#mastery

"Publisher's Persuasion "You're much too good a writer to want a six figure advance. You don't want your readers to think you're only writing for money ~ do you?"

"Pain vs. Pleasure {Couplet} Pain and pleasure are nearly identical,the difference lies in their temporal perception.Pleasure feels fleeting, pain feels unending;both jolt us at the nerve's first inception."

"When Old Age Begins Old age seizes center stagewhen more people we love are amidst the deadthan amongst the living."

"Sublime Beauty When I shut my eyes, I can move mountains.When I open them, mountains can move me."

"Melting Icicles Haiku Drip, drip, Drip, drip, Drip:Sounds of melting iciclesannouncing the Spring"

"A Frog in my Throat I had me frog in my throat.I swallowed hard and it croaked.Tasted like shit.Next time I get me a frog in my throat,my snooty French boyfriend better wash his dick with soap."

"California Milk Processor Board: Got Milk?... ...cuz I got a fucking hangover."

"The Warrior's Way To the warrior,peace is an annoying interruption of war."

"Hearts Hearts of hope and of promiseHearts filled with dreams and whim,These are the hearts of loversUnguarded,Standing out on a limb.Hearts unmended and brokenHearts scarred to stone and steel,These are the hearts of loversArmored,Being unable to feel."

"Miracle [10w] The greatest unacknowledged miracle is man has lasted this long."

"Somalia Haiku For a Somalian, heaven's drawing water from a well in an earthen pot."

"Poetry Calling [10w] Poetry's not a calling.It's a whispering in your ear."

"Doldrums People who live in the doldrumscan't throw caution to the wind."

"Dogs Playing Poker Art [10w] Poker-faced dogs looks like they're bluffing or need to shit."

"First Day at Harvard [10w] Smartest kid in the roomwalks into room of competitors."

"Reconstruction of Japan After World War II [10w] 'I am what I plan'became the motto of modern-Japan."

"The Downside of Stuff {Couplet) I got what I want;I have what I need.But they want what I have,and they'll make me bleed."

"Gradually Then Instantly [10w] We fall in love the way we lose our minds."

"Deadlines The only deadline I plan on missing is the one at the cemetery."

"Wine [10w] American wines tasting as good as French wines are presumptuous."