"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses, for art establishes the basic human truths which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment." - John F. Kennedy

Thanks for finding me. This is a fairly random sampling of my poetic rumblings beginning in the mid-70s to present day. Not definitive or complete, just things that struck me again for one reason or another on revisiting. There are a couple of previously published collections here which might be good places to start if you are diving in blind from the precipice.

Try the collections MEET THE BEATS or GLIMMERING RAY DUET (both archived in June 2008 in the menu below right) for starters if you are so inclined...

As of 2016, I will be publishing my song lyrics on a seperate page from the more poetic scribblings here. Pieces that first appeared here and then later were arranged for music will remain here in their original form but may appear edited on the lyric page. Check out the links section for the original song blog.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

INCAPACITATED

word |wərd|
noun
a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed.

One
Choice
Word
From the right person
A bullet from a gun
Stripping all sense of rationality
Motivation
Confidence
From whatever place of strength.
You may have kept them fresh and handy
Polished, practiced and preened
Tossing them onto the slag heap
Of rusty useless, discarded tools.
Melted down to the basic core
Insecurity
Doubt
Fear.

Word, sentence, paragraphs, diatribes, rants,
Arguments, encyclopedic extrapolation,
Lectures, advice, tirades, opinion, suggestion,
Observation, invective, verbosity, attacks,
Discourse, conversation, judgment, perspective,
View, critique, review, denunciation, reproach,
Castigation, gossip, praise, vituperation, guidance,
Recommendation, notice
The unmarriable
Abyss
Between
Now and never
Then and when.

Paper cuts
From scarlet lips
The chill slap of reality's nonchalance
Blood letting
The slow death of disappointment
Deep holes
Dug
Deeper
One word
At a time.

Disappearing
Makes the most sense
Embracing the nothingness
Has never been easier
"Clouds are illusion
The sky is your essence"
BULLSHIT!
This rain is wet
And cold
The roof leaks
Onto the page
Shorting out
Any charge
That kept power
Flowing
Zap
Sizzle
Of
Shattered
Mirrors
Lightning
Struck.

The cycle spins
Big efforts
Scraped from the charred remains
Of an ancient sensibility
Pulled squirming by its short-hairs
From what is left of one’s self-respect.
Just another day at the salt mines.


~ May 11, 2011 Wilmington, DE

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