Evidence ~ Friday, 19 January 2018

Mr Gabidar draws 

a diagram to show 

how a two-way mirror 

Inside the mind allows 

Chronos to shift Topos  

wide open as both fall 

Swirling in a vortex 

as density stops pulse 

dead in its tracks Blue Note 

Travel to the center 

of Alpha-star requires 

a margin of error 

Equal to a perfect 

score at the Olympics 

anything less and mind 

Reflects back to the soul 

to crush any effort 

to achieve quartertone 

In walked Dub Master Skim 

to spin within astral 

gravity pinpoint sharp 

Open-heart surgery 

scalpel like a needle 

drops to fit the groove wall 

Small as the back you scratch 

to get liftoff in ten 

seconds the countdown rote 

Obviously to ears 

accustomed to his style 

mysterious is sprung 

Invisible to eyes 

naked even enhanced 

the speakers beep out blind 

Numerical data 

incomprehensible 

outside the gyrus cone 

Waltz through the Milky Way 

to the supermassive 

black hole hidden by warp 

At the center to hold 

sway over the balance 

the galaxy entire 

Lifts its burden of proof 

to the court assembled 

to show forces unknown 

Kiss Uranus goodbye 

should the center wobble 

the balloon a bee stung 

Enter worried blue notes 

to set tones for cosmic 

disaster set on fire 

Dark star radiation 

ripples the universe 

the whimper overblown 

Tarkovsky's Horse ~ Monday, 15 January 2018

Tarkovsky's Horse

<< Le déluge, c'est moi. >>

An ungulate undulates like a wave,
Wavering in the flicker of a flood.

