http://www.writerscafe.org/writers/mark090854 The original writings of author Mark en-us Copyright 2009 Aresta Enterprise LLC 1258842165 Aresta RSS Generator 15 http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/473253/ This story is entirely true, and as were its predecessors, drawn from my actual life. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/472593/ One in a series of brief sermons, delivered around the turn of the century! Comparing the mysteries of Scripture with the mysteries of singing, from a songleader's point of view... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/471706/ http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/471533/ I had to call this a "book" for want of a better category. They are a series of lessons delivered between 1998 and 2001. Names, when used, have been changed or deleted. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/471519/ For Lynne's contest--please, all you real rappers out there, don't hurt me! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/471197/ Dedicated to possibly the most unique person I know, but have never met! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/466019/ http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/464983/ A friend and I were chatting last night, and she said something which caused this, only my second official blues tune (see, "Cruise Control Blues), to drop into my head. Enjoy! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/458346/ http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/451994/ The very first of the "Fran Series". Before we were even an item, I had perceived within this attractive, gregarious woman a frightened immobilized child, crying in frustration, seeking relief... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/446228/ Once, while attempting to persuade a former lover of what she needed to do to become un-stuck, this fable-like image popped to mind... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/446220/ "The Fran Series": The fruit of a two-year love affair gone awry, I wrote about six of my all-time favorite poems. This is one of them. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/446217/ Reflections on what my true role in Society may be...OR NOT!! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/444563/ http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/439872/ A young friend asked me for help completing a homework assignment... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/425433/ Reading Carl Sandburg's "The Fog", one line caught my mind's eye and this was the result. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/425421/ Written at the same time as The Kiss, I swore neither would ever see light, but four trusted friends persuaded me otherwise. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/425416/ This was my first serious attempt to write an erotic poem, without the sly or crude humor that generally results from those efforts. Did it work? http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/425414/ Seems silly in its execution, but contains much poetic angst... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/421355/ A Sonnet. Written fifteen years ago upon learning of the death of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/420587/ We can better tolerate all the pain and indignity Life slings at us, if we will but see the hand of the Master at work in us, and believe His hammerblows will result in our perfection... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/409894/ --inspired by the poem, "Slow Trickles on my Tongue", by my friend, Emma... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/405313/ Composed as part of a Reply to a Review of a poem by LisetteCanWrite!, expressing her sorrow at Mankind's selfishness and short-sightedness http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/404115/ http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/403062/ The fifth, and I think my favorite, of 'The Birthday Series", six poems written to my sister in lieu of gifts, during the late 70's and early 80's when a handwritten gift was the best I could do--See "For Rachel, at Thirteen"; others to follow soon. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/403060/ In 1977, I was so broke, I could not afford to send my sister a birthday gift, so I gave her the only thing of value I could muster at the time, a heartfelt poem. She so liked it that it spawned a series that lasted an additional five years. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/403057/ --composed December Second, 2002, in commemoration of the passing of my dear Aunt, Elsa Lampkin, whose favorite ritual when visiting her South Carolina sister was to run to the ocean’s e http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/403054/ http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/397559/ Written WHILE I WAS IN CHURCH, in about fifteen minutes, on the flyleaf of a hymnal, as I could find no other paper! I don't feel it complete, and I'd love to see hear it sung, but I don't "DO" music: ANYBODY?? http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/393534/ Be Gentle, Please! I SWORE I'd never publish this! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/393212/ A tribute to the ubiquitous ta-DAA... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/393208/ Written in commemoration of a friend who got the head-scratchin' wearies when he tried to decipher my poetry! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/393203/ When my cousin died last month unexpectedly, I had to admit that he was a different--and Vastly Better!-- person than whom I had known as a child. This commemorates that "Eureka!" moment... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/392309/ An accompaniment to "An Appealing Peel Appeal", where I just let my mind run free. The challenge I set myself was to see if I could use the same end-sound (with variants) throughout the entire length of a poem. Twenty-five years later, it still makes http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/390899/ I rarely write specifically for a contest, but this one intrigued me...AND I realized I'd never processed my feelings about the bitch that turned my life inside-out! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/389726/ http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/386394/ There is no truer love than that of a dog for his man, nor any greater loss than a man of his dog... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/386391/ Now, for a little comedy, to balance out all that Weighty Stuff...OR IS IT?! (read in conjunction with "Bee Movie", for a different spin!) http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/385879/ Contemplating whether putting words to paper, given my other lacks, has any real value in The Big Equation. You'll pardon me if I think it does! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/385876/ In gratitude to the Woman who, though I seemed to have no willingness to improve myself, proved that I could become willing, TO become willing! The Frog metaphor refers to a candleholder, a keeper of the flame, one of her favorite images...Didn't not http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/385872/ This is my first Villanelle, a format I discarded a decade ago, as the repeated lines made the read seem almost trite; I may have to reconsider! http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/384499/ This is a kind of dark counterpoint to "To An Un-met Love", wherein I expressed my conviction that my She was out there somewhere. Here, I bemoan a pre-emptive end to my quest. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/384158/ I've never been accused of being a cat person...except there was this one....Anyway, Haiku seemed to fit with the inscrutable nature of cats, but if that weren't hard enough, I set myself another level of challenge; can you discern it? http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/384147/ Because of my fat, I float really well, and took, years ago, to floating on my back, often for hours, as a means of relaxation or meditation. This sprang from that... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/383643/ Composed while on a break, during one of my several stays at Southeast Louisiana Hospital. I often try to see the weighty in the mundane...Perhaps I try too hard, sometimes? http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/383636/ A Ballad to the ongoing Tragedy which is the Kennedys, written upon learning of John, Jr.'s death. If refers to the hope John the Elder (the King of If) infused us with, nigh-on fifty years ago. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/383634/ The concept came from a Vietnam era TV show, where Malcolm Jamal Warner, as a gung-ho new 1st Lieutenant, learns first-hand he has no inkling of what war really is. He said, "I just feel like such a fool!" His Master Sergeant chuckles and says, "Son, befo http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/383633/ I address this to my many broken hearted...BUT NOT BROKEN!...newfound Sisters on this site It bespeaks the pain and fear we, too, feel, but are trained to bury..."down deep" http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/383630/ Sometimes Sorrow is the greatest unifier, and listening the greatest proof... http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mark090854/383627/