Memorial Day

By Lisa Denton The day was set the bar was bookedAll arrived, they all lookedCheerful in the circsWinks and nods, even smirksThis crew of friends from days of yoreHad wanted to do this, months beforeRules in play on the original dayTho’ broke and busted byThose we trustedA lesson here for one and allWhose tick in … Continue reading Memorial Day →

Two Images

By John Edwards a wave surge smacks against this super-yacht languishing marina-bound and impotent now portals still gleam in clear sun looking out on peace no sound of incendiaries here an explosive surge exposes living rooms opening them as a can-opener would soul less eyes of the apartment block glare out onto shattered shards of … Continue reading Two Images →

A War Against Truth

Try to remain truthful. The power of truth never declines. Force and violence may be effective in the short term, but in the long run it's truth that prevails.Dalai Lama Lying during a war is the most intolerable crime When innocent civilians are killed The aggressor country says, "You committed these crimes yourself!" When a … Continue reading A War Against Truth →

News-Following Ambivalence

By Nancy Klein Collage of headlines from newspapers. IStock photo. Diving into the black hole Of news Wanting to read about the war And yet Not wanting to know Of the latest catastrophe-- Slaughter of innocents Destruction of homes and businesses Lives ruined when mortars hit families Easier to read a novel, perhaps? Pretend it … Continue reading News-Following Ambivalence →

Ukraine to Spain, Our World in Turmoil

By Susan Champion BBC News photo of fighting in Ukraine Somewhere in a Kiev basement A mother cries out Is there a bus leaving soon? Is there a bus leaving soon? Asks the child’s aunt Our homes destroyed, nothing left Our homes destroyed, nothing left No food or water How must we survive here now? … Continue reading Ukraine to Spain, Our World in Turmoil →

Lviv – East West Street

By John Edwards Amazon photo of East West Street book cover LVIV - EAST WEST STREETI have wanted to go to Lviv where national borders movedwithout a citizen crossing a linefrom Poland to Ukrainespeakers of languages doctored by oppressors Third Reich to Stalinand now a new war I want to go to Lvivwalk their streets … Continue reading Lviv – East West Street →

For the Husband Left Behind

https://twitter.com/iaponomarenko/status/1501835567688036352?s=21 My wife and children wanted to leave town to a place of safety from bomb blasts and siren screams Little did I know their lives would end that day When they took a chance to run across the road And ended up dead, lying silent and still in the street Struck down by shrapnel … Continue reading For the Husband Left Behind →

Our “Impossible Times” by Adrienne Maree Brown

Poem as poster we are living in impossible times. if it were fiction it would be critiqued as hyperbolic. if it were nightmares we would never sleep. we are living in times created by our own species. i can’t remember the last time my tears weren’t man-made. it feels like everything is broken. we must, … Continue reading Our “Impossible Times” by Adrienne Maree Brown →

My Heavy Heart

I am retired and no longer have to work So why am I so sad? I am in good health as is my husband So why am I so sad? We have enough money to not worry about the future So why am I so sad? Is the pandemic taking the joy out of living? … Continue reading My Heavy Heart →

Our Neighborhood Pottymouth

The old man in the nursing home screams out obscenities at least once a week His booming voice carries throughout the neighborhood I can hear him 3 blocks away as he screams over and over Motherfucker! Son-of-a bitch I speculate his children put him in this nursing home to solve their "difficult parent" problem But … Continue reading Our Neighborhood Pottymouth →