Black Hand

Symbol of La Mano Nera – The Black Hand Society

 

menace rose in the bloodsmoke of Etna
as it blackened east winds across oceans
reached violently into hard immigrant stories
adding terror to the struggles of innocents
extorting the self-possessed pride of a people
at knifepoint a gang of rogue feudal padrones
who supplanted American look-askance law
with an abject injustice severe in its wounds
to the auspicious cusp of a twentieth century

here do I nonetheless stand upon bonework
of caesars and slaves one of twenty odd million
descendants of browbeaten stoic survivors
unbowed perseverant determined to earn
rights of citizenship a new start a new world
holding off threats by cultural gangsters
they stayed the black hand from its sinister deeds
letting die the sick branch of my strong ancient tree
that it gained a new flourish in American ground

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

“Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” – Jean-Paul Sartre

Mind Over Morbidity

Untitled b David Padworny

 

spears of silent
bolt lightning
sear pain
in between
scalp and skull

sharp penance
for thinking
for daring to
live one’s life
inside the head

for imagining
ages achieved
by sheer will
the ambitions
of memory

wanting no
flesh and blood
vessels who
suffer the
ravage of time

spears of silent
bolt lightning
sear pain
but the mind
perseveres

bold defiance
of torment
refusing to die
or diminish
the dream

Lightning in a Bottle

Image from pinterest.com

 

at the crack of the bat

in that nick of an instant

you know that it’s gone

there’s no need of a sprint

just a thoroughbred trot

round the bases will do

it’s the same whether played

in rough sandlots of youth or

grand ballparks that showcase

skilled men in their prime

it’s the puffed-up-chest feeling

of making one’s mark

on a small arc of history

one standout moment

to last for a lifetime

remembered relived

a reminder a testament

everyone has it within them

within their two hands

with a well-practiced effort

and a disciplined focus

to once and for all

catch lightning in a bottle

 

Oracle

“Priestess of Delphi” by John Collier

 

oh Pythia
priestess of
vaporous wisdom
arise for this poor
troubled supplicant
stand in the shade
that Apollo
bequeathed you
your pink marbled
thighs astride
fumaroles sweating
your center
your secret skin
dripping with prophecy

he needs the truth
of tomorrow
accept here
his tributes
of laurel and liver
and drachma
please sing him
your verse but
acknowledge that
he is mere peasant
stock mortal
so spare him
inscrutable songs
meant for demigods

kings and half-heroes
did perish at
misunderstanding
your meter but he
has no grandeur
at stake so he begs
simple clarity hoist him
so he may see out
through your eyes
feel your fluids
of foresight
hear the voice
of Olympian winds
in your ears

his dilemma
unfolded his
choices laid down
free from irony
brooking no judgments
wants pointing the
destinies open and
waiting for him but to
act does he fight
to continue life
broken diminished
its damaged course
carried by pain or does
he simply not

(originally posted January 2014)

Survivor

“Prison Corridor” by Lara Mukahirn

unrecognizable soul

just a wisp of a man

a mere rumor of shoulders

in drape of torn rags

cruelly hobbled by

muscle and bone become

weakened and wasted

skin soiled and soured

the telltale of lightless

unwashed fetid years of

forbidding imprisonment

bent but not broken

here standing in chains

of his pain the old poet

his verses summarily

deemed as subversive

here standing in chains

of his pains the old poet

defiant as ever impenitent

vivid unquenchable flames

dance their ethical dance

in his resolute eyes

 

“but the Chinese and the Iranians lock them up and throw away the keys . . .”
– Peter Notehelfer

How to Succeed

“Life is a Maze”
Photo by Jez C. Self
From fineartamerica.com

first and foremost
remember
success is no sin
but is failure refused
and refused and refused
until eggs of fear crack
pouring forth with
their stillborn yolks
dead to the purpose
of stubborn persistence
who strikes up a
timely acquaintance
with luck and walks
patient laid steps upon
well-chosen lanes
up and back the chicanes
of a maze that deters
all less resolute hearts
from its prize