Long Preceding Poems
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Cowards die many times before their deaths…
Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene 2 ~William Shakespeare
spouse
a souse
classic grouse
a big girl's blouse
portent ominous
assertions blasphemous
obscure and anonymous
his skulking is nefarious
utterances acrimonious
and implicature often dubious
uxorious but still pusillanimous
**********************************
An example of a rhopalic verse.
Rhopalism: A rhopalic sentence is one in which each successive word is one letter longer than the previous one. In poetry: where each word is one syllable more, or it might increase each line in a stanza by one syllable (per my example), or a metric foot.
IN THE SAME CATEGORY OF CONSTRAINED WRITING
The Rhopalic Couplet, also called Wedge Verse, was first used by Homer in the Iliad (3.182). It is a poetic unit of 2 rhopalic lines where each word progresses adding one more syllable than the preceding word in the line, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4 … syllables. The sequence of the syllable count can be identical in the second line, or it may be reversed. The couplet does not need not rhyme.
_____________________________________________________________
In The Coward, stanzas are broken up along the syllables of the end rhymes: spouse, souse, grouse, blouse; om-i-nous, blas-phe-mous, a-non-y-mous; ne-far-i-ous, ac-ri-mo-ni-ous, du-bi-ous & pu-sil-lan-i-mous.
LEXICON
acrimonious: (adj) (typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter.
a big girl’s blouse: British idiom, meaning someone is ineffectual or weak; someone failing to show masculine strength of determination
disposition: (n.) inherent characteristics.
grouse: (n.) one who complains constantly.
implicature: (n.)* the action of implying a meaning beyond the literal sense of what is explicitly stated, for example, saying the picture frame is nice and implying I don’t like the picture.
innate: (n.) inborn, natural
nefarious: (adj) (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal.
portent: (n.)
1. a sign or warning that a momentous or calamitous event is likely to happen, an omen.
2. (literary) an exceptional or wonderful person or thing. [‘What portent can be greater than a pious notary.’]
pusillanimous: (adj) showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.
souse: (n.) a drunkard.
Random chain of events
preceded occurrence re:
guarding existence of me
interminable fits and starts
concerning self destruction
inherent within one measly
self important species.
Yours truly synonymous
with any chance reader
(of course inclusive those
untold past multitudes,
who trod upon this oblate
spheroid preceding one
anonymous groveling,
middling sniveling modest
*****sapien) pursuant
upon unknown destination
giving contemplative,
introspective, speculative...
pause every now and again,
asper bajillion prior
bipedal hominids, whose
individual deliberate or
random natural biological
impulses wrought sons
and/or daughters, whose
subsequent call, sans their
wild procreative proclivities
unwittingly begat the
unique chromosomal
combinations inscribed genes
imbuing each of us with
transient occupancy to revel,
relish, reckon very finite
number of orbitz around
nearest star, how longevity
(till mortality – leisurely
and/or vocationally)
expended, yet anatomically,
biochemically, physiologically...
linkedin with avast
gamut incorporating
unknowable determinants sole
fully cobbling wide, whirled
webbing, (albeit skein
microscopic) comprising
resultant Deoxyribonucleic
amalgamations, combinations,
emulations...throughout
untold generations eventually
giving (swell pregnant)
rise to healthy progeny
predicated on an uneventful
tragic mishap in utero
preceding parturition, which
miraculous seminal fertilization
regarding series of
fortunate events delineating
quintessentially strapping
robust tot destined (years later)
to continue human
species, thus I ponder
tremendous steep odds (analogous
to drawing winning lottery
ticket), when reproductive
processes diploid propagating
one after another ongoing
generation, yet in retrospect
every cellular T-Mobile
chance coupling attendant on
haphazard spontaneous
buzzfeeding circumstances
promulgating prolific primal
precedents begetting each
individual necessitating tenuous
fluke (worm hungers) engaging,
engendering, engineering...
(similar to science experiment)
endowing penultimate on the fly
fusion between two haploid cells
impossible to explain convincingly,
(asper in my mind) the notion
predestination intervenes
likened to invisible hand.
