Well, according to a recent post by the supreme admin (hereafter referred to as "Sam"), i apparently stand opposed to everything he holds sacred and dear. I thought about making a list of my favorite things, condensed to show that SURELY one or two points leave us common ground, and then defer to the forum (sort of like those "You make the Call" bits that ran before commercials during American baseball games during the 1980s) to decide whether or not i am truly the unholy bane of Rinkworks.

But the idea seemed far too cheap and childish, and quite deletable should Sam get on another "red button" raid of posts he doesn't like. So i deceded to can that idea, grab the bull by the antlers, and finally post one of my poems. Here goes ...

*ahem*


"Enemy"

Moving up the path, until
a well-known stramger blocks
the way.
Staring at his fearsome
visage, as he peers into
my soul.
And a scowl reveals that he
is repulsed as I at the sight
before him.

Feeling his anger burn in my
own chest,
a master shunned by
his slave.
Knowing he will use
my weaknesses,
i drop my gaze.

Fighting the temtation
too late,
my mind falls under
his control.
Slicing at wounded friends,
Destroying the world
around me.
Falling to my knees,
exhausted, I must
surrender.

Crying out in desperation, I call
to a better Master.
The dark one is startled--
he knows I am leaving
him behind.
Seeing his terror as
the Master tears the mirror
from my hand.
Taking again to the Path,
the foe no longer
before me.


And there you have it, the only poem i've ever had published (OK, so it was just the campus literary journal, but i still thought it was neat). That was written, if memory serves correctly, on spring break of my freshman year.

Of course, your comments of any sort are welcome. I hate reading poetry to friends, even English majors, because the conversation ends up being, "That was nice." Argh. Maybe this'll be better, if more brutal.

Penny *embraces on-line brutality, even if it means proof that his poetry is lousy* stamp