Category Archives: About Life

Life, Love, People and God

My book: Life, Love, People and God is available on Amazon.com. Click here to order a copy It is comprised of poetry and essays written over the past fifty years by myself, a lifelong student of parliamentary procedure and political … Continue reading

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Six Critical Five-Year Periods of Human Life

Buddha is reported to have said, “The trouble is, you think you have time.” Of course, Buddha ran out of time, just as all of us will sooner or later. To help overcome this, I have developed a chart which … Continue reading

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Song: A New Lyric for “America the Beautiful”

O beautiful for stony heights, From whence to see our land. With Constitution, Bill of Rights Kept safely close at hand. America! America! Has all your glory past? Shall tyranny, not liberty, Reign over us at last? O beautiful for … Continue reading

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Poem: I Killed a Fish Today

I killed a fish today. This flounder, so alive. Caught at the end of day. Upon my butcher’s block, He struggled to survive. So beautiful, and proud. My knife against his head, Apologized aloud. Then quickly as I could, Made … Continue reading

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No Stanky Cheese for Christmas

No stanky cheese for Christmas My good wife said to me. No Camembert, no Limburger, No pungent, agèd brie. At this year’s Christmas table Such “cheese” shall have no place Among the meats and roots and greens Its smell is … Continue reading

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Sonnet: Things That Were to Be

Once I dreamt of things that were to be But now can only dream of things that were Sweet escapades designed to passion stir From next to next I wandered wild and free Once I gazed upon horizons vast Where … Continue reading

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Poem: To Choose Between the Two

Thinking of the old days, Before my life was through. Thinking of the younger moments, And I thought of you. What is life and time that I Should be there and here too? Why don’t I have a natural right … Continue reading

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Where Will I be in Fifteen Years?

Where will I be in fifteen years? You sure ask complex questions. I can’t exactly pin it down, But here’s a few suggestions:

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Sonnet: Mike 1984 – 2016

Come tell me there is something I might say, a string of magic words, some fated rhyme, whereby I might turn back the hands of time, and usher in a former favored day. Bring something that will hold my thoughts … Continue reading

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Poem: Twelve Hours

I go to bed Turning around There at the foot I lay my head On doggie’s paws She cleans my face To let me know That I am loved I turn again My pillowed mind Set free to roam To … Continue reading

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Poem: What Do You Do?

What do you do when it costs too much and you can’t afford to pay? Do you hunch your shoulders, and turn your head, and quietly walk away? Do you think how different it would have turned out if you’d … Continue reading

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Poem: Reaping

The constant dreams that fill my head, Of horrid things I did or said, Make me to turn upon my bed, To search in vain for sleep instead. I walk about throughout the day, Mouthing the words that I must … Continue reading

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Poem: Ham, Eggs, Grits and Cheese

Ham, Eggs, Grits and Cheese How many of a morning have I spent with these? In quiet contemplation at my home, Or in some crowded urban luncheonette alone A cup of coffee with some milk to wash them down Ham, … Continue reading

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Poem: Ethics

I read a book of Ar … istotle, When life for me was still brand new. I thought I should achieve … perfection, When all my studying was through. Much older now, I still (ah!) engage in, The acts I know … Continue reading

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Poem: At The End of the Short, Hard War

He awoke with a start and shaking himself to ward off the morning cold, he arose from his bed on the concrete shelf to see what the day might hold. After coaxing his fire to life, he checked how much … Continue reading

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Sonnet: Government

What do you mean when you say government? An entity once held in high esteem? Realization of some patriot dream? A rule of law some said was Heaven sent? Its reputation badly tarnished now with statesmen promulgating globally their deconstructionist … Continue reading

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Sonnet: The Sonnet Form

The Sonnet Form Folks say the sonnet form is out of date. I cannot say that I myself agree. Though modern poets’ verse is often free of form or even simple rhyme of late. Yet here and there we find … Continue reading

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Poem: New York, 1964

Could I return from far away, to snow forts where the young boys play. Where school let out for half a day, to hear what words the priest might say. The fall felled leaves red, gold, and brown, lay heaped … Continue reading

