Moving on into the night
I struggle with ideas,
Trying in desperation to fit words
To a subject I don't even understand
A train sounds its horn
A sound born of forlorn lament
A cry shorn of language
Torn between anguish and mourning
Research work
Rattling across my inner landscape
Paraphrase paraphrase paraphrase
Mindless conglomeration
(The third line of the third verse is an echo of Charles Bukowski's line "boxcar boxcar boxcar" in the poem Boxcar)
double midterm
a sinner complex
you hear train whistles
say to yourself
he’s nervous
cat corked up
in my window
a caboose in my house
boose if you need it
double voyage duplex
many moons ago bad luck
whole bunch of holloween years
to boot
I dreamt upon
a blessed night
that suddenly
the world went
right
man turned from darkness
back toward Light –
I dreamt upon a blessed night
that evil had finally been
defeated – the Devil, sorely
retreated
for man had rejected darkness
in favor of Light –
and all of God's angels, rejoicing
reached down into the earth-grave
plucking from ashen depth all
those long deceived slave
as men, covered in soot
were lovingly lifted back into
heaven's healing, cleansing embrace:
At last!~ having turned from The Fallen
Prince's Snake-charmer Face –
for man had chosen Light
over Serpent-damnation...
Then, my bedside alarm went
off! – rudely awakening me from my
pleasantly dreamy-soft: “Life,”
the Buzzy said; “is not always
fair, yet bad reality often a survivable
Night-mare; close one eye, to let the
other see only what's fair – Maybe
next election, enough will try
good defection...and instead of
just an outright steal, votes tabulated
will be only those real....
Midterm elections
Fascism crossroads
USA, 4th down
HALLOWEEN POLITICS: A HAIKU TRILOGY
Halloween…coming…
Aping today’s politics:
No treats…just more tricks:-
Offering false treats,
Evil candidates ape ghosts;
Tricking scared voters:-
Halloween precedes
Coming midterm elections;
Voting tricks abound:-
The Poll That Matters
By Franklin Price
11/6/2018
At last the poll that matters
Has reached its final day
The end of midterm mayhem
When we voters have our say
Pat yourself upon your back
If you already made your choice
Made your mark for who you want
Had your “We the People” voice
If not, be sure you take the time
To get out and vote today
Don't bother later to complain
If you did not have your say
I
Midterm exams are here, and I want to pause
O no, can't do that, unless I pause to pray
They are young and retired folks, too, studying
Various courses, to brighten the way
And lighten the load of far too few bosses hiring
Folks for long-term positions, or jobs with dignity ...
So, I must intercede with the Lord for those studying
II
They have much to overcome, too much on their plates
I do not test too often, but one good midterm reveals
To me if these candidates will exert, will seek grades
Better than the first test or two: that is all I need revealed
So I may write recommendations with a clear conscience
He or she is a fine person, willing to try, to improve
Education is such a catch 22: big promises, big profits
For the book companies, testing industry, Blackboard
And its competitors. (May I say, I hate all the multiple choice
options, that nit-pick through chapters). Catch a concept, my advice
O Kentucky, my love
Why doth thou wear such a sad Equus frown —
Hast not thine squire Apprentice
swept thy Medicaid stalls clean?
Though stable be thy bridled heart,
who knoweth whence
a Church chill shalt descend Down
Giving thus thine joyously warm soul
a Midsummer coal night
Doth not thou light a prayer vigil candle
to yield glow of the uncertain path ahead —
Or hath the cowardly Goal Of Pilate canary taken flight?
May God Offer Plenty of flagellations to it’s yellow dark soul
Such a coal, coal Midsummer night ...
More midterm election promises double-quilted down
will cover thine bare equestrian body
on such a coal, coal Midsummer night ...
O Kentucky, my dearest love
Doth the bluegrass words,
from thy secret lover Apprentice’s
tweet stained lips,
soothe thine shivering soul?
I sit in judgment of my students
and hate to be trapped in that position.
Just a lab assistant with his rodents,
training them to accept their condition,
hoping that what little critique that
I can inculcate aids in their travails
through space and time and facilitate
their own questions at times that power fails
to provide good answers to the life
they find themselves trapped in hopelessly,
and sometimes to the point of greater grief.
Why can not education be mainly
a conversation with respectful rules
between those who need, and those who have tools.
He has a plan for all of us.
He puts us through adverse situations,
So we
His children
Can grow stronger,
Wiser.
These are His ultimate tests of life.
The first exam could be His test of courage
Midterm could be His test of strength
The final could be His test of faith.
Some may need to find the courage to love.
Others may need to find the strength to live.
Several may need to find faith in themselves.
No matter how difficult the hardships of life are,
Everything happens for a reason.
He is the only One who knows where our fate lies.
It is not for us to dictate nor decide.
He just wants us to love,
Live,
And just embrace the ride.
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