dilatory

January 31st

Resolutions unbegan sprawl shattered
like dilatory pieces of a grand mosaic
awaiting careful application;
when four weeks later
only excuses have prompted creativity
and invisible promises
continue to etch invisible patterns
on still more invisible slabs
of hollow intentions
to "start tomorrow" --
a lofty notion, yet
a painfully conceptual ruse.

©2006 b.cisek

dil·a·to·ry ('di-l&-"tOr-E, -"tor-), adjective: 1 : tending or intended to cause delay <dilatory tactics>; 2 : characterized by procrastination : tardy <dilatory in paying bills>
definition taken from merriam-webster online

hackwork

hours grow cumbersome in
a futile, infertile mind.
confidently she waits for some big revelation
knowing that time, if nothing else,
will wield inspiration
out of her mundane, everyday experience.
racking her brain for another grand metaphor, she
keels over as though thinking deepish thoughts.

©2006 b.cisek

hackwork, noun: professional work done according to formula
definition taken from OneLook Dictionary Search

derange

I gather my wits about me,
like little grains of sand
they slip through uncertain fingers,
landing in a heap.
I try again, each time I pick up less
until what's left
is a great big mess.


©2006 b.cisek

de·range (di-'rAnj), transitive verb: 1 : to disturb the operation or functions of 2 : disarrange deranged -- G. W. Stonier> 3 : to make insane
definition taken from merriam-webster online

maleficent

Mrs. Lyle had a crooked nose
that hooked just so
as though she's been brewing
something for ages.
Something foul and sinister
like hate in all its stages.

Her matted curls can't fit a hat,
and try as she might,
her lips stayed tight
fastened in
a permanent scowl that lingered
like hate in all its stages.

Fairytale or not, it would be wise
to stay clear of Mrs. Lyle, be she disguised
as a homely lady, she is in fact maleficent,
the Grimm stepmother
whose poison cooked is sure to
wreak hate in all its stages.

©2006 b.cisek

ma·lef·i·cent (-s&nt), adjective: working or productive of harm or evil
definition taken from merriam-webster online

dyslexia

With impotent fingers I try to write--
a sad attempt!--it all sounds trite.
Ideas, one by one, seem to go on strike,
marching pickets down my hair's split ends
like mutinous soldiers--a dubious society of friends--
safeguarding the mind for no thought to attend.
Oh, 'tis a shame, a sham, a crime
when once upon a time
I almost choked on ready rhymes
only to find my muse is now anorexic,
and, by god, I've turned dyslexic!

©2006 b.cisek

dys·lex·ia (dis-'lek-sE-&), noun: a variable often familial learning disability involving difficulties in acquiring and processing language that is typically manifested by a lack of proficiency in reading, spelling, and writing
definition taken from merriam-webster online

monochrome

Happiness went out in red,
having gloriously shed
the melodrama of monochrome black.
The sun's tendrilled arms reach out
to cast a metallic sheen
on everything it gleaned.
Succulent summer's on its way
to litter streets with party pants.


©2006 b.cisek

monochrome, adjective: 1 : of, relating to, or made with a single color or hue; 2 : involving or producing visual images in a single color or in varying tones of a single color (as gray) <monochrome film> <monochrome television monitor>
definition taken from merriam-webster online

Tetractys

spare
the word
for today
Poetry sighs,
her insomniac muse has gone to bed.

©2006 b.cisek

"Euclid, the mathematician of classical times, considered the number series 1, 2, 3, 4 to have mystical significance because its sum is 10, so he dignified it with a name of its own - Tetractys. The tetractys could be Britain's answer to the haiku. Its challenge is to express a complete thought, profound or comic, witty or wise, within the narrow compass of twenty syllables." - Ray Stebbing
definition taken from shadowpoetry.com

bombinate

You, Dr. deRaedt, had no clue
what an awful bore you were
invading our lives each morning
at eight-fifteen,
bombinating tribal rituals in
Anthropology
on and on
as though it should matter
to our puerile stages.
The sclerotic bent in your stature
belied years of unabsorbable lecture
each morning at eight-fifteen.
Rickety and tired,
commanding mechanical attention
automated by want
of a passing grade.
On and on.
Such a shame you couldn't make us care
for the faraway and long-ago societies.
If only you could've peeked through
those thickish, bottle-bottomed glasses
on just one morning at eight-fifteen,
if only you could've, you would've seen,
we were too busy
trying to live through puberty.

