a sonnet about verbal forgetfulness —

sealed, with a bitter kiss — in response to Denise Shelton’s The Selkie’s Sonnet, which besmirched and whitewashed our brief but genuine love affair Now hold on just a minute, little Miss, I feel I’m undeserving of your dis. It’s true our story ended as you told, but not quite how it started to unfold — …

~~ Ubiquitous mainstays of mobster flicks Iconic undergarment lacking sleeves Well-suited to dispensing blows and kicks To miscreants and shady lowlife sleaze. A rather more unflat’ring undertone Has led this fashion staple to be linked With male domestic partners who are prone To walloping their wives — let’s be succinct. Perpetuated tropes on silver screens Suspenders often added for pizzazz James Caans and Cannavales, Jimmy Deans — Accentuating upper muscle mass.

a sonnet of schadenfreude — Behold poor Hogan Torah and his Ex — Alas, the lengths we go to for some sex — For years he praised her highfalutin verse, Although he found it labored and perverse. “Which word artiste shall I compare thee to? Shel Silverstein? Bukowski? Angelou?” She soaked up all the ornate compliments, And let her artsy ego grow immense. “Sweet pea, I’m going back for my M.A. — One thing. I’m broke, and need, like, 30k …”

a New York City epic, in three acts — Act One: Vinnie and Tommy Two bachelors, alike in vanity, On fair Staten Island made their homes; Their self-love border’d on insanity, Never without cologne nor pocket combs. Vinnie, the elder, he of olive skin And a strut to make the Bee Gees proud, Oft sporting a broad Travoltalike grin “You talkin’ to me?” …

in response to Tre’s challenge — by Joe Váradi ah, the Northern Hemisphere night sky Ursa Minor pins the North Star Ursa Major bows her head Orion’s studded belt Gemini embrace Aries lays low Cygnus, the Northern Cross I’m really into this form lately High Expectations Nonet inspired by Maddison Rowe’s roygbivmedium.com

inspired by Maddison Rowe’s roygbiv —

a pair of nonets —

the Sunday morning concession tweetstorm, as a Shakespearean… —

a sonnet pile-on to Alex Guenther’s riddle of… —

a sonnet for Daniele — t’was 6 o’clock, an early Alpine morn as I awoke with urgent need to pee bare naked as the day that I was born with curtains drawn, my eyes could hardly see foggy-eyed, I let my instincts lead my sluggish body down the corridor swept swiftly by my urologic need reached for the…

a Petrarchan sonnet for our times — by You Know Who how do I love me? lemme spell with bricks, nay — a see-through wall made of shiny steel with vertical slats that will not conceal bad hombres, smugglers, nor terrorists, and you still wanna cuff my handsome wrists? …

a sonnet inspired by 'The Seed' — by Joe Váradi The crossword on the crosstown, every eve, Same time, same seat, the old rhythmic routine, From daily tedium there’s no reprieve, She travels to and from, unheard, unseen. …

a news-inspired sonnet — by Joe Váradi A boy grew up on Motown’s crack-laced grid, His nearest kin not able to provide, Fell in with shady crowds — was just a kid, Rose in the ranks, setbacks absorbed in stride. 'Came F.B.I. …