I count my dearly departed mother (the late AKA purebred Harriet Kuritsky) as the greatest underdog who ever roamed this earth.

She earned her stars and stripes (on each of each faux paus) and howling bark a rolls when said mistress of doggerel doggedly padded down the runt way head held high and tail happily wagging.

Time and again, thy priestess pooch coveted and thence garnered prestigious golden bone award emblazoned with the highest praise held for a bitch in heat in all the millennial annals of dogdom, and without whose bona fido love kept me from a paw city of self worth and a potential tailspin into gloom.

This upcoming May (two thousand and nine) marks the fourth anniversary whence this canine succumbed to the jawboning gimlet eyed grim reaper, where said queen of the “man’s and woman’s best friend” lies in a state of eternal bliss.

Let me interrupt the tail to incorporate an ode (which pee on), she would find flattering.

REMBRANCE of HARRIET HARRIS – VERSE ONE:

Christened as averred one Harriet Kuritsky on November 13th nineteen thirty five the youngest of four with only one brother whose exit from this world from a terminal illness she did not survive.

The following emotions communicating heartfelt grief practically vanquished as like my existence turned a new leaf. A recurring abysmal grief stricken state still consumes my entire being of late these perpetual tears of sadness seem not to a-bate since the grim reaper brandished scythe signature sign of a deadlocked fate.

Twas about 11:00 a.m. 2005 that third of May that our dearly beloved mother fought tooth and nail to keep death at Biscuit bay (as recounted by eldest and youngest sisters who elected to remain on vigil that day) nonetheless rigor mortis upper hand brought a (supposed) painless and swift death to her diseased and emaciated riddled body gone lifeless and ashen gray.

This only heir still misses his mom more than plaintive words can spell with his agonizingly pained heart and soul that rents asunder this psyche pell-mell no amount of weeping can quiet and quell.

Cathartic for me to give you a posthumous ode conveyed in an easy to read poetic code to help accept finality and permanent loss now only retrievable from nostalgic memories identified as that childhood home and favorite abode.

VERSE TWO:

Her cremated ashes still remain sealed in the same nondescript box

white, powdery and chalk like material

devoid of any vestigial semblance to her

once living and vibrant self that unique persona

pulverized and vaporized

(housed former svelte and tall Arthur Murray

ball-room dance teacher

a half century plus prior to demise

which beauty, charm and grace quickly caught

the attention of my father who courted

and eventually proposed to this young flirt and tease of a gal)

inert organic matter now represents sole residual embodiment

reduced to dust and near nothingness

former corporeal being of blood, bone and flesh

weighing no more than a dozen hatch marks on the scale

her absence still bears down heavy

like some millstone round the neck

per the black hole sun less void created by defeat

with Grim Reaper toward this woman

who helped birth and nurse me into manhood

momma’s only grown son still feels

ripples of grievous sadness no matter the years

of suppressed anger and rage in addition

to emotional conflicts between us

which invariably wrought unpleasant relationship

and a legacy of discord writ large

across the tapestry of my life.

Force fields from this lithe Brooklyn native

shone bright (whose pronunciation

a dead ringer giveaway to any amateur and junior linguist)

lives in the guise of aural spectra

especially within the hallowed sanctity

of Glen Elm domicile and continues

to emit indomitable and unfading

rays of pure energy and light.

Now, even nearly twelve plus years after her passing

from the temporal plain, no other dog

approached being held with as much esteem

in the petmart a file domain.

Upon the yearly anniversary whence persona

and dogma left me mama, the United States Beagle Corps

played Rover Lee (reveille for the novitiate)

tapped out with salty dog rag like schmaltz.

Oh, she retrieved golden globe trotting awards

while touring with Gladys Knight and the Pups.

No doubt (especially some of you stray alley cats

and junk yard dogs) beg and drool to differ

at such holier than thou Canis Major hoopla.

Please feel free to offer this, that or the other bone to pick.

This (ahem) boxer of sorts feels ready

to duke out any pugnacious mutt.

Specialists (such as the reputable Morris the cat) scooped,

scoured and sniffed out the figurative poop deck

to accumulate a veritable truckload of faded

yet indisputable circumstantial paw prints.

