Monthly Archives: December 2024

Manly Love Trumping Other Love for the Moment, But Not in Poetry

Posted on December 28, 2024 by JMN

Cigar this life and light it with the sun. / Breathe this poem in. (From “Gratification to the survivors of daily damnations” by Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi) The rest of Feranmi’s poem says this: […] Own a spot on a cliff … Continue reading →

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‘Conjure an Exhale Instead’

Posted on December 26, 2024 by JMN

I never knew why my uncle, a panhandle Texan, liked to say “the only good thing ever come out of Oklahoma was an empty bus.” He should’ve met Steve Leyva, who comes out of Oklahoma and is a good thing. … Continue reading →

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How Fare the Wayfarers, Fled and Fleeing?

Posted on December 25, 2024 by JMN

So the last shall be first… Wishing for all a home-finding; respite, refuge, safe harbour, dry land; where possible: cheer. (c) 2024 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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Three from ‘Twenty Years of Letras Latinas’

Posted on December 20, 2024 by JMN

The planet is bursting with verse. A reader of poetry has to be arbitrary to stay afloat. In this post I’ve done something impudent, which is to apply strikeout formatting to text which I think would have been better omitted. … Continue reading →

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The Thruster’s Emblems Are the Rocket and the Tower

Posted on December 16, 2024 by JMN

The modality of our moment, roused, rising, risen, nigh on full erect, is that of the Thruster. As it poured that small thought into a word mold, my self asked, “What’s the modality contrary to the Thruster?” Answer: the Chameleon.  … Continue reading →

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Song-Sketch: Larrupin’ Twang in a Man Hat

Posted on December 15, 2024 by JMN

Attention, Nashville balladeers: Key of… why not?… C. I commend this hatchling of a hit (be sure to credit me) to the key of C.  The key of C is the key musicologists explain least incompetently but most deludedly. After … Continue reading →

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Sketch-Read: Patrick Dundon

Posted on December 14, 2024 by JMN

See ifYou canFind thePoem’sTriggerPull it (JMN) Patrick Dundon’s “Gratitude” says this: […] Sure my mother did not hold me enough,too tempted by the specter of satiety only alcohol can bring. It’s a piece of important nonsense; a specter is terrifying, … Continue reading →

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Start at the Center

Posted on December 12, 2024 by JMN

Start at the center of the faceAnd work outwardsThe center’s where the features areWhat surrounds is just outline Start at the center of the centerAnd work out whatIs where the center startsWhat surrounds is more of that Stare at the … Continue reading →

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Poetry Isn’t nor Is. It Happens or Doesn’t.

Posted on December 10, 2024 by JMN

— For all the maimed and dead. Happens on a FujiHappens on a GalaHappens on a HoneycrispHappens on a Granny SmithHalving the appleQuartering the appleEighth-ing the apple(Can you say that?)Knife slides across skin’Til skin gives inApple tears at the blade … Continue reading →

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A Little Knowledge (I Refer to Mine) Is Dangerous (and Fun)

Posted on December 8, 2024 by JMN

Reiterating at the outset: The “little knowledge” I mention in my title is my own! Novelist-Poet-Thinker-Dauntless-Traveler Gary Gautier recently touched in his blog on an engrossing philosophical quandary, mentioning an idea expressed by Immanuel Kant: The idea that we have … Continue reading →

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