Tag Archives: doggerel

Art Is God-Light

Posted on May 23, 2020 by JMN

In my language, the one I recall now only by closing my eyes, the word for love is Yeu. And the word for weakness is Yếu.How you say what you mean changes what you say.Some call this prayer. I call … Continue reading →

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Nothing Different

Posted on May 17, 2020 by JMN

I turn over and savor a treasured exchange: — “What do you need from me right now?”— “Nothing different.” How perfect is such an answer? What’s needed starts with nothing. I’ve aplenty of it! “Different” turns it just so much, … Continue reading →

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But Here We Are: Me and…

Posted on May 4, 2020 by JMN

I feel foolish at bobbing and weaving through the tall grass of music theory, unled and untaught, not glimpsing even sky, much less horizon. All I would have to have done — note the pluperfect infinitive — is to have … Continue reading →

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Saloon Spittoon

Posted on January 21, 2020 by JMN

The bucal effluvia belched from limousine and lectern  drums the ear like the per- cussive splot of a hocked  louie slapping a saliva slick  in a saloon spittoon. (c) 2020 JMN

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Relative Generality

Posted on January 8, 2020 by JMN

When you reach a fork in the road Pick it up like Einstein thought in nineteen-oh-seven At his business of therefore’s that People in free fall do not feel their own weight Equals floating in gravity-free space So no work … Continue reading →

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Don’t Worry: An Original Poem

Posted on September 13, 2019 by JMN

It’s said worrying about the future is paying interest on a debt not owed. Yet, who worries about the past? The essence of worry is that it targets the unhappened. Do not worry about Bahamians in Dorian’s path. Their flesh … Continue reading →

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Lineman’s Whine (audio)

Posted on December 5, 2018 by JMN
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“Odor of Sanctity”

Posted on August 24, 2018 by JMN

Odor of Sanctity James Mansfield Nichols The body is detritus wrested free From the last-minute clutch of agony. The mortal launchpad of a soul now lies Charred by the life’s fierce burn, the prey of flies. The faithful fight for … Continue reading →

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“The Odds”

Posted on August 10, 2018 by JMN

The Odds If you’re a person given to gambling, What odds would you lay on the following: A grizzled dude straddling his big Harley Presents his better half as his “old lady”? His better half (who sports a lovely tan) … Continue reading →

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“Sock Hop Bop Flop”

Posted on August 4, 2018 by JMN

Sock Hop Bop Flop An Admonitory Fable for Tragedies Averted (To all my students who made it through graduation) Bee-Bop-A-Ree-Bop, A lockdown jam, A lockjawed ham, Good golly, Miss Molly, Lookin’ hot damn! Bee-Bop-A-Ree-Bop, A hounddog dude, Blue suede shoe’d, … Continue reading →

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