Tag Archives: language

Suddenly I Understand

Posted on August 8, 2026 by JMN

Her eyes are bleary with sleeplessness. She “watches over” stars all night as if she were a shepherd and they her flock. She hardly bothers to dress herself other than in tatters. Arabian poet Al-Khansā’ (d. 645 AD) starts to … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged Arabic-English, language, poetry, reading, translation | Leave a comment

Confession

Posted on August 5, 2026 by JMN

I confess to a proclivity (morbid?) for depicting faces in various states of contortion. A face at rest, unless it’s grizzled or reflective of a corrupt soul, has bland contours. States of agitation are what lay bare the deserts, mountains … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged drawing, language, painting | Leave a comment

How to Positively Cry

Posted on August 3, 2026 by JMN

No matter where life takes me,I carry this love. I carry my part. This ending to Aaiún Nin’s long-ish discursive poem “McDonald’s Money” made me cry. Not from sadness, but because it crowns a fine writing with the keen point … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged language, poetry, reading | 2 Comments

The Unary That Hogs Validity

Posted on July 30, 2026 by JMN

— Which inscrutable monad is the Valid? Who doesn’t court surmise there could be None?Beings unconceived with wings strongly matterTo the hotly spooked who swing a prophet’s hammer. Say a godspell ambushed seers in Bronze Age lands:“Unmoving Mover placed us … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged doggerel, language | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged language, music, style | Leave a comment

There Is No ‘I’ in ‘Poet’

Posted on July 24, 2026 by JMN

Posted in Anthology | Tagged doggerel, language | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged doggerel, language | 4 Comments

‘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 →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged language, poetry, reading, Spanish-English, translation | 13 Comments

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 →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged doggerel, language | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Anthology | Tagged A.I., doggerel, language | 3 Comments