At a yard sale, my wife picked up New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver. I had heard of Oliver but hadn’t read much of her work. At some point between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I started reading. Oliver is quickly becoming a favorite poet. She is known for simple imagery, plain speaking, and a focus on nature. There isContinueContinue reading “Goldenrod—Mary Oliver”
Category Archives: Modern poetry
Hell Is Multi-Tasking
The title of today’s post and poem says a lot about me and how I feel about multi-tasking 😉 It’s on my mind because I am, in fact, multi-tasking today. As I write, I am also roasting coffee, as well as making a list for the rest of the day. And this is as close to eternal punishmentContinueContinue reading “Hell Is Multi-Tasking”
Chasing Santa
Happy Christmas eve! Below is a poem from my first book, The Wind and the Shadows called, “Chasing Santa.” It recalls a Christmas eve from my childhood that, for me, suggested something more. I will leave you to read it, but ere I surf out of sight I’ll say, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all aContinueContinue reading “Chasing Santa”
Yule-icide
How did it get to be the week before Christmas? This year, I feel like every holiday (not to mention birthdays) snuck up behind me in stocking feet and yelled, “BOO!” There wasn’t time to prepare, decorate, buy things…only time to be startled and jump. Below is a poem I wrote last year during Christmas andContinueContinue reading “Yule-icide”
2 AM
I’d say most of my poems are finished within a week or two of starting them. I usually have several I’m working on at a time. Creativity is like a shark: it’s best if it keeps moving. So if I’m stuck on one poem, I can work on another and keep moving! Then there areContinueContinue reading “2 AM”
The Panther (Ogden Nash)
I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy light verse because a dash of humor brings perspective. At some point in our marriage (probably the first decade), my wife introduced me to Ogden Nash, and he has remained a favorite author of light verse. Light verse has found its way into all of my books, most recentlyContinueContinue reading “The Panther (Ogden Nash)”
Honesty Is a Dog
Last week, I announced the release of my cat chapbook, Cat Show, which is available on Amazon. To continue celebrating its release, I’m sharing…a dog poem 😆 “Honesty Is a Dog” is a new poem and will come out in my fourth book, The Anonymity of Waiting, which I plan to self-publish in 2024. HonestyContinueContinue reading “Honesty Is a Dog”
Cat Show Now Available!
As I type this, my cat Nilli is circling and fussing at me. Does she sense that my chapbook about cats, Cat Show, is now available on Amazon? Heck no. She’s reminding me that no one has set out her lunch, and she’s starving, possibly (probably) near death. OK, I’ve fed her. Now I canContinueContinue reading “Cat Show Now Available!”
Babies Are for Locking Up
Back in September, I was poised to release a chapbook of cat poems. However, I had to delay the release because I inadvertently submitted one of the cat poems to a journal. Well, the journal declined to publish any of my poems, so I’ll be releasing the cat chapbook soon. I just need to doContinueContinue reading “Babies Are for Locking Up”
The End of the World
In every generation, circumstances arise that seem to be harbingers of the end. One day, a generation will come that is right about this. But so far, harbingers of the end are followed by a new generation and a bunch more orbits around the sun. Poets are often channels of feeling. As such, apocalyptic pathosContinueContinue reading “The End of the World”
A Wandering Minstrel 