That goofball husband of hers brought her to this joint to see her get drunk for the very first time. She actually plugged her nose trying to sip her first glass of beer. Good grief. 20 minutes and she barely finished it. She walked to the restroom and I felt her teetering just a little bit. She likes the feeling though, I can tell! I sure liked it when she started boogying to the beat of the band on her way back to the table. Too bad Mr. dingbat won’t ever dance with her. She keeps tapping her hands on the table to the rhythm of the music. That’s why I have to write so slow. . . .
Now she’s tryin ta drink another beer but she can hardly stand it an her husband sez come on don’t ya wanna know how it fills ta be drunk? She says well at list I fill buzzd now. . .
The nice buzz wore off. It’s at least an hour later. She and hubbie got this idea to go to the liquor store. First time she ever went to one. She thought maybe brandy would taste better so then she could drink something stronger and know how it felt to be drunk. Brandy sounded sweet and fruity to her. Boy was she wrong. She took a little taste and it burned going down. That stuff sucks just like the beer. . . .
Wow she jus finisht tha hole boddle rily fast lik mebbie ten minuts ago so she kud fil drunk an she put me down ta finnish tha boddle in one shot now she kant evin kip her eyez opun UH ohhhhhhh
Epilogue: The preceding narration was based on actual fact. Upon consuming an entire bottle of brandy in less than ten minutes, "she" immediately passed out, and I recall she awoke in the morning having forgotten everything that transpired once she fell asleep. Furthermore, when she went into the bathroom the next morning and saw some flecks of vomit on the walls, she was quite amazed. Why? Because she had no recollection of throwing up, and she realized her goofball husband had actually attempted to clean up a mess in their house for the first time in their young married life!!!
By the way, Jenny, if you happen to be reading this, Shhhh. Please do not tell her other sisters. It would surely get back to you guys’ mother, and your poor upstanding church-loving mom might have a heart attack to hear of her daughter’s one transgression with the devil’s brew! Sincerely, Her Sober (albeit sometimes fanciful) Pen
Narrow and shallow shining laser focus
into chasm while teetering on brink
akin to scurrying thru microcosmic burrow
of microscopic Manhattan skyscrapers
wink'n nod and blink,
this ace of spades heart (diamond
in the rough) poet digs club billy shallow
sometimes forced to spelunk
thru crawl space chink
hunting down gamesome dodging
catlike whim elusively outpaced,
yet webbed, whorled wide net
nonetheless doth cap cha alive
agile adept idealized rat fink,
which unseen quite quiet mouse notion
gives hardy fellow run for his money,
within scrunched brow mental chase
possibly connected to a preceding pondering
or appearing randomly
viz, non-sequitur conscious kink
said quarry i.e. whimsical thoughts
frequently vanish without a trace
quick as mental cogs and wheels
generate snapchatting, riveting, twittering link
process allowing, enabling, and providing
albeit easily distracting ability
to grasp awesome zinging, lightening,
fleeting brainstorm within windswept
mind space *****sapiens to think
shimmering insight cognizant ability
likening ode on Grecian urn vase
frieze depicting elusive capture
thought process lifespan shorter than a wink
via third eye blind of
comfortably numb beatle browed face
to locate source giving rise
king inducing minor frustration at inability
to nab (albeit painlessly) shimmering zinc
like inception, deception, taking wing
within fifty plus shades swing
and conception of consciousness stir ring
nanobyte size quisling
gray matter housing chromosomal ping
pong pin balling genes summons King
kong of Leon intrigue, jing
gull ling, where disparate
ideas linkedin fling
pollinated neurological network ebbing
and flowing, sans during
writerly blitzkrieg thread ding
provocative point of pinterest bing
proclimation emancipation pensive predilection
to contrive a means and ways
to corral mischievous mental minions
who seem to vanish without a trace
holographic after effect or image evoked
from virtual reality, the latest modality
to pair dime a dozen stray cats re:
untamed cerebral creatures tempting
contemplation to occupy hours.
