Long Stilted Poems

HEROES

Near somber guards, units of children heap 
dead leaves, naive to any else fallen.
Friend, you chuckle, but your posture speaks
of duty on this day of contradictions.

Firefighters bow heads in silent paean, 
while polished trucks stand...

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Unquotable quotes: Paris, the last week of the August reprieve – XXXV Part Two
                 II

The first signs reek tell-tale
Buffer-to-buffer...

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#1
"It is a sin to kill a Mockingbird.
While playing games with rocks or guns, defray,
them, please, ...shoot old tin cans.  Each whispered song 
from Mockingbirds, can heal the wounds  of the day"

Virtues are...

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Unquotable quotes: Paris, the last week of the August reprieve – XXXV
 Part One                     ...

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Easter as interpreted by one...

rebated, rebelled, rebirthed, rebooted, 
and rebuked courtesy 
one ill shod Unitarian atheist,
who means NOT to affect
any sacrilegious fallout
nor offend devoutly religious 
man, woman, or child,
when the most important 
Christian holiday notated,...

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The Undertow


The two could feel the undertow
Pull at them both - then let them go
He wondered if she could know
Or sense it too and let it flow

The undertow in the fast-running tide
Ebbed and flowed at...

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Poet:  Ken Jordan
Story: Recurring Nightmare
Edited by:  Sparkle Jordan
written:  July/2015 


     A long time ago,  an old medicine 
woman said to me:

     "Young man,...

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Even the Lazy Lizard

Even the lazy lizard knows when not to beg,
when not to emerge, from behind the hungry black rock of 
another dying hand, hopelessly clutching the mysteries of 
another sit-down, in the serene...

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My name is Bedford Schiller-Smith,
and you’ve probably seen it before
on the book racks in airport shops,
usually just inside the doors.

I’ve made a career of writing,
tech and spy thrillers are my bag,
but if you don’t’ recognize...

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like shadows they follow us
they tell their stories 
on pages 
that may or may not 
be seen, or read,
we a'muse them -

"we", of course, are truly inconsequential
in the greater scheme of things;

they are like ghosts
echoing...

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The spider Queen, aloofly vain!
She rules a silent ruthless reign,
with black-bead eyes like pearls of rain
that damp the depths of her demesne. 
          .
  ...

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We three teachers were taking a painting class.
Mr.G, the teacher was new, fresh, nervous.
Asked us if we would please let him put our paintings into an art show.
Kitchia was reluctant, but Margo and I handed...

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part 1 of 2

Annick (my 28 year old sister) came down to NYC, from Boston, for a day visit. It was one of those warm, cerulean days between Christmas and New Years. Annick’s in a...

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"The Gift" 

Communication to a friend...

Responding to what you have written, responding to your thoughts. This is a very deep and very sad write and I get it. 

I would like to read the story...

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The Protraction of the Epiphany

Complacency in a stilted light of regret
Vagrancy in a jilted sight of neglect 
Emergency in a wilted light of insects
The urgency of a curative substance to inject

Wellsprings of artificial truth and...

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Circus Clown

Roll up! Roll up!
The circus is in town,
"Damn the weird and wonderful,
 we've come to see the clown".

First, ladies and gentlemen
An amazing double-act to see,
Two fat ladies codgitating
Psychedelic Imagery.

Bearded children flying,
On a razor sharp...

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K379 and K380 of Canto XXXVIII of the THIRUKKURAL, Translated with Commentary
 
(Just a note on the translations to say that, even if G.U. Pope did more to research and elucidate the THIRUKKURAL, his translations...

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Heavily laden boats, rectangular sails billowing 
    Under seas of low cloud, braving the fierce Yangtze;                ...

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the notorious hotel...
monument to the greed of men,
it is a breathing stone-hewn titan -
looming over her, threatening pomposity,
selfishness threaded with egyptian cotton,
the cold stares of people from the upper leagues of life...
yet the young street...

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Another poetry reading.
I arrive late and drop my phone in a workshop.

I capriciously retrieve it and slink to the corner,
My notebook and pen
Poised and ready
For my muse to be resurrected after
A long hibernation.

This is why...

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My never ending
     search for whatever
     this psychologically gout
riddled rhyme stir to
     write (a poem) about
found me figuratively
     staring...

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DISCLAIMER: This piece, dear readers, is in no way, shape, or form intended to be a scholarly treatise. So, please bear that in mind and refrain from reporting me to the SPCA or any other...

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Vast hollow hall, ambient glow entering slow on tiptoe
calls out “Hello! is anyone here?” 
Door hinge swing--by sight unseen
peripheral movement from the rear--none appear

One soft nudge connects, then more come next
and next, and next
Voice excited,...

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There was an elusive little guy often espied during World War Two,
And who he was and whence he came no one ever really knew!
He was a bald headed little feller with a very prominent nose,
And...

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Spring returns with vigor while a rigor clings my stilted throat 
Stings my eyes to bleed. There in the garden, 
Within a pale and vibrant blend of words, 
I see so little language left for...

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