WIND RISING IN THE ALLEYS by Lola RidgeMy spirit lifts in you like a banner streaming free of hot walls. You are full of unspent dreams. . . . You are laden with beginnings. . . . There is hope in you . . . not sweet . . acrid as blood in the mouth.… Read More WIND RISING IN THE ALLEYS by Lola Ridge
CHERRY, cherry, glowing on the hearth, bright red cherry. . . . When you try to pick up cherry Celia’s shriek sticks in you like a pin. When God throws hailstones you cuddle in Celia’s shawl and press your feet on her belly high up like a stool. When Celia makes umbrella of her hand.… Read More Ceila by Lola Ridge
(Shadows over a cradle . . . fire-light craning. . . . A hand throws something in the fire and a smaller hand runs into the flame and out again, singed and empty. . . . Shadows settling over a cradle . . . two hands and a fire.)
LIGHTLY in the azure air Soars a cloud, emerging free Like a virgin from the fair Blue sea; Or an Aphrodite sweet, Floating upright and impearled Jn the shell, about its feet Foam-curled. Undulating overhead, How its changing body glows! On its shoulder dawn hath spread A rose. Marble, snow, blend amorously In that form… Read More THE CLOUD – Théophile Gautier
Yes; when the ways oppose — When the hard means rebel, Fairer the work out-grows,— More potent far the spell. O Poet, then, forbear The loosely-sandalled verse, Choose rather thou to wear The buskin —strait and terse; Leave to the tiro’s hand The limp and shapeless style; See that thy form demand The labour of… Read More ARS VICTRIX – Théophile Gautier
WE are in love’s land to-day; Where shall we go? Love, shall we start or stay, Or sail or row? There’s many a wind and way, And never a May but May; We are in love’s hand to-day; Where shall we go? Our land-wind is the breath Of sorrows kiss’d to death And joys that… Read More Love At Sea – Gautier Théophile
Who are you to burden my life? You come with good wordsYet your actions only bring disappointment Utterances cannot fix issuesI do not accept or condone your bulging pride What makes you better than others?The multitude of initials after your name? They bear no proof of wisdomYour attitude breaks others under your heel Robbing of… Read More Who Are You?
The little worker ants Wear tinfoil hats To protect from the space lasersThey drink their bleach And swallow their Ivermectin To ward off the ‘foreign flu’Reality evades their little minds As they reject the defeat Chanting “Stop the Steal”All the while mocking the ‘fake news’ That reported truth Unbeknown to themselvesThe slight of hand of… Read More The Worker Ants 004
With elbow buried in the downy pillow I’ve lain and read, All through the night, a volume strangely written In tongues long dead. For at my bedside lie no dainty slippers; And, save my own, Under the paling lamp I hear no breathing :— I am alone! But there are yellow bruises on my body… Read More THE YELLOW STAINS – Gautier Théophile
A YOUNG chimera at my goblet’s brim Gave sweetest kiss amid the orgy’s spell. Emerald her eyes, and to her haunches slim The golden torrent of her tresses fell. Her shoulders fluttering pinions did bedeck. I sprang upon her back, for travel fain, And toward me bending firm her lovely neck, I plunged my tightening… Read More THE CHIMERA – Gautier Théophile
Ramblings of an Old Coot 