Culture

. The Jeweler’s Deposition at the Coroner’s Inquest I certainly will tell you what I can. I knew the family—watched...

. On Lies and Liars A Double (Petrarchan) Sonnet . “You are of your father the devil, and your will...

. King Dom’s Dream Kingdom “In death’s dream kingdom…” —T. S. Eliot, “The Hollow Me" Ukrainian Victoria Amelina has died...

. Poorer by the Day a villanelle They pay in promises they will betray; A scam as cold and ancient...

. Sonnet I Our arms are leaves stretched out; our thoughts can bloom The grandest only when we crowd out...

. Via Appia Beneath the pines of Rome, the wrinkled sibyl will croak your future for eleven cents, and with...

. Good Friday, Revisiting Glamis "Not in the legions Of horrid Hell can come a devil more damn'd In evils,...

. It's Dangerously Close to Too Late Virtually stormed by countless disciples, __trolled by their merchants of Hate, We, who...

. Balderdash? What are these hidden, unseen things? Do angels, demons, float on wings? Such ghostly shapes the full moon...

. A Birthday Prayer Dear God, a new year has begun, My thirty-fourth of blessèd life. You’ve given children, lovely...

. Panchavati, An Introduction by Maithili Sharan Gupt (1886-1964) translated by Paddy Raghunathan The full moon’s mesmerizing rays Appear to...

. Suiseki Rainfall has stopped; it’s the best time for hunting a stone. Drizzle still dampens debris; Trees put forth...

. Insomnia Kyrielle The stars above have gone to bed, their quilt of clouds a calming sweep as moonlight strokes...

. The Nation’s Heart The Nation’s heart has passed away, A loving grandmother to all. And now it’s for her...

. Peace For Our Time "I believe it is peace for our time... Go home and get a nice quiet...

. The Misologist “There is no greater evil one can suffer  than to hate reasonable discourse.” ---Socrates He reads the...

. Putin That’s, I’m sure, a vampire: Gnaws on bones, bloody-lipped. —A. S. Pushkin. “Vurdalak,” Songs of Western Slavs (Это, верно, кости гложет Красногубый...

. Independence Day? a rondeau Some dared. Some died. With pluck and pride And guts and grit the brave defied...

. Fourth of July Limerick Top left, there’s an oblong that’s blue; add in fifty stars, white in hue. To...

. America Is Not the Same America is not the same. __I do not recognize it. We all know who...

. First Steps in a New World for Toribio Moras, age 14, Vera Cruz, Mexico, 1908 The young Castilian boy...

. La Campana Ring, grandfather! And ring for liberty. The bell spoke once and, speaking, croaked and cracked. Our gazes...

. Miracle of the Book Distance was short, but porters would be needed, And sacks were packed with small necessities....

. Incensed For days, drawn draperies of fire, pinned close by dry pines, needled us with smells of smoke so...

. Le Bal Des Ardents for Joe Salemi On 28th January 1393 in Paris, Queen Isabeau of Bavaria, wife of...

. Psalm 23: King David’s Version When I was just a hungry sheep __and I was lonely, lost and scared,...

. Pillar of Salt “By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the Lord...

. South Vietnam Warfare . Northern Jungle The rat-tat-tat of machine gun Split through the mist of morning sun. The...

. Darkface at Dusk "Death is swallowed up in victory" ---1 Cor. 15:4 At twilight, as I walked in solitude...

. Even the 49ers Don’t Play There Anymore Is San Francisco slip-sliding away? Old Navy, Nordstrom, Saks, the Gap, have...

. Job’s Rant Job 3: 3-10 . May darkness and death’s shadow claim the day When I was sent to...

. In Extremis ---from the Western wilds Here at the most attenuated ends Of America’s arterial transport map, Where pavement...

. This Is the Choice  The gates of hell Closed from within. No one sends us--- We lock ourselves in....

. The Deluge From Heaven came the rain; On Earth the waters swelled To wash away each stain The eyes...

. Pharaoh’s Dream Redux “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the...

. The Gallows The trial was quick, the verdict read: “Guilty as charged,” the foreman said. The judge declared the...

. The Straight-Fishing, Straight-Talking Jiang Ziya Far off in time and place but still on this small globe, By a...

. Distant Thoughts from Nearby I need to turn my dog-ears up __and harken to the quietude ____ignored for many...

. The Test The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' —Jesus (Matthew 22:39, NASB1995) Is...

. The Number 207: The Road to Nowhere Oh once along the Road to Nowhere That used to be the...