eric sundin

With irrepressible intention
Joyce takes off for an intervention

An ever blossoming head turner
steeply she roars off from the house
as if by switched-on ‘afterburner’
Fades behind: a blown over spouse

who’ll be wobbling, gasping
in turbulent wake
from cheering, voice rasping
uncombed, stare opaque

Lost in irrelevancy’s realm
clasping pale at his flimsy helm

+)
-afterburner = a jet engine power booster engaged to briefly increase speed
-amen corner = in some churches seats, usually near the preacher, occupied by those who lead responses from the congregation
-intervention = Joyce works as an (addiction) intervention specialist

edited 06/23/22 0830

In universe, who knows ‘created’
most human lives cold & cruel
precarious while inundated
by predators’ gnash, growl & drool

Human character malicious
too many a morsel wrenched
in tempers raging flagitious
out from pale fists tightly clenched

We’re contused in careening
searching Life for traction
Agonizing for meaning
detoured by distraction

If Life’s a ‘circus’
strive to be its lions
who in poked percuss
still roar in defiance

By vicious whips cracked
as raw welts burn
odds cruelly stacked
Still breathe to yearn

But never lose hope
with courage, flair
try changing the scope
Stare down despair:

Straighten from our serfly stance
from talk in abstraction
Embrace your life as romance
with steadfast exaction!

Human Life’s but a fleeting dash
til it ends in merciless crash

+)
flagitious = shamefully wicked; heinous or flagrant

edited 10/13/23 1625

Words coolly glitter
dashingly dance
observe them flitter
in pompous prance

Though off the wall
bouncingly banal
displaying gall
amongst their cabal

Disturbing distraction
when smoothly spouted
in make-belief traction
sense, meaning flouted

Haphazard words careen
noisily trenchant
in mangled phrases preen
as is their penchant

Phrases splashed
‘in’ words flashed
Grammar trashed
unabashed

All the while grasp gashed
facts, logic lashed
mushy meanings mashed
’same old’ rehashed

Words flow in overabundance
in hyperbolic redundance

edited 02/06/24 0720

Had hoped for another dimension
of roaring and soaring ascent
trying to stand up to convention
been dreaming of dashing dissent

By now I’m better versed:
found species mainly slighted
Human existence cursed
on plundered planet blighted

While the situation seems hopeless
grant me be courageous and mope less!

edited 09/13/24 1800

I do hear you, sure
but my ‘pastime’
silly, bit obscure
is quatrain rhyme

Perhaps corralled conceit
shuffling in dull dance?
Mere bleats from verse effete
in limping cadence?

Surely slight nuisance compared
to all that what you’ve been spared?

edited 07/14/24 0835

Fades away the day meekly
sun rays reflect but bleakly

Amidst cold streaking clouds
on Fall-flattened curve
in sky’s metallic shrouds
sets sun with reserve

Its rays turn opaque
sun sinks to rest
Leaving a chilled wake
in West Southwest

edited 9/01/22 1200

How happily I’m hounded
by persistent a muse
so gratefully astounded
enthusing out the blues

Am a tree happily barked up
by inspiration infused
It’s brimming over my cracked cup
foamy verbiage suffused

Verses may be pathetic
in pace peripatetic
The language mere cosmetic
both opaque & bathetic

Delivery homiletic
its effect anesthetic
While response found apathetic
why be apologetic?

Very few poets a Byron
or Shakespeare or Neruda
Very few women a siren
and few gurus a Buddha

So what? Won’t us short on talent
at least attempt to be gallant?

+)
peripatetic = walking or traveling about; itinerant

edited 02/07/24 1735

Sun rays still Summer tinted
amidst boisterous breeze
We peer at, through eyes squinted
cartwheeling grounded leaves

Letting go, sailing from trees
leaves piling up wilted
as cushy carpets cerise
yellow & brown quilted

Leaves losing grip, bailing
Naked branches wailing

edited 10/11/26 1520

Once young, when in Djibouti
Life Herself in the guise
of an enchanting beauty
gave him her deep well eyes

But she feigned not giving a hootie
when while blushing he praised her wrap
She pretended coy, cool & snooty
flustered, he could only tip his cap

Callow, thought he’d been rejected
so he told himself: retreat!
To a dive bar he defected
to nurse his awkward defeat

Under blistering sun in zenith
back later aboard his freighter
with in his sweltering bunk beneath
hangover on the equator

Once again hoists anchor his ship
such is life of the drunken sailor:
Off on another lonely trip
he sails away as his own jailer

+)
-Djibouti = a port on the southern entrance to the Red Sea
-freighter = cargo ship

edited 04/27/22 0730

My tepid thoughts shiver
quintessentially
Its conclusions quiver
inferentially

Then like light squall
sweeping gust
in fleeting thrall
comes distrust

Gathering breeze
brings a chill
more ill at ease
than ill will

Is my mind chagrined
by happenstance
scattering downwind
by circumstance?

Or just dueling with dementia
undiscerning of differentia?

edited 11/18/25 1630