https://youtu.be/HxpXnFYudnk

A Day to Remember ~ Monday, 15 January 2018

My friend the good doctor 

reaches the mountaintop 

in a vision a dream 

An assassin shoots him 

dead after he preaches 

the gospel the good news 

Reliable sources 

hide the facts of his death 

until they solve the crime 

To his congregation 

he reveals his wisdom

as prophet to redeem 

In their hearts the good fight 

against their oppressors 

so their children may feed 

Not on the flesh of man 

as God but on his words 

and deeds his protest march 

Letters from a jail cell 

formulate his demands 

for change for civil rights 

Until the people meet 

his goal we all suffer 

until they pay their dues 

Time remembers the sins 

of slavery the rape 

of Africa and Time 

Holds descendants of slaves 

to recount the accounts 

their forebears cannot share 

Even though we absolve 

the sins of slavery 

we continue to bleed 

Reparations unpaid 

leave the people dismal 

we must pass through the Arch 

Killers keep killing good 

men women and children 

we cannot reach the heights 

In the vision the dream 

the mountaintop to see 

the Promised Land we fail 

Needlessly the children 

we appear divided 

our unity long lost 

Guns shoot but people kill 

we kill for property 

honor prestige we scare 

Junior senseless indeed 

our hate for each other 

negates his time in jail 

Repeat after me love 

comes with strength in numbers 

hatred comes at a cost 

Misguided Confessor ~ Friday, 12 January 2018

Does it not make me sick 

In the depths of my soul 

when the President lies 

Ask me why I would care 

about American 

political process 

Me of all the people 

you yourself could question 

a foreign-born moron 

Not just a citizen 

of the United States 

but a man who could rise 

Engage the leadership 

not as a journalist 

but as a professor 

Damned be philosophy 

I finished my degree 

but need two more to speak 

Devil In the details 

forced to work in retail 

but for twenty-two years 

Obviously I teach 

no one profess nothing 

for this I must confess 

Catholic from my birth 

I gave God up for Lent 

the whore of Babylon 

Told me to leave the Church 

of my childhood and read 

the Scriptures on my own 

Obviously I read 

all world scriptures as one 

misguided confessor 

Reading Buddhist sutras 

uncovered the meaning 

of birth and death I seek 

Golden years in a land 

where I find my exile 

from my birthplace cause tears 

Only in heartbroken 

people who can't return 

for financial reasons 

Leave me to figure out 

the mystery of time 

as a phenomenon 

Doctor to nobody 

without the means to grow 

who'll throw this dog a bone 

Only that person knows 

they have the means to help 

me weather the seasons 

Take back the government 

I couldn't care less truth

be told I stay withdrawn 

Marsyas ~ Friday, 12 January 2018

If I begin to sing 

will you stay to listen 

or will you walk away 

As you can see the stars 

glisten in the night sky 

I know not why you cry 

Maybe my bite seems worse 

than my bark in the dark 

you can't tell I smell well 

Nobody knows my curse 

under the dark new moon 

I play the man you flay 

Oh my god how selfish 

you were too proud to share 

with a shellfish eater 

To compete against god 

especially a god 

who doesn't really care 

Couldn't you understand 

I am mortal half-man 

half-beast under the moon 

Randy as a satyr 

dick pointing at the moon 

like a finger you try 

Effortlessly to see 

at whom the finger points 

or for whom the death knell 

Tolls the bell as you know 

tolls for me as I hang 

upside-down from a tree 

Answer me this my god 

why you saw fit to paint 

me the fool a cheater 

Nimble as a flautist 

but to sing like a dog 

who howls I wouldn't dare 

Compete against a god 

until you bamboozled 

me of my skin a boon 

Rest assured in the heat 

of summer after June 

my only sin was gin 

Even if the blood drips 

off my flesh I can smile 

as the bile foams my mouth 

Take me to task I knew 

my youthful boast would end 

badly once I could see 

In whose palm the Muses' 

