By Adrian Frey "General George Washington Resigning His Commission" by John Trumbull, 1824 The old general had marched his last march; Is any general bitter of the glory They receive? A sabre dropping on a table The brother of all our inward looking death There is no such thing as glory, it is Interred with … Continue reading Washington Resigning his Commission

By Adrian Frey "Aqueduct in Ruins" by Hubert Robert, 1750 A tiger fang deadly woman's shadow affixed in the doorway Dropping shield, sword and helm Mixing memory and desire, Mending sacrifice. Out that way is a garden Storing a naked statue of Pallas with a veil of weeping trees A blanket of ash covers the … Continue reading A Portrait for Kate Ludington

By Mike Laganella An Ekphrasis of Botticelli’s Return of Judith to Bethulia "Return of Judith to Bethulia" by Sandro Botticelli, 1470 Look in her eyes Her head demurely hung, As if to say, When it’s time, I’ll look in yours.I see her pale, dead faceTurn the other wayFrom her sauntering gait.Maybe in the corner of … Continue reading Juditha Triumphans

By Julia Post Where does the American go to die? On which hill top does his spirit lie? When his legs will not carry him but one more night? Does he wander down to Ocean Grove? Or seek out a quiet Western cove?Will he rest alone upon the heath but one more night? Does he … Continue reading T. Roosevelt

By Shane Devine [Epikoros] "The Flammarion engraving," unknown artist The devil wrote the Bible To lead mankind astray; Meant to worship nature, He now adores decay. Praise the cosmos as it is, And you shall be set free – Wish it were some other way And you'll desire of that tree That shatters blissful gardens … Continue reading Song of a Gnostic Epikoros

By Shane Devine Ekphrases on the Stanza della segnatura I. In troubled youth, I searched for meaning So to the Vatican I journeyed. Its library I lit up with a torch Looking for hidden Mysteries. "The Parnassus" by Raphael, 1509-1511 I traveled long to Mt. Parnassus Seeking out some spring of genius, Liquid from the … Continue reading Modernity, or The Disputation of the Sacrament

By Shane Devine "The Virgin Annunciate" by Antonello da Messina, 1476 A cycle of philosophical sonnets dealing with the universe as understood by modern science and its implications on humanity's understanding of itself. I have long been seeking a way out of the nihilism of materialism, one that is final and complete, without cheap recourse … Continue reading Mystery Sonatas