This imprisonment of clay,
this putrid jarred tint subjected to time's defeat,
this cankered vile contagion.
tossed to and fro as on a sea with unrelenting anchorage of ease,
this worm, ephemeral in the bay leaf of existence.
this dirt of appointed time, fixed by irreversible decree,
fleeting by clipped tickle,
here mere mortal toiling to gather stones, hay and stubble.
with diseased brow,
worms fighting worms for passing fame.
Finite frame transiting through ceaseless vanities
myriads from these pains,
willingly oblivious of the power of Time,
throng the gates of mammon to hideous and dreadful apparition,
little minds, unwilling to enlist in the real battle.
And multitudes ignoring the signpost in rush to gaiety
several on sensuous doorway to doom.
As captives of Lust, enslaved by Ashmodeus
This Frame wears Luciferous garbs
Pharaoh and Herod bodied
The beast of pride, despising the breath of his nostril
conjures theories of atheism from his erratic emotions
arrogating his existence and all to “second cause”
despising the first cause preceding all causes.
They go on and on they go.
There were abject who in time past, cut the cables of belief
sailing over the tempestuous ocean of free thought.
reviled the coast of revelations
seeking Life among the dead,
and rushing on the mad voyage,
wondering through confused obscurity
In search of life in all vice to the very extremities,
wearied by wasted years,
came to their senses.
Looking up to His hill,
To Yonder Light through the Cross
casting all dependence aside
they enter the Ark
These now deal in matters of eternal realities,
unknown, unsought, conscripted to miseries still,
pangs shot through their faces as arrows piercing a foe,
These have deceased bodies and suffers too,
Longing for the returning of the King
these likewise are subject to the monstrous ills of the decaying filth
but for a time,
the dying body, taunted, Jeered and calumniated.
carrying about a third force unknown to all, the Spirit.
They do battles with unseen foes to keep a pace with Him
unseen spirits their attendants.
Myriads watching the match from vantage confines,
though among men, mere men no longer.
Come in No Luxury required
Autumn In The Air - Hooray
Respite from punishing
heat wave - yay
which above line,
could "speak" volumes,
and be a stand alone poem
offering readers
a reprieve nsync
whence roasting, sultry,
and torpid unpleasant
weather since yesterday
boot such brevity,
would disallow
me to extemporize,
but more importantly today
this intrepid word
smith doth "say,"
he would never
wanna miss trodding,
the formerly (golden
in their heyday now sketchy),
sections of said roadway,
now where digital electronic
rustily hinged, abandoned,
and gated haunting quay
a throwback, when
private manned schooners
(shaped like a beer stein),
perhaps headed to Uruguay
could ply outlying
waters of cyberspace,
why... just yesterday
when my troubles
did not seem so far away
versus this present opportunity
to risk live and limb
(and Kong like wrath
of my reed ding fans)
while getting way
laid "traveling as
Wilburys soul survivor
foreign ancient groupie,"
the dangerous, derelict, and dicey
dubiously dotting dilapidated,
dark corners information
super high way,
thus yours truly
doth not heed,
but flaunts like some cray
zee (NOT RICH, NOR ASIAN),
but rather some gray
beard (grizzled), curmudgeon
figuratively gnarled, toothless,
and weatherbeaten lackaday
lay about good for nothing
mellow flew wuss depraved
('cept mebbe "robbing"
precious and special time
of some bachelor
farmer from Norway)
all the above
essentially wrote for naught
merely (as diversion) to comment,
how this September day wrought
ascent o' fought
(a scent oh aught) tum caught
me wear'n a corduroy
long sleeve shirt since...aye taut
a "FAKE" hungry
Grimm gimlet eyed trumpeting lout,
germane Don apprenticed
how to become cannibalizing
(without accountability) fuhrer,
(and lastly rendering enemies
into sweet tasting sauerkraut),
this while learning das dialect
(tickle) Matt speak,
(which took me a lifetime),
this preceding the
quirky invention of the umlaut!
