Walt Whitman is a celebrated American poet. His collection Leaves of Grass influenced generations of poets. While I can’t deny Whitman’s impact on American poetry, I’ve never been a fan. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as the old saying goes. “Song of Myself” is an infamous poem from Leaves of Grass. The titleContinueContinue reading “Song a Some’n Else”
Category Archives: Light verse
PAWS 4
It’s been awhile since I posted a cat poem. And we know what happens if cats don’t feel appreciated (or at least we can imagine…). So, as an offering to their vanity, I give you PAWS 4, which appeared in my chapbook Cat Show and my newest book The Anonymity of Waiting. PAWS 4Sometimes,all youContinueContinue reading “PAWS 4”
The Muses Are on Strike
Writer’s block or creative lulls (whatever you want to call them) are often a source of inspiration for me. I’m actually compiling a chapbook containing all my writer’s block poems. I’m a third of the way there. Just a few weeks ago the creative juices were frozen (it is winter, after all), and it poppedContinueContinue reading “The Muses Are on Strike”
The Practical Poet’s Guide to Love
Over the years, I’ve written my wife poems for anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and just because. Today’s poem (which will be in my upcoming book, The Anonymity of Waiting) was written around the time of our 25th anniversary. It didn’t end up being an anniversary gift because I felt it lacked the gravitas equal to suchContinueContinue reading “The Practical Poet’s Guide to Love”
Fourth Horse and Seven Years to Go
Image by Nina Paley / apocalypseanimated.com With elections approaching and many other sources of dis-ease in the world, I thought I’d share “Fourth Horse and Seven Years to Go,” a poem I am (pretty much) finished with, which will be in a future book. ”Fourth Horse” is a work of whimsical angst, which has meContinueContinue reading “Fourth Horse and Seven Years to Go”
Dear Cat
Our orange tabby cat, Nilli, loves me. About the only time she’s calm is when she’s on my lap, purring, kneading, and (Lord knows why) licking my right arm. The *right* one, mind you, not the left. The anxiety meds we mix with her cat food take the edge off, but she’s still wound prettyContinueContinue reading “Dear Cat”
Purpose
Sunday is my usual day to post to A Wandering Minstrel. Typically, I write my post Saturday and schedule it for Sunday. Well, yesterday was SUPER busy, and I didn’t realize til today was almost gone that I hadn’t posted yet. So, I’m shooting from the hip, last minute 🤠 Today’s poem is not oneContinueContinue reading “Purpose”
A Lazy, Windy Day
Today’s poem is a bit of whimsical apathy or apathetic whimsy, take your pick; it’s on the lighter side for sure. It’s also a sonnet, which is a celebrity among poetic forms (albeit one from an earlier generation who has aged well…Sean Connery? Audrey Hepburn? Again, your choice). When writing formal poetry, I gravitate toContinueContinue reading “A Lazy, Windy Day”
February ‘23
As Valentine’s Day came to a close last week, I came down with a cold. This got me thinking about Valentine’s Day last year: My wife had vertigo, and I had a high fever with a side of congestion (COVID or influenza, I’m guessing). Let me tell ya, the romance was high 😆 Such aContinueContinue reading “February ‘23”
The Crow
Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven is one of the more notorious poems of all time. For the uninitiated, the basic story is this: a raven visits the narrator, who is mourning his lost love, and repeats the word “Nevermore” until the narrator loses it. (“Nevermore” seems to be an eternal drain of despair opening below the narrator’sContinueContinue reading “The Crow”
A Wandering Minstrel 