An Apologia por me Vita
“Sic”
I always hesitate to “Save and Publish” these kinds of exercises, for they are so bad. I would give anything to be able to write a good line of verse, but the task seems hopelessly beyond me, my glass always half empty, or worse. I let them sit for a while, usually; I tinker with them, changing a word here, rewriting a line there. In the end, however, my tinkering doesn’t change much. They are what they are, ha, as long as they rhyme (even such a worn one as head / dead gives me pleasure); small meager things, these verses, I admit, but mine own this time. Seriously. Mostly. LES
Seriously?
I used to watch the news each night
Brown shining eyes, unusually bright
With Lester or Norah, Jose or Kate
Lips spitting forth the last act of Fate
Skeleton buildings, women in tears
Sympathy extended, lies for our ears.
Is the mike hot, are our hearts cold
How can we watch a poor nation sold
People before us, everything lost
Mass graves in the garden, all souls tossed
Easter has past now, will Jesus remain
Hidden in bread, loving hearts or Spring rain?
Are We Live?
Tell me how you feel, Sweetheart
What thoughts went through your head
When the shooting started
Are many people dead?
The images are disturbing
With bodies in the street
A gunman shooting randomly
Even Angels cry retreat.
God hides his face in sorrow
For the fallen human race
The cross was not enough, it seems
Nor freely given grace.
You’re in our thoughts and prayers
We say, in our restless hearts
Tell me, Sweetheart, how you feel
When the shooting starts!
Easter Morning 33 A.D.
plus or minus
The stone was rolled, off stage right
The tomb left empty as bridal bower
The soldiers fled to drink and hide
The Gardner looks—His power hidden.
What else here has been concealed—
Just Nature’s Law for Him repealed?
Editor’s Footnote: the last line is apparently a real question. Make of it what you will. The image that follows is that of Jesus and the rich young man. Given that there are so many empty tomb or resurrection images available, I fail to see why the writer chose that one. Oh well, writers are frequently eccentric, as we all well know.
