A big thank you to editor Kathy Kieth for publishing my five poems in today's medusa's kitchen.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025
New Fire
—Public Domain Photos
THE LOUD ABSENCE OF ALL GOOD THINGS
I heard it in the silence in the air.
Such a revelation to learn what was too severe,
such a revelation to know what was the cost.
Such sadness
to find weak-natured orchestras
with no moral compass
and all notes misplayed.
Hatred of great consequence gained
while divining for the pure and unsullied.
Those unearthed sulphur pools of false words,
the strong poison of spoken bad choices
and wrongful judgements.
Think of the loss.
We might recover if we can locate
that first tick,
the slightest sound blip,
echoing the spectacular greatness of good human
character.
I heard it in the silence in the air.
Such a revelation to learn what was too severe,
such a revelation to know what was the cost.
Such sadness
to find weak-natured orchestras
with no moral compass
and all notes misplayed.
Hatred of great consequence gained
while divining for the pure and unsullied.
Those unearthed sulphur pools of false words,
the strong poison of spoken bad choices
and wrongful judgements.
Think of the loss.
We might recover if we can locate
that first tick,
the slightest sound blip,
echoing the spectacular greatness of good human
character.
WHAT LAMPLIGHT RAYS DRAW
In the safety of evening,
there’s never real darkness.
There’s always a new fire lit,
flames that still burn.
We, in its illumination,
reading all the signs we can find,
corner placards that tell us things will be okay,
or strange and true messages
announced on painted bricks.
They tell us of dreams.
There are no martyrs here,
just people with laughing mouths
who can’t wait for morning to be here,
each person with a new-found gift,
coming from a better place
somewhere deep inside,
to be used for making a better tomorrow.
THE BIG F
When I was as clueless as a skull with sunken eyes,
my best friend stood by me only as the allegiant do.
Slinging pancakes on Sunday mornings
in her broad house.
It was so long ago,
I can hardly remember the place,
but I remember two distinct feelings:
my sadness surrounding the heartache of
her temporary backstabbing
that I referred to as
the transient traitorous tribulations,
and the euphoria of us
otherwise setting a course for the future
while viewing high stars.
After everywhere I’ve roamed since then,
after the passing of so many years,
I keep remembering whose side she was on then,
and her gentle words
once sung just for me.
SUSCEPTIBLE TO MAGICAL THINKING
A curious aspect of magical thinking
is the strength of all those once upon a times.
In this immense universe, what’s the use of dreams
when one disbelieves what we are here for?
It’s not only possible,
but absolutely essential,
that we embrace a place where everyone has fun.
Which direction will you move?
Will you take a chance within the madness of
midstream,
or hide within the jungle of all your fears?
There’s little question we release the most doleful
noise
when thinking the world could end tomorrow,
but, no matter.
This has been repeated too many times.
As for me, as luck would have it,
I’m in Wichita and
on the other side of the world
it’s already tomorrow!
CONSTRICTION
I do not wish
to narrow my world
until I am forced to.
Life can be epic and adventurous.
I’m only a sample size of one
so there’s much I don’t know at first glance,
being remote from so many experiences.
To overcome the cramped confines
of my own perspective
I’ll endeavor to broaden my interests,
learning music, geography, math.
I’ll explore new dimensions,
made larger by stitching
the cloths of life together,
subtly blending textures, colors and durability.
Inside the complex form of life’s theater,
under the great roof of the world,
I’ll choose the stage where happy people perform,
and my world will grow.
_______________________
Today’s LittleNip:
The world is entirely magical, the only illusion is that it isn't...
―Lydia Andal
I do not wish
to narrow my world
until I am forced to.
Life can be epic and adventurous.
I’m only a sample size of one
so there’s much I don’t know at first glance,
being remote from so many experiences.
To overcome the cramped confines
of my own perspective
I’ll endeavor to broaden my interests,
learning music, geography, math.
I’ll explore new dimensions,
made larger by stitching
the cloths of life together,
subtly blending textures, colors and durability.
Inside the complex form of life’s theater,
under the great roof of the world,
I’ll choose the stage where happy people perform,
and my world will grow.
_______________________
Today’s LittleNip:
The world is entirely magical, the only illusion is that it isn't...
―Lydia Andal