Testimonials left a clear cut territorially marked trail

(to whit and far as this nose can smell), that countless

canine studs boarded the greyhound gravy train to make

the trek for the express purpose to become the lucky underdog

and sire offspring.

The progeny borne forth from such an invaluable

“bitch in heat” would be deemed more precious

and valuable than the most rare gem or jewel

east of Eden or this side of paradise.

Before the advent of insemination and subsequent birth

of one or more puppies, the biological frenzied phenomena

triggered auctioned bids to be placed on this longest domesticated animal.

News of impregnation spread like wildfire.

As the impending due date loomed ever closer,

an immediate hushed lull descended upon

the crowded air of the barely visible esplanade.

Harriet (from the months of earlier precocious poetics

and guided laser precision of mechanical engineer

and soon to be proud papa Boyce) made whimpering sounds

in quick succession with the approach of Labrador day.

Complete dilation and miraculous genesis would be very close at paw.

Although a true-blooded (yet not necessarily young

whipper snapper) trooper, Harriet possessed an amazing

tooth and claw tensile strength.

No matter the presence of that bite the post person

in the calf esprit de corps, a growling rumor circulated

that mine mutter denigrated as some lady and the tramp.

When biology in tandem with mother nature decreed,

she aggressively bore down with ear splitting yelps and wails!

The spasmodic painful contractions forced an impulse

to chump down on the figurative bullet,

and any helping hands that might find themselves

in the zone whence teeth did snap shut like a vice.

An ordinarily gentle and playful creature (who liked

to keep a long leash on life), Harriet licked

one adversity after another, yet that indomitable

will power inevitably got clamped tight from

the invisible steel trap of death.

Before reduced to this grim forecast, the life force

within yielded progeny to carry the gene pool and lineage.

Whenever her facial muscles relaxed every now and again,

the slackened oral tissue revealed a brightly colored strip

of blood red gums.

A trickle then rivulet of foamy saliva dribbled then flowed out.

Nature set the pace and tone whence gestation

would commence and be complete.

Between advent of expectant motherhood, and expulsion

of scrawny sac of new life, a cycle of cleaving, loosening

and moaning (possibly akin to being impaled by a

terrible swift sword) would ordain that vigilance be maintained.

Elimination of that nutrient rich amniotic bag

would signal the finality of labor.

An indistinguishable and amorphous mass of wet fur

exited (or more accurately got expelled) from the womb.

This issuance hardly registered an audible whimper

from one haggard and tired older pup.

That DNA double helix material tapestry and weave

encoded a uniquely embedded behavioral and

chromosomal genetic schematic for eons of predecessors

harkening back to the days when humankind lived

a brutish, nasty and short Hobbesian existence.

In essence, the general salient strengths and traits

that demarcated these particular house hold pets

(that essentially became beloved on a par like another

part of the royal family – with the red carpet treatment

to boot) came into fruition approximately when

the arbitrary arrival of “modern man and of course woman”

usurped control of fire from Prometheus.

Once man and womankind (notice the attempt

at gender inclusion) promulgated the quixotic ability

to kindle a flame at will (which sparked the match

making business), the other beasts of the jungle

and/or savannah united themselves toward

that circle of heat and light.

Now, fast forward millions of years to bring

this wayward writer back on track to resume

his shaggy dog tail.

As always, Harriet aspired to work officially, quickly

and swiftly to maneuver her self in a strategic pose

to nurse and wash her prized progeny.

Despite her deathlike exhaustion, she mustered

every last drop of energy to nuzzle each pup.

She gingerly crimped (with the aid of those knife blade edges

of canine teeth) to grasp hold of the ta loose

hot ala trek pocket of flesh encircling the neck.

Rather than carry this motion out with intent to harm,

the maternal survival of that brood got carefully nestled

adjacent to the milk ducts where they could nurse

and suckle to their delight.

Offspring numero dos doth tantalize utmost focus

sans setting her sight to envision womanly youthful zeal.

the young lady - Shana Aubrey Harris

unique and a special precious gift!