I
First thing on earth on birth if ye had done
Was ‘cry and breathe’, and survive every day…
Then on O man, had ye her blessings won,
She’d not be in a state so dire today.
Had ye truly believed as ye profess
That Mother Earth’s beholden to no man,
It’s he who is— that she goes on to bless,
She’d never be so weary, weak and van.
She never was, nor is in a hurry,
Her nature is to do what needs be done,
Had ye shown even a wisp of worry,
She won’t have gone green to grey and barren.
If each, a true Earth Day had ever been,
Would ye find on your face such silly grin?
II
No such grin… had ye treated her as should,
Ye scarce did care nor yet know what ails earth,
But desert her ‘pon plundering all worth,
Ye deserve if she shows her irate mood.
You’re keen to know Sun, planets, all the space,
Not, why her green garment shows early dearth,
Nor ye worry on loss of her vast worth,
Nor yet your thoughts go to her aging face.
Not life on earth, you love all things alien,
Hasten to heal some heaven-bound headaches,
Her fever, melting frost, nor why she quakes,
But muse on Saturn's moons and things Martian….
If every day had dawned as your Earth Day,
Would that strange smirk on face survive to stay?
III
Sure, no such smirk nor ever grin would stay
On a face whose heart heaves for Mother Earth
Who’s getting grey from lush green by the day,
So, better rid O man your idle mirth,
And shift your sight afar from so shorter,
Do what needs be done, there’s no time to wait,
Long have ye stared blank as mute spectator,
Be not one to frame your own fatal fate.
Today, Earth’s fuming with long subdued ire,
And like an escapist, ye plan to ditch
Her, be not such a feeble-heart ostrich,
There’s not much time ere deparate turns dire.
Else, breathless you will have to cry when die,
Just as ye did on birth— the last well nigh.
________________________________________
Sonnets | 03.01.2005, revised in July 2023|
Poet’s note: This is a chain of three sonnets making a so-called crown. The last line of the preceding sonnet is not repeated verbatim as the first line of the next here. Instead, the point raised therein is answered in a way that establishes a link.
inalienable, inimitable,
and inviolable sacrosanct
contentiously debated enshrined Constitution
ratified June 21, 1788
preceding hallmark Bill of Rights
(adopted effective December 15, 1791) rank
despite British Monarchy exerting, sans lanced
strong arm tactics in response to "FAKE prank
asserting original fledgling NON GMO,
gluten and msg free
thirteen American colonies
(with a great hee hoe)
severely itching for
(and declared) autonomy
from Britain with mojo
memorialized On July 2, 1776,
when Second Continental Congress,
(with more yes votes then no)
met in Philadelphia voting
unanimously, where this poe
whit notates historical
declaration of independence,
yet since Information Technology Revolution
trumps Founding Fathers (well nigh
almost two hundred
and fifty (CCL) year status quo
as into uncharted figurative waters
American Democracy doth row,
especially problematic to adapt
couched freedoms show
cased within storied
novel innovative though
now confounding, frustrating,
and immobilizing supposed call
ling on learned scholars
adept doctors at law,
resistant to brickbats
heaved by protesters with gall
or perhaps consulting
entertainers at Faneuil Hall,
how in tarnation can the tenets, rubric,
and precepts, sans seven score
and four plus orbitz ago
before advent of tele
communications companies
exhibited fiercely greedily
hungry indomitable up pall
ling monopolistic control,
via erecting a unscalable fire wall
authorized with an A okay by the FCC
Federal Communications Committee to glee
fully relinquish control
(blood) letting "Big Cable", thus
allowing, enabling, and promoting key
purrs of the Internet remain
under jurisdiction me
ning all content and applications
can willy nilly nee
i.e. be deliberately blocked as well
particular products or websites pre
venting unfettered access to thus re
choir ring every man, woman and child even three
yar olds to voice objection,
and take prescient action NOW!
