Naysayers' Ars Poetica

The real reason 

People don’t get poetry— 

 

It’s much easier not to 

Ask yourself why. 

 

 

 

 

Not All Greek, Yet--

—for my niece Tanja, 

whose heart most certainly is. 

 

 

To not know 

A word the old 

 

Woman’s saying but 

To feel her hand 

 

On your forehead talking 

A language 

 

Both of you understand.

 

 

 

 

"Well, If I Were You, I Wouldn't Start From Here"

But seriously now, 

How else are you 

 

To get to where 

You have to go when 

 

On your way there, 

That long-awaited lame 

 

Punch line comes limping out 

Of nowhere with just enough 

 

Clout to send your senses reeling 

Back to you-know-where? 

 

 

 

 

Revelation

Nothing so far- 

Fetched as a stork 

Bringing a new-

 

Born baby in- 

To a Greek house- 

Hold; here, it’s something

 

More down-to-Earth, I can 

Still remember my mom’s 

Answer when I asked her

 

That tormenting question so 

Many years ago: “Why, 

From the kneecap, you

 

Silly boy, where else?” 

As she slapped 

Her right leg smartly,

 

Letting out a small laugh 

Like a mischievous child 

At the same time. 

 

 

 

 

Haiku: Lifeline (Brief On How To Make Every Second Count)

Aye, short is the span— 

It takes a lot of looking 

Long to see just how.