—Poetry by Caschwa (Carl Schwartz), Michael Ceraolo,
Joseph Nolan
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy of Joseph Nolan and Medusa
TWISTED ORIGINS
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
this did not start out
at all as any kind of
poem, it began as a
visceral response to
some rotten political
commentary
turned down the heat,
put the lid on the pot,
and brought out my own
favorite seasonings;
those for-profit endeavors
can keep their biased
menus, we’ve got all that
we might desire right here
damn those ballots, anyway!!
they should put our write-in
options at the top and much
further down list the $$$$$
candidates favored by those
high-roller special interests
we need full disclosure of
exactly which candidates
have the backing of major
suppliers of pharmaceutical,
military, agricultural, and any
other “must-have” products
that gobble up public tax
dollars for private research
and development
if the public pays the bill, WE
should own the patent rights
okay, ready to place our order
now, we’ll have your Daily
Special: rarified air and
purified water, hold the
propaganda
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
this did not start out
at all as any kind of
poem, it began as a
visceral response to
some rotten political
commentary
turned down the heat,
put the lid on the pot,
and brought out my own
favorite seasonings;
those for-profit endeavors
can keep their biased
menus, we’ve got all that
we might desire right here
damn those ballots, anyway!!
they should put our write-in
options at the top and much
further down list the $$$$$
candidates favored by those
high-roller special interests
we need full disclosure of
exactly which candidates
have the backing of major
suppliers of pharmaceutical,
military, agricultural, and any
other “must-have” products
that gobble up public tax
dollars for private research
and development
if the public pays the bill, WE
should own the patent rights
okay, ready to place our order
now, we’ll have your Daily
Special: rarified air and
purified water, hold the
propaganda
BIPARTISAN
—Caschwa
We the embattled People of the
50 United States immerse the term
“bipartisan” in patriotic colors and
lavish adjectives, but neither party
is willing to commit to signing a deal
with the devil
we have been at war for forever and
a day, and many see the federal
government as an abusive parent in
a dysfunctional family, not at all the
consummate symbol of the very unity
that is highly touted as our strength
so if, hypothetically, Moscow Mitch
and Sleepy Joe were to reach a
“bipartisan” agreement, their
momentary handshake, alone, would
not represent any kind of lasting truce
there has been a whole lot of spin
about conspiracy theories, naming
a wide range of villains from hostile
foreign nations to our own, elected
office holders. Best not to sweep any
of those theories into the trash before
all is said and done.
—Caschwa
We the embattled People of the
50 United States immerse the term
“bipartisan” in patriotic colors and
lavish adjectives, but neither party
is willing to commit to signing a deal
with the devil
we have been at war for forever and
a day, and many see the federal
government as an abusive parent in
a dysfunctional family, not at all the
consummate symbol of the very unity
that is highly touted as our strength
so if, hypothetically, Moscow Mitch
and Sleepy Joe were to reach a
“bipartisan” agreement, their
momentary handshake, alone, would
not represent any kind of lasting truce
there has been a whole lot of spin
about conspiracy theories, naming
a wide range of villains from hostile
foreign nations to our own, elected
office holders. Best not to sweep any
of those theories into the trash before
all is said and done.
FAST DANCE
—Caschwa
Uncle Sam’s Super Rich
own most of the land
we’re all the bitch
manual keyboard
built own skateboard
gaze up at scoreboard
prized Civil War sword
is well hidden and stored
but still pointed toward
slaves who were floored
and there’s guns, large-bored
which all strike a chord
can’t cut the cord
the rich need funds to hoard
says chairman of the board
we owe the drug lord
who’s also the landlord
and acts like a war lord
part of war we can’t afford
losing kin that we adored
just because some folks are bored
NEWS CYCLE
—Caschwa
dusk was busy cloaking the courthouse;
important judgements had been rendered,
all were expected verdicts that didn’t turn
any heads, while a number of other crucial
matters were still pending, left on the table
till the court would reconvene the next day
out on the sidewalk, a hot dog vender was
just wrapping up for the night when he was
approached by a news crew, hungry for
another story. The vender, of course, had
nothing of substance to disclose in an
interview, but they persisted, so he spoke
“If you want to really, really enjoy your
hot dog, you HAVE to use the spicy mustard;
relish and onions, that’s up to you, but by all
means, don’t forget to ask for the spicy!”
the news crew then questioned the vendor
about his opinion of the verdicts that had
come down that day, so he composed himself
to speak again, took a deep breath, and said,
“If you want to really, really enjoy your hot dog…”
the news crew thanked the vender for his time
and signed off for the night.