judgment lay I could say 

I was blind to begin 

Not with pipes but with song 

to work to break a tie 

but my good faith went south 

Double Scoop ~ Monday, 8 January 2018

<3 <3 <3

Less than three less than three 

less than three makes three hearts 

like sideways ice cream cones 

Indeed double scooped breasts 

lined up like chorus girls 

ready to sing and dance 

Timed perfectly to kick 

in unison the beat 

the backbone to their act 

Terrific musicals 

under Broadway stage lights 

demarcated by zones 

Laughter and tears a switch 

dancers turn up or down 

along with shock and awe 

Elicit the right steps 

the right combination 

to unlock success click

Tumble into the vault 

of childhood memories 

hidden deep in the mind 

Remember recent times 

father's triple bypass 

surgery my last chance 

Invited to travel 

from Memphis to the coast 

my girlfriend made a pact 

Pretend to imagine 

we fit like old dance shoes 

magically step on stage 

Lasting only moments 

courtship marriage divorce 

five years lost to a flaw 

Exact reasoning sees 

nothing of the future 

eating with one chopstick 

Bumps come as holes or hills 

move on with a flat tire 

somehow I drive night blind 

Yellow lights cause darkness 

to creep into my view 

I cannot see the road 

Pretend I learned lessons 

to pass on to children 

who learn from my mistakes 

As a father to none 

no one bears my last name 

nor my dad's drunken rage 

Somehow I leave this world 

better for having lived 

broke the genetic code 

Somehow those hearts above 

saved my father from death 

for twelve years hit the breaks 

Temple ~ Sunday, 7 January 2018

Mumble Bunny never 

known as the funny son 

puts his shoes on his hands 

And walks down the staircase 

upside down and naked 

for all to see his smile 

Reveals nobody loves 

a provocative child 

who makes his dad look bad 

Barely does he notice 

his youngest son as worth 

his time he understands 

Little and remembers 

nothing about childhood 

the wild misunderstood 

Enfants terribles soft 

in the brain as troubled 

youth full of naughty pranks 

Sinister beyond help 

Mumble Bunny learns hard 

lessons the easy way 

Teach a child that parents 

turn a blind eye to games 

children play and the file 

Attached to adulthood 

his mom plants in his brain 

makes Mumble Bunny sad 

To grow older to strive 

to achieve a life worth 

having and eating cake 

Ugly in appearance 

his older brother knows 

torture brings out the good 

Enter the world of harm 

neglect and latch-key kids 

of gratitude and thanks 

Teach a child to endure 

no matter how awful 

the harsh games children play 

Experience offers 

years of tears and heartbreak 

before wisdom takes hold 

Mumble Bunny so shy 

and quiet bites his tongue 

before he speaks harsh words 

Predators like brother 

come with the package deal 

to help detect the fake 

Laughter of evil men 

from the deeds they partake 

in in boardrooms too cold 

Even for their marble

hearts to slow down to watch 

the wings of hummingbirds 

Alumni News ~ Thursday, 4 January 2018

Is it strange when I see 

my cousin's name and face 

in an email from school 

Damned if I didn't know 

he was eleven years 

older when he destroyed 

In his own way my soul 

along with my brother 

with tag-team torture games 

Only five when I met 

this young man in high school 

he thought he was real cool 

Trouble is he still does 

as does my sole brother 

heartless from age seven 

Still they gave me an axe 

to grind to hate my own 

alcoholic family 

Denial I didn't know 

I suppressed in my guts 

until I left college 

Even my own parents 

didn't know what to do 

I fell into a void 

Nothing but a sucker 

to their puerile choices 

I got called all the names 

I lost my mind from stress 

of learning the effects 

of alcoholism 

Ask the alcoholic 

dead in his ashen urn 

or maybe in heaven 

Laugh at the metaphors 

for places we visit 

post-death hypocrisy 

Liquor did its job well 

it bonded the elders 

with drink took off the edge 

Inhibitions removed 

they danced to the music 

and drank cashew feni 

Quarrels with dad got me 

a backhand bloody lip 

my school friend can attest 

Understand they weren't bad 

people they didn't know 

better they forced a schism 

Only my dead father 

could undo between them 

without apology 

Relating as normal 

people with me I stay 

away and they divest 

Chôros ~ Wednesday, 3 January 2018

Constantly I look back 

over my left shoulder 

to see if anyone 

Approaches anyone 

whom I may have known once 

long ago as a friend 

Rest assured nobody 

notices when I glance 

at a lost memory 

Remembered when a song 

over radio waves 

plays brighter than the sun 

In my mind I listen 

as to see the person 

clearly in an image 

Elapsed frames on a reel 

create the sensation 

of time captured to view 

Scenes of my life on film 

as if I were a star 

an actor of the stage 

Tantalized by the lights 

audience and applause 

a game where I pretend 

Under circumstances 

created as fiction 

to act out a story 

Bathed fully in limelight 

I play the part a fool 

or jester of the court 

Believe me the best roles 

do not require I act 

past what I envisage 

Look beyond my station 

my status off the stage 

or the screen my nephew 

Entertains his colleagues 

with my exploits drinking 

flying into a rage 

For the sake of public 

image the fantasy 

where we meet in a dream 

In the real world you play 

a concert piano 

I know you from your style 

Even if someone else 

played the notes to the song 

I could tell they comport 

Language in their fingers 

whereas you carry a tray  

to bear the weight of cream 