Shana Aubrey Harris born two days

after ole Punxsutawney i.e. the Doctor Phil -

of woodchucks Latin Name = Marmota monax nest

resembled a Rastafarian hair weave

which creature rattled with ire and peeveishness,

when rudely roused with leave me alone countenance

from his abode February fourth as baby two by jeeve

two thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine

didst heave just two days after said groundhog

got prodded to predict what surprises old man winter

would deliver from his snowy white sleeve

then juiced when he tried to tug git cozy once again,

an ear-piercing cry rent quiet of his Redmond

Proficiency Academy den (long since burrowed back

to his Bend, Oregon tunnel)

since thy prized pride and joy she now - year 2018

attends Colchester Institute baste in Great Britain.

Wails surpassed decibel deemed tolerated, hence

the entire webbed threshold did pro nouns

hood lee reverb and rebound and he could not

muffle ears to block out sound,

nor would said creature trust his beady eyes

unveils how metamorphosis courtesy

“Mother Nature” doth continue to astound

cavalierly, indiscriminately, wantonly crowned

yielding zealous woodchuck instinct

to survive residing underground

equally amazingly transforming gangly infant

into a stunning material viz par sans

as fashionably attired homecoming queen crowned

soon to be freshly minted high school senior,

(diploma already acquired) and perhaps

(essentially this English Institute a stepping stone

for those) college-bound.

seventeen plus years ago elapsed in a flash,

(aforementioned daughter twill evince

her nineteenth birthday since

initially crafting this email)

as a newborn mandated to exist with mom jeans from

womb er full world uterine, she did plash ordained

by mother nature decreed she must wriggle

and leave the placental stash

without (of course) leaving a mass of trash.

thus, exit from birth canal complemented

second and last daughter of the Harris mix

whereby, she communicated via clucks

just for kickstarting to gabble sounds vocalizing

sounds of cowbell licks influenced

by Donald Duck and Leif Erics son,

also enlisting literary feedback from Barack Obama,

and his lovely brood of chic chicks attired

in wall den pond duress uniform bespeaking

with his pointed skill teaching

pre-presidential days within ivied bricks

primal utterances she acquired (courtesy of Alice Cooper)

retained like toys in attics.

like any buck minister fully taken aback

this mister mom did fuss and fawn

from one Jimmy crack

corn to the next rhyme, which captive

infant audience gave no flack,

precious heir from loins papa did help spawn -

an everyday cracker Jack of all trades whereat

n'er tiring as child rearing more challenging

than untying Gordian knot without lack

king and how The Idler Wheel Is Wiser

than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords

Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do to pack

a Judy ish us punch -

though thee Punim born with

adroit skill to quack mimicking gripped banshees,

denizens frenziedly shrieking out

the box of Pandora - as if one felt a whack

and a wallop, nonetheless infant younger daughter

a boon no matter developmental delay strife

wool worth effort and propensity

to revel qua biological miracle

re: said offspring did inadvertently

teach me lessons of life to cherish and savor

each giggle, laughter, and smile

the feeling experienced amidst

cramped living quarters plus frustration

discombobulated bubbling rife

introducing yours truly to

the hen peck queen moody blue wife.

like a human handy dandy blues clues

sponge the youngest progeny absorbed auditory/

visual multitude within each axon and neuron

of that infantile sensory “sir” kit board

aware at a tender young age how she struggled

to string words together to convey a mood

predilection with language impediment

possibly passed thru umbilical cord.

no idea thru a combination of genetics and biology

(i.e. nature versus nurture) that burnished beautiful lass

of an offspring wrought

a smart girl, an apple of the eye

per this father who never thought

that thru attempts at conception

sought supremely melded genes,

he thought loves labors last,

t’would come to naught delivered us an artistic,

intrinsic, linguistic lass who for no price can be bought!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I TOO LOVE YOU MY DEAR SHANA -

MORE THAN THIS SHABBY POEM CAN CONVEY

WHICH...UPON ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND -

ABOVE GIBBERISH JA PROBABLY

RAISE ARMS UP IN DESPAIR UTTERING OYE VAY!

