“Internal Conflict, Eternal Enemy” by Candace Fong
right brain left brain
crease to crease contest
intuition takes on logic
faith is the referee
From my book Bullets from Bones
Biology
All posts tagged Biology
“Pumpkin Patch” by Jani Freimann
pumpkins on a vine
press the weight of
their plumping identity
into the life-giving soil
sharing green leaf and
stem born and grown
of a season marked out
by sun-shortened days
in whose hurry of time
they have come to exist
cheek-to-jowl learned
the intimate character
each of the other yet
know not the least of
themselves introspection
a faculty much too
complex for the homely
simplicity settled by
untended botany wild
existence that waits
to be plucked from an
unaware field given
solipsist gifts of real
personal purpose
experiences never
dreamed now laid out
for a sentient month
or more mingling
with alien species now
blessed with a freedom
to think and enjoy feeling
live interaction with
affable beings possessed
of a healthy self-worth
personality even short
lived fully realizes all
that biology down in its
chemistry promises life
From my book Ephemera
“Addiction” by Howard Lancaster
neurochemistry
twisted and kinked
ropes of darkness
hang brains from
powdercoat gallows
transmuting the
psyche disabling the
organs of dreams
choking choice
freely burning all
natural identity
down to black ash
here the predator
heat of ferocious
scaled cravings turns
tissues to sopping
with alien moisture
the sweat from a
grim peristalsis
biology bent to
enslavement of
merciless purpose
destruction not
damage sheer
utter destruction
its ruin apparent
just look in the eyes
vacant pods sunken
sallow and sightless
all trace of a man
hidden fetal and deep
cowered under dead
layers of life from
the past wrapped
in skin of what
once was a womb
From my book Small Noise
Painting by David Mensing
I’ve used the phrase often
not with small purpose
when nature resplendent
unfolds into view
breathtaking with grace
where bluebonnet skies
clutching billowed chiffons
meet with lavender rolls
that upholster the earth
between sepia seams
edging emerald forests
and purple-gray foothills
ascending cool slopes
capped by eggshells and pearls
where air has clean taste
scrubbed by fingers of breeze
and waters clear smell
sparkling salted or pure
to imbibe and intoxicate
quickening species
robust and refreshed
through connection by brisk
elemental comingling
of molecules built from
stray bits of far stars
coalesced by the livening
rays of the sun
(originally posted April 2013)
Photo by Bruce Lucas
alone among stones
vivid succulent prey
colored by poison
(originally posted January 2014)
Collateral Coronary Arteries
(Originally posted February 2014)
spontaneous filaments
leafy hand traceries urging
collateral capilar vessels to
shoot through new routes
around plaques and stenosis
corporeal instinct embedded
in brainstem and heart-stalk
a vascular dialogue of hope
in defeat of hot strictural
stormings of blizzards electric
that burn up soft internal
pectoral planes with angina
in full executioner wall-switch
dispassion for death as a duty
Untitled Work by Joan Miro
(Originally posted June 2013)
human taxonomy
transcends the physical
bi-pedal brain size
opposable thumbs
and posture erect
are mere pretexts
to unlink the chain
metaphysics marks
deeper distinctions
of man among mammals
even for those
torn and troubled
by notions of soul
simply recognize
unique capacities
men have for
laughter and mercy
that leaves open however
the question of
whether a man
who can’t laugh
or forgive
is anything more
than a beast
Cicada Chrysalis – unknown artist
sleeps seventeen years
when earth hums her waking tone
sheds her scarf to sing
Image from pinterest.com
(My first attempt at the Jorio form)
right brain left brain
crease to crease contest
intuition takes on logic
faith is the referee
“Cosmogenesis #52” by Paul Shapiro
words rumble under my ribcage
trapped in thoracic pink spaces
bouncing off organs arranged
between belly and heart
here they’ll probably live till
the coroner’s blade sets them free
but then what would they do in a morgue
unless I can get peristalsis to urge them
through miniscule channels
the riverine lymphatic vessels
up into my arms and then
down through my capillar
fingertips where I would tap them
out onto the keys of my dell
then both you and I
the whole literate world
could all see
just exactly
what they
have been longing
to say
Poesy plus Polemics 