Desserts the prince who plays 

guitar enjoys the most 

I still miss your wry smile 

☆ Rude Awakening ~ Monday, 1 January 2018

Police break down the door 

first thing in the morning 

before we were awake 

Of course they did not knock 

but battered down the door 

with a S.W.A.T. team of ten 

Likely someone tipped them 

off to a narcotics 

ring in our apartment 

If we were running drugs 

we would not be surprised 

to find soldiers half-baked 

Calling out both our names 

to get down on the ground 

place us under arrest 

Evidently some creep 

in California called 

in the tip as a prank

Brutal tactics they use 

let you know you may die 

if you make a false move 

Arguments won't be heard 

they've come to trash the place 

to find and or descend 

To the deepest circles 

of hell to bring Satan 

to justice they were sent 

To handle a mission 

from the Father Himself 

the Almighty ruler 

Evangelical priests 

to announce the good news 

we did not pass the test 

Rely on an arrest 

to stick even as we 

learn about the drunk tank 

In good faith these strong men 

and women of the state 

brought us to feel the groove 

Niggas on the Southside 

know all too well the cops 

serve and protect their own 

Gather the evidence 

to prove our innocence 

against guilty verdicts 

Realize the system 

doesn't care if we're poor 

or don't like the cooler 

Arrive in state prison 

because lawyers don't care 

that I sing baritone 

Marvelously in choir 

at church every Sunday 

God loves all His convicts 

Victory; from Poverty to Poetry ~ Monday, 1 January 2018

I look out the window 

at the snow on the ground 

pristine in the new year 

Not a single footprint 

oh wait there is a path 

a dirty little trail 

Terrific let me start 

again as I wonder 

what else hides in plain sight 

Endless lists come to mind 

but I won't bother you 

with the details I fear 

Lists and people who make 

such lists as control freaks 

but of course such labels 

Limit my openness 

to unknown adventures 

with people I've not met 

In this lifetime at least 

okay so I am lying 

to forget my past life 

Given that my ex-wife 

and my last therapist 

both made lists without fail 

Endless lists to relax 

to check off or strike out 

problems solved brought to light 

Notwithstanding the lines 

that remain without mark 

laughing in insolence 

Crap I too used to make 

these self-satisfying 

lists long ago fables 

Endearingly record 

my vinyl collections 

a teen without a fret 

Granted I was anal 

as fuck back in the day 

still am to scan my strife 

Under forty-eight years 

of mindless oppression 

my mind against itself 

Insanity reveals 

itself in many forms 

mine is eighteen lines long 

Talent remains hidden 

unless I hone my craft 

sharp without arrogance 

Art of course shows conceit 

as metaphors lack pride 

full of wit gaining wealth 

Regardless just how poor 

a poet is my verse 

grows bold from weak to strong 

The Flywheel of History ~ Monday, 1 January 2018

When nothing changes time 

doesn't simply stand still 

we watched Old Capitol 

Hill burn in Hell because 

enough is enough more 

than we could ever take 

Even Old Nick couldn't 

stand by and let nothing 

happen let no bills pass 

No trust in the devil 

to take charge of matters 

when hell breaks loose pedal 

Neutral with a flywheel 

across the history 

of our beloved nation 

On New Year's Day we took 

to the streets to protest 

in the frost of winter 

Tea and cookies were not 

on the menu we sought 

to make something happen 

However we did not 

expect the capital 

to burn before daybreak 

In hindsight what we asked 

for what we demanded 

disappeared in a blast 

Nitrogen exploded 

underneath the buildings 

we were all taken back 

Glimpses of Guy Fawkes own 

Gunpowder Plot made real 

so much devastation 

Cannot but bewilder 

our own observations 

our nation was splintered 

Hungry for some action 

we realised the time 

to rise was misshapen 

As a five-sided square 

the Pentagon destroyed 

acoss the Potomac 

No one knew what to do 

we helped as responders 

to a tragic event 

Granted this could never 

occur outside fiction 

but we watched the attack 

Every single person 

looked on in absolute 

horror we stood awe-struck 

Simply by an endgame 

without arbitration 

this we could not consent 

☆ Goodbye Cruel World ~ Sunday, 31 December 2017

Just before New Year's Eve 

I flushed a small horse-fly 

down the porcelain drain

Unwittingly I spoiled 

the guest-host relation

with disconcerting pride 

Swift with shock and awe-struck 

I watched the certain death 

of a pest born to lose 

Time runs out with sudden 

unpleasant occasion 

sensations in the brain 

Bewilder my senses 

I cannot flee or run

away or fly past nets 

Ever losing balance 

the tides shifting swirling 

with a maelstrom effect 

Focus if I focus 

my ommatidia 

I may not feel so drunk

Overboard I've fallen 

into the salty sea 

drowned in a whirlpool tide 

Recurrence eternal 

my death the same my life 

exact I cannot choose 

Event A Event B 

or even Event C

it's all the same to me 

Nothing ever changes 

I've seen it all before 

this life full of regrets 

Enter the empty bowl 

only to refill once 

again as I expect 

Wonders never amaze 

or cease to fire synapse 

after synapse once sunk 

Your battleship since caught 

in the crosshairs to shoot 

a torpedo propelled 

Exactly through the hull 

a bullet through my skull 

a horse-fly drunk with death 

Ascertain this fiction 

metaphysics delight 

in knowledge of theory 

Rewards of afterlife 

unseen and uncertain 

the curtain since dispelled 

See my original 

face beyond the veneer 

of false hope my last breath