New Poems | PoetryNook

A Jaunt With the Neighborhood Astronomer

Her slap was the crack of a Colt,
an angry thunderbolt
knocking him off his boats.
Clad in autumn coats,
two youngsters wandered far
with this fellow and his dogs
and his chirpy monologues.
He showed them star after star
and planets: Mars and Saturn;
interpreted the pattern
of speckles called Orion.
“Like a windblown dandelion
scattering its seeds,
the heavens are breaking up,”
he told them, as each pup,
attached to matching leads,
followed the girls to a place
as mysterious as space.
With eagerness and welly

Harris fortitude went awol

lest ye seek alms
with outfaced palms
just imagine
how the lantern shone
against the knees of Archelaus,
and lit up the check-board pattern
of the eleemosynary trousers

Fatigued civilian attires reasonable rhyme
challenging readers to dare themselves
question yours truly what ranks as
unleashing trademark punishing crime.

Words worth more'n fine spun gold
courtesy those considering themselves literate,
perhaps recipients of countless laurels extolled,
nevertheless mediocre (ha) logophile
crafts poem(s) inducing scold.

Gold Star

Dad, Mom, I'm home from war as Christmas lights glitter, farewell.

Saint Lawrence Basilica

outside church roses bloom in snow miracle In the North Carolina city of Asheville there is a Catholic church, Saint Lawrence Basilica. Outside this most beauteous church roses even bloom in winter. ~

Only son forsaking his filial promise to father on his deathbed

After papa succumbed
to congestive heart failure
October 7th, 2020 yours truly
neglected fulfilling promised score.

I did shirk maintaining bond
with youngest sister
who when a boy especially fond
regarding said sibling
whereat myself and and Shari Todd
played cat and mouse
chasing each other to pond
necessitating both of us to traverse
wooded thicket simultaneously
waving our magic wand.

Boyhood of mine chock full of memories
framing me and most favorite playmate
requiring keen eye to distinguish

Ali’s Song

They say that gold don’t tarnish. It ain’t so.
They say it has a wild, unearthly glow.
A man can be more beautiful, more wild.
I flung their medal to the river, child.
I flung their medal to the river, child.

They hung their coin around my neck; they made
my name a bridle, “called a spade a spade.”
They say their gold is pure. I say defiled.
I flung their slave’s name to the river, child.
I flung their slave’s name to the river, child.

Ain’t got no quarrel with no Viet Cong
that never called me nigger, did me wrong.

Dreamt

Dreamt
Last night I dreamt
You were there with me
Holding me close in your love
And embrace.
The chill autumn air
Faded with the warmth
Of your tingling touch.

Tomorrow we will be together
Again in my memories and then
Just say when!

Last night I dreamt
We were on an oceanliner.
Nothing you gave
Was ever finer.
You gave your love again and
Then some
All night long-
My heart and soul revived
And soared to new heights.