Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy
of Stephen Kingsnorth
These first four poems from Stephen are Quadrilles: 44 words (not counting the title), including one word the host provides. These were written while Stephen was in the throes of what he calls Quadrillitis. In an effort to cure this Q-itis, I sent him five cue-words, which I’ve highlighted here, hoping he would overdose from flexing his Quads. This final poem of his is a nod to the US on today’s Fourth of July. Note Stephen’s wink to tea parties…
WAS, IS, AND IS TO BE…?
Who reads the news, paper today?
Too broad to handle, thinking sheets;
wrapped fish’n’chips, rue redtops’ stain.
Their stop press columns ceased express,
swift, wall to wall, Fleet’s cover blown;
print press, by net, hung out to dry,
while Wall Street’s rôle, wallpaper trail.
WAS, IS, AND IS TO BE…?
Who reads the news, paper today?
Too broad to handle, thinking sheets;
wrapped fish’n’chips, rue redtops’ stain.
Their stop press columns ceased express,
swift, wall to wall, Fleet’s cover blown;
print press, by net, hung out to dry,
while Wall Street’s rôle, wallpaper trail.
GOURD HELP US, SQUASHED
Your zucchini, courgette is mine—
is your rootstock, mafia style,
while my corvette, French ship derived?
Unless outgrown—on marrow dine—
that starter dish for slug or snail,
and nothing slow when dining out,
for small tip left by them consumed;
Cucurbitaceae, family.
COT OBSERVATIONS
Once stropped on leather, lathered, soap,
Dad’s cutthroat blade would bristle, swathe.
And Mum could curl, recall her perm,
spiked rollers under net as temp.
For but a day, ahead of hair,
their pillow wresting follicles,
what made my eyes think rollerblade?
Associations codified.
SOUTHERN STRESS
A southerner near Roman spa,
as city, Bath, was overdrawn—
‘Barth’—theologian I approve.
Our offspring, as the grandchildren,
are northern-raised, more tap than tarp.
So I would turn my gravest face
when barth-time tapped out bathtub sound.
My mother, car-crash, simply crȇche.
DRAFT CURRICULUM
May quadrillitis sound diseased,
parading, marching on the square,
though compass not so secretive—
but nation ready, youth prepared.
The sense of service I applaud,
as citizens should contribute
so learning ethic, give if take.
I am unsure that discipline,
good learning being uniform?
Poe Returns to Boston
—Statue by Stefanie Rocknak
—Statue by Stefanie Rocknak
BOUND BREAKS FREE
Spilling volumes, strapped leather case,
how could the raven be contained,
enclosed in baggage, papers, page,
bursting, such larger life than he?
Poe returning, ghosts break free,
homeward, bound like trail of texts
left in his train, from station walk,
marking steps since he first left.
Adoptive, in short story form,
consumptive for child cousin bride;
patina, Verdigris of bronze,
once journeyman, now sett apart.
It’s no tea party, reading fear—
a nevermore. Finality.
__________________
Today’s LittleNip:
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
—Thomas Paine
__________________
—Medusa, with thanks to BritPal Stephen Kingsnorth for sending us Yanks all these wonderful poems over the years! Hands across the sea~~
For more about Poe’s statue in Boston, see https://bostonlitdistrict.org/venue/poe-returns/.
May we all find some sort of compromises
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy
in these troubled waters, both at home
and over the sea~
And may you find some peace
this Fourth of July.
of Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA
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