(“The Mothership”, 2024, computer graphic encaustic collage)
The Age of Abstract
We live in a time defined by ideas and ideals
When concepts and abstracts rule
But what’s needed as a balance and antidote
Is grounding in real life
Relationships with others, real people and animals
The real world, of rock and water, tree and sky
And not an artificial world of AI
Or even naturally human generated intelligence.
We live in an artificial age
When concepts and abstracts rule
As the real world
Waits patiently within us and without us.
(12/30/24)
Are you pure enough?
Do those you support in religion, politics,
Media and entertainment pass
The purity test?
What about your friends, lovers,
Children and parents
Do they pass the test?
What about your pets?
Where does it end
This desire for consistency and purity
Of purpose and effect?
Or perhaps a better question,
Where does it begin?
(11/24/24)
This basic wish
Is the wish of every mother and child
The wish for things to be safe and fun
For everyone to smile
And not push and shove, yell and fight.
It’s the wish that drives them like sheep
Into the beautiful green pastures over there
Just beyond the bounds, always
Just out of reach.
It’s the wish to unite
Form a one world government or religion
Or circle to sing kumbaya
To hold us all together
Keep us safe in the night
And fed in the morning.
It’s also the wishful dream that fades
When Sun rises on another day
And it’s time to once again
Simply care
For all things we need to do
The bitter and the sweet
Made better by the fact
Adversity builds something
Nothing else can.
(11/22/24)
quixotic idealism
face of positivity
not easy to extinguish
beyond what's happening
and far beyond imagining
there is a world of imagery
a boundless sea of fantasy
though some may call it heresy
kindness is the only currency
pure hearts give their song in prayer
it's open season for poets there
beyond hopes forgotten on a shelf
this is a universe onto itself
where laws of physics don't apply
and lofty dreams there never die
AP: 1st place 2024
There is magic in life, but you must let go of anyone,out to destroy your soul.
Of these there are a plethora.
Are they descendants of Sodom and Gemmorah ?
These poets…simply cannot let you joyfully be!
Unless, your ideas match theirs in tandem, in modern poetry, do you see?
Dare you be different, they turn against you, indeed, hastily!
So, you must find other writers of sterling integrity.
If not, you are cursed to ever be a nothing poet.
Sadly doomed, to their odes to mediocrity!
7/25/2023
What do you see in my emaciated emerald eyes?
Idealism or someone lost in love and hatred
Birds eat my meat thrown on the clean floor
A death sentence has passed on my sick neck
Don't grind your teeth as you walk on my rotting body
My blood has become fertilizer for the roads of the raging seas
The breeze plays with our scattered hearts, then the calm of the nights
And your turbulent feelings as material for my disordered heart
The fingers of the gods are pointing at my brain, lying on the table
And the devils enjoy the smell of my guts in the bathtub
And there you see my hopes floating like a pure beast
where am I?
Why do you see me and embrace my soul after all that?
Your eardrum is dull, let's blow it
Or blew my heart after you research its place in the "home"
Going within the shrine of my heart's hidden mind,
In things without, the truth I often do not find;
I dream of greatness. This I expect in others.
As each, in life, have individual druthers...!
The facts of my universe are truly well-known,
I should meditate on my true forms clearly shown;
'Cogito Ergo Sum' - Descartes so proudly said.
Mind and body are not one. Thus, he went ahead...!
I love dear Plato, for his world of ideas.
He gave us Platonic love, highest from above;
No flesh in it; none touches before hearts touch,
Only such love can free me from every grim clutch...!
I do love and respect Aristotle, the great,
Who reduced truths forms to a great idea- bait;
Knowledge comes from within the realism does hold.
To unrealities, often, my conscience is sold...!
Metaphysical epistemological,
Each philosopher, for me, has been logical;
Excellence in beauty and divine perfection,
Is there, to idealism, any exception...?
Socrates accepted the bitter cup offered,
For his idealism he did greatly suffered;
Who he did not ever in his life influence?
Each heart and mind should flow in his great confluence...!!!
19 January 2023
I came across an ancient manuscript
Long languishing in a cluttered drawer
Where hidden memories lay among
The flotsam and jetsam of my life,
And reading it I realized a forgotten time
When idealism was a guiding principle
In my way of life, when in my naivete
I was convinced I could change the world.
I had taken many bits of my life from that chest
From time to time, when frantic searching
For direction caused me to flail about
Too late, I picked up the yellowed pages just now.
written August 8, 2021
IDEALISM
Liberal, Modest, Noble, Open Personality
deserves reverence and adoration,
simultaneous admiration
to be followed by every soul.
Dishonesty, Envy, Falsehood, Greed, Hate
to control, to kill or to drive out.
Revenge in mind, never to sprout.
Peace of human should be the goal.
Abolish Betrayal! Crookedness: Do Explode.
For conspiracy to confront
in social or domestic front
stand straight as stable-rooted bole.
Respect Strong Truth, Universal Values
of morality on journey of life,
whether at ease or at strife.
In drama of life play courageous role.
08/02/21
First Place
Alpha Lines Contest by Joseph May
The fluffy snow melts slowly,
its whiteness is stunning...
and turning into torrents of rain,
it sets grief on people's faces!
Passing sails are a delight to see,
but the anchored gondolas grieve,
they miss lovers who sang arias;
can sunset change the air of sobriety
and offer dreamers some real hope?
No, gladness is not found here!
Smiles are not influenced by emotions,
seeing the gleaming snow becoming slush
and flowing faster than rivers is even sadder;
all roofs drip, no cooing pigeons greet tourists:
Venice itself weeps surrounded by its splendor!
Rising artist artfully
Weaving palette poetry
Crafting beauty brilliantly
Painting living lovingly
Radiating like the sun
Growing, glowing little one
Sharing, caring, never done
Giving love to everyone
Freshening like summer rain
Watering the famished plain
Raising rows of golden grain
Making meadows bloom again
Feeding families facing fear
Helping homeless hasten here
Nursing needy neighbors near
Doing double duty dear
Leaving home when she was young
Grieving those she was among
Flipping on her face she flung
Falling in a ball of dung
Getting up when she was dead
Going home to sleep in bed
Thinking more of food instead
Showering like mother said.
truthful admissions
daisies flit through brain
a calm takes over
sense of humors
laugh together
with not at people
comfortable together
unafraid
idealism in love form
CHERUB'S JUBILEE
When the ninth hour of night is cloaked in velvet
And small star kisses sprinkle the Junie-moon sky
The ambling amber moon glides with Glen Miller rhythms
Entrancing piquant paramours picnicking on Poet's Pie
Crickets crackle crisp serenades like squeaky violins
Fiddling mischievous melodies to delight
Hollow hoots of owls harmonize with wispy gossamer zephyrs
Enchanting the moonbeam lovers on this sighing summer's night
Under weepy willow branches swaying with subtle serpentine synergy
Fluttering wings and dancing hearts conduct a lover's rhapsody
As Cupid's Couple swing and swirl at the Cherub's Jubilee
While the winds over blue ocean chasms blow free
earth
peace
give it a chance
tie-dye t-shirts
modern dance
macrame
and beaded chokers
woodstock
and pot smokers
flower power
zpg
alfalfa sprouts
herbal tea
burning draft cards
American flags
Vietnam bodies
coming home in bags
Kent
Augusta
Jackson state
Detroit Black Panthers
waking up too late
Oh Angela
Oh Beatles
Oh Martin Luther King
gratitude to all of you
for this special thing
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