| DIVINE by John Raffetto A LATE FATE Seas fossilize into parched buttes trapped shellfish anthropoids in dark matter.Time did not freeze as massive ice ball and volcanoes merge into passive resistance push and pull on earth axis.The bacteria count is one.A joke of cosmic proportions, life is a stunning pool of bombarded asteroid ice melting eons upon eons until the surf is up the sun is down and sulfur tide pools froze hominoids in their tracks.Enough is enough when will the party begin? STRANGERS AGAINIncredible lovers suddenly depart to become strangers again highway of the future becomes the wind chimes of nostalgia a terror of silent rain is deafening over a quiet breath.An overhead fan rotates in the moonscape sky, lucid dreams float above and beyond a rattled night. I favor the allure of night in pure silence with an eye cocked toward night pleasures in early morning haze.There are no nightmares when you keep your eyes open no dreams either, to become strangers again. CLIMATE CHANGE The perch in Lake Michigan are using anti-depressants. Don’t forget the lonely Spotted Owl addicted to xanex as they find shelter in Pacific Coast pulpwood. Then there is the howler monkey who prefers natural St. John’s Wort to soothe jangled nerves.Yes the list is long.The only way out is out, pushed from fragmented habitats, an exodus to a zoo as human botany observes iphone in hand a selfie deleted of natural history a cry in a mounted museum. COLLAGE OF UNCERTAIN POETS You lay in your last sleep death is a memory of rivers with no names a system of ghosts open the curtains of your being death passes us the voice of the last cricket last fingers of a leaf a street whose name and number has been erased before you became a cloud.It’s the metallic hour night feels tight as a jar watery night creatures criss-cross erratic complicated shape diamond spheres fury of your memory from loneliness I sleep when will the night end.Float above envelope full of organ’s rosy music ear tuned in early to hear beneath call to end the brain’s shooting gallery after punishment is done with me teeth slam against each other excellence in a knife throw the murkiness of tomorrow watches us all day.I sat at the cold applauding wind I am on a parapet looking down what are the habits of paradise crime of nostalgia passion is molten just wait a while the water will run dear. DIVINE A comedy?InfernoDark fraudulent night sleepless shadows resonate gray masks colorless voyage into circles of fury no sunrise nor treacherous sunset alone by the toxic river only to return the next day.PurgatorioBland hungry terrace splashed face of proudly departed a wrathful detour from humble madness invisible to impassive crowds a short breath climbing beleaguered from flight only to return the next day.ParadisoVacant stars in night sky a full moon winds of hope contemplate the mystery where knowledge wisely departs planets evolve and expand into the sweet abyss of days only to return to mystery the next day. About the Author:  John Raffetto is a lifelong resident of Chicago. Some of his poetry has been published in print and various online magazine such as Gloom Cupboard, Wilderness House, BlazeVox, Literary Orphans, Olentangy Review & Exact Change. Nominated for Pushcart Prize 2017. Holds degrees from the University of Illinois and Northeastern Illinois University. Worked as a horticulturalist and landscape designer for many years at the Chicago Park District which was a rich environment for drawing inspiration for poems concerning nature, people and the city. Currently a adjunct professor at Triton College. |