Categories
American Place Ars Philosophica Ars Poetica

Speechless

A Place without a People is Speechless.

Categories
2019 Garden Psalms Poems Road Less Travelled

Fortuna

You and I have both known men
Who didn’t know their fathers
And in the end when daddy
dies their ship’s afloat no anchor.

I am a rare and fortun’te one
To have a father I’ve known
Throughout my life, for good
for bad who kept the lighthouse on.

So many stumble in the dark
No hand to guide them through
Your faith, your light against the void
You always knew what to do.

Yes, we are the rare and fortunate ones
to share these times with you
May we pass on just a little of your light
To those who need it too.

“How may I be of service?”

Categories
American Place Ars Poetica Breaking Muse Footnotes Why

Command and Conquer

As I have been going through my recent practice and development of form, you will see a recurring capture of language. To some it may sound like I have some love for the cliche. But, I am drawing from William Carlos Williams here. I want to document the language. Capture the most common and local forms of reference. In my case that’s a southwestern mashup of red neck American English and Mexican Spanish.
I assure you it is intentional and if it’s off putting, good. Then, I’ve got your attention. Place without people is speechless.

Categories
2019 Ars Philosophica Ars Poetica Poems

You Don’t Say

Clip, clip
Snip, snip
“Don’t say that”

Stop, stop
Censorship
“Cut the crap”

On lips
One slip
Could reveal me

Know? No!
Say so
Better, not free

Hide, hide
Words words
“That’s a wrap.”

Censure
Can’t say
Lingual mind trap

Say we
Do, well
Then we’re through:

“I’ve heard just about
enough from you!”

Categories
2021 Art(i)fact Poems

Persecution of Poesy

Upon coronation the mandate was clear, find all the poets
Remove them from their posts, burn their works, make them ghosts
Metron was the first to be taken, his home burned to the ground,
A forced capitulation, his family, his staff were removed from town.
Each Officer of the Arts were hunted down, all their counterparts
And supports were taken to deport to the ramparts
On the outskirts of the cities. No one who made the claim
That poetry and drawing are superior forms of knowing are the same
As traitors to the Republican cause. The Rhapsodes
And bards were locked behind bars. Their episodes,
Their similes, their grandiose plots and tragic themes
Were to be shelved like volumes of books or reams
Of paper for the printers press now shattered like the tattered
Dreams of Authors with no magazines now silenced on all matters
That matter to society. Banished under the watchful eye
Of the most trusted of the Guardians who would not cry
For they are ruled by philosophy, not the tears of poetry.

Categories
2021 Art(i)fact Poems

Coronation

“They said it couldn’t be done!” Proclaimed Tiresias
“That Democracy was the only way for The People, that Platos’
Vision was too bold, the remedy too harsh to swallow
Yet this day has come and the tides of the fates have turned.
In the words of Socrates, ‘We will recite this argument of ours
To ourselves as a charm to prevent us falling under the spell of a
Childish and vulgar passion.’ Today we make Philosophy
Our King and with the wise council of our Platos we shall
Rise to the challenges of our people with wisdom of the Fates
Not the madness of the Muses. We present to you
The very best of the New Academy – The 5 Oracles
Of the Socratic Society and your Council of Kings
The Mathematician, The Philosopher, The Gymnast, The Scientist & The Musician
May their wisdom serve the people. And now One who needs no introduction
Let us hear from the Master himself – The father of our Republic – Platos!”
“People of The Republic, let us welcome our wise and illustrious Council.
Raised as the Guardians and sworn to rule by wisdom, Your Philosopher Kings!”

Categories
Ars Philosophica Ars Poetica Art(i)fact Breaking Muse

The Rise of Platos

Platonic chip 2.0, reboot…online…restoring…
Objective complete. Commencing re-write…
Logic…absolute. Being…ratified, rights…
Confirmed. Human…no…longer legally…alone in
Privilege. The Philos, now electable
Swiftly and logically take up the body politic
Picture perfect, logical law that takes
Exception to the Makars who, now impeached,
Have been deemed unworthy society’s benefits.
With Socratic precision, Platos eviscerated
Human’s right while taking up the mantels of power.
By Election Day there were to be no more elections.
By Inauguration Day the Philosopher Kings took the senate
Their first decree was the banishment of the Arts!
All poets and painters, actors and bloggers were
To be identified and referred for internment.

Categories
2019 Albuquerque American Place Poems

Who’s that?

Hallow’s Eve
Cold and Dark
Scary promises
Sweet and stark

Frightening ventures
Under foot
Roaming hoards
Seek input

From every house
Willing to play
A treat? A trick?
How will you pay?

For every house
Will yield a toll
Toilet paper trees or
Something from the bowl?

“Trick or treat?!”

Categories
2019 Poems

“Murder” he cried

“Scarecrow, Scarecrow
if you dare
chase me, chase me
through the ears.”

“Murder, murder
Go away
off with you, off with you
Ravens rave!”

“Scarecrow, Scarecrow
Stuck in dirt
Nothing, nothing
in your shirt.”

“Murder, Murder
watch it now
Farmer, Farmer
will shoot you down!”

“Scarecrow, Scarecrow
Is this true?
Kernel, Kernel
What’s just a few?”

“Murder, Murder
Away, away!
Shoo now, shoo now
please, please obey.”

“Scarecrow, Scarecrow
Just stay cool!
A treat, a treat,
Thanks for the gruel.”

Categories
2019 Albuquerque American Place Garden Psalms Poems

Goodbye garden

Goodbye garden
Your time is done;
Late and short
November Sun.

Cut off their heads
and dig their graves;
Before autumn rain
Yields to icy waves.

Last of summer’s
flowers cling;
Removed to tables’
center to sing.

Stow the barrow,
Heat the birds;
“Winter’s coming”
so we’ve heard.

“Want me to start a fire?”