Author Archives: John

Tall Tales: anagram

If you would tell tall tales, at least refrain from stale cliché, and try, when your imagination fails, to steal with a light and creative touch. If you would wipe clean story’s slate before you start “once on a time”, … Continue reading

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Baby Elephant, Walk!

When we are young, they begin to fit and clothe us in raiments for battle: the helmet of self-esteem; the breastplate of self-confidence; the shield of self-assurance; the sword of self-righteousness – before we understand the “self”, when what self … Continue reading

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The Last Word: amphigory

Both must belong to neither’s outside in; besides, it’s either up or down or spin. And anyway, what’s more is always less, and wears at Tuesday noon its Sunday best. What’s done is almost never cooked quite through, and makes … Continue reading

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Only Dream: alcaics

I cannot seek for infinite solutions, spend endless hours harboring discussion, just lurking in some thoughtful quagmire, patiently awaiting final judgment. How vain to think such artifice delivers a useful purpose, meaningful salvation, the precious jewel for reason’s scepter dispensing … Continue reading

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At Dawn: alba or aubade

At dawn the mist still lingers on the lawn: the shortening shade, like Avalon, seeks wisps of cloud to linger on but soon surrenders, and is gone. At dawn the world, by inches, cracks its eyes: and in the place … Continue reading

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Ode to Joy

Joy doesn’t “find” you; good fortune won’t light like bluebirds of happiness on your slumped shoulders. Joy doesn’t come up like flowers in a garden, some sudden epiphany before your eyes. Joy doesn’t “find” you; it happens, on purpose, the … Continue reading

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Into the Breech: ae freislighe

Let’s let go of sanity, imagining the reason appeals to our vanity and falls in the right season; making none too troubling what chaos springs from hating, from leaving at boil, bubbling, desires left too long waiting. Let’s imagine destiny … Continue reading

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