From “A poem for the Second Inauguration of Donald J. Trump”

…by Joseph Charles MacKenzie, member of the Society of Scottish-American Poets: ”But one man pledged the fortune he possessed To us who cried in silence and in vain, Eschewing pleasure, wealth, foregoing rest His labors consecrated to our pain. …And he remembered us, and looked on our dismay, The man whose word, once given, he … Continue reading From “A poem for the Second Inauguration of Donald J. Trump” →

Living the Legend

Ten degrees tonight. This is the cold of the fairy tales, the сказки; it is insistent, importunate, whenever I pass a window in or house I feel it seeking entry. Why do people call the geni of the season “Old” Man Winter? This is a warrior, a gallant in his prime! This is not “Father … Continue reading Living the Legend →

Should medical care be free?

….of course this is prompted by the saga of the handsome (eye of the beholder, I reckon..) Luigi who murdered the CEO of United Healthcare. The public reaction appears to be a big ball o’yarn, it’s difficult to pick out the individual skeins. Why should ANYONE have to pay for medical care? Why should insurance … Continue reading Should medical care be free? →

Notre Dame reopens!

…….doesn’t it feel, in retrospect, like that fire in April,2019 was a harbinger of the disasters to come? Covid and the lockdowns. Trump “losing” the 2020 election. Open and widespread support for sacrifice or at least irreparable mutilation of children. Wars and rumors of wars. It has been one hell of a five years! But … Continue reading Notre Dame reopens! →

The Harrowing of Hell

In the non-canonical Gospel of Nicodemus, during the 3 days between the Crucifuxion and the Resurrection, Jesus and John the Baptist go to Hell to release the souls of the blessèd, good people who couldn’t go to Heaven cuz they lived before Jesus’ birth. “ Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates! Behold, the King … Continue reading The Harrowing of Hell →

The Day After

…Thanksgiving. Whew! I had 13 people at the table—actually, I had to sit off to the side, 12 is the max for my table— but that’s okay, I was so up and down anyway, and nobody was there whom I coulda spared. I was up at like 6 AM baking the pies. Oh and we … Continue reading The Day After →

Yeeeeee-HA!!

I can’t believe it! What a glorious morning! God save(d) the Commonwealth (of Pa)!Congrats to the Ettes and to our readers nd followers (cuz you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t right-minded!) And our Saint, can’t wait to hear from YOU!

Haiku, Redux

I know we had a discussion here about haiku before: the five syllable, seven syllable, five syllable three line Japanese poem. I wrote one in response to someone else’s effort elsewhere, commenting on a post wherein I rhapsodized about Autumn. But I don’t think anybody will see it there, so you, dear Ettes and Etceterae, … Continue reading Haiku, Redux →

Dissolving the “Two-state Solution”

Welp—in a world where the Pope can say that ALL religions lead to God without angry Christians rioting with torches and putting the Vatican under siege, nothing should surprise us. And yet..there’s the “two-state solution “ for Israel. It’s the ultimate safe response for any politician asked about the issue. It’s like “End our dependence … Continue reading Dissolving the “Two-state Solution” →

”God forgive me, I cannot weep..”

….says an old woman in one of Tennyson's poems, upon learning that her middle-aged son has predeceased her. OH how wrenching, I cried even reading those lines for the first time decades ago. Now I’m faced with having to end my dog’s life. The poor animal can’t even excrete any more, I’m not sure whether … Continue reading ”God forgive me, I cannot weep..” →