this twice or thrice-told tale

twas da dumbest deed done 

   during dis dada das

days of bachelorhood 

   about 2 plus score years ago.

right-hand thumb thrust out 

   cocked at the proper angle

   closely approximating upper case ell shape

      approximately ninety degrees borne aloft

bent elbow held firmly so as to limply dangle

    while whoosh of traffic tingled 

   uncertainty against the nape

        of the neck - praying 4 sympathetic driver 

   to pull over on gravel that doth jangle

odyssey filed in the memory bank

   although personal ordeal occurred decades ago

      sketchy details not totally erased 

   but writ small sans live free or die

thoughts conjured up general details 

   to be perfectly frank

   this hot diggity dog began in the granite state, 

   where glaciers stopped their flow

   yet even at the get-go 

   this once upon a time bummer felt the wild call

to test my pliable steely

ironic lightweight mettle

   by casting fate to accept rides risqué

king mein Kempf life with strangers from point “A”

   constituting the then hamlet 

   of Hancock, New Hampshire

Europeans who emigrated did originally settle

   adopting place names from homeland 

   sans to keep insecurity at bay

      concocting legends in pristine Americas 

   akin to Hansel and Gretel

whose perilous situation 

   and the dangerous plight

   I can understand putting 

   former youthful self at risk

      pinning this fool would rush in 

   where angels fear tireless lee tread

yet nonchalantly and blithely 

   casting flesh line before the edge of night

      eclipsed me in a shroud of darkness 

   envisioning mirages of a comfy bed

         aside from growing fatigue 

   creeping fear this guy needed to fight

so vamoose to you

   now, zero miles from the twilight zone

   and sanity told to shove off to lake woebegone

      as first lift took place

drove me quite some distance 

   about one state south like the Canadian goose

      boosting morale shortening distance 

   to home base with pros and con

         the feeling I overstayed and wore out 

   the Scottish tartan welcome mat 

   and ever-tightening noose

thus reconsidered cavalier take devil 

   to the hindmost attitude

when one African American dude

offered a ride, yet who appeared 

   drunk o wren schizophrenic mood

demanding I take hold of the steering wheel 

   while on George Washington Bridge

   uttering threatening epithets hostile and rude.

LIBERTY MONGER NOW OWNS PROTEST

   AGAINST COUP FOR SUPREME COURT TO IMPEACH:

HIM AND BUNKUM "FAKE"  AS HIS TAJ MAHAL

   ANALOGOUS TO A PSEUDO PHALLUS SIZED LEECH

SIMPLY VISIT THE PLAYBOOK SANS

   "EVERYTHING IS MINE WITHIN REACH"

(Donald Trump's) BLISTERING CALLOUS

   VILENESS BY EXAMPLE DOTH HE TEACH

----------------------------------------------------------------

HIS MAGNUS OH PISS MASTER BAITING 

   TOME POEMS OF HATE AND MALICE ADVANCE

DIABOLICAL, HERETICAL, LIBIDINAL

   OPPROBRIOUS POISE SUNNED VAIN STANCE 

   UPHELD BY THE GHOST OF GEORGE C. WALLACE 

----------------------------------------------------------------

CUZ THE POMPOUS ASS GLOATS

WHILE WRECKING CHERISHED AMERICAN VALUES

   ONLY ON HIS DEN OF THIEVES HE DOTES 

HE WILL CAUSE CANNIBALIZATION

   WHILE HE AND HIS HENCHMEN ESCAPE IN BOATS.