“Don’t forget to ask for the spicy!”
—Caschwa
dusk was busy cloaking the courthouse;
important judgements had been rendered,
all were expected verdicts that didn’t turn
any heads, while a number of other crucial
matters were still pending, left on the table
till the court would reconvene the next day
out on the sidewalk, a hot dog vender was
just wrapping up for the night when he was
approached by a news crew, hungry for
another story. The vender, of course, had
nothing of substance to disclose in an
interview, but they persisted, so he spoke
“If you want to really, really enjoy your
hot dog, you HAVE to use the spicy mustard;
relish and onions, that’s up to you, but by all
means, don’t forget to ask for the spicy!”
the news crew then questioned the vendor
about his opinion of the verdicts that had
come down that day, so he composed himself
to speak again, took a deep breath, and said,
“If you want to really, really enjoy your hot dog…”
the news crew thanked the vender for his time
and signed off for the night.
“Don’t forget to ask for the spicy!”
THREE POEMS FROM DUGOUT ANTHOLOGY,
(A Poetry Series by Michael Ceraolo, S. Euclid, OH)
Arky Vaughn
When Durocher claimed to be misquoted,
(A Poetry Series by Michael Ceraolo, S. Euclid, OH)
Arky Vaughn
When Durocher claimed to be misquoted,
he was usually lying:
he had been quoted accurately but denied it
because he was not a stand-up guy
When he did that to Newsom in ‘43
I refused to play for him anymore
When he did that to Newsom in ‘43
I refused to play for him anymore
and told him where he could stick the uniform
When only one other player backed me,
I backed down and finished out the season
When only one other player backed me,
I backed down and finished out the season
because I did have a contract
Then I sat out the next three seasons,
Then I sat out the next three seasons,
returning only when Durocher was suspended
for a full season by the Commissioner
Dixie Walker
I was wrong to threaten to strike over Jackie,
Dixie Walker
I was wrong to threaten to strike over Jackie,
because it’s wrong to deny anybody a position
on any grounds other than lack of ability,
and because that allowed Rickey and Durocher
to reclaim the high road
They can say they got rid of me after the season
They can say they got rid of me after the season
because of my role in the threatened strike,
but I’ll always believe they got rid of me
because I supported Arky Vaughn,
and they didn’t dare get rid of me then
because I was too popular with the fans
Neil Churchill
I would gamble on anything
Among my best gambles:
I gambled that an integrated team
would get along no worse than a non-integrated one
I gambled that an integrated team
would be of championship caliber
I gambled fans would support an integrated team
And I did it in Bismarck in the mid-1930s,
and won all those gambles
I would gamble on anything
Among my best gambles:
I gambled that an integrated team
would get along no worse than a non-integrated one
I gambled that an integrated team
would be of championship caliber
I gambled fans would support an integrated team
And I did it in Bismarck in the mid-1930s,
and won all those gambles
BACK TO BABYLON
—Joseph Nolan, Stockton, CA
Small, we are,
Upon the Earth;
Spent in search
Of meaning,
Worn in search
Of worth.
Babylon,
In ancient times
Made the subject
Of songs and rhymes,
Has long-since passed away.
Theater, now, of oil-war,
Blood and carnage,
What we came for:
The power of our times.
How can we make sense
Of things that never change?
In every generation,
Derange, we,
Other nations.
NURSING LIFE IN SWEETNESS!
—Joseph Nolan
Morning augurs
Milk-dripping breasts
Stuffed into
Fat, pumping cheeks
Of babies
Born of lust
And fine degrees of pleasure,
Full of screams.
