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Rain On The River Rains falling on the Hudson River zone And deluging the pathways in a park, Inhibiting the progress of a lone New Yorker splashing through the semi-dark Of daylight under leaden clouds, emit No sound—in physics terms—from forceful strokes That Bellows used to paint the grime and grit He juxtaposed with grass and trees, to coax Enchantment out of gloom ... But don't you hear Rails clanking, plumes of hissing steam, the spray In hurried footsteps, and a neigh? The mere Veracity of physics can't gainsay Eyes predisposed to hear as well as see: Rain On The River captures sounds for me! (First published in the Ekphrastic Review on 26th July, 2024 as a response to Rain On The River by George Bellows) |
Behind The Times Behind the Times in olden times gone by, Engaging with the crossword, you could ride Home on a train and catch no meddler's eye. It's different now. Your crossword's hard to hide: News comes in tabloid size. A stranger's frown Disrupts your thinking as you try to solve The clues, which he can read, if upside down. He thinks you should be grateful to involve External help. He says you are behind The times with pen and paper, since the app Is now the thing, and he is sure you'll find More crossword pleasure going tap, tap, tap ... Except he's wrong: you are, as passenger, So not behind the Times—but wish you were! (First published in the December 2024 issue of Lighten Up Online) |
Word Game Addict When midnight signals it's another day On Earth, the time when major word game sites Replenish stocks of daily games to play, Do you indulge—or switch off all the lights, Get into bed immediately and save Attempts at games till after slumberland's Made solving them more mindful? If you crave Enigmas based on words—like Wordle, Strands And Twordsy—and, at midnight, you're awake Debating this dilemma, aren't you in Denial? You're a word game addict! Make It easy on yourself: don't let guilt win, Click Play and guess a word with 5 more clicks— To start work early on your Wordle fix! (First published in the Winter 2025 issue of WestWard Quarterly) |
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The Lily Trotter The female lily trotter on the pond Has many broods, all cared for by their dads, Each knowing it's her nature to abscond, Light-footedly across the lily pads In search of other males, as soon as she's Laid eggs. Most mother birds will tend a brood, Yet lily trotter wisdom disagrees: Their single parenting is by the dude. Remarkably, this dad sits on the eggs. Once they are hatched, he rears the chicks alone, Then totes them, under wing, on gangly legs, Till they can better manage on their own— Exemplary parental care ... His tale Reveals the feathered world's most caring male! (First published in Current Conservation on 31st January, 2025. Story here) |
The Pros And Cons The pros and cons of pros and cons include How thoroughly or not you're able to Enumerate the pros and cons, to brood Profoundly over till decision's due. Remembering all cons, but not all pros, Obstructs an optimistic view ahead. Suggesting every yes, forgetting nos, Advances too assured a view instead. No pro or con should be forgotten at Decision time—in principle, but who Can truly guarantee to manage that? ... Or is it better not to try, to do No listing? Just relax. Be calm inside. Surrender to your gut. Let it decide! (First published in the Spring 2025 issue of WestWard Quarterly) |