----------------------------------------------------------------

buff fore to late - a totalitarian whump

will vanquish precious storied united states 

into crumpled rubble 

   as global ump

pyre, since the presidential seat 

   got occupied by trump

via those with keen hawkeyes 

   must be ousted 

   as he wreaks havoc making good 

   on dismantling the bedrock

   of United States covenant  

   as promised when he did stump

cuz his crass credo, 

   badass bald badinage 

   more offal than flatulence 

   emanating from the rump

despite mien 

   mean-spiritedness to pump

up a crowd into 

   a crazed mania infecting like mump

s partisans, who feel part of his lump

pin proletariat, when he will hump

his way - lock, stock n barrel - 

   shushing those who grump

and protest against 

   bullying tactics and bump

down liberal trappings woven like dreadlocks 

into worldwide western webbing viz, 

our sacred country emblematic of 

deal luxe imprimatur sans American credo, 

dogma, ethos, with galumphing by bran -

dishing strong-arm tactics - akin to Gestapo - 

instituting his arrogant Kant, ballistic lance, 

cemented militaristic defiant kindling

fiery rhetoric, wrenching undone progressive 

nobel modeling, democratic principles constituting 

life, liberty, and pursuit sans owning freedom 

of belief, chosen chromosomal creed, 

what forefathers/mothers questing 

toward nirvana upon this planet of earth

wind and fire, where inxs of blood, sweat, and tears 

to engender this country sanctioning cherished 

legislated bricks and mortar, democratic,

humanistic, liberal rubric vanishing without a trace

should he stole the popular vote!

since maintaining a diet of exercise heeding "yo dude"

(you look like a lady) the inner fitness maven against

the temptation of high caloric junk food

and nightly snack king on a flexible fitness routine,

this LIX aged body electric feels good

these myopic eyes and well-calibrated hands

measure less dense hoodwinking bosom,

that if I feigned being a "bared naked lady" -

as per this chest lewd city in reference to "man boobs"

that seemed to materialize overnight

now appear to decrease as well that unwanted "love handle,

this chap more inclined tubby in a greater mood

to parade around this noncrowded house shirtless

AND definitely NOT in public, BUT no weigh Jose

would this generic guy go completely nude

cuz being self-consciousness of my physique

might prompt outsiders to consider me

a prude and even during closed bedroom door

sexual exploits deter me tibia rude fellow

(with average go daddy long legs) and

my dangling dipstick smallish

(concluding biology screwed) a chap

worthy tube he more endowed,

though gratitude proffered to same

divine cosmic consciousness but

as the year's pile up appreciation

of functional faculties alter matts'at tee 'tude

accepting physical characteristics

more or less static hoe ping belive mass elf ya wood.

(this written about a baker's half-dozen years ago)

this then stunning lithe oldest teenage niece, daughter of

my younger sister epitomizes a tall drink of water

(similar to the mother at same age)

What with her willowy young woman body

brimming with budding potential 

   for breath-taking beauty

enhanced by her quiet mien

expressing itself thru exemplary 

   artistic and literary flair

if asked to draw a character sketch anime 

   or wax poetic she would demure

modesty restrains her 

   acknowledging creative talents

so I thought to compose an ode in praise

of this quiet-natured adolescent 

   teetering on the brink of adulthood

(now a glowingly radiant young woman)

evolving positive qualities 

   via submittable the strength of said sibling

whose ambitious parents embarked to Spain

late summer found them 

   bound for the Iberian peninsula

this brother suppresses 

   envy adventurous bold risk-taking

exposing offspring to world wide web of Europe

fostering cultural awareness represents continuity

for I remember this youngest sibling 

   as gently conniving for courage

to act on her je nais sais qua esprit de corps

as like an inner divining rod

   and faith in self-enabling an exemplary example 

of motherhood constituting

both this and Marleigh

   (the second of deux whip-smart darlings)

with the world at their fingertips as hands-on learning

all the while insinuating courage 

   to take life by the red dee bull horns!



treasured untold shenanigans of Santa,

his elves and reindeer discovered only

by colluding via "FAKE" fluke

did I manage to worm winning the trust

among Christmas elves and reindeer

confident this generic guy,

would never breach scandalous

tidbits, into an underground impregnable

air-raid shelter, the Motley Crue

tied blindfold over my eyes, didst steer

me hermetically sealed,

which crawl space required me to hunker

sound (cloud) proof bunker

while ensconced (security detail munchkins,

who just so happened tubby queer

minded entrance portal)

