Americana circa 1953
Recently back from Austria and Switzerland, where he was stationed during the Korean War, here are my father (right) and uncle circa 1953, both in …
Don’t Touch That Dial
This morning I was a guest on the KZBL “Jamming with Johnny” talking about the Tricentennial CD and my song on it. I realized that …
Don’t Kill the Siren: sapphics
Now whose voice is singing out words of warning, as the low light, glittering, slowly fading, starts to flicker tenuously, letting darkness silently swallow other …

Tag: Spenserian sonnet

The Diamond Sutra: sonnet (Spencerian)

Published on July 9, 2025

What is an unexcelled and perfect light,
and who would recognize that state as such?
To judge it by comparison’s not right,
and once you’re past that point, there’s just not much

to measure with. No real yardstick or crutch
would be of too much use out there, beyond
the realm of seeing, hearing, and of touch.
How could you catch a ripple in that pond?

Quite honestly, too many saints are fond
of these imaginary turns of phrase.
The truth is out there past such simple bonds,
quite empty of both struggle and malaise.

Enlightenment? What do you hope to see?
Once there is no more seeking, you are free.

09 JUL 2025

The Notion of Privacy: Spenserian sonnet

Published on June 2, 2017

A private notion turns to public act
when it is witnessed by someone outside
your circle; once unloosed, it won’t come back.
These days, it quickly wends its way world-wide.

Your signal will of course be amplified;
within a moment’s span, your words extend
forever – an opinion, glorified
no matter whether real or let’s pretend.

A single line of text can make a friend,
or spawn a heartless legion filled with hate;
and no apology nor logic can defend
your thoughts, undo your speech. Too late,

expression, like an arrow through the air,
seeks out its target and is buried there.

02 JUN 2017