TOO EARLY, TOO LATE

Poem by Charles Frederickson; Graphic by Saknarin Chinayote

Tug of paix pull pushed
Comes to shove might underpowered
Forever branded acid Coppertone etching
Blurry indelible dreams eternal tattoos

Parchment scribble crops gone unharvested
Fishnets torn divining rods retracted
Aborted fetuses swaddling manger tombs
Embalmed mummy felines grave reminders

Droopy morning glories tilt bowed
Heads withered edges forsaken leaves
Unanswered happiness prayers begging salvation
Dead Sea corpses floating face-down

Wailing concrete walls bullet riddled
Whitewashed bloodstains shameful humiliation cover-up
Sprig poking through jagged crack
1948 preoccupied claims unsettled grievances

Unveiled threats averted parting glances
Glossy manes brushed by Fate
Unkissed chap virgin flesh violated
Flutter lashes blurry mascara focus

Last chance garbage heap scrapped
Soiled stench pleas cavalierly ignored
Pesky flies hovering over refuse
Thumbsucker chewing nails swallowing pride

TOO LITTLE, NOT SOON ENOUGH

Editor’s Note: Every Friday, Dr. Zeinab Nour hosts a trilingual (Arabic, French, English) Art Chat originating in Cairo on tutamon.net/tv1.php. On 10 June from 22:00 to 23:00 Cairo time, guest International Poet & Artist Dr. Charles Frederickson will be joined by his color specialist Saknarin Chinayote to show 2 videos and read poems about humanity & peace, including the above New Verse News offering translated into Arabic.  

No Holds Bard Dr. Charles Frederickson & Saknarin Chinayote together comprise PoeArtry. Flutter Press has just published Charles’ new chapbook fanTHAIsies.
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