Category Archives: Poetry

The aroma of crushed mint leaves clings to the bowl, bringing with it a flood of memories of childhood. I remember when I was introduced to lamb, gradually, with little lamb patties surround by ample dollops of mint jelly. As … Continue reading →

Too many smiles. Too many smiles in a time of sadness. What are they thinking? Don’t they see what’s happening all around them? Aren’t they aware of the ugliness on every street corner? I don’t understand how they can ignore … Continue reading →

Skin like leather dissolves into hot slippery steam as she envelopes the married men, all of them, in her strident wantonness, encircling their hopeless fidelity with smooth fingers and silky skin, rupturing their resolve, turning yearning into unchecked lust and … Continue reading →

He collects knives, coffee mugs, antique bottles, and straight razors, things hidden on crowded shelves in junk shops and garage sales, things you don’t find without investing time and patience in dreary places with cast-off history on public display. His … Continue reading →

I am the party favor, breaking the ice and easing the tensions. There had been no discussion of my serving in that capacity, yet turning down the invitation was out of the question, inasmuch as it wasn’t an invitation; it was … Continue reading →

I am sorry; you do not understand. When you rejected the night sky, you repudiated the stars. When you ostracized the priest, you attacked the parishioner. When you battled against tears and won, you denounced emotion as weakness. You mistook an … Continue reading →

The poet sits late at night, in the shadow of his own creation. Reciting a love poem in an abandoned railway station, no one hearing but the pigeons and the poet. The poet could be satisfied with the pigeons if only … Continue reading →

My fifteen minutes of fame, like everything else, is subject to inflation over the years. I get twenty to twenty-five minutes in the spotlight next Wednesday night at Maxine’s in Hot Springs to read my poetry as the “Feature Poet.” And, … Continue reading →

Last night, the president of the writers’ club and I went to Maxine’s for the Wednesday night poetry reading, just to get the lay of the land before our 20-minute program, scheduled for November 19.  I’m not sure what I … Continue reading →

I received a forwarded email a few nights ago from the president of the writers’ club.  The forwarded message was an invitation for the winner of the club’s poetry contest (yours truly) and others to organize a twenty minute slot at an upcoming meeting of Wednesday … Continue reading →

Gaze intently at a rainbow and you will see the outer edge of time. Look hard. Look into the center of the  brightest ribbon of color. And there it will be. I’ve seen it a dozen times. The thing is, … Continue reading →

Sitting at my desk fumbling with the mouse, forcing the computer to tell me stories. Clicking on a link, finding it dull, searching for another to tell the right tale. Who would think a man growing older would behave this … Continue reading →

                                    A Tribute to Pete Seeger The saddest thing is not wanting what the next man has. The saddest thing is wanting to … Continue reading →

Edging onto the cross street, hoping to get a break, hoping traffic will slow just enough to let me find my place among those cars, personal pods of protection, that shield us against the indignities of casual conversations with strangers. … Continue reading →

I wrote this poem a few years ago but misplaced the hard-copy and I wasn’t able to find even an electronic file during a cursory search for it.  But then I found an audio file; I transcribed it by listening … Continue reading →

Ill-fitting clothes and a devil-may-care green plaid newsboy cap. Grey herringbone tweed jacket with brown trousers. Hiking boots, no socks, no match for the smile fresh from lukewarm coffee and a cold cinnamon bun. Impossible to forget that sad café, … Continue reading →