She-Raven

She-Raven

 

Down for fresh roadkill frequently she swoops.

I’m pretty sure she’s raising ravenettes.

While humans jump through non-existent hoops,

Down for fresh roadkill frequently she swoops.

She is not one of complication’s dupes.

Her simple wisdom’s free of vain regrets.

Down for fresh roadkill frequently she swoops.

I’m pretty sure she’s raising ravenettes.

 

–Tom Riley

 

 

Winged Beasts

Winged Beasts

 

“Now is the time for angels with flaming swords and winged beasts from the abyss.”

–Strelnikov

 

I love those guys, the angels and the beasts.

I love the way they slaughter and devour.

I love their fearful aspect and their power,

Their spiritual rants, their carnal feasts.

What has been preached but long deferred by priests

Is here at last – and I choose not to cower.

Howling, my arms spread wide, I greet the hour.

The compass spins.  So many wests and easts!

No, idle fancy’s not imagination.

It should be clear I’m howling from the heart.

I keep my station, having now a station.

I do not shield my petty life from art.

I cannot tell, with firm determination,

The angels and abysmal beasts apart.

 

–Tom Riley

 

 

William Blake, The Great Red Dragon and the Beast from the Sea

 

De Virtute Ulixis

De Virtute Ulixis

 

“Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy….”

 

Some impertinent latter-day priest

Has declared you a coward – and ceased

Not at all from the lies

That might make him look wise.

On his corpse may serene buzzards feast!

 

–Tom Riley

 

 

Hard of Hearing

Hard of Hearing

 

Some find all of this bullshit endearing—

But not I.  No, to me it’s appearing

That it’s morons who care

For their time on the air

In what’s called a congressional hearing.

 

–Tom Riley

 

 

Edgy Acts

Edgy Acts

 

I contemplated really edgy acts.

The antics I produced were simply dull.

Exhausted from my struggle with the facts,

I contemplated really edgy acts—

But something in me hastened to relax,

And of that something I at last was full.

I contemplated really edgy acts.

The antics I produced were simply dull.

 

–Tom Riley

Unforgivable

Unforgivable

 

Your alarm, you poor fool, didn’t sound—

And in bed you were shamefully found

When you should have been busy.

Failure makes a man dizzy.

To our failures forever we’re bound.

 

–Tom Riley

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Quarrelsome

Quarrelsome

 

Are we quarreling?  Maybe – almost.

Of my hostile stance I do not boast.

I’m a practical guy.

I’m just hoping that I

Will be quarreling soon with your ghost.

 

–Tom Riley

 

 

Spelling Lesson

Spelling Lesson

 

Hector, you know you didn’t stand a chance

Even if gods had failed to intervene.

While we’re admiring your courageous stance,

We’re sneering at your foolishness.  I mean,

Come on!  What were you thinking?  You had seen

That force of nature some took for a man

Before.  Son, did the concept of “machine”

Enter your head?  I know it did.  You ran—

You who of timely flight were not a fan!

But then you had to go and turn around.

What should I say?  We all do what we can,

And perfect sense is very rarely found.

I’ll make one point that you will not enjoy.

Your courage, Hector, spelt the end of Troy.

 

–Tom Riley

 

 

Dubious Lightning

Dubious Lightning

 

 

If this is

God’s wrath, why isn’t it

striking my enemies?

 

 

–Tom Riley

 

 

Photo by Philippe Donn on Pexels.com

Hero Ulysses

The Hero Ulysses

You were a man, lord, back when men were men.
Thus we know envy in this latter day.
Your sort of hero we won’t see again.
You were a man, lord, back when men were men.
Our modern wimps could not have functioned then—
Though self-deception is the game we play.
You were a man, lord, back when men were men.
Thus we know envy in this latter day.

–Tom Riley