©2006 b.cisek

bom·bi·nate ('bäm-b&-"nAt), intransitive verb: buzz; drone
definition taken from merriam-webster online

Garbo

Galatea was no match for
what Hollywood made of you.
Before the wave and braces;
before the dark, dark glasses,
before the movie magic machinery
you were real and pudgy,
an ordinary shopgirl with bad teeth.
Then talent and timing conspired
like twin Pygmalions,
to sculpt you into something divine:
a temptress
with a stare that dared
and a pout full of doubt.
Amid torrential accolades
and ardent public fanfare,
your stern seduction
warning always of just a little something
sinister underneath
like the seductive Mata Hari,
her art enfeebling sex.
You are the two-faced woman,
weary of the melodrama
that you can't but help
until there was that inflected line...
taken and misconstrued
from one grand movie
to your majestic mystique:
I want to be alone
... And then Ninotchka laughed.

©2006 b.cisek

Gar·bo ('gär-(")bO), biographical name: Greta 1905-1990 originally Greta Lovisa Gustafsson American (Swedish-born) actress; starred in Anna Christie (1930), Anna Karenina (1935), Ninotchka (1939), etc.; retired in 1941 and remained a recluse
definition taken from merriam-webster online

affusion

My memory's lost its vivid details
like a crag that's lost its edges at sea.
Time perhaps
has murkied the finer points;
the seasons of wine
diluting harsh truths.
I suppose I much prefer it this way.
A continuous denial
of my transgressions.

When winter comes to California
and raindrops peal
like the bells of hell,
mercilessly thumping on my roof
as if to wash my sins
(original and otherwise),
it is then that I realize:
even God must cry.

©2006 b.cisek

af·fu·sion (a-'fyü-zh&n), noun: an act of pouring a liquid on (as in baptism)
definition taken from merriam-webster online

quaalude

sit back, relax, enjoy the show.
the hit comes on. we have all night to go.
pop it, or mix it and lace your joints with it.
i don't much care, so long as you drop it.
let problems dissipate
in this quiet interlude we'll medicate
our rush-hour lives and have our fill.
there's a party six-pack in this pill!

©2006 b.cisek

quaa·lude ('kwA-"lüd), noun: a tablet or capsule of methaqualone
definition taken from merriam-webster online

dexterous

His bloody lies
hidden behind thick lashes
and a come-hither smile,
are really kind of butterflies
that flit-flutter-flit
into my rose-tinged consciousness,
willing to believe ruby lips
flapping flattery.
How easily did he fool me
in my eager naivete.
For want of love--
or was it salvation?--
in desperate acts of crimson youth,
reaching for a blushing sky.
Like Icarus, there was no reasoning,
only the touch of paradise
between red velvet sheets.
With dexterous hands
he plied my cherry ripeness:
The marauder of my maidenhead.

©2006 b.cisek

dex·ter·ous (/'dek-st(&-)r&s/), adjective: 1 : mentally adroit and skillful : clever; 2 : done with dexterity : artful; 3 : skillful and competent with the hands
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

follow

my gemini boy's nomenclature
was followed by his dual nature.
i wish for him the griffin's myth to own:
in character, a lion's strength;
in wisdom, the eagle's vision.


©2006 b.cisek

acknowledgment: to griffin: may you always know when to lead... and when to follow...

fol·low ('fä-(")lO), verb: 1 : to go, proceed, or come after; 2 a : to engage in as a calling or way of life b : to walk or proceed along; 3 a : to be or act in accordance with b : to accept as authority; 4 a: to pursue in an effort to overtake b : to seek to attain; 5 : to come into existence or take place as a result or consequence of
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

fugue

friday night, let's get a move on.
the dj spins -- put the groove on.
lipsticked lips ask, "do you have a light?"
let's get a move on friday night.

a man tends the bar, passing out drinks
for ladies and men who sip and sink
gratuitous dollars in a jar.
passing out drinks, a man tends the bar.

this woman is out to get drunk with her friends,
the ones she's sure she will keep to the end.
he left her, you see, and took all his junk.
with her friends, this woman is out to get drunk.

that man got a raise at work this week.
bought a round of champagne, he's at his peak!
he's a leading contender in this rat race,
at work this week, that man got a raise.

toward the middle there's a group of youngsters
clapping their hands like laid-back hipsters.
working the rhythm to suit their diddle,
there's a group of youngsters toward the middle.

a stranger, it seems, walking along the dance floor--
he's never been seen here before.
he's come to find the woman of his dreams
walking along the dance floor, a stranger, it seems.

in the bathroom, a girl throws up.
a fake i.d. doesn't mean she's grown up.
clearly, a drink too many was consumed
a girl throws up in the bathroom.

right outside, two men wrangling
till blue-red strobe lights start appearing.
uniformed cops attempt to subside
two men wrangling right outside.

a toddler's falling asleep in a car driving by,
clutching a blankie and rubbing his eye.
oblivious to friday's commotion, he's counting sheep
in a car driving by, a toddler's falling asleep.

