Long Unbuckled Poems

Roaring Twenties

Nostalgia and age like bacon and eggs,
With buttered toast and jam on the side for breakfast;
And coffee, and a glass of orange juice to drink,
And a memory in-between to rethink.

The day begins with boring...

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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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My life will eventually turn the other lane; I’ll rely on God to lead me…
Hopefully he’ll unbuckle me free 
Perhaps there’s a better pathway to roam about and be cheery…
Someday His Kingdom will become a...

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WHEN RELIGION BECOMES 
YOUR OPIUM 

When religion becomes your 
opium you slip into icy pre-dawn 
to mosque then lie in fever flu 
at dusk as bilal calls again
for you to stumble towards 
beckoning forefinger guilt
chalices...

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An Old Tree
Bails unlocking their way
From the soil of dystopia to the branches of sonnet.
Wind wavering and crossing mountains away
And I yet holding onto the branches un-cleft.

When clouds bring over ponder
I bet of green.
Birds hover...

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Awkwardly he made a pass
Bumped his head against the glass
Cheesy lines flew far and wide
Didn’t notice spinach fried
Ego big, but brain quite small
Fumbled trying to make a call
Gave her flowers — they had bugs
Hugged too...

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When we were little, I was big. 
I held her hand crossing the street 
while mom watched the other two 
and carried our supplies for the week. 

She wiggled and pulled and fought
just to run,...

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Stella

by Edmund Siejka


We were visiting our grandchildren 
And heard that one of them  
Was having a hard time
Freeing himself from a car seat
Concerned or
Perhaps just a little curious 
I asked our four-year old granddaughter,
Stella,...

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This fleeting love was so
Mustang GTO
One zero zero mpg galloping flow
Past percentages said: don’t make the wrong turn
Cool convertible joyride took a cardiac slow burn,
lip swerve around the infidelity curve
Rubber denials hit the road,
asphalt inquiries...

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tonight as i was sitting in the backseat of the car i leaned my head against the window
my family was going on about something, probably about politics or other topics that would ring in my...

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You could see the lone figure in the pale, fading light,
Bedding down the doggies for a restful night.

He had been in the saddle since early morn',
Now feeling the aches of the drive that made him...

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He had her just where he wanted her
Naked and helpless
Her lips were quivering
He could smell her fear
It smelled like “prey”
He could smell himself
He smelled like “lust”
Stunk like sin!
But he didn’t care
He saw her lying on...

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Her fingers trace the stab-wound, 
Like water circles the drain.  Though she may 
Clean the rind and grime from under her nails, 
She will never wash the bloodstains from her dress.

Her hair drapes her...

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Oh, Lord, forgive such hubris
as would sum up the quotient
of an immortal soul……

I have…

spared the dandelions,
forgiven the birds,
washed the car,
parked again in the same spot…..
prayed for a different result

consoled a crying child
stifling my tears….
ego’s vain...

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Are We There Yet
David J Walker

Are we there yet?
We whispered in prayer
As if asking from the
Back seat of our old
Desoto 
The father driving
	The mother smiling
Across the bench seat
From each other unbuckled 

Are we there?
The whine...

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Into the Blue


Pain faded into the blue
purplish clots
pooling beneath welted skin

interstitial fluids coalescing,
coagulating, collecting
swallowed tears.

Day had broken the grasp
opened the ever-locked door
taunted the terrified

incited the torment
of acquiescence -
silenced  anger.

No locks barred open doors
chains hobbled...

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What is it about seatbelts,
That cowboys find so bad,
And the worst offender of them all,
Would have to be my dad;

He leaves his belt unbuckled,
And it makes an awful ding,
What is so dang hard about,
Buckling the...

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