The Impresario (part twenty-two)

Posted by ractrose on 31 Dec 2019 in Art, Poems

    The Impresario Part Twenty-Two   Pierre signs to his three companions, palm to palm Closes this L like a trap door shutting on A bird in hand…or tiger by the tail They know their roles The wax-man can grow no paler, but glowers and drops his jaw The Dauphin returns a thin, ironic […]

The Cleaner Fish and the Dust Mite (poem)

Posted by ractrose on 30 Dec 2019 in Art, Poems

      The Cleaner Fish and the Dust Mite   What have I done My ugly skin did not kill Your friend…you say, she was a goldfish worthy Of all praise Before the cat got her Well (the cleaner fish says) Good goldfish may also be kind My mal-cast eyes, which, with respect, you […]

My Blog Week: December 22 to December 28

Posted by ractrose on 29 Dec 2019 in The Latest

All the Latest from Torsade!                             A Word on the Week   Star Light, Star Bright        We had the good and fun news this week that one of the red stars of the constellation Orion was acting (fading in […]

Understand (poem)

Posted by ractrose on 28 Dec 2019 in Art, Poems

      Understand    The mystery, the public mystery, of the clan Closeted in a dusty morning room, its shrouds New lifted, drinking coffee in the shimmy Of sunlight through blinds and pushing clouds Shows each face in shining pallor, jowls Full and clear-etched, think of Grandpa nestled Midst the tinsel They have brought […]

Righteousness (poem)

Posted by ractrose on 27 Dec 2019 in Art, Poems

      Righteousness   They won’t go on horseback The captains have decided even negligible waste points to a fault of decision-making You have to draw the line The small picture should be as clear to your eyes as the distance between these and the scout’s salute throw lives away at least on footholds […]

Frédéric Boutet: A Blackmail (conclusion)

Frédéric Boutet A Few Blackmails A Blackmail (conclusion)                               Becoming once more obsequious, he took his leave, conducted off by the chambermaid. Mme d’Hauberive, alone, held herself immobile, still impassive to appearances, a corner of her mouth barely lifting to crease […]

Best of the Season to You!

Posted by ractrose on 25 Dec 2019 in Nonfiction

    And, for today, I have a small historical anecdote, from the American Civil War, with a certain lesson to be derived.      Respect the Flag   A day or two after we established headquarters at the City Hall, the national flag was hanging over the street, when one of the principal ladies […]

The Impresario (part twenty-one)

Posted by ractrose on 24 Dec 2019 in Art, Poems

      The Impresario Part Twenty-One   A sturdy yeoman parts the throng, striding through Escort to a queenly, doll-like dame Poupée’s grown son with wonder eyes The wax-man’s pallor, Regalus Kneels and cradles in her hand, madame’s Surprised, she asks, “How do you, child?” The lifted face beneath the cowl, surprises her as […]

A Discourse on a Hairball (poem)

Posted by ractrose on 23 Dec 2019 in Art, Poems

      A Discourse on a Hairball   You’ve undergone a scaling off A weakening, Fish, that drains you of color Your eyes bulge And as you pump along your promenade Point to point from the death’s head diver Always waving To the castle You are like the mouse crushed in the trap In […]

My Blog Week: December 15 to December 21

Posted by ractrose on 22 Dec 2019 in The Latest

All the Latest from Torsade!                             A Word on the Week   A Missed Opportunity       As the cartoon above references, we’ve been hearing a lot lately about this alleged “circle game”. I’m glad to see lame explanations getting plenty […]