Stefanie Bennett And Anthrax Spores, Objurgation, Homeric Underpinnings, All Of Us Tossing Salt Over Our Shoulders

UNDISTORTED EXPERIENCE   


It’s growing up diagonally
At 64 and remembering
September 11
(Not specifically because
Cousin Ricki
Was there...)

It’s the tick-tacking accuracy
Of whether anthrax spores
Are absorbed
In our
Hung-over
Morning coffee

... Pseudo market forces,
PC hackers
                (Con amore)
Or trilingual brokers
Ensnared by
A crust of
Bullion rising

That collars the phrase – we
Become
What we deplete.



MACHIAVELLI REVISITED      


No one lives here any more, so how
Is it you found me
Thwack-happily accosted by chores?

Yes. It’s  the Sabbath – and dare
I objurgate your
Sunday best’s just too solemn

For my taste. Wise up. The young
Could do with a good rumble
Just ask that

Punk berating parrot how Homeric
Underpinnings took flight
The day I evened old scores.

Still – why not
               Cut to the crux
                             Of the crime...

Ah! Mentoring is narcissism’s
Elixir. Naturally
I’ll give it spin

Only next time
Send me
A new-born.



RADIO FREE EUROPE & BEYOND  “KISS”  


Dexterity was put on hold
As the bombs dropped.
Submissively, the woman
Tossed coarse salt
Over both shoulders,
Steadied the cut-glass pitcher
And folded curd
In a spotted napkin.

When the panting corridor of air
Spiralled
It slapped
The courtyard-child
(Her child)
Oblivion-bound.
Omitted is the sound
Of love’s collision.


Stefanie Bennett, ex-blues singer & musician, has published 12 books of poetry, a novel, & a libretto & works with NO Nukes: Art Action For Peace as well as ‘Equality.’ Of mixed ancestry (Italian/Irish/Paugussett-Shawnee), she was born in Queensland, Australia. Stefanie is currently working on New & Selected Poems.