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.

Please, Your Majesty. Say, ‘We Are Not Amused’

Posted on November 14, 2023 by JMN

… A consummation devoutly to be wished.”(Shakespeare) Evangelical euphemisms like “Grab ‘em by the prissy” and “Kiss my aft” have hopped from bully rally to pulpit rave in American discourse thanks to the God lobby. But, Britannia, oh dear! “Fuckpigs,” … Continue reading →

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Badonkadonks, Ta-Tas and Bunga Bunga

Posted on November 10, 2023 by JMN

Italian prime minister Georgia Meloni is in the news for rinsing her hands of longtime, live-in boyfriend Andrea Giambruno, caught prospecting for group sex. Reportage has reached again for bunga bunga, which keeps this reliable trope of male-hormonal culture merrily … Continue reading →

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Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Backside

Posted on November 7, 2023 by JMN

“The whole secret of politics is knowing who hates who.” (Kevin Phillips) “MY pronoun,” said Cruz, “is ‘kiss my ass.’”On Ted’s form of address I’ll take a pass.A smooch bestowed on the croup of this solonis honor paid to the … Continue reading →

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‘After the Music, We Want Meaning’

Posted on November 4, 2023 by JMN

“We love the balance and control of rhyme even if it unbalances us, but, after the music, we want meaning.” (Adam Gopnik) When Adam Gopnik writes, “No prosody can immunize poetry against the test of experience… What’s always at stake … Continue reading →

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Keening in the Key of Claws (‘We’re Out of Things to Say’)

Posted on November 2, 2023 by JMN

“The guns are available and the targets are soft.” (Stephen King) Been to the broke-heart mountain.Been to the Jesus well.Thoughts and prayersfor the Shepherd’s cause,the Founders’ flaws,the House of Laws,from We the People’s hell. (c) 2023 JMN — EthicalDative. All … Continue reading →

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The Saucy Song a Painter Sang

Posted on October 31, 2023 by JMN

I’ve pondered how much to grudgingly admire the towering raspberry Tadaaki Kuwayama gave rhetorically to the practice of art. His expressed approach oozes iconoclastic gore in the spirit of outré versecraft from the pages of Poetry. … He wanted to … Continue reading →

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Otiose Odium Yodel

Posted on October 29, 2023 by JMN

“Trashing his opponents and setting his huge fan base on them is a tactic Trump has used for years.” (The Guardian) The person who commits lèse majestéon the pugnacious lord of Magalagoincurs a stiff barrage of coo-coo ack-ackfrom keyboard hoplites … Continue reading →

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Decasílabos Sigilosos

Posted on October 26, 2023 by JMN

My favorite Spanish word is sigiloso.It comes to me unbidden of a suddenfrom that place frondoso in my noggin,the quarter that is menos lugareño,con tan poco apego to the localthat I can be exotically vocal. Resulta que me_evoca English “sigil,”a … Continue reading →

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The Heron and the Hoopoe

Posted on October 24, 2023 by JMN

Never a bird had fairer scientific name than Upupa epops, the jaunty hoopoe, for which the Arabic is hudhud. “Heron” is balaSHUN. I experience this delicate lyric written in Arabic as all signal with no noise. If it alludes to … Continue reading →

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Mrs. Muzzle

Posted on October 20, 2023 by JMN

By Monday morning, a furious Mrs. Muzzle pounced on Uncle’s lap, took her petite paw and gave his smirking lips several wicked whacks. But he … Mrs. Muzzle

Posted in Commentary | 3 Comments