only after getting the thumb up signal,

whereat nose pies planted

espionage surveillance devices

the chief head honcho and attendants,

Smoky and the bandits respectively,

magically, and handily did appear

and despite one hundred percent bug-free,

a whispered stance opted just to make sure

no unwanted eavesdropper could overhear

plus every participant swore an oath, cuz

any leaked real or “FAKE” information,

would spell imminent demise to be near

the upshot, sans grave emergency

describing clandestine arraignment

involving some rogue elf

(most likely at least two),

and a misbehaving reindeer

(names withheld to avoid any spoiler alert),

plus this entire kit and caboodle

necessary to help Saint Nick

got wind, (and subsequently reined in)

a rave party with orgiastic

sex, drugs and rock and roll

that a band-aided elf(ves) hest

laced with Pepper Minstix

(anonymously hashtagged Sodom and Gomorrah)

sullied pure as the driven snow repute,

when aliasing Sugarplum Mary (“FAKE NAME”)

detected snorting cocaine

codenamed Alabaster Snowball,

while additionally besmirching her virginity

via coital cavorting amidst a Bushy Evergreen

shaking as if frenzied with feverish boogie woogie flu

which seductive, prurient,

and master baiter friend zeed

(spunky Gangnam style) Shinny Upatree

which could slay Wunorse Openslae reputation

as substance abusers,

and sex offenders if not worse.

Western civilization commercialization,

commodification, communication

methodologies adrip with deification,

edification, glorification institutionalizing

the libidinal market, the vast majority modalities

relay transmission via subliminal messages.

The non-innocuous tentacles housing

advertisement objectives conservative

principled paradigm blatantly bind scantily

clad, seductively alluring fashionable super

models, albeit highly paid visually

captivating physiques of men and/or

women attaining just barely – their

prime time asper anatomical fancy

feast. Tis upon that ascending pedestal,

(a mere hop, skip, and jump along

the red carpet royal treatment), where

storied career launched. Inevitable risque

business tactics (i.e. questionable

ethical, moral, and parochial precepts skirted).

Nonetheless marketable cache cows

frequently, indubitably, naturally sally

forth into klieg lights of fame and fortune.

A significant entry vis a vis segue-way into celebrity

stardom invariably included acquiescence treatment

as sale-able merchandise. A representative penultimately

pitches packaged person (possibly pampered pink,

perhaps poignant playbook perused 'pon Peter Piper

picking, pecking pickled peppers) peddled as analogous

to a widget. The primary difference contrasting para

ding an aesthetically pleasing individual versus

purveyor peddling an inanimate object includes heavy

emphasis toward repurposing a person larded amidst

salutary, savory sensuousness, soothingly sublime

sultriness steeped, groomed and bathed with visually

arousing, beguiling, captivating desirable effects.

Professional (astute, cute, hirsute) role model people,

(whose genetics and environment allowed them to

husband maximally fated beauty) must feel very

comfortable in their own skin to display (just shy

of promiscuity) unclothed erotic verboten part.

No doubt pheromone or testosterone pulsates thru

the body electric of viewer. Coy, flirtatious indirect

luring operates randy unfettered yearning bestirs

the desire for immediate intercourse! Even this two

score plus nineteen years old, (whose libido went

dormant as a side effect of pharmaceutical

prescription medication to minimize unpredictable

paralyzing panic attacks predilection) attests to

increased precocity patronizing my penis. Many

instances incorporating some athletic, demure,

the innocent looking photogenic subject just waiting

to be the cover of a glossy glimmering glamorous

magazine (especially an underage male or female),

the head honcho may be censored, disallowed,

escorted) away from any picture that hints in

appropriate physical interaction. Subtle techniques

and/or poses broadcasting a delectable, honorable

a laudable photograph may unconsciously connote

spine-tingling sensations approximating statutory

rape. Such prurient intimations defy being regulated,

nor ought flattering images snapped by avidly

conscientious, exceptionally gifted, ineffable

kindred shutterbugs banned. Impulsiveness

(particularly when the welfare of a minor OR

animal happens to be at stake) must be addressed

appropriately. If abusive actions arise perpetrated

against a minor (simply for anatomical excitation

sans gender nonspecific characteristic),

the essence of beauty best be acknowledged synonymous

with any other physiological endowment.

