Welcome to Ragbag Mind

I hope you enjoy these scraps and patches of my life

After Betrayal

Nobody knows exactly how it works, The spasm in the heart that makes one face particular. Nobody knows why it hurts when singular passion falls from grace. If the heart is a garden, nobody hoes, or cultivates, or even pulls the weeds. Lovers can never quite master the tools of their own gardening. Nobody needs

To A Dead Car

I ken ‘tis cold, dear Oldsmobile, but still, Thou crank’st right up just yesterday, so why Hast thou decided to defy my will Today? Thy batt’ry’s fully charg’d, and I Took pains to fill thy gas tank to the brim. No wires have shorted out beneath thy hood, Th’ignition tries to spark awake thy vim

To An Old Car That Will Not Start

I know it’s cold, dear Oldsmobile, but still, You cranked right up just yesterday, so why Have you decided to defy my will Today? Your battery’s fully charg’d, and I Took pains to fill your gas tank to the brim. No wires have shorted out beneath your hood, Th’ignition tries to spark awake your vim

Jazz Koan

At the Village Vanguard, a quartet of musicians had just played their last set. The listeners had paid their tabs, left generous tips in the jar, and gone home. The waiters were cleaning the tables and mopping the floor, the manager was counting the evening’s take and stashing it in the safe to be taken

Deep Winter

When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nails, And Tom bears logs into the hall, And milk comes frozen home in the pail; When blood is nipp’d and ways be foul, Then nightly sings the staring owl Tu-who; Tu-whit, a merry note, While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. –