Long Filleted Poems

I. The Hour of Approach

The poem I was writing refused to end—  
it kept writing me.  
Blood didn't ink these lines—  
the ink bled me.  
Each stanza a hidden-hematoma  
across...

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Vexation at self - regarding avoidable altercation...

Today May 12th, 2021
at Royersford (Pennsylvania) LIDL,
when spouse stepped into checkout line
(minus her horse drawn grocery cart -
pushed courtesy yours truly).

While passively standing stock still
I (think Stonewall Jackson)
let scenario...

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The table is old and worn
nicks and scratches 
its red plastic tablecloth left over from a forgotten Christmas
its holiday pattern worn and forlorn
many a Thanksgiving dinner was hosted
the plump turkey as dry as yesterday

many wars...

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For Within Thine Eyes, I See Love's Eternal Gaze, 
- a collaboration with Susan Ashley
 
How shall I, let your kind and most tender heart go
with its immense depths, sweet kisses, resplendent glow.
I could do...

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Wanton women of Whitechapel
Desperate and destitute
Weakened from want
Shrunken stomachs barren of bread
Dying from disease in dingy dosshouses
Selling themselves on the streets for shillings
to buy beer, a bed for the night
or a bonny new bonnet
to enable...

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How shall I, let your kind and most tender heart go
with its immense depths, sweet kisses, resplendent glow.
I could do no such, no more than I walk away
sweetheart, I love you too much, this truth...

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Ode to a Generous Friend

I’ve a long time friend
That loves to go fishin’
Where you throw out some bait
While doin' 'strong wishin'

That something down under
Will be there just waiting
That you’ve made the right guess
When pickin’ you...

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No Birthday Acknowledgement...

From thee... eldest daughter,  
who need not brood,
nor does padre whoosh 
to stir loess hood family feud
(hence an attempt merely
to convey melancholic mood).

Profound contrast extant between
your high achieving
life a wonderful hit parade
on...

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Every friggin day
mother hen runs amuck,
while all chicken's
beady eyes appear awestruck
drawing particular
agitation, irritation, perturbation...

of Punxsutawney (Doctor) Phil
(well grounded) woodchuck,
the latter glaring at henpecked
yours truly rifled
tail feathered rooster,
whether communicating 

nonverbal sympathy
towards me, a garden variety
Gallus gallus...

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all seasoned readed and fried
one trout filleted
6 medium shrimp
six slices off procuttio
six toasted and garlic buttered
hoagie loaves
lettuce tomato pickles 
fried onion
with Specail sauce
6 tablespoons of yogurt
5 tablespoons of mayo
1 teaspoon of garlic
1 tablespoon of chives
1...

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When I was thirteen years young, I filleted my upper right thigh.
47 times.
In one night.
In one hour.
I wrote suicide notes,
Every night. 
I folded them up and put them in a drawer where the hid.
Similar to...

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Even if yours truly could repeat every grade...

Without fail, I would flunk preschool
farcical scenario aside
truthfully, metaphorically, emphatically
resigned to life as replayed
male live violent scullery maid
forced to spend existence locked
within veritable grotesque
dragon filled dungeon paid

existential dues...

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The traffic was strident, lanes straight
the cars lined the street and froze rigid.
The cop with a glare of pure hate, directed
a line of gate crashers cutting.
The sidewalks segmented in rows, false
lure more tourists into a...

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BELOW AND ABOVE THE SEAS SURF FACE

Gone are the fishers pulling Lugs; the Gull its gizzard rusty hooked; 
and barbed, limit its shelled Limpet supply as blown sand creeps;
smart gulls dunk and dip, clean away...

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These humorous lines were inspired by
Viv Wigley's "Food Fight" contest. 
Could not resist the temptation:)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...

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How many years is it
From the long past decades
When we were young
And brought our children
To Martha’s Vineyard?

I often think “How many?”
How many pails of clams dug,
How many dozens of crabs netted,
How many pounds of mussels
Picked...

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I was taking an early morning walk. A beautiful day had dawned, 
cool and crisp, with only a whisper of breeze. I am told it’s revitalizing; 
it will do my health much good. But, you...

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A raging battle
Between the sky and sea
The ground is cracking
The air is choking
Pieces of a plastered heart
beneath filleted meat

Spewing hate and rage
The venom enters your veins
Paralyzing fear
The ground is shaking
The sky is falling
A crumbling mountain...

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Buzzing rail buggies 
spinning paddled tires beating
out a gritty wake feather
on sand dune
deliberation over alcohol burning
engines being better than gas
everyone with lit cigarette in hand
aroma of tobacco with salt launching
forth from frothy waves
forms low misty...

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He had seen chicken necks 
twisted and broken in Chinese markets, 
the plucked dismemberment 
of flapping wings. 

With help, 
he could have strung his carcass up 
like a hog on a hook. 
He would have...

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No body wants to hear it,
See it, feel it or be near it.
Even the picture of an aborted fetus;
Where would that reality lead us?

But what if we saw it every day?
Those horrors our babies must...

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On caparisoned, filleted camels do they 
Over the great, soft, tawny sands 
Ride;
Unfurled flags and tribal standards flown amidst them, 
In the very midst of them-
Of they, who astride great tan camels,
Seem rather scandent and...

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I spent six glorious days at the bottom of the ocean
I had turned mermaid, so needed no special equipment.
The seaweed parted and the kelp sung me a melody.
I was the ultimate siren, letting signals lose...

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Say goodbye to the land of Oz in dismay
 where knowledge and logic fall away
 like the scarecrow's inner stuffings filleted,
first one strand, then two or three until
 all his common sense has spilled;
say hello...

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2 Cups of cooked seasoned mustard greens or spinach
if with rabbit and chicken would prefer mustard greens
with fish and chicken would prefer spinach
drained and cooked greens .
1 tablespoon of lemon zest
1/2 cup of cooked chopped...

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