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Morgan, 6 september 2021
Moth To Flame
Moth To flame:
'Some other time.
I'm going home
Thanks all the same.'
Morgan, 2 july 2021
Seige
Reading on--
'I can't believe it', cried old Vallette, in toney Italian. 'The nerve!'
His secretary's quip was plainer. He adored the old man and his crazy bravery.
'Een-cred-DEE-bee--lay! Can she think of no interest but her own? A chip off the old block. Thanks for nothing!'
And so on.
'Oliver, she's your sovereign', old Vallette reminded him.
Oliver said nothing. True her didn't like bad-mouthing his queen.
Say nought, regret nought. But he wanted his sympathies clear.
Through the corbelled windows, towards the ruins of St Elmo across the harbor, old Vallette studied the crumbled western rampart, the stone-filled moat, the figures of the engineers atop the wall. Like ants.
He recalled the battle--those long, hot, awful, bloody days--
days he would like to forget but couldn't. He thought of the men--how bravely they fought, how horribly they died.
He viewed the yellow fronts of the palaces--graceful outcroppings of limestone cliffs they sprang from--
both turned fiery gold in the low sun,
the in-between stretch of dozing water a pool for descending angels to bathe in.
It bent back the sun's rays.
Magnifico!
'As it always would be', thought old Vallette. Thanks to him. Anachronism, indeed!
But he didn't say that last part. He just felt it.
Turning from the window, he swore in Italian.
It must have sounded gracious to Oliver's ears.
Without doubt, English was the language of profanity.
On the marquinia table, inlaid with pink and orange stone
he tossed the missive bearing the English queen's seal.
'Thanks, thanks, thanks, much-indebted--thanks for...
thanks, thanks, etc.'
'Of course', said old Vallette. 'Don't mention it.'
The envoys who brought it couldn't read but in the hall below
were feasting on plaice and drinking Sicilian wine.
Outside, the sea bristled with ships, sailing placidly
to Genoa, Marseille, faraway Valencia,
bearing spices and wheat from the Levant and slaves to London.
'Good riddance. And the language--barbaric!'
There was lots to do. Old horrors fade before fresh triumphs.
Across the harbor the city was rising fast.
He, himself, laid the first stone. Would he live to see it done?
He doubted it. Not the way he felt. But God willing, he would.
The mantel clock chimed six. Along the peninsula
in each little belfrey, swung a bell on its rung. Soon
there was a chorus. It lasted a whole minute, then ceased.
Old Vallette liked the bell sound.
He would have a little dinner then go to bed.
'And Oliver...'
'Yes, sir?'
'Go to bed.'
Morgan, 24 january 2020
On Helicon
In the golden light of morning
mists, morphing slowly to women, numb'ring nine
in chorus, they sang to Hesiod, the shepherd,
'We know how to tell lies that ring true,
but we can tell the truth when we've a mind'.
'Oh, fine, replied Hesod, yawning--
you and the media'.
Morgan, 31 may 2017
Stress
Stress, Stress, who are you, what are you?
a lot of people seem to know you.
Stress, Stress, I hear your name alot,
but I can't recall your face
I can't recall your voice, Stress,
and you're completely odorless.
Stress, Stress, what are you, Stress?
Are you a god? Are you a goddess
with symbols and familiars?
Are you a cloud? A jellyfish?
Like God, you are known by your works, I guess.
Like God, you get so much bad press.
Everyone blames you for this, Stress.
Everyone blames you for that.
They say they can feel your breath on their necks--
that where they step, you step
like a shadow assassin. And, they're scared, yes.
Do you do it, Stress? Confess.
Can you cause piles? Can you cause shingles?
Can you make people late?
Can you cause PMS?
People say yes.
You could never get a fair trial, Stress,
not in this state.
Can you cause flat feet
or the grippe to linger?
Can you cause hair lip
Can you cause cancer?
People say yes but where's the proof?
No matter how quickly they twist
they can never see your face
for you are like a mist.
Stress, you are like a heat
Maybe you don't even exist.
Stress, I'll tell you this:
I think you have a libel case.
You are never seen at the scene of the crime--
mug shot, fingerprint, jammering witness
oddly inavailable. Stress,
I think you got blamed, I think you got framed--
I believe in your innocence, Stress.
So tell them to just bust off.
Morgan, 12 september 2016
Probability
Have you lost your job?
Is your wife depressed?
How can things be that ok--
even your jeans are distressed?
My dear friend, there's a law
you can bank on, not to worry,
based on odds and statistics,
and such called Probability.
Even the angels accept it
and abide its changing faces.
There is little more you can do, pal,
unless you have friends in high places:
Up-tick follows down-tick--
that's the sum of it.
just wait and you will witness
its doings and reap its benefit.
For now, even now
the small gods that admire pluck,
seeing it empty so long, rush
to fill your cup with luck.
There is good in store aplenty--
a miracle job, a newly ecstatic wife.
Better times are coming, coming surely,
coming to change your life.
Morgan, 30 august 2016
Herbst (Autumn)
Lord, it's time. Summer was so long.
Drop your shadow on the sundial, now,
and send a chill wind over the vale.
But in these last few temperate days
bid the grape to ripen on the vine
so that, cured of sour humor,
only sweetness flows into the wine.
Whoever is homeless now will stay so.
Whoever's alone will never find his other
but pass long nights reading and penning letters,
wandering port-less down highways
and starting when the leaves chirr.
Rilke
Latest comments:
13 november 2024
Jaga
Znaczy, że wyczyścił teren:)) Mrówki są
13 november 2024
zanucone :)
13 november 2024
Byłem, dziękuję, że chociaż czasami Jesteś
13 november 2024
Wioletto. Evo, Sam, dziękuję za plusy i komentarze
13 november 2024
jesień grzeje kolorem :)
13 november 2024
Osiecka jest dobra na wszystko :)
13 november 2024
jesieni :)
13 november 2024
Jesień znów znienacka płynie/ w pielesze się
13 november 2024
Drzewo laskowe i krzew taki/ keks orzechowy,
13 november 2024
Ach, to trzecie pokolenie :)
12 november 2024
sam53
podziękuję Młynarskiemu...wiedział co dobre
12 november 2024
dzięki :))
15 november 2024
Satish Verma
14 november 2024
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14 november 2024
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14 november 2024
wiesiek
13 november 2024
Jaga
13 november 2024
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13 november 2024
wiesiek
12 november 2024
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12 november 2024
wiesiek
11 november 2024
wiesiek