A FRIEND'S SMILE

Heart's ease
And sweetest blessing;
The kindness is the balm,
The love the soul's
Richest alm.

MC

THE THINGS SHE WON'T FORGET

Strange how the traveling mind
Torments the squirming soul.
Even now that she has grown
Old, and the feverish anger cold.

Even now as she sits where she wills
Drinks wine, snarls or spits;
Even now that freedom should be
Second nature:

Something in her squints
Cringes and flinches,
At the casual danger in a voice,
A face, even if a stranger.

Even now as she sits in the warmth
And the winter sun unfolds
The pain from knees twisted
By age into fanciful shapes.

Even now she recalls
The slap of his flesh
And the burning sour-sticky
Rain of his sweat.

Manuela Cardiga

I think we are watching the fall of the American Republic.

America is on the verge of the Second American Civil War - the very same situation that saw the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Caesars.

In 8 years time, Robert Kennedy Jr could easily take the throne by popular acclaim, institute the Pax Americana. The blood of martyrs makes the deepest purple.

From "Conversations with Ivan Shapiro"

It has always been easier to foment fear in a population than to inspire confidence and security.

From "Conversations with Ivan Shapiro"

YOU AND I

We will not be lovers,
Nor smile that secret,
Nor mingle scent
And kisses.

We will not be lovers
I have seen you lie.

MC