Long Jingled Poems

Translation with commentary of an archetypal Wild West Classic : " Summer Wine "

(I'd wage my bottom diamond dime future generations will re-discover and treasure this true American classic like only a few others of...

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This happened last Fall, during Thanksgiving break.

Lisa and I were at the MET (The Metropolitan Museum of Art), with her family, at an exhibit of Art Deco sculpture. Lisa and I came out of a...

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Far beyond the horizon we gazed at sunlit skies 
glowing from gigantic mountains, thick blue clouds
hang peacefully over our heads, painting hopes and 
aspirations as we journey relentlessly to recapture
our dreams.

We have been climbing this...

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Jinxed jesting jejune junior jobber...
just jabbering gibberish (A - J)

Again, another awkward ambitious
arduous attempt at alphabetically
arranging atrociously ambiguously
absolutely asinine avoidable alliteration.

Because...? Basically bonafide belching,
bobbing, bumbling, bohemian beastie boy,
bereft bummer, bleeds blasé blues, begetting
bloviated boilerplate bildungsroman,
boasting...

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Twas the night before sunrise
and all through the warehouse,
not a creature was stirring
except Elmer, the field mouse.

It was 1962
And times were hard on mice.
Elmer had eaten this month
only twice.

Away to the bin
he scurried like a...

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Exracted from Gerald Nforche's Epic, The Slave's Tale


-Duala, RIOS DOS CAMEROES, 1787-

One fine morning, when love birds flew and sang 
And the valleys with every gaiety rang,
The sun just setting from a misty east
We had...

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two wee lads grew up in the same village---
with their houses only a short distance away
they became close friends at an early age
playing the same sports, both learning how to
play an instrument, stumbling through early...

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It’s some place that used to be
Where all things would fall twixt—
A beat, battered, broken shell
Off old Route 66.

He rode a Silverado
That was a dusty gold,
His clothes were worn and ragged—
Their style was odd and...

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Imagine Earth itself to be just another Troy, from which, after having raged
In countless battles from Tyre to Megiddo has not been conquered, only aged
And now, having defeated the Spartan race, destroying Priam’s home
Odysseus is...

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When Father Christmas called

By Stanley Russell Harris 
 The new mad author

Christmas day was so such fun, especially when I was young.
I tried to stay awake all night, the one called Christmas Eve that’s right.
My...

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“no!” …

he said, “they’ll ne’er take Piccadilly!”
then downed a pint in one gulp …
tucking five pounds under the edge of
his sodden Churchill coaster,
“bloody awful price!” he grumbled quietly,
turning sharply on his heel to
depart the pub...

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Mark Allen was ten years old, and his favorite things were trains;
Like teal moments after the storm, when colorful beauty remains.

Mark had a shiny, toy train set, and he was frequently adding cars;
As people often...

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Julian and Joan were married, just as glitter is joined to crystal sun.
Julian was a famous violinist, like redbirds making music, in season.

Joan had a variety of elegant shoes. Of them, she was rightly proud.
Like...

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then:
I swallowed escape
in pastel capsules,
my pockets jingled with regret.
The nights pulsed—
bass, sweat, strangers.
Every weekend was a blackout baptism.
Every Monday, a resurrection I didn’t ask for.

now:
I wake before the alarm.
Feed cats who love me
with a certainty...

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The sun receded quietly on a relaxing siesta, as 
Calm clouds of the mid-afternoon smiled henced,
The beat of the drums provideth dancing rhythm
As she moved in pure elegance with harmony, to
A style of danced buoyantly...

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His seared look, from a painted gird brow dons,
a face like Van Gogh with both ears, though just,
as lost, looks about an empty room of challenges,
that is built high on lost convictions, drowns in a,
festering...

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I heard the untamed thudding of the long drum fumbo,
felt the frenzied throbbing of the fumbo
and poignant melodies of the string guitar tongoli 
but through this all I heard you calling me;
and like at the...

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GRANDDAD’S Homemade BEAN SOUP

Bean soup was served ‘cause Granddad was in town. 
     Yes, every grown up in the neighborhood. 
Was glad when Granddad’s boat was homeward bound. 
  ...

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From Wisdom Born, Decades Fighting Fate's Cursed Hand

In youth, a young lad roars for much needed applause
in old age, wisely remains silent with just cause,
seeing the end near, some shed bitterest of tears
thinking such splashing...

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‘Twas the night before Christmas 
Mrs. Claus demanded a divorce.
Santa was being promiscuous
with older naughty girls, of course.

All those ho ho ho’s liked his package,
for he always enjoyed being on top.
He used his stamina to...

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His spurs jingled as he walked down the dusty boardwalk,
His face was haggard and he weren’t in the mood for no talk.

The badge on his chest wasn’t just placed there for show,
Will Simmons was the...

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A long-standing landmark that I often visited as a tyke,
Was Bert's Country Store just a ways up Dalton Pike.
Dalton could be missed if your eyes you'd briefly close.
The population at that crossroads "town" was thirty...

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Tonight every man was quiet 
As they watched her cross the floor
No man spoke a word 
As she tossed her hat beside the door
Her silver handles shined 
Strapped to the legs of her faded jeans
Her...

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Brimming with youth,
with lips full,
eyes in bashful droop,
she was tall,
and eyes stared,
open and wide,
as she walked in an open hall,
she gyrated maddeningly,
and smiled beautifully,
teeth flashing,
as if lightening,
her contours made the show,
still more exciting,
as she shrugged...

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In the fall of the year leaves arrayed in copper tones 
crunched underfoot,  the crisp air collided
with the inner heat of her face.

The metal cart grew heavy as she smiled up at the trees,
the...

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