Tag Archives: language

Ascending My Downstairs Mind

Posted on October 29, 2026 by JMN

Reading through the folio dedicated to the work of Ted Joans (1928-2003) in Poetry, September 2026, I felt a lacerating underwhelmedness, hollering to myself that I was not the right person for his work to be important to. The work … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Call Me ‘Isthmus’

Posted on October 24, 2026 by JMN

What does an isthmus do?Connects two land masses,Separates two waters — aVital geography distinguisher. It’s what I want to be: Connector,Separator, Discriminator,Owning -STHM- in one blow,Fricative apico-dental sandwich. Consonant cluster from heaven,You are icing on my cake!I’ll trip on my … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Midnight Again

Posted on October 21, 2026 by JMN

Chartreuse eyes like that monastery hooch;Sumptuous skull that rises to the touch,Gratifies the palm like a horse’s neck. He leads me to his dish, ears retro-cocked,Confirming that I’m close upon his track;Interrogates me in this fashion: Miaow? A lion that … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Heroic Cutlet Mitched

Posted on October 19, 2026 by JMN

He sternly enjoined his au jus sandwichFrom doing insult to his bloody tie. The senator roared on Truth Vocal that his tie had been ruby not bloddy [sic]. He called his Dumocrat opponent a cuck for tagging the heroic cutlet … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

‘I Just Ball the Fitted Sheet into a Wad…’

Posted on October 17, 2026 by JMN

An autocratic God solicits servile adoration. But maybe not so simple as all that? Although I can’t get a worshipful handle on this God of which they speak, I’m keenly interested in the language with which the Quran and Hebrew … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

My Doggy’s Sister Is a Cat

Posted on October 11, 2026 by JMN

My doggy’s sister is cat.They fight like… not at all like that!They’re on the best of terms as siblings go.Sis has lost her sight, worse luck. She’s up in years.Estimates award her twice the nine-year itch. Doggy gives the source … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

WHAT’S WITH THIS NAME? (Memo from the Oval)

Posted on October 7, 2026 by JMN

Who named it “Artificial” intelligence anyway? Loser branding.The moniker doesn’t pussy-grab the bigness of the thing.As a name it’s underpowered. Cuckish. Smacks of low T.Make intelligence great again, for the love of Pete! MIGA! Mega. Ultra. Hyper. Uber intelligence with … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , | 5 Comments

The Wondering

Posted on October 4, 2026 by JMN

If I could unmakeWhat I was made to make:(from “Poem,” by Edwin Muir, Poetry, January 1937) Sometimes the psychic pain over spilt milkBurns like a bitch and a pair of bastards.In that moment when it drills you hard,Like your gizzard … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Calico Girl

Posted on September 29, 2026 by JMN

She didn’t want me to show you her jawline because my clumsy hand had lent it a possum-like delineation which we agreed was unflattering. Old calico’s not what she used to be.Humps distances on three arthritic legs —Lost the left … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

I’m in a Platonic Relationship with God

Posted on September 26, 2026 by JMN

True Believer:— The one true god exhorts his servants to exalt the one true god.Me:— How is exaltation carried out? Is it a speech act? As in, “I exalt you, lord.”True Believer:— Could be.Me:— Who can know whether I speak … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged , , | 7 Comments