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Sonnet: The Life I Miss

It was so raucous, with them all around at times I thought, like some pneumatic drill alone inside my room, devoid of sound the memories within are louder still The constant conflict seemed too high a price combined with expectations … Continue reading

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Poem: Blind Dating

Sanguine anticipation, a fantasy convivial, caught my imagination, awaiting her arrival. What mysteries within her, would she elect to proffer? What gems of wit and wonder, had I within my coffer? How grand the hope that hovers, and leads us … Continue reading

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Poem: The Nardos in My Room

The Nardos in my room, bring forth their sweet perfume As if to say Amor, of this you can be sure More blooms we shall display with every passing day Do not be sad When our brief time is past, … Continue reading

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Sonnet: To Those Who Rush to Praise Us

To those who rush to praise us when we say they should do what is right in their own eyes. All men or women having their own way to live precisely as they would surmise. To those who laud our … Continue reading

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Sonnet: It Must Have Been a Dream I Thought I Had

It must have been a dream I thought I had, My eyes awakened filled with tears of joy. Still breathing fast my troubled soul made glad, Anticipating scenes I might enjoy. The universe was like a shiny toy, That I, … Continue reading

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Poem: Python Meat

You can eat (You can eat!) Python meat (Python meat!) It’s a treat (What a treat!) Can’t be beat (Can’t be beat!) Make a roast (A juicy roast!) That you can slice on… You just have to go down south … Continue reading

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Sonnet: A Toast to the Constitution

A simple document in seven parts An easy read, including the amendments Compelling words that stir up young men’s hearts To sacrifice their lives for independence And sacrifice they did, that holy number Was yearly multiplied in foreign fields In … Continue reading

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Poem: The Afrocentric Pejorative

Now everybody knows there is a word you cannot say. It is much worse than other words that fill us with dismay. Greater by far than Kike, or Wop, or Dot-Head, or Ofay. Grave consequences loom for those who put … Continue reading

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Sonnet: Tree Hill

I think I’ll wander up to old Tree Hill to spend a few unhurried hours there and walk the trails until I get my fill of butterflies and scented woodland air Above the birds and squirrels make their nest turtles … Continue reading

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Poem: Type II

I have to take the pills Blue, orange, tan, and white Six white Or I will die Or I will lose my legs Stroke, coma, sightless eyes Brown eyes My kidneys gone My doctor says that I Should diet, drop … Continue reading

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Poem: The Party’s Over

The conflict between the two party pols at last has begun Now that all the facts that no one will hear are made manifest. Of course they will both continue to poll the voters en masse Ensuring that they position … Continue reading

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Villanelle: Forty Hours

I did not like the things they had to say. The current economic crisis meant That I should have to work on Saturday. Why must I have to work the extra day? I cannot get it back once it is … Continue reading

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Poem: Stars & Bars

Atop some distant southern crag I spied a confederate battle flag. I felt my warrior’s spirit sag, for I am a Union soldier To think that some still hoist that rag. The honor of the Union drag thru mud and … Continue reading

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Song: Liberty Is A Tree That Must Be Watered

Liberty is a tree that must be watered, with the blood of patriot men who will be slaughtered to reclaim the rights the cowardly have bartered. Yes, Liberty is a tree that must be watered. The government should keep our … Continue reading

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Poem: The Office Refrigerator

How good it is to have at work a large refrigerator, in which, to leave and then retrieve our food, sooner or later. If say, perhaps, a memory lapse should cause our lunch to linger so long that eating it … Continue reading

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Poem: Depression

Once dapper, now dour Once sweet, but now sour I wait for the hour when death pays his call I don’t feel like drinking or dancing at all I don’t feel like taking my place at the ball

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Poem: Prison is a Wonderful Place

Prison is a wonderful place People here from every creed and race Memories that time will not erase When the court adjudicates your case You could disappear without a trace When they send you here it’s in disgrace It’s a … Continue reading

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Song: The Needle in Your Arm

a intellectual blues riff for the heroin addict How cruel!, the world around you, a child so scared, defenseless, would naturally seek a friend who, assured that it would hurt less. So eagerly embraced, a blanket soft and warm. All … Continue reading

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