‘The River Not Taken’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko
The River Not Taken ---after Robert Frost The sloop’s main sail was hoisted tight But in the fog I...
The River Not Taken ---after Robert Frost The sloop’s main sail was hoisted tight But in the fog I...
The Dancer The dancer turns elegantly: her pivot light and feathery, her eyes as brilliant as a wren’s, her...
King Cyrus Issues an Edict “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth hath the...
The Swarm "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!" From Lord of the Flies, by William Goldring...
The Golden Soldier ---for my grandfather He had a calming charm. He always spoke Of garden-basking instances of joy---...
. Sancho Panza’s Choice Well-met, Señor. And blessings on your inn.You are the landlord here, is that not true?Please sit...
. The Spring Has Come The mating call of the black-capped chickadee (a North American songbird) sounds like "Hey, Sweetie!"...
. Spot the Fool! ---for April Fools’ Day, 2025 . I. Today’s the day to fox and fool. Today’s the...
. The Restoration ---for SJB Words sometimes fail. How best explainThat life can seem eternal rain?That though friends care they...
. O Delta Smelt O Delta Smelt of silver scale, O threatened gem of fin and tail, In brackish waters...
. Song of the Sophist a pantoum I tiptoe past all that is true--- The facts never matter to me....
. A Recruiter Tells It as It Isn’t Your World War One recruitment agent prays he finds you well. Your...
. Betrayal a villanelle Today she spied the shadow of a snake Slither through the spreading family tree--- A curse her startled...
. Off Guard Coyotes drag their quarry past the line Drawn in the sand to stop the ghastly game Of...
. I Can’t Be Bought I can’t be bought. They always pan my poems and they have a plan to...
. I’ll Keep My Truck I’ll keep my truck. I won’t revise my thinking as gas prices rise. My son-in-law...
. Without a Dad Without a Dad, you are not sure, And never know you could endure The many doubts...
. What’s Left to Say? a rhupunt When women’s plans Are like a man’s, So they act trans, What’s left...
. A 2023 Survival Villanelle for Potentially Contentious Thanksgiving Gatherings Keep dinner chatter chirrupy and perky. Don’t prod the pachyderm...
. The Golden Calf a rondeau The golden calf draws shouts of awe From wanton men who bray and caw....
. Independence Day? a rondeau Some dared. Some died. With pluck and pride And guts and grit the brave defied...
. The Test The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' —Jesus (Matthew 22:39, NASB1995) Is...
. Signs of the Times . I. Hymn 6-6-6 a rondeau Hymn 6-6-6 on high display— The devil’s number where...
f Jägermeister "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior __are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man...
. Gossip “There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of...
. Swimming with Dreams and Memory My childhood dreams and memories remain through adulthood and old age. My doll speaks....
. Beatitude Be glad and smile, for they revile, The Truth they mock and put on trial, The Beauty they...
. Two Empty Chairs “We did the NFP bit for awhile ... and have felt revulsion over it ever since....
. Lullaby of New Mexico, Part Two Part One can be read here. Duerme Papi---Dad, it’s time to rest. I...
. It’s Halloween It’s Halloween, and musty tombs expel Damnation’s brides and grooms; ghoulish creatures rule the night, a ghastly...
. Everyday Angels inspired by Guadalupe Amejorado (1955-2021) They don’t appear in swathes of white __On scintillating wing. Their heads aren’t crowned...
. On Rainy Nights On rainy nights, in pensive thought, I claim the respite I have sought but seldom found...
. In the First Degree Had the bullet’s trajectory veered half a foot to the right, It might not have...
. A Hopeless Rondelet All trust is dead, Killed by lies in love’s disguise. All trust is dead--- It’s buried...
. Quarantined Against the wind, our candles out, The smoke will rise, we have no doubt, Yet in the dark...
. The Arch of Titus The Arch of Titus was constructed in 81 AD by the Emperor Domitian to commemorate...
. Shining Armor The knights roll in. They have a rift to heal--- A rift that stokes the embers of...
. Never Again Never again, beneath the sun Would mortal beings come undone. A pledge arose and soared on high---...
. A Truthful Triolet I want the truth. I want to trust The words that trip from lips that lied....
. St. Joseph’s Admonition Forget yourself, and do what’s right, Remember how you gained your sight, So do not pause...
Wonder is the mood, Jeff. You give us the splendor to develop it in rhythmically described details of the luna…
I like how the word Saturniid has two iambic feet which cleverly aids in pronunciation of a difficult word for…
I've never seen a luna moth, but I learned about them (from illustrated insect guides) when I was young. I…
I am so very happy that you are back Susan, with a wonderful new poem that is delightful to read…
Thank you, again, Margaret, regarding Cozy Estates. That ending just fell into place.
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