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seeking forgiveness for actions not taken words not spoken regrets not unwarranted youthful ignorance gave way to stilted maturation not me not my responsibility not now maybe later later oftentimes a no-show later may have passed later never was acknowledged now is the later you put off now is the time to right wrongs now… Read more
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The tone of your discourse public, private, anonymous shrill, accusatory non-sequiturs blending reality, perception, personality seamless, misguided pastiche grounded in your justified fear of being wrong fear of not being right fear of differences fear of those similar, but who say unfamiliar things unbecoming via people that look, seem like you, aren’t at all, after… Read more
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Late afternoon, dingy neighborhood dollar store picking up essentials: cleaning supplies, deodorant AA batteries Wile E. Coyote dynamite-sized sidewalk chalk in handy plastic bucket at checkout, mentally rough-drafting scratchy paeans to my wife colorful notes she will see as she departs each day down front steps, sidewalk dusty romance specific, uplifting, sometimes sexy sendoffs I,… Read more
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Laboratory confirmation my dueling personas, seafaring-Norse explorers daring warriors, plunderers adventure-seekers fused with diaspora refugees tenacious, plundered, wary ‘chosen ones’ genetic certainty elucidates innate predilections to roam with jaunty impunity revel in ambiguities my explorer’s eye for risk-taking tempered by well-honed wry skepticism of faith, clashing with exploits sans piety, blithely eschewing atonement disparate impulses enjoined;… Read more
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Twenty-two. Thirty-four, twenty-seven thirty-nine Cancer, leukemia, suicide insidious bastards, each ‘gone too soon’ ‘in a better place’ sycophant salutations of condolence We hardly knew ye Sons, daughters of old friends. A cousin. Classmates of our children. All too vivid reminders “There but for the grace of God…” not at all feeling full of grace single:… Read more
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bar napkin crumpled, soggy torn palate slurred ink Picassoesque words Big Chief tablets beloved by 2nd graders, kitsch rhymesters used envelopes narrow canvas postage, odd visuals, broken windows work in cancellation stamp wanderlust, bonus angst matchbook cover epics cause inspired squinting haikus on receipts cannot be returned without merchandise in hand scribbles, doodles on pilfered… Read more
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I once asked God for a sign needing more than spiritual Burma-Shave cardboard placards stapled to raw, rough pine sticks Ah, but I am not advertising my tag-board always blankly devoid of political hate hackneyed slogans five-ninety-nine pizza specials! buy your gold for more! I am not here to direct others to event parking or partake… Read more
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In the game of baseball, a great hitter will often explain his success at hitting a thrown ball three inches in diameter with a round bat a quarter-inch smaller around saying “I slow the game down” – some even claiming that they can actually see the red stitched laces as the ball hurdles toward them… Read more
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Awed by the spectacle blissfully confused to meaning wide-eyed youth confirmed in mystical faith spiritual pageantry standing for opening homily, crowd vibrant, then bowed reverence, singing along opening hymn of allegiance some know the words Opening day, paradoxically given all the answers yet you need to discover unending myriad of questions finding your own way home you tried discernment unsure, wavering, exasperated still… Read more
WordPress poetry site of poet Mark Lucker
Ponderable polemics, poetic 