Poet's Corner: three by Rita Dove

These are all from Playlist for the Apocalypse.

Scarf by Rita Dove

Whoever claims beauty
lies in the eye
of the beholder

has forgotten the music
silk makes settling
across a slim, bared

neck: skin never touched
so gently except by a child

or a lover.

Found Sonnet: The Wig by Rita Dove

100% human hair, natural; Yaki synthetic, Brazilian blend,
Malaysian, Kanekalon, Peruvian Virgin, Pure Indian;
iron-friendly, heat-resistant; bounce, volume, featherweight,
Short ’n’ Sassy, Swirls & Twirls, Smooth & Sleek and Sleek & Straight,

Wet and Wavy, Futura fibre, weave-a-wig or Shake-n-Go;
classic, trendy, micro-kink; frosted pixie, tight cornrow;
full, three-quarter, half, stretch cap, drawstring, ear tabs, combs;
chignon, headband, clip-in bangs; easy extensions and ponytail domes—

long or bobbed, hand-tied, layered, deep twist bulk, prestyled updo,
Remi closure, Swiss lace front, invisible L part, J part, U;
feathered, fringed, extended neck; tousled, spiky, loose cascades,
sideswept, flipped ends, corkscrews, spirals, Rasta dreads, Ghana braids;

Passion Wave, Silk Straight, Faux Mohawk, Nubian locks, Noble Curl:
Cleopatra, Vintage Vixen, Empress, Hera, Party Girl.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all those who observe it!



The boys and I dyed eggs. Their father has left for Burkina Faso. The flat is clean and stocked. So I can focus more on fic and poems and things like that. The week will be busy. The boys' Spring Break extends through Monday; they go back to school on Tuesday. Minor's birthday is Thursday. So it's a bit of calm before the (next) storm.

My poem: Albatross: Gen

Title: Albatross
Poetic form: villanelle
Length: 186
Rating: Gen
Notes: Inspired by lines from the book Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night by Julian Sancton

unaware of the courting of danger and loss
the unseasoned young mariners fished from the sky
for a pipe of the bone of a great albatross

on the hook was the bait and they gave it a toss
from the deck of the ship like a kite way up high
unaware of the courting of danger and loss

with a fish in its beak, with a yank to the floss,
the poor bird was brought low to be slaughtered and why?
for a pipe of the bone of a great albatross

of the bones of the wings, they were polished to gloss
and prepared for their use, without warning or sigh,
unaware of the courting of danger and loss

there was music and smoking beneath the Southern Cross
but the old-timers didn’t gamble, nor did they vie
for a pipe of the bone of a great albatross

then came strife, storm, and shipwreck, all minds turned to dross
and along with the wise, the young foolish did die,
unaware of the courting of danger and loss
for a pipe of the bone of a great albatross

Poet's Corner: The House on the Hill by Edwin Arlington Robinson

The House on the Hill by Edwin Arlington Robinson

They are all gone away,
The House is shut and still,
There is nothing more to say.

Through broken walls and gray
The winds blow bleak and shrill:
They are all gone away.

Nor is there one to-day
To speak them good or ill:
There is nothing more to say.

Why is it then we stray
Around the sunken sill?
They are all gone away,

And our poor fancy-play
For them is wasted skill:
There is nothing more to say.

There is ruin and decay
In the House on the Hill:
They are all gone away,
There is nothing more to say.

Poet's Corner: On the Edge by Silk~

This is a poem from The Middle of Nowhere which is the 'thrilling, bone-chilling first issue from Ram Eye Press' available here. Contributors were asked to submit work on the theme of "countryside horror."

On the Edge by Silk~

i enter myself
through a clearing
in the crackling
thicket of memories
to find what is left
salvageable artifacts
something even sacred
( Read more... )

Photo: Hound!

So in the mall attached the hotel I stayed at in Las Vegas there was a rare book shop, and in the window, there was a 1902 copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles, so if you have $11,000 lying around you don't need, get yourself to Vegas (please don't fly Spirit airlines) and pick it up.