Coffee on the table,
Bread and scones with butter,
Scrambled eggs and honey dripping,
Ah!
We are all still
Babies, after all,
Nursing life in sweetness!
—Joseph Nolan
Morning augurs
Milk-dripping breasts
Stuffed into
Fat, pumping cheeks
Of babies
Born of lust
And fine degrees of pleasure,
Full of screams.
Coffee on the table,
Bread and scones with butter,
Scrambled eggs and honey dripping,
Ah!
We are all still
Babies, after all,
Nursing life in sweetness!
CHOICE OF FATE
—Joseph Nolan
The world is full of many things,
But I must just choose one,
With which to build my castle,
With which to feel the sun.
One river
Running past my town,
One bride,
One wedding gown,
One church,
One priest,
One pew,
One life-long,
Living daydream,
Pretty palate,
Brilliant colors,
One sunset,
Going down.
Thus to be rewarded
For faith and constancy,
With one place dug to lay my bones
One stone to bear my legacy,
“Behold, all is naught,
All comings and goings,
All losing and owning,
Though happy your life
And free!”
_____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
INFORMATION TOO RICH
—Caschwa
has anybody seen my brain?
I can’t explain
fogginess swells
while I lose cells
some memories are etched in stone
they are my own
recollections
no directions
I don’t use new area codes
they’re overloads
doesn’t take much
to lose my touch
___________________
Our thanks to today’s contributors as we float toward summer—time for the seashore! Hence the dolphins.
Tonight (5/24), 7:30pm, Sac. Poetry Center’s Socially Distant Verse features Joe Cottonwood, Vincent Kobelt online, plus open mic. Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/. Facebook info: www.facebook.com/events/457791878621400?acontext={"event_action_history"%3A[{"surface"%3A"page"}]}
This Thurs. (5/27), 7:30pm, Sac. Poetry Alliance presents Native American Poetry: Traditional and Contemporary Visions and Themes, an online Literary Lecture by Lucille Lang Day. Host: Frank Dixon Graham. Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/. Facebook info: www.facebook.com/events/965954774208166/?acontext{"source"%3A"29"%2C"ref_notif_type"%3A"event_aggregate"%2C"action_history"%3A"null"}¬if_id=1621861694283862¬if_t=event_aggregate&ref=notif
___________________
—Medusa
—Joseph Nolan
The world is full of many things,
But I must just choose one,
With which to build my castle,
With which to feel the sun.
One river
Running past my town,
One bride,
One wedding gown,
One church,
One priest,
One pew,
One life-long,
Living daydream,
Pretty palate,
Brilliant colors,
One sunset,
Going down.
Thus to be rewarded
For faith and constancy,
With one place dug to lay my bones
One stone to bear my legacy,
“Behold, all is naught,
All comings and goings,
All losing and owning,
Though happy your life
And free!”
_____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
INFORMATION TOO RICH
—Caschwa
has anybody seen my brain?
I can’t explain
fogginess swells
while I lose cells
some memories are etched in stone
they are my own
recollections
no directions
I don’t use new area codes
they’re overloads
doesn’t take much
to lose my touch
___________________
Our thanks to today’s contributors as we float toward summer—time for the seashore! Hence the dolphins.
Tonight (5/24), 7:30pm, Sac. Poetry Center’s Socially Distant Verse features Joe Cottonwood, Vincent Kobelt online, plus open mic. Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/. Facebook info: www.facebook.com/events/457791878621400?acontext={"event_action_history"%3A[{"surface"%3A"page"}]}
This Thurs. (5/27), 7:30pm, Sac. Poetry Alliance presents Native American Poetry: Traditional and Contemporary Visions and Themes, an online Literary Lecture by Lucille Lang Day. Host: Frank Dixon Graham. Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/. Facebook info: www.facebook.com/events/965954774208166/?acontext{"source"%3A"29"%2C"ref_notif_type"%3A"event_aggregate"%2C"action_history"%3A"null"}¬if_id=1621861694283862¬if_t=event_aggregate&ref=notif
___________________
—Medusa
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world, including
that which was previously-published.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world, including
that which was previously-published.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
