed,
Ignorance is sad,
A sad case to know,
One needs to educate,
To educate through independent learning,
To learn on one’s own behalf,
Ignorance happens in many different circles,
Whether it is religious,
Or skin color,
Sexuality,
Or even a belief in politics,
These are topics with different meanings,
One needs to understand in order learn,
Ignorance will always exist,
There is not much one can do,
This happens in many ways that need to be dealt with,
Take this in any which way that you can,
Education will be our ally,
An ally to help us learn about one another,
This is all that we can do to combat ignorance,
Fate is another way of change,
For fate is with us and hopefully over time ignorance will deplete as the future continues amongst the human race.
Who care about what professional athletes have to say?
Professional athletes only care about money,
Not you,
Or I,
Events in the world don't change because of them,
Yeah, they are rich and famous,
Who really cares?
Evolution is the cause of human problems,
It always has,
It always will,
I can care less about what these athletes have to say,
They are multimillionaires who only care about themselves,
They are worshipped by too many,
Think about what I have said here,
What is more prestigious?
A nurse saving a life,
Or a football player running for a touchdown,
Obviously the nurse saving a life,
Take care for now,
Be good,
And may a new horizon be better in these unpredictable times.
Not you,
Or I,
Events in the world don't change because of them,
Yeah, they are rich and famous,
Who really cares?
Evolution is the cause of human problems,
It always has,
It always will,
I can care less about what these athletes have to say,
They are multimillionaires who only care about themselves,
They are worshipped by too many,
Think about what I have said here,
What is more prestigious?
A nurse saving a life,
Or a football player running for a touchdown,
Obviously the nurse saving a life,
Take care for now,
Be good,
And may a new horizon be better in these unpredictable times.
Who cares what actors have to say?
They are worth millions,
Who cares?
Do they care about you and I?
Nope,
They are in the business to make alot of money,
Good for them,
Issues in the world are really harsh,
Nothing really changes,
No matter what they say,
Just because a popular actor or actress says something,
I could care less,
Humans love controversy,
Look at the news,
It is nonstop,
No actor makes any difference,
If they do, it is rare,
Humans have always loved problems,
Whether it is now,
Or in the past,
Believe what you want,
Take care,
Try to be good,
And again, carpe diem.
Who cares?
Do they care about you and I?
Nope,
They are in the business to make alot of money,
Good for them,
Issues in the world are really harsh,
Nothing really changes,
No matter what they say,
Just because a popular actor or actress says something,
I could care less,
Humans love controversy,
Look at the news,
It is nonstop,
No actor makes any difference,
If they do, it is rare,
Humans have always loved problems,
Whether it is now,
Or in the past,
Believe what you want,
Take care,
Try to be good,
And again, carpe diem.
Good people are becoming rarer each day
Mind you, there are good people,
Just rare to find one,
Technology has changed people,
For the worse,
They get too wrapped in their phones,
Or any else technological,
Time will continue,
This is how it is,
People like to be bad,
They see goodness as a problem,
People do not understand anything at all,
Unless it involves them,
I am amazed at how many still get married,
And have children,
The statistics are staggering,
Many people get divorced,
Marriage is a team process,
Not one person and that's it,
I can go on and on,
Try to be good,
If that is possible,
The world is filled with phonies,
It is getting worse each day,
Take care,
And may time pass for the better,
Carpe diem.
Just rare to find one,
Technology has changed people,
For the worse,
They get too wrapped in their phones,
Or any else technological,
Time will continue,
This is how it is,
People like to be bad,
They see goodness as a problem,
People do not understand anything at all,
Unless it involves them,
I am amazed at how many still get married,
And have children,
The statistics are staggering,
Many people get divorced,
Marriage is a team process,
Not one person and that's it,
I can go on and on,
Try to be good,
If that is possible,
The world is filled with phonies,
It is getting worse each day,
Take care,
And may time pass for the better,
Carpe diem.
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