Infinity
—Painting by Randy Barnes
—Poetry by Jay Simpson, Perth, Australia
—Public Domain Visuals
Courtesy of Jay Simpson
Courtesy of Jay Simpson
INFINITY
Public destruction executioners chorister’s
heads held low
armies of citizens trolls’ infernos bow-legged
politicians social media
winners losers righteousness smoke clutters
skies
deadly disorders drunk assailants pass out on
the floor
manifestos red carpets trip the entourage
of fools
medical emergencies big guns in town friendly
fire absurdity
time to assemble push through the backlog
death the goal the premium
scramble for cover warring continues flags
held high take a view
national anthems horrorful dirges fuel the fire
the infinite
Public destruction executioners chorister’s
heads held low
armies of citizens trolls’ infernos bow-legged
politicians social media
winners losers righteousness smoke clutters
skies
deadly disorders drunk assailants pass out on
the floor
manifestos red carpets trip the entourage
of fools
medical emergencies big guns in town friendly
fire absurdity
time to assemble push through the backlog
death the goal the premium
scramble for cover warring continues flags
held high take a view
national anthems horrorful dirges fuel the fire
the infinite
Empty Carousels
—Painting by Robert Motherwell
—Painting by Robert Motherwell
EMPTY CAROUSELS
Phony tears altered genes parasols drag
queens
faux pas paranoia tricksters selling gullibles
buying
opera houses rusty sails sea rising redemption
pending
evangelicals’ flying carpets peace prize
wartime
empty carousels flag poles cars racing words
fumbling
elaborate embroideries silver chalices
mornings empty days begin
tomorrow’s scheme cries for help
solitary confinement the solution hope a
distant trance
Heady Moments
—Painting by Hannah Höch
HEADY MOMENTS
Lost world heightened shame satire offering
comic relief
blacked realities promises abused memories
caught in deceit
planned holidays left by the sea memorials
delivered with eulogies
driverless machines lead the way tombstones
inscriptions poetic sighs
the cat swallows the bird and the wire
electricity buzzes world’s on fire
multiple bombshells panic attacks museums
hospitals sodden bars
religious stoners dance around in healing
circles for the lost and found
alcoholic visions obfuscation explanations lost
in translation
heady moments successful raids trigger ticker-
tape parades
Futility
—Painting by Jackson Pollock
—Painting by Jackson Pollock
FUTILITY
Lands far away oceans rushing back and forth
close near lost found
spectators playing opinions-imposed history
removed from the archive
emptied suitcases drug paraphernalia orgies
books love
cries for help bespoke ideas malls fondling
their merchandise
secret whispers fog the rearview warm breath
touches the sky
elegant fixtures decorate art houses poets hide
behind cellar doors
bite the bullet watch the killers read the
heartless commentary
music drowns out the noise not the hate not
the death
innocents follow the flowing stream the forest
the constant dream
Sacred Silence
—Sculpture by Rayner Hoff
—Sculpture by Rayner Hoff
SACRED SILENCE
Amble down the carpeted aisle sideway glances
holy enemies
watch the prayers kneeling, rosaries dangling
between their legs
whisper into the confessional, priest man
smiles promises
spill the beans swallow the host try the
vintage wine
body and blood heroin infusion needle rests
against the font
stations full of tired homeless leaving their
bread and wine behind
fading into dangerous miasmas counting the
trains as they pass
miracles live in halfway houses children
overfill refuges
scrutiny leaves behind the outrage, pebbles
smooth underfoot
tyranny smiles in lonesome chapels, fire
brigades wander around
news reports deaths abound, point towards
the setting sun
style the morning unblemish the curse slip
into something pretty
slip into your neighbourhood
__________________
Today’s LittleNip:
Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.
—Franz Kafka
__________________
Newcomer Jay Simpson was born in Sydney, Australia, and moved to Perth, Western Australia in 2011. She worked as an English, Drama and Music Teacher for many years in schools, TAFE and the University of Newcastle. Jay has been published in a number of online magazines and journals, most recently in Lothlorien Poetry Journal; Fevers of the Mind; Voices from the Fire Anthology (Dumpster Fire Press); The Writer’s Club; Horror Sleaze Trash; Ukraine: The Night and the Fire; and Bedroom Anatomy Lessons (Dumpster Fire Press). She is currently working on her book to be published in 2024.
Jay loves poetry, art, music, satire and black comedy. She also loves recording and reading poetry publicly. She is the Creative Director and Author at 'LivingDangerously'. Welcome to the Kitchen, Jay, thanks for today’s Ekphrastic poetry—and don’t be a stranger!
__________________
—Medusa
Jay Simpson
For upcoming poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
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Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
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by typing the name of the poet or poem
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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—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
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.
Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
to find the date you want.
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—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
(A cookie from the Kitchen for today):
black stallion’s
shiny coat
carries starlight
wherever he goes~