Depredations highjacking lost precious

quintessential tenderness wreaks havoc

for the remaining life of hypothetical

individual cascading like a house of cards,

the mental, physical and spiritual states of being.

this tramp (which caricature familiarly epitomized in countless Chaplinesque productions, Dickensian tales, oil paintings some from the artistic hands of great masters and others from anonymous exquisite painters, et cetera) remembers practically nothing of his birth, childhood or early adulthood.

my amorphous gauzy, hazy memories solely comprise a fractured, fragmented and splintered collection of miserable memories, which characterize living a hellacious hand to mouth hard scrapple existence.

past wispy vestiges of wretchedness and now present woebegone existence seems a worse fate than death.

the overpowering urge to survive and summon up one barely audible utterance against the depredations of the grim reaper only found nothing but defeat.

that daily dismal grinding away of any last shreds of a purpose driven life fending off real and imagined threats sought salvation in a vividly imagined existence awash with ample trappings of comfort.

yours truly dug deep within his bony strength in tandem with fantasy notions knocking around in my noggin like cranial carapace to muster every last ounce of strength he could muster in an effort to escape chronic confrontation with and endless street of bleakness.

although cursed with a most brutish, nasty nefarious fate as a measly looking human varmint, this grimy, grungy, rangy, et cetera looking besotted being clung with all the might within his five foot ten inch or so tall and one hundred and forty pound body to transcend terrestrial travesty and tweak the laugh-in fickle finger of fate in my favor.

I tapped into atavistic survival skills and summoned the willpower to stay alive and bear this heavy cross of dirty poor poverty.

no matter a hardcore skeptic at heart, this cynic plaintively called for divine intervention called to help this human piece of flotsam and jetsam to cope with living like a jean headache doleful junkyard dog.

in essence, this abandoned, ignored and shunned vagrant frequently raged against the Deus ex-machina and found figurative and literal lovely bones to pick with demons that tormented his psyche.

while traipsing along some litter strewn condemned boulevard of broken dreams, a torn and well-worn shoe kicked a couple of long discarded items. these weather-beaten hands reflexively bent down to retrieve said accouterments.

one comprised colorful jagged shard, that in a previous lifetime housed some cheap fermented liquor. nothing but crud filled the remnant of what like a booze hounds favorite drink.

although never drawn to drown out sorrows by turning to the bottle, cigarettes nor drugs (a respect for thyself existed), an automatic reflex grabbed this eye-catching drunkard’s lost memento and the wireless device.

the other entity (as iterated) constituted a dullish metallic object, which turned out to be a heavily damaged slender MOTORAZR phone.

out of some foolish embarrassed yet natural instinct, I cradled then rubbed this remnant once containing some amber liquid of the gods’.

against any rational explanation and in mockery against the cosmic consciousness, my mouth began jabbering away into the mobile phone.

no sooner did these chapped, coursed and cracked fingers slide across the unbroken surface of said bottle in tandem with parched lips uttering some pretend plea, a crackle, snap and pop delivered a lifelike being whose corporeal essence resembled nothing short of a goddess.

the mp3 player began issuing magically syncopated beats indicative per some favorite saved playlist tunes from the former owner of this electronic contraption.

without a shadow of a doubt, this vision and auditory music most definitely brought a sobered punch from Judy.

I clapped these nearly deaf ears and thence rubbed my gnarled hands across myopic eyes! these twin bodily motions executed just to dismiss any chance of experiencing a hallucination.

a maiden suddenly appeared in plain view, which disbelief found me pretending to conduct a make-believe conversation using the aforesaid cell phone all the while speaking in a matter of fact tone of voice.

she (in a hypnotic, lilting, melodic and sing-song tone) responded with casualness chit chat as if a genie appears (Alladin like) every day.

the general friendly conversation eventually ensued (albeit fraught with a bit of apprehension and self-consciousness) before the purpose of her presence became made clear. an intuitive understanding took place akin to an acute telepathic Sikh sixth sense from yours truly.

the immediate difficulty arose to think of even one wish to abet grievous humiliation and immersion in misery. penury could be abrogated once and for all with immediacy by the simple syllabic voicing of wishing for a pile of crisply minted money.

