Month: June 2023

Two mites make a farthing

The
TITHE the unnoticeable (except by Christ) and near penniless
WIDOW quietly dropped in the treasury box, was remarked on.
The
RUMBA the rich people made of their offering was remarked on also: CEDARs stand tall and fall heavily; the lily’s beauty outshines Solomon.  

The Widow’s Mite – James Tissot

Parenthood

SCAREs me how, looking back at it, that
RIGHT from the start, with our without preparedness, this
IRATE baby is my absolute responsibility, flying in the
ORBIT of my every thought and action.

The Interviewee

APPLY here, says the notice. I’ve already been
CLUED up to what’s ahead: the stench of
MAGMA will pour forth from the interviewer’s mouth.
STRAW man that he is, I determine not to quake.    

Photo: Rondal Partridge
Interviewee applying for a job

The Big Catching up, A Draft

Note: I’m 21 days behind, and it’s time to get back on track. This will take some work.

Prelude

QUELL my fears and now adopt
GUISE of Dante or Vergil, paying long verse no
UNDUE trepidation. I steel myself, face slightly
PALER, but my spirit game: 21 Quordle days in one poem herewith!

TRAWL ephemera, gather flotsam, harvest words found as bread on the desert floor:
CRUDE data will be shaped, threads be woven, scattered stones gathered for structure’s plan.
BRAVEry of consciousness: scram, particles and pulses, we declare history in your stead.
FURRY scamperings in the woods are naught, we undertake tales: this forest will be our Arden.

Our Protagonist Awakes

HAZEL tree in forest’s heart, our protagonist coming to, drowsing among root limbs.
REACT! Eyes open. Slow intake of scene, slower recognition.
SPOKE he: “I’ve lost my bearings, have wandered from the straight path. I can
CHART some meanderings, a life so aimless, but cannot recall what got me here”.

WRUNG from him thus regret at his poor accounting of life’s way, his poor passing of time, Time
TAKER of life, unstayed hand that pushed him stumbling on the path. Memories return: fearsome
TROLLs along the way–fled, survived, yey lighter in unearned purse and bruised for wear. Some rare memories
ELATE, spark joy of higher tale, the strong pace on a narrow path, the journey briefly right. Yet most memories condemn:

QUACK, he. Seller of surface of himself, the appearance of wisdom; he is mercenary, counter of
SCALPs, climber and pusher, treader down of souls for gain. He had sought a lush estate, not the
DRIER sands, the waterless wastes of a life mis-lived. As he recollects he rues the main motif:
FOLLY. Self-declared self-sovereign, supposed master of himself, he has serfed his life for folly.

A new chapter

STAMP
BONEY
TRACE
CLOVE

LOWLY
CORAL
PLANK
AMISS

LIBEL
SAVVY
VAULT
TROLL

COBRA
CORNY
MINCE
CHILI

PASTA
RABID
UNFIT
CURLY

JUROR
BUSED
SAPPY
VYING

SHORN
FRIAR
THREE
UNTIE

HORDE
LOSER
GUSTO
PRONE

DUVET
BLAST
FILMY
CEASE

BRIDE
TILDE
LOWER
REVEL

AMAZE
BINGO
MUMMY
WEIRD

FIELD
BRINE
BEGUN
PITCH

BILGE
LEAPT
GLOAT
PLEAT

GAUNT
SLANG
ROUSE
UNITE

SCARE
RIGHT
IRATE
ORBIT

STRAW
APPLY
MAGMA
CLUED

Aging

GAUNT, arthritic man speaking in the
SLANG of his youth can’t
ROUSE himself beyond nostalgia,
UNITEd in shared slavery to time, unthinkable.