My works from the past. They’ve held up surprisingly well after 20 years.
Commentary on “for I shall meet my old war-horse there”:
If I could only remember where I first read about the myth of Roland. I was an omnivorous reader in college, compared to now. (And my friends & family think I’m a bookworm now!) To put it plainly, I could have read about this anywhere.
For those interested, Bartleby.com has a reference on the legend of Roland. Wikipedia has a decent entry, also, on The Song of Roland, with more historical context. However, I remembered it differently and came up with this poem while working in one of those kiosk jobs that college students so often get during the summer. For those of you Central New York natives, it was in the old Riverside Mall, when it was still a mall, not the hodge-podge it is today.
It was inspired by a real person, who is also the focal point in “to a legend - part II”.
(Originally posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 @ 4:40 PM)
Commentary on “to a legend, part II”:
This poem is based on actual events as they were told to me back in my sophomore year at Alfred University. One of my friends, a fraternity brother, had shown up to his frat’s Hallowe’en party dressed as the above. Now, there are some really thin guys (or Robin Williams in “Mrs. Doubtfire” or Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie”) who can get away with this. Not so for my buddy. I decided to try and tie in the “greek” influence into the poem, and here you have it.
(Originally posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 @ 4:40 PM)
Commentary on “A February Memory”:
Now that I’ve frightened about half a dozen people who are “in the know” on this poem, relax. Let me just say that I am very proud of this piece of work and wouldn’t change a word. Each one was chosen with care to convey a certain meaning or reference. While that should be true with all poetry/prose, in this case it really is so.
(Originally posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 @ 5:31 PM)
Commentary on “the forked-tongue serpent has struck”:
Another poem inspired by the man in my life at the time, a student from NDSU (Fargo). No kidding! A very sweet guy whom I met over the internet back in 1989, and in person in December of 1990. (See “Soundtrack-Alfred”.) Our gentleman friend was a talented performing artist (actor, musician). FYI, he is now married with at least one child, and I am happy for him. A fiery comet like me would simply not have fit in with his life! 
The legend the poem and its title are based on is the tragic love of Orpheus the harper and his beloved Eurydice. This myth may be found at the Bartleby.com site from Bulfinch’s Mythology: http://www.bartleby.com/181/241.html. Shortly after their wedding, Eurydice was bitten on the foot by a poisonous snake and borne to Hades. Through the power of his music, Orpheus descended to Hades and won the release of Eurydice, but on one condition: under no circumstances could he look back and see if she were following. You can guess what happened.
(Originally posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 @ 5:31 PM)
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