yet, rather than blurt out the immediate favorite offering for untold material commodities and/or resplendent riches, surprised me and communicated a desire for female friendship.

a gamesome, genteel, gentle gal who would surrender herself for cries and whispers seemed more important than any pile of wealth.

awareness and self-actualization about my utter decrepitude appeared as an immediate deterrent toward attaining a bona fide sincere relationship! this ordinary and reasonable ambition appeared as a lofty goal.

self-absorbed in this rambling longing of the body, mind, and heart, I quickly became oblivious to this imaged or real corporeal presence who spurred such an outpouring from this ostracized and unwanted vermin.

eyes remained closed while loosening the tongue in an effort to picture the escape from pernicious malady and crushing blow of an abominable existence. lips shut tight also prevented the woebegone loss of what appeared as some divine trickster who conjured such a muse out of thin air.

upon winding down this unrehearsed recitation, a painstaking effort got made to open the eyelids very slowly.

lo and behold when this manifestation in the actual guise of a gorgeous gal stood still as a statue and remained rapt with attention.

provenance and providence found pleasure in my prattle.

a promise got uttered from this lovely lass to remain a permanent die-hard companion no matter that many considered this writer nothing but a wretched pestilence of the earth.

this groveling gremlin of a human felt like a beast alongside one beautiful (bay watch) type babe who came across as genuinely modest and passionate to promulgate profound sharing of that body, mind and spirit triage.

homelessness and pennilessness mattered not a whit to this literally spellbinding goddess, who seemed to materialize out of the heavens in the form of a likeness sans Betsy Ross.

the question per how and where I wondered did this muse render herself to appear out of thin air? such puzzlement and quizzical curiosity assessed and gleaned no matter not one word uttered.

thus, the necessity for verbal conversation seemed superfluous for we both seemed able to converse just by a mere auto-suggestion of this, that or the other query! I (by the way) seemed to be more intrigued by this angelic spirit come to life.

those comedies of errors that punctuate done anonymous life with angst king lear riddled tragedy suddenly took a most pleasant unexpected turn and found that all’s well that ends well with this leery king.

Matthew Scott from southeastern Pennsylvania possesses great expectations by dickens no matter the field of whet dreams populated with Slim Pickens.

Thank ye immensely devoted sister Shari

for availing Shana Aubrey

an expansive plethora of blessedly

extravagant opportunities wherein her anatomical

fist-sized noggin i.e. grey matter sponging up -

less doable from me

the biological father, who validates

your doting, helping, kickstarting,

et cetera I clamor to see!

--------------------------------------------

Matthew Scott Harris Born January 13th, 1959

I shake my shaggy hirsute hair in utter disbelief,

when the cocked arrow

begat thine conception,

when meal ate mum and octogenarian papa

expected their second offspring and only son,

what now seems to be a stepped-up pace,

where father time didst affix another candle to blow

where the passage of life now measured

in swiftly tailored decades denoting another birthday,

when in the blink of an eye,

I vividly recall crow

wing like a Lil whippersnapper of a boy

leisurely playing monopoly for make-believe dough...

--------------------------------------------

nothing ranks as the greatest gift since being a father

twenty-one years ago then bearing witness to grow

increasing autonomy

of my two precious daughters

whereby each will become master

of their domain, and meet a loving beau

(actually thy eldest dates

a delightful young man from Puerto Re Coe),

whom intuition discerns would be

a near perfect match –

and this papa intuits dough nuts to dollars –

that such an em man hint gentle, humble,

intelligent lad – doth hoe

pa fully become the future groom

of said firstborn, (which outcome I know

wing couched in a couple of poems

sent his way, and no doubt his smarts lo'

and behold revealed the slightly obscure wish),

where love doth most obviously abound mo'

then prevailed between myself and bride o'

mine these last deuce score plus (21+) years,

but now this Poe

whit aspires to recognize the worthiness of she,

whose chose thyself as a lifetime

groom cuz peaceful status quo

avoiding animosity as thyself and spouse

gently row merrily...merrily...merrily

our once quite rickety craft

which oft times in the past needed a tow

off the craggy shoals of constant woe.