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Selections from twenty-three poems derived from random word selections
get your food anyway you can you can
easily if you have any brains one
or two steady tricks a ready answer
no curious morsel sticking out that
might attract treacherous cunning hotly
pursued fresh appetites made of talons
teeth claws all those sharp pointed things that might
soon without conscience or consequence make
tasty work of you an example two
ants distributing nightingale on toast
to their friends at a feast every one cock
up till muddle water swept over them
all throat and navel unlucky chance sat
near evil horns and all above them on
a bow filled with long branches hunting gifts
vengeance an unkind well-earned gratitude
from one good-bye friend to another grinned
as the prowling danced in air above them
it could be said this was all done with aid
of advice given to one crouched safe in
his garden before nightingale's song had
at long last each with jest killed floated off
sustained by such boldness as keeps a prince above his enemies you learned early never weaken yourself with flatterers but choose men wise enough to speak truth to power without hesitation or fear yes well look what that got you an emperor's ruin a fortune in kept sheep this barbarous dominion utterly exhausted art the florentines for crying out cloud everything and everybody rules and more rules exterminated famous people valor liberated mercenaries correctly rendered evil citizens a trained phrasemonger not exactly shakespeare's talent but good enough artillery sufficient injurious characteristic affairs shouted to the public never before anticipated privileges an abundance of fly peasant-clothes to party in fame contrary experience spiritual recourse hostile enterprises diplomatic missions great abilities in choosing adventures a palace in ravenna a river near romagna benefices out the behind a life of possession consolidated food supplies your own country to play with slavery and contempt banished counsellors future power soldiers impossible to mention pernicious difficulties bondage with you on top a very easy mark up a but full of prisoners and you keep all their property calvary and other luxuries thoroughly obstinate immense humours double or even three times the usual human powers gardens filled with herbs your own literary society liberality towards all a fine collection of stones too many ghibellines increased foundations ancient courts of one kind or another ecclesiastical principalities cleverness enough to be needed your own street name member ship in the justice league not too rank under arms wars that make more friends than enemies four seasons to the year more ducats than you can count women standing in line to get at your you know what what more do you want
posing in police uniforms
(a national impulse to be sure)
the courage to believe
that ideas lead to ideals
give every man play
and often after dark
they rise as gangsters
like the bogie man
who dropped among mortals
with a grin has exhausted
himself with the opportunity
to drink from a very successful
system as it were a lamb
warm and red and wet
men devouring ambitions
never think of heroines
as for youth they learn
the world is one case
when opinions allow men
laws on a silver platter
such men obtain a good life
first of all home duties
lighted thick carpeted falls
bubbling forth upon themselves
family pleasure as well
unerring companionship
education instead of knowing
the constant joy of movies
public words make preachment
proofreaders bless a poison
that makes the rich world gaudy
injustice a mysterious current
it stirs the best of many
living with the question
should we analyze ourselves
or take the window
ordered and filled hedges
read the other fellow's struggle
as a drama won in advance
imbued with money or worthless
as an archer bends the bow
to the muddy atmosphere
he was as all others
who tried but could not hope
the gentle tragedian appeared
a basin of sadnesses
his life his sweetheart
his pantomime
no matter how hard he tried
every beautiful thought
would degenerate into
the simplicity of a cravat
the illusory desire for laughter
the mirror red eyes hair loss
the morning bath admits
itself capable of a bad end
our friend roseate and beautiful
developed through lack of interest
presents in the after hours
the back of the apparel guide
death fit for the occasion
a veritable dreamland
ilk to the last breath
the scenery in ribbons
he is our preparedness
we know no better way
the tendency toward quality
as strong as it is dangerous
Michael Aro, also known as Michael Harold is an artist and technologist. Lots of different kinds of art. Not so many different kinds of technology. His web site is www.michaelharold.com aka www.azazaza.com. It used to be just www.azazaza.com, but his friends always seemed to have a hard time getting it right (Did you say "zaza aza" or "za zazaza" or "azza azza"?) He lives in Shreveport, Louisiana.