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.

‘If You Hold Your Boot to Your Ear Like a Seashell’

Posted on September 11, 2023 by JMN

The blog Pacific Paratrooper makes a gusty tribute to first sergeants part of a celebration of “the dark, glistening jump boots” that were the proudly maintained trademark of WWII era paratroopers. (c) 2023 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

Posted in Quotations | Tagged | 2 Comments

Model and Prototype for the NONSEQUI-KU

Posted on September 9, 2023 by JMN

I’ve created a verse form I call the nonsequi-ku. It consists of a title over a cinquain. The title must be in trochaic pentameter, and must cast only spectral light on the burden of the cinquain. The cinquain must be … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , | 7 Comments

‘Free Speech Is Hard Work’

Posted on September 7, 2023 by JMN

One stumbles upon insight gold. Here’s a line from the title poem of Egyptian poet Iman Mersal’s book The Threshold: One long-serving intellectual screamed at his friend / When I’m talking about democracy / you shut the hell up. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Quotations | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The Poem of ^Umar ibn Abī Rabī^a

Posted on September 5, 2023 by JMN

^Umar ibn Abī Rabī^a, son of a wealthy merchant of Mecca, lived ca. 643-719 A.D. His legend is that of a womanizer, his verses said to be “the greatest crime ever committed against God.” 1 If only Hind would keep … Continue reading →

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Poderoso Caballero Es Don Besuquero — ¿O Ya No?

Posted on August 30, 2023 by JMN

*”A sturdy caballero is Master Hotlips — Or no longer?” (pace Quevedo). Mr. Rubiales was shown on video after the World Cup final in Sydney on Aug. 20 kissing one of the team’s star players, Jennifer Hermoso. Although he apologized … Continue reading →

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Forecast: Brainstorms With a Chance of Conniptions

Posted on August 28, 2023 by JMN

“Cubism seeks to destroy by designed disorder… Dadaism aims to destroy by ridicule… Abstractionism aims to destroy by the creation of brainstorms.”(Republican Congressman George Dondero in speech to the House of Representatives, August 16, 1949) Three years later, Dondero told … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged | 3 Comments

Paint the Buttons!

Posted on August 26, 2023 by JMN

“How do you expect me to paint a portrait of Stalin?” he asked, irritated. “First of all, I’ve never seen him, and I don’t remember what he looks like, other than the fact that he wears a uniform with lots … Continue reading →

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The Hyper-Groomed Gnomechuck Is Back

Posted on August 23, 2023 by JMN

I’m keeping an eye on the confected pixel pixie spawned by a whoring AI chatbot that we met not long ago here in EthicalDative. The entity has morphed from this nugatory skidmark… … into this spavined dreamboat: This particular ad … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged | 4 Comments

The Bull in ‘Minotaur’

Posted on August 21, 2023 by JMN

Consider this opening of “Minotaur” by Douglas Kearney: MINOTAUR The best part,how we make topart the beastfrom its self. The illusion fostered by the abrupt entrée en matière is that of a conversation suddenly caught on a hot mic. The … Continue reading →

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Where Has All the Rhyming Gone?

Posted on August 18, 2023 by JMN

By all accounts poetry was the first literature of the sundry peoples. It predated writing, so rhyme, rhythm and alliteration helped rhapsodes and minstrels hold it in their heads. In contemporary lyric rhyme is absent (thank goodness), alliteration rare; rhythm … Continue reading →

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