These first fifteen are in no way in order of importance — 1. “Volunteers” - Jefferson Airplane Some songs are direct attacks on the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Like “War.” This one is one of them. Nothing too subtle here from 1969. “Counter the War” in just over a two minute protest song. Marty Balin rips the song apart, and Grace Slick does a fine job supporting…

Make the craft of composition worthy for readers of the ages — Whether you’re writing narrative essays, creative nonfiction, short fiction, novels, and poetry, these “basic” terms are essential for your craft to improve. I have added examples from stories as well as links. Sure, you want readers to “clap” for your work and to follow you, but will your essay or…

What were we doing ‘hangin’ round’ in Colorado, anyway? — When Michael Nesmith of The Monkees died at 78 back in December, I immediately thought of Phantom Canyon Road in Colorado. I was just 20, and a loudmouth Yankee from Jersey. My buddies and I were on a West Coast trip. …

Another poem from youth written while smitten with toxins — Cowering in the arms of another — Grasping for love, wanting security — Fearing the love of another lover — Clothed in white — the white of divinity. And what shall you say, my dear, when we meet? And what shall you do when I draw near? Hiding in your room, promoting defeat…

A sonnet refurbished, composed when young — The two of us, ‘neath the drop scene of wood, Screened backstage in the theater of Fall, On a prop cloak of leaves, knowing we could Forgo more rehearsal to Nature’s call. Feel the fake trees clapping limbs around us. Hear the woodwinds, spiriting Salvation. My words, like thread, can sew a readjust; Our costumes, cut from…

A parody of the General Prologue from “The Canterbury Tales” — Here bygynneth the book ō̆ver behōste tō the world Here begins the book Overland to the World When in June and the spring showers end — And disperse the rains to the heavens, and send The pigeons to peck the crumbs at Trafalgar — And prompt the public to thumb the…

“Diving into the Wreck,” a poem by Adrienne Rich — Consider: Does our humanity limit our perspective of the world? Does our gender restrict our awareness of the Self? Of other genders? In defining what it means to be human, do we risk confining ourselves to certain well-marked, familiar parameters, social customs, societal norms, prescriptive roles, and expectations? Don’t we…

So many lonely people in Dubliners — disconnected and lost — There are many sad tales of very sad common people of Dublin in the early 20th Century, but “A Painful Case” really emphasizes the pain. It was the seventh story, finished in July 1905, but “repeatedly retouched” in 1906. One, a middle-aged man, Mr. Duffy, is a misanthropic recluse who…

Let’s examine the context of Arthur Miller’s popular play “The Crucible” — Hello, Fans of History and Literature! Walter “Down With” Bowne here talking — er — writing about Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Arthur Miller composed the allegorical play in 1953 during the height of the McCarthy Trials in Washington regarding accused “communists” working not only in the State Department, but also in Hollywood, and gasp — the…