Contortionists all are we . . .
More Fun to Hate than Mediate
How we do love to boil our blood
And wrestle into controversy
Things that once were small and slight,
Warranting more, sure, our mercy
Than our spite or fear or ire,
But our desire to scream and swoon
Out-reaches wisdom to require
Tempests in every old teaspoon
No amount of prettifying attempts can cover our darker selves . . .
Rough around the Edges
In the hearts of faithful men,
Sacred or not in path, a yen
For self-fulfillment will arise,
And if successful, choose a guise
Pretending prophethood and care,
Made up with clothes and wavy hair
And social graces and faint wealth,
To steal the souls of all by stealth;
Little is so rank and smelly
As to be a Machiavelli
Covered with the smooth veneer
Of love, charisma—to appear
Compassionate and selfless when
Inveigling your fellow men
Under a banner of religion—
Never was the night so Stygian
As when worlds were overthrown
Not for God’s sake but for men’s own,
And all while silkily insisting
Disagreement or resisting
Constitute cruelty and treason
Against goodness, faith and reason—
All while perpetrators ate
The fruits of conquest, greed and hate.
Art-Colored Glasses 
i just never know what to expect when I visit you, Kathryn. The day’s selection can be light, almost frothy, and I leave grinning ear to ear. Sometimes, like today, I leave still happy yet more pensive, your words echoing. One thing remains constant. My gratitude for having come here in the first place and getting to know you through your writing.
I say wholeheartedly, likewise, sir! I’m so happy to have made your acquaintance and been allowed to share in bits of your family history and culinary art!
There is so much food for thought in Rough around the Edges. It’s profound and insightful and I am very very glad to have read it. Thank you for sharing this poem..
Both my writing and I may be rough around the edges, but I hope I am learning along the way. Glad you found a little hint of sustenance here.
Without fail, you astound me! What an awesome world lives inside your head Kathryn! Such incredible creativity, such a brilliant artist and stringer of words. Opening to your pages is always such a feast! I’m so grateful to know you! xoxo
I’m equally grateful to have come to know you, too, my dear! It’s such a pleasure exchanging creative gifts with my marvelous blogging friends.
xoxo!
What powerful words. Your poetry is pure genius and beauty.
Geni, you are so kind. I thank you, humbly.
These are spot on; beautifully written, full of ugly truth. We don’t like to admit to being what you have describe but it is right there under the surface. You wield such power with your words, Kathryn. I am sitting here almost open-mouthed at this selection of your work. ♥♥♥
My sweet, many thanks to you. Your artistry is mighty powerful stuff, and I learn from it as I go, too. I can’t seem to make heart icons here, but I’m making ’em with my heart.
xoxoxo!
Heard your words with deep discern, oh! young woman of great wisdom & talent are you, ki…
Dearest Lindy, you give me too much credit, but I thank you kindly! Your art moves me, too!