©2006 b.cisek

fugue ('fyüg), noun: a : a musical composition in which one or two themes are repeated or imitated by successively entering voices and contrapuntally developed in a continuous interweaving of the voice parts b : something that resembles a fugue especially in interweaving repetitive elements
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

gravitas

Kerouac and the Beats all knew
a psychedelic tale or two
and colored words in awesome hues--
the soulful blues, the soulful blues.

A cultural experiment,
of sex and drugs and sentiment
to rile against establishment,
their grave intent, their grave intent.

While Kerouac went On the Road,
young Ginsberg Howled a fiery ode
against existing moral code,
the truth was told, the truth was told.

Old Burroughs, on the other hand,
his shocking tale was sorely banned.
The story of a doped up man
with wayward plans... with wayward plans...

This avant-garde society,
self-styled in creativity,
they reveled in obscenity
and misery, and misery.

So now their story's come to pass.
A generation lost in jazz.
Their heads were filled with gravitas.
At peace at last. At peace at last.

©2006 b.cisek

acknowledgment: to Shane: a kindred spirit whose gravitas leaves us all in awe...
thanks for the word! (wink)

grav·i·tas (grv-täs), n. 1. Substance; weightiness: a frivolous biography that lacks the gravitas of its subject. 2. A serious or dignified demeanor: “Our national father figure needs gravitas, [but] he's pitched himself as the kid brother” (John Leo).
definition courtesy of dictionary.com

knickers

A Tragedy in Six Parts

I.
There once was a woman from France
who made a fine living by dance--
a happy profession
in various positions--
she got caught in her knickers by chance.

II.
By an officer named Pruitt
whose duty it was to ticket
the scandalous folk
on the corner of Polk
chiding, he said, "you can't do it."

III.
But this lovely woman from France
got lonely Pruitt entranced.
Up to her he walked
a sweet offer he talked,
her knickers he wanted to glance.

IV.
The lady from France accepted.
Her ticket he quickly amended.
Thereafter he cried,
"Would you please be my bride?"
In Vegas to wed they intended.

V.
Though now with a ring on her finger,
on dancing her thoughts still did linger.
His money she took,
for a club she did look.
Their story made it to Springer.

VI.
The story, so sad, unfolded
of an officer who was cuckolded
by a woman from France
who wore fancy pants.
The gun, he picked up and loaded.

©2006 b.cisek

acknowledgement: to popmonkey: thanks for the knickers...
this sort of tragedy could only be inspired by you!

kni-ckers, noun: women's or girls' underpants
defnition courtesy of Encarta® World English Dictionary

grief

She hid her eyes behind dark glasses
and closed the door to life behind her.
Sixty years, or so, of mindful worry,
in a blink of an eye, his life taken too early.

So she hid her eyes behind dark glasses,
pining for reprieve from her mourning.
Death, unbridled--life's grisly absurdity--
laid claim to him in ghastly solemnity.

Her soul despaired--broken, blinded--
as she hid her eyes behind dark glasses.
The coffin's last nail, echoing finality,
pounded shut: life's grim reality.

Yet she hid her eyes behind dark glasses,
refusing to see what lied before her.
Time, unforgiving, its whips far-reaching
would force the living to go on living.

The veil of memory, billowed inside her:
her first-born son, to live no longer.
In all of one day, she cried the tears of a thousand ages
then she hid her eyes behind dark glasses.

©2006 b.cisek

grief ('grEf), noun: a : deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement b : a cause of such suffering
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

perception

Time takes flight;
in reverie alights.
Care and wiles, in a moment forgot

where vivid dreams dance, casting dreary shadows out.
Not a minute to lose! In the second breath out,

the clock ticks tar again: time's motion
trickles to distortion.
Perception.

©2006 b.cisek

per·cep·tion (p&r-'sep-sh&n), noun: 1 a : a result of perceiving :observation b : a mental image : concept; 2 obsolete : consciousness; 3 a : awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation perception> b : physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

kiss

Kiss.
Parted
lips grow moist
as passion stirs,
wakened by your tongue,
an inquisitive snake
slowly twisting through lustful
shores of oral fornication.
Your mouth ponders my secret caverns:
rousing need; unraveling desire.
Exploring seas of sensuality,
the tongue dives into forbidden depths:
recalling primordial rituals;
moving toward ecstasy.
Sliding, slipping, swelling
lulls--impatience grows
with urgency;
erupting
from a
kiss.

©2006 b.cisek

kiss, noun: 1 : a caress with the lips; 2 : a gentle touch or contact
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

vanity

Vanity creeps ominously
as mirror mocks what used to be.
Ridiculously ill-fitting
clothes torment a once-taut body.

