if you’ve seen the Kids in the Hall show Death Comes to Town you will know that death is an aging rock star on a Harley who only eats cold pizza stuck to the lid of the box …not so scary, really. r. l. elke

“In the early morning, As I walked into my balcony, I was met, by a cold gust of wind, And a thousand different sounds: Birds chirping, crows cawing, dogs barking, And as I sat on my bamboo swing set, My eyes were met, by a…

Teaching After the Pandemic: The New Normal   Day One of the 21-22 School Year In a Hybrid Model Classroom Where Virtual and In-Person students are taught as one.   I address the Virtual students, Also known as The Zoomers. Everyone gazes at a screen…

My Friend Death, I am becoming you. For, you are everything I want in life. When you approach, I will look at you. I will see a better me looking back. You will present a charismatic appearance. I will see in you the beauty that…

Pen Names, Ode to Our Quills “Most people don’t name their Quills.” Dylan Ferrara “Pens captivate the mind.” BIC, Pentel RSVP, Sharpie, Pilot, Crayola,  Dry Erase, Papermate, Metallic Gel Roller, Montblanc, Cirrus, Stylus, Uni-Ball, Britebrand, Quill it’s a brand., Executive Cirrus, Grafton Mini, Caran d’…

Children, of varying sizes, equal, to a degree Sons and daughters Healthy, except one unsure of vegetables afraid of Dad, voice too loud   Friends come and go Enjoying free food and horse rides The house is large they like people knowing they are rich…

It is the last hour and I still don’t know how to write a Haiku. How many syllables go into this again? Is it a sentence or a prose? Who the hell knows? It was a goal loosely formed For me to learn How to…

the rain comes down in bunches and bursts the trees are silent witnesses the pond beyond receives it gratefully and then swells in fullness and pride peacocks arrive strut their wares silence now  

death seeps in   poisons the mind   turns all the good memories into painful ones unites us for a minute divides us by the year   I see it in your favorite flower hear it in your name feel it in my throat  …

nonet the pandemic finally ending we begin a record heat wave old temperatures shattered by ten degrees speaks to climate deniers all demagogs willing to let earth burn