Latest Writing

All writing

foyer lights are on full dimmer
shoes laid neatly on their rack
coats arranged, from fat to slimmer
empty hangers in a stack

dainty dishes stew and simmer
children banished from their quests
of the moon, not yet a glimmer
mamma readies for her guests

streetlights twinkle on, and steady
by the time the doorbell rings
mamma, standing at the ready
jumps a bit as if on springs

the door opens, there is Eddie
parents, gothic, by his side
pitchfork left at home, a teddy
Eddie brought it for his bride

awkward silence for a second
mamma brushes off a tear
a wide smile, come in, I reckon
do come in, come in, oh dear

all are silent through the check in
small talk frozen in the throat
mamma finds her voice and beckons
Eddie's mom gives up her coat

house tour is declined, politely
heading to the dining room
mamma leads the way, lit brightly
followed by the bride and groom

table, round, its seating knightly
to ensure a proper view
dishes flavorful and sightly
Eddie whispers: I love you

***********************************

forty years, the story's written
tiny chapters on my knees
come to play here with my kittens
Ed and I, forever smitten
tiny chapters, here's a squeeze

grey is winter, shadows short
spring a sprinter, time to court
summer slammer, don't leave yet
fall's a bummer, cold and wet

milestones aggregate and pass
parties, cost per plate and class
frothy markets, trophy wives
glossy pamphlets, bossy lives

health scares, losses and regret
fall's a bummer, cold and wet
old age barges in, well met
summer slammer, don't leave yet


Author notes: Arthur Goikhman // alliteration and inner rhymes as well as end rhymes are used throughout. S1L2, L3  Spring a Sprinter and Summer Slummer winer/sprinter/slammer/bummer are rhymed mid-line in the S1 S2 inner rhymes or near-rhymes in forthy/trophy and glossy/bossy two lines from the first stanza repeat (but in different order) in the S3

the daffodil makes known its will
do put me on a windowsill
the sun should shine on me just so
embracing me with loving glow

a mirror surely would suffice?
you're neither rose nor edelweiss
you can reflect and recollect
I know there's nothing to perfect

don't tease me, you old garden god
though you have plucked me from the mud
the mud awaits your prompt return
or is your choice a Grecian urn?

it's prickly, my daffodil
I put it on the windowsill
and watch the sun; its loving glow
embraces me, from head to toe


Author notes: wc 97 the art is Daffodils In The Window by Robin Wethe Altman, image from iCanvas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology)

when everything's been said, can words suffice
can written symbols truly represent
can sentences, ambiguous, precise
translate the writer's actual intent

can brushstrokes capture a reluctant smile
a warm embrace or murderous designs
a monarch in his glory, all the while
reminding you to read between the lines

the artist and their medium, indeed
the spirits, on occasion, may provide
a séance doesn't struggle to succeed
so long as the provider knows who died

the truth is harsh, it slaps you in the face
a pencil in your hand, the words erase

it was a warm and sunny day
and let there be no doubt
it would have likely stayed that way
a sudden awful shout
disturbed the gently swaying reeds
a fisherman had scored
a bloated body, dirty deeds
had earned their just rewards
no documents on the deceased
and missing fingertips
unlikely that he'd seen a priest
and in his pocket, chips
three dollar ones, a five, one more
they add up to thirteen
the settling of an old score
that's what they might have been
perhaps a cautionary tale
to silence any doubt
he may have plead to no avail
the day his luck ran out

our fisherman considered all
unhooked the body's vest
and following no protocol
discretion seeming best
moved to another fishing spot
unused that day, his scale
and came home empty, having caught
only a fishing tale