Impetuously sapping youth,
Vanity creeps ominously.
Through tears of anguish and of pride,
I cast my lot with surgery.

The years caught up: hard work and care;
the children, grown -- no longer there.
Vanity creeps ominously,
foreboding as a rocking chair.

A blade, a noose, perhaps some pills?
Guilt, sadness and depression fill
empty days -- lost, forgotten -- my
Vanity creeps ominously.

©2006 b.cisek

van·i·ty ('va-n&-tE), noun: empty, vain; 1 : something that is vain, empty, or valueless; 2 : the quality or fact of being vain; 3 : inflated pride in oneself or one's appearance : conceit

definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

economy

Suppress the extra word or two,
in a gallant attempt to write
A verse, a song, a lyric do
Suppress the extra word or two.
Poetry inspired by you--
perhaps one day I'll get it right--
Suppress the extra word or two
in a gallant attempt to write.

©2006 b.cisek

econ·o·my (i-'kä-n&-mE, &-, E-), noun: a : thrifty and efficient use of material resources :also : an instance or a means of economizing : saving b : efficient and concise use of nonmaterial resources (as effort, language, or motion) frugality in expenditures
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

tatter

tumultuous torrid torment trapped in trepidation:
tattered dreams
scorned, scattered and scathed:
the wretchedness of hell.

©2006 b.cisek

tat·ter ('ta-t&r), verb: transitive senses : to make ragged; intransitive senses : to become ragged
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

conundrum

corretly political?

©2006 b.cisek

co·nun·drum (k&-'n&n-dr&m), noun: 1 : a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun
2 a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer b : an intricate and difficult problem
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

urban sprawl

Eucharistic rites on Sunday
spurred on by a frenzied faith
in matters long outdated,
and convenience-store belief.
The sacrilegious mores
of urban-sprawled society,
stirs every penny preacher
to his pulpit
and there arouse philosophy.
The sacred and the damned,
charged indiscriminately
Twelve dollars for the Easter ham
but the homily is always free.

©2006 b.cisek

urban sprawl, noun: the spreading of urban developments (as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

vapid

wasted wait on silly schemes,
worthless worry on useless dreams,
an overstated life
finally languished in a flatline.

©2006 b.cisek

va·pid ('va-p&d, 'vA-),adjective: lacking liveliness, tang, briskness, or force: flat; dull
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

diurnal

tentacle tresses --
shunned shut in shame --
the Gorgon's diurnal plight:
unlucky onlookers --
stunned shocked in stone --
the gift of life inanimate.

©2006 b.cisek

diurnal (dI-'&r-n^&l), adjective: 1 a : recurring every day <diurnal tasks> b : having a daily cycle <diurnal tides>
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

fictive

my affected madness.


©2006 b.cisek

fic·tive ('fik-tiv), adjective: 1 : not genuine: feigned; 2 : of, relating to, or capable of imaginative creation;
3 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of fiction: fictional
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

debauch

possessed in ripeness,
this fruit of lore,
debauched from paradise
beholden, bitten.

she swelled with knowledge,
he knew better;
she swelled with longing
with him beside her.

possessed in ripeness,
the shiny fruit,
debauched in Eden
lured in temptation.

cast out together--
impugned and beaten--
bereft of dignity,
denounced from glory.

possessed in ripeness,
this fruit of ecstasy:
debauched by a serpent
beguiled astray.

©2006 b.cisek

debauch (di-'boch, -'bäch, dE-), transitive verb: 1 a archaic : to make disloyal b : to seduce from chastity; 2 a : to lead away from virtue or excellence b : to corrupt by intemperance or sensuality
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

tittle-tattle

prattling, rattling, tittle-tattling;
speak-of-the-devil:
bullshitting till morning--
red in the face, black in the eye.
spun a web
with nosy lies.

snivel, snuffle, tittle-tattle;
zip your lip:
drop the meddle--
half-truth, pretense, humbug, jive--
out the door,
your drivel drive!

©2006 b.cisek

tittle-tattle: ('ti-t^&l-"ta-t^&l) noun, Etymology: reduplication of ¹tattle; gossip, prattle
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

hebephrenia

Hangover sprawled before manic morning coffee:
alarm clock chimed out of time:
breakfast broken eggs and soggy pancakes:
Mocked by last night's desperate mistake:
Confined, confirmed, contradicted:
Loved, left, laborious lay:
Away!

©2006 b.cisek

he·be·phre·nia ("hE-b&-'frE-nE-&, -'fre-nE-), noun: a form of schizophrenia characterized especially by incoherence, delusions lacking an underlying theme, and affect that is flat, inappropriate, or silly
definition courtesy of merriam-webster online

Janus

forward-looking sight
rearward-facing countenance--
all beginnings start!


©2006 b.cisek