United States of America

Shocking News Latest Revelations

We can’t of course see what’s
going on in the courtroom but
our sources inside the room are
relaying everything they see.

The most-indicted ex-president
in American history has been… Read more

Scordatura

Image by David Chorlton

Another Sunday best spent
indoors with a view
of the clouds building up and putting on
a monsoon face
only to empty their pockets
and dissolve. … Read more

What She Thought

for Sinéad O’Conner after Heather McHugh

The man who is now a statue,
wore a metal clamp in his tongue
while burned in the public square
for believing If God… Read more

Trinitite

Odd Mineral, not found
in nature, not to be mined,
the name an afterthought.

Roll up light and fire,
cup it in the palms of your hands,
form it like … Read more

Mick Jagger’s Birthday

Image of the sunrise on my street by David Chorlton

A long first look
glides down the street toward Four Peaks
and the awakening sky. It’s a friendly
view; sun … Read more

Phoenix Summer 2023

My feet are burning like sausage in a skillet
with eggs, sunny side up,
I poured my coffee early, but I can’t enjoy the aroma or warmth,
so I let … Read more

What Peter Nero Said

We shall play ‘Tea for Two’ – my right hand will be playing ‘Tea for Two’ while my left hand will play Tchaikovsky’s Fifth.

Maybe Nero was right about our … Read more

Melt

The summer solstice is still within counting striking distance, but both the dice and the mice have given up. There’s no point in trying for a cool pair of eights. … Read more

Baby Bump

Fairy Tale

They want to help name you
Applaud gestation not know you
Two parts now three of you
Ill-equipped with lullabies for you
twinkle-twinkle and all that
A tiny … Read more

Crush Depth

Rich man’s ease devolves
to boredom, then to restless
annoyance, propelling high-priced,
high-risk adventures, in places

high or low, as chance may offer
and fate may choose—the “I-only”
ego can … Read more

The Sky is Blue

I walked the dark tunnel in shades of grey,
followed my friends’ voices into the day.
What is this brightness, warm upon my eyes?
No longer caged, my hopes, my … Read more

Too Late

Too late for the tomato plants,
the basil, the irrigation system
lying in a broken tangle
in the weedy front yard.

Too late to get enough sleep,
to eat right, … Read more

When they kick in

your instincts may lead you
to the ocean’s floor or
the banks of a sandy beach,

whether you’re a fish
or human, or some species
in between. You may be … Read more