GEORGE W'S BRUSH

by Chris O’Carroll

Photograph by Guccifer, The Smoking Gun via The Province

Skill as an artist has nothing to do
With whether you’re evil or good.
Hitler and Churchill both wanted to paint
And the evidence says they both could.

Skill as a painter has nothing to do
With whether you’re stupid or smart.
“Fool and War Criminal Nude in the Bath” --
It might or might not be bad art.


Chris O’Carroll is a writer and an actor.  In addition to his previous appearances in New Verse News, he has published poems in Angle, First Things, Lighten Up Online, Literary Review, Snakeskin, and other print and online journals.

GHOST GUMS

by Martha Landman

Ghost Gum, Mount Sonder, MacDonnell Ranges 1953 by Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira. Photograph: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2010.

“Australia's totemic 'ghost gum' trees burnt in suspected arson. Two trees made famous in Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira's watercolours were due to be placed in national heritage register. “--The Guardian, 4 January 2013.

A didgeridoo weeps
pristine tears
in Albert Namatjira's grave

Evilly, a fire
belly laughs
Australian desert coloured in ash

twin ghost gums
topple in
smouldering mourn.


Martha Landman is a South African-born Australian poet residing in tropical North Queensland.  She has published on- and off-line.

UNSEASONABLE CLIMATE CHANGE

Poem by Charles Frederickson

Graphic by Saknarin Chinayote

Imploding lonesome planet soiled earthlings

Perverse intolerant misunderstandings amongst Christians

Jews Muslims Buddhists Hindus Sikhs

Praying to whatever god listens

12 days of Christmas solemn

Ramadan 28 Kwanzaa lasting 7

Hanukkah Menorah aglow 8 eventides

Overstuffed feasts celebratory tummy aches

Kwanzaa Swahili meaning harvest bounty

7 guiding Nguzo Saba principles

Umoja (unity) Ujima (responsibility) Imani

(faith) Kuumba (creativity) unmitigated joy

Hanukkah from Hebrew connoting dedication

Honors victorious revolt entering Jerusalem

Holy temple sanctified eternal flame

Oil lamp kindling black light

Ramadan most intensely worshipful time

Profoundly serious compassion giving charity

More about dependence than abstinence

Fasting from sunrise to sunset

O Tannenbaum emerald forest blighted

How lovely were your branches

Hoping faith recycled comfort bring

Resilient strength throughout New Year

 No Holds Bard Dr. Charles Frederickson and Mr. Saknarin Chinayote proudly present YouTube mini-movies @ YouTube – CharlesThai1 .