The Great Pretzel Puzzle

 —Poetry by Scott Thomas Outlar, Frederick, MD
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy
of Scott Thomas Outlar

 

 

TRUEST BLUE
 
Yawn into the mortal portal
reflective void, numb, abysmal
 
Rip out the remaining hair
what once dark now silver echo
 
The figurine of leaf dust and ceramic
tidal blossoms, mellow serenity, mirrored
 
Three butterflies, brown suede detox
floating along the atmospheric avenue
 
Skeleton keys cold-pressed in fridge
arctic flesh, heightened senses
 
Magnetic force of pulsar, dynamic
cosmic radiance, lasso, necktie
 
Gradations encapsulated by degree
fortunes humming by bird of laser
 
Fragile plasma circling crystal
clip on smile and wisps of smoke

 

 

 

 Lancaster Rainbow

A MONSTER OF LIGHT IN MOTION
 
Assimilate
disparately dichotic parts
to align the structured whole
 
fractals and fragments
shards and splinters
pieces and particles
 
Chaos scrambles
the pattern’s picture
with white noise
and scattered signals
until cohesion
of honed consciousness
coalesces
the vibrational
soundscape
into more highly
ordered shapes
and forms
 
cymatic intentions
sacred geometrical premonitions
 
pulse rays and photons
stars and spirals
pinpoints and needles
 
circles triangulated
with butterfly wings
 
the flower of life
coiling out
from its own axis
 
a sphere
a square
a sanctuary
a mandala
a meditation
a miracle

 

 

 

Myrtle Beach Sunrise

 
FLASHED BEFORE MY EYES
 
One admiring another orbit
spaced-out theories
obtusely angled
obfuscating in the corner
ready to bend into or out of
whatever the great
pretzel puzzle dictates next
from the spiraling geometric source
 
Two tasting from the black hole’s fountain
empty desert chalice alchemized
with alkalized mountain valley
spring water splendor
veins devour
and merge into the blood
of you know who
hanging out in high places
 
Three pulsing with the highlight reel
comatose and laid out to bear
witness of lifelines in transmission
silver cord fashioned to socket
the blinding white light
offers its choice
to fade into obscurity
or return for another spin
creating a legacy as yet unrooted

 

 

 

OF PETALS AND PADLOCKS
 
Violet autumn
like a fire hazard
 
The hues and moods
of trees and leaves
 
released from branches
by the dozen
              
gliding through
a sighing breeze
to kiss the gentle waters
 
Purple pulsing dot
behind your eyes
after bleeding into the morning rays
    
View of the boiling inferno
bobbing around in the sky
 
Constellations
of experiences
 
Atoms on a board
wildly connected
 
and the shaman ducks
lined up
on the flotsam
              
sneezing their way
toward oblivion
                   
or is that just
a quack
heralding annihilation?
 
Consider all elements
in gratitude
 
Even the moon has
a poison pill
stationed at its galactic sore
 
and the sun will damn well
blind any fool
who forgets how to dance
after they’ve mastered
the art of falling
 
So I will stand here
as long as it takes
to catch a gift
from the maple heart
and blessed be
the plague of grackles
who come to join
the syrupy wait
 
Love is the key
and there are
several ways
to pick the lock
but only one true fit
 
hear the click
of my legacy
and reposing laurels

____________________

Today’s LittleNip:

BODY POLITIC
—Scott Thomas Outlar
 
Be thankful for small pains
because we all suffer worse eventually
 
I’ll dance until my body caves in
the same way I laughed as my mind went
 
One limb downed
but the rest is electric
 
Hand’s been dealt
steady straight toward the hum

____________________

Welcome back to the Kitchen, Scott! Scott used to visit the Kitchen a lot, but it’s been a while; here’s what he’s been up to lately: Scott Thomas Outlar originally hails from Atlanta, Georgia; he now resides and writes in Frederick, Maryland. His work has been nominated multiple times for both the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. He guest-edited the Hope Anthology of Poetry from CultureCult Press, as well as the 2019-2023 Western Voices editions of Setu Mag. Selections of his poetry have been translated and published in 15 languages. He has been a weekly contributor to Dissident Voice for the past 10 years. More about Outlar's work can be found at 17Numa.com/. Don’t be gone so long next time, Prodigal Scott!

____________________

—Medusa

 

 

 

 Scott Thomas Outlar (with Gigi)

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