by Jason Grant The entire king-sized bed is mine now, but I can’t seem to move from the left side to the right because on the nights you were here—laying there—if I dared move from my side to yours in the middle of the night it was like I-was-crossing-some-boundary you-needed…
by Gonzalinho da Costa Democracy is power, Power of the people, The people exercising majority rule, Majority rule in defense and support of human rights, including minority rights, Rights upheld and protected by the rule of law, Rule of law ensuring free and fair elections, Free and fair—and sufficiently frequent—elections…
by Gonzalinho da Costa Zero was invented in India when Hindu philosophers made great efforts to empty their minds. They came up with nothing. Toilet paper, which first appeared in China, caught on very quickly among the populace. It was manufactured in huge quantities, and when the emperor would order…
by Gonzalinho da Costa I love to listen to your resonant chimes, Echoing, full, round,Collecting clear musical pools, Bright waterfalls of sound. I love to hear your brilliant bells Singing, mountain stream,Flowing concourse of luminous notesArranged to a liquid theme. I love to hear your hammers strike, Ripples across a…
by Gonzalinho da Costa On the photo of Jennelyn Olaires grieving over her husband, Michael Siaron, published in The New York Times (August 3, 2016) He is the poor man unjustly executed by the state. She is the desolate woman of inconsolable loss. He dies sputtering in the darkness of…
by Gonzalinho da Costa A theory works until you try it out. A theory corrected by experience is no longer a theory. Wisdom is life experience applied to well-considered judgment. Darkness arises from the absence or deficiency of light, obscurity from its excess. Religion…
by Gonzalinho da Costa Tonic more powerful than music or spoken words is silence. Solitude is the companionable presence of God. A conscience at peace is a good night’s sleep. Coffee is a beverage you drink with your nose and digest with your heart. After the snake sheds its skin,…
by Gonzalinho da Costa For Father Pat Giordano, SJ The moon abides invisibly in a day painted white. At my shoulder a dark green shadow is floating, the sea. Breakers rush toward shore, roaring lions inside a wind tunnel. Peering within myself, I see bottomless water. Stillness enters the space…
by Gonzalinho da Costa I heard a headache Hammering away. Heavy blows broke off Block fragments. Tiny chips scattered, Peas bouncing away. Blast set off so loud I was deafened By noonday light Flashing front, center, Right, left. Beans rebounded Inside my skull. Ball bearings spiraled Round and round Inside…
by Gonzalinho da Costa Morning steps forward, freshly washed, newly fed, tautly wound, a limber bow, Ready to spring, tumble, wheel, pull at oars, throw the hammer, leap the long jump, High kick, vault, cartwheel forward, lunge, Superman punch, elbow strike, grapple, Throw, bound, mount a motorcycle, zip, zap, round…
HERMITS OF BETHLEHEM Chester, New Jersey Beyond the threshold is silence. Stillness suffuses like light. The world outside is spinning. Summer flames at its height. Solitude is a boon companion. Self-knowledge climbs like a sloth. The bed is spare, a thin beard. The rocking chair is a moth. Dig in…