Author Archives: JMN

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About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.

The Guitars and Drums Do Most of the Talking

Posted on July 26, 2026 by JMN

Since I fancy myself poetry curious, I’m ashamed that the lyrics of most rock songs constitute for me so little of the listening experience. I rarely register more than the odd phrase that penetrates the instrumental layer. The frontpersons (I … Continue reading →

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There Is No ‘I’ in ‘Poet’

Posted on July 24, 2026 by JMN

Verse in the pen of the writer.Poetry in the mind of the reader.Words the strike.Mind the flint.Fire the poem. (c) 2026 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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Trumpetss Ssound, End Timess Hiss

Posted on July 20, 2026 by JMN

An overt latent sshiftiness, both andss,Neither norss, never alwayss the ssame;Sslithering duness, conssisstent sshifting ssands,Familiar, sscarcely recognissable;Crucible, crux, ssacrifice, ssuffering, sshame. F-150’s rifle rack naked, gunBaked. Cup of staggering fisted. SonNailed, lanced, bled, mocked, screwed.In car nato birthed, hanged from … Continue reading →

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Paul Thek, Practitioner of ‘Crude Figuration’

Posted on July 16, 2026 by JMN

Although Thek possessed impressive skills as a draftsman and painter, he was an early practitioner of the crude figuration of “bad painting” (a term coined by Marcia Tucker, the founder of the New Museum). I don’t know how seriously to … Continue reading →

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My Dog

Posted on July 14, 2026 by JMN

My doggy pets herself with my bare foot.The foot is there, she thinks, idle appendage.Why not let it do rewarding work?My foot responds unthinkingly to her command.It fetches the affection she has thrown,And she extols me with her lavish wag. … Continue reading →

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‘There dwells in the glance an ancient hunger…’

Posted on July 10, 2026 by JMN

Translation to English of a poem in Spanish titled “Únicas/Únicos” by Azurea20 published at La Bancarrota del Circo on July 6, 2026. ONE / ONLYThere dwells in the glancean ancient hunger;a buzzing ofbees crownscogitationas one’s own lighttries to take rootin … Continue reading →

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Morning Norther, Hill County, Texas

Posted on July 3, 2026 by JMN

… Mr. Trump [promised] that this year’s fireworks display will break a Guinness World Record by exploding more than 860,000 shells. MORNING NORTHER, HILL COUNTY, TEXASThe wind trees up,rousing leaf rabble,a scramble of squirrel.Water kettled, coffee ground, storm brewing. Clouds … Continue reading →

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On Being Groped by a Bottom Feeder

Posted on June 29, 2026 by JMN

— To the Bro’hood of Silicon Gulch, la Fraternidad del Pinche Cabrón.No es lo mismo la cómoda de tu hermana que acomódame a tu hermana. Scat, lollapaloozer, vile binary stud!This crotch don’t cash your crypto crud. Shamelord sonnyboy, sleaze disease,Take … Continue reading →

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Blood and Dirt

Posted on June 26, 2026 by JMN

Dagger. The Bible has the story of a fellow who fashioned himself a dagger, fetched it hidden into the chambers of an unsuspecting portly man, and plunged it into the man’s belly so deep that it disappeared, unextractable. The King … Continue reading →

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Sadness on the Wing: A Celebration

Posted on June 24, 2026 by JMN

Diction front-loaded with shopworn sparkle (destiny adamantine jade infinite sunset horizon blossom heart gaze…) can reek of prefabricated verse, whereas speech treading on the heels of the quotidian can light your pants on fire. I ask myself what’s up with … Continue reading →

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