This revolutionary fella followed by
Adams family patriarch,giving rise
twin heir (plain lee gifted "Renaissance
Man") Jeff force'n without hemming
and hawing, subsequently conceding
nexus (nor horse drawn Lexus) of Colonial
power to Madison, thence Monroe
buttoned up as suitable candidate after
which younger Adams elected.
Thirty four followed Jackson's club
trumpeting (some Obama nib bully)
bushwhacking their way predicated
on faulty Algorithm, charming
charismatically with hint of Clint
like glint in eyes, blinding populace,
sans ray gun (Reagan), Car Tour ring
with peanut gallery in tow, affording
(unpopularly pardoning unfashionably),
a Jerry rigged nixed son, followed
by John's son tainted by stain of Vietnam,
but with said Southeast Asian debacle,
one ken heady (sporting thick styled hair)
inherited an internecine conflict, essentially
precipitated, when Eisenhower hardened
political stance against any allies of the
Soviet Union, (sans The Viet Cong), and
pledged his firm support to Diem
and South Vietnam.
Now with preceding administration, one
harried true man unleashed advent of atomic
spectra upon Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, this
purported preemptive measure scary ruse
felt to thwart exaggerated Japanese government
threat (military intelligence) scheming to
wreak untold havoc upon American troops
within the Pacific theater of World War II.
The former horrific decision controversial,
then and to this day Hoover expert historian,
diverge, asper corroborating the necessity
to usher in the Cold War, yet majority foreign
policy wonks might grudgingly attest that
said thirty first commander in chief did maintain
a Cool Edge throughout onset when doomsday
clock began countdown to Armageddon,
an unimaginably blaring, deafening, earsplitting...
cacophony distant rumbles heard, nonetheless,
no Hard dinning ghoulish nightmare (potentially
obliterating all life on planet Earth) haunted
Wilson, nor Taft, only gunboat diplomacy
mere child's play exhorted, less catastrophic
comparison, when Teddy Roosevelt wielded
"big stick schtick" namesake corollary to the
Monroe Doctrine in 1904...ad nauseum.
Little Susie was everyone's favorite. She usually caused people to smile;
Like bouquets received from yesterday, traveling on mauve, Memory Aisle.
Susie Partridge was loved by all, since she was indeed sugar and spice;
Like honeycomb riches of sweet summer, which all bees deem very nice.
Susie played with fun dolls, pretending they were actual, factual people;
As dusk fools the eye with fun colors, when saffron light has grown feeble.
Frances and Fanny were favorite friends, like favored, shadowless noon;
The interval when fabled golden floods, prior to the birth of fuchsia moon.
Silvery flutes filled the air with music, as beloved, first family came calling,
'Ere the sun's flame of fascination faded; and velvet curtains were falling.
Susie lived in the house of rich sunshine, which followed her everywhere,
Its radiant beams spreading warmth; like the fine jewels you happily wear!
Scarlet summer was savored sweetly, on wide, stately Strawberry Street,
Where Little Susie played steadily; and longer days were summer's treat.
Neon butterflies ofttimes gave notice, that nifty neighbors would soon call,
Just ahead of green, gemmed fireflies; preceding the nickel moon, over all.
'Red masked' birds came at evening, all dressed up for a fun masquerade;
And 'emerald collared' birds sparkled like twilight, recalling plans she made.
Soft bird melodies wafted from the 'velvet ash,' on eves made for summer,
While golden plumed birds enjoyed sunshine riches, in hours of living color.
Susie had been promised a new doll, on a soon day, coming like tomorrow;
But the lake flooded the highway, delaying the present, to Susie's sorrow!
So, Susie's sunshine mystically vanished, like joy moon in magenta haze!
She sat herself down, facing the wall, sulking, with dolls of younger days.
'Mother said, 'Here's Sulky Sue. What shall we do?' This behavior was new.
Father said, 'Turn her face to the wall, till she comes to.' Such limited view!
By raspberry sunrise the next day, marigold sunshine returned, with smiles;
For Susie learnt sulking was no fun, and how to live with jade nature's trials.