"Liar, lawyer, mirror, for you what's the difference? ...You must of been high." --Tool



Gabcast! White Rabbit - *BLACK HOLE* #1

Sleepless Piano

Another sleepless
Piano angel
Secret musing
What is word
When the world should
be dreaming...

Outsider (zero, zero)
On a Black night
Looking through my glass
Another Fault line mind.

Do you play piano too?

Rose resistance
--one petal at a time--
Shake.
Shake.
Can't believe
Machine.

The keys strike
The parlor grand plays
sound of my off tune lullaby
Barely audible
Behind the sound
Of Tortured
Soul.

Baby, baby, (please don't)
cry!
It's been
Two hours
Forty seven minutes
and counting....

And I gotta get some
rest.

"Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words." --Paul Engle

Calliope Nerve Part VII: The Troupe of Calliope featuring Melissa Lebruin author of The Rebellious Escapist is free of charge and available now.

Halfway There

Hands are wicked
Thrusting against
Bedside manner
Cigar after, ashtray shocker
Swing some of that clear
Bed poison
Rotten afterglow
Some post coital heartbreak

They were meeker times
Unwelcome suicide
Tempest machines
Unplugged for youth(er) years
We'd swing into metal screens
Halfway there

Stealthy villain–child
Who said she'd be the one
To disappear
Procrastinate
Break into the giddy abortionist
Maybe like sunset
She'll wait for me

Slick like the head chip
Fractures we always revisit
Though I never promise
I'll get there first

--Melissa Lebruin

Other authors include J.D. Nelson, Scott Marshall, Billy Jno Hope, and me, I'm Nobius Black.

Calliope Nerve features poetry, short lit, and odd bits in a wide range of styles. Back issues are available. To order this issue send your snail mail address to nobius at gmail dot com. Email for submission info. (We are always looking for talent.) Internet link trades, advertising, and flyer trades available.

To support Calliope order your Amazon products via my web log: White Rabbit - *BLACK HOLE*.

Name your muse! Calliope Nerve.

Found via warrenellis.com:

American society’s slide toward the aristocratic ideal risks exacerbating the anger of the northern states, and possibly convincing them to leave the union. In this context, among the political possibilities that face Canadians in 2020, it would not be far-fetched to include political integration with New England…

"I raise my hands to your sweet skies but your too high and I'm a little too low." --Manmade God

"I have no gift to bring that's fit to give the King." --Little Drummer Boy

Changing Man

Nobius
--A Changing Man--
(Gentle Subtext.)
Empty.
My pierced side.
Ink Washed
From You.

Cast in the Name of God
And Cherub Passage,
Man brings
Slaughter Mouth.
Angels softer
In Black Fly season.

Johnny Cash
(Felt Art)
Knew time was over,
The show done.
Hung hat,
Sang last passion
Then died.
(If only I so bold!)
June half heart.

Everyone's secret.
I will write
Speak
Be.
This place needs telling:

Ballad
Of the greatest Hero
That ever lived
(Daddy)
The World forgot.

Just listened to Wykked Wytch's cover of Sweet Dreams. Manson's was far better but still an interesting take none-the-less as the band combines female demonic vocals with a sandwich of death, thrash, and goth influence. Will be checking out more of their work but someone please tell them to change the name of the band. (Can it be anymore tired or cliche?)

Also listened to Tori Amos's Tales of a Librarian (which I recieved for Christmas) this afternoon. Pictured here:



Though the album is toted as the first ever definitive Tori collection (remixed/remastered), I am less than impressed. It's a strong starting point for new listeners but to long time fans like myself this is an uneeded collection. Many of her important works (i.e. songs/albums) were left out and no surprises are contained in the package. (By the way, I think every collection should throw in a rarity, etc. which is sadly missing here.) I did enjoy the audio clip on the DVD of Putting the Damage on which includes a striking photo montage to the lovely singer. Skip the collection and go straight to the wonderful fan site Here in My Head.

"Poetry is to be found nowhere unless we carry it within us." --Joseph Joubert

"Of this I'm sure, I've got two sides. They wanna be left alone." --Manmade God

My schedule changed again this week. I am working Tuesday through Friday night again for the next several weeks. I like this schedule, it means I'm off Sunday and Monday plus I have Saturday night free.

The wife needed a break so she went out with Christie. I made dinner, watched a little kick boxing, balanced the check book, did some cleaning, put a dead washer on the curb, looked up info on a possible side job, and now as I'm writing this I'm having a Kahlua and Cream and IMing my cousin while listening to some tunes. <-See I can multitask, waiter get me another! LOL.

There's complete silence in the house other than my keyboard clicking and my music (on low of course). Doesn't get quiet around here often with four rug rats running 'round all the time!

Martial arts starts back up Monday, and tomorrow I'll spend time with the kids, work out, and continue writing/editing my next couple of zines for the ANNISH issue of the APA (including another Calliope Nerve zine.)

My wife bought this cool book Quotationary:



Neat stuff in it, arranged by topic. The Joubert quote above came from it. Even as a child, I loved quotes. When I was young, I read a book called Salted Peanuts (still available on Amazon) of little known facts. I always wanted to create something like it by combining the facts with quotes. Hmm... another idea for Calliope Nerve Media.

Speaking of books once read, when I was twelve I read a cool programming book about artificial intelligence using FORTRAN routines. I think I finally gave the book to Taylor Memorial for one of their Friends of the Library book sales. Never thought I'd want to read it again (it was published in the early seventies) but I do.

My wife mentioned that our daughter Marinda is a little troll, hoarding everything she can. Pens, scissors, books, paper, toe nail clippers, toys... Wonder where she gets that from as I look next to me and see my man bag filled with books, paper, pens... oh and a pair of toe nail clippers! :) I've often heard my brother Mark make the same comments about my niece Kylin. Those silly genetics.

Today is Kalisa's and my twelfth anniversary as a couple. Time flies. She's still my best friend and the best thing that ever happened to me. I love her.

Now, lets see if I can find that lottery ticket. I'm sure I've won the jackpot and never have to work for the man again. :)

Caught the story of the Subway Angel this morning.

He doesn't want to be called a hero for saving a sick teenager that fell off of a platform and onto a subway track. He just wants to tell people, "Life is worth saving."

The story of Wesley Autrey brings tears to my eyes and hope to my heart.

There is Good among us, Angels, and real heroes.

When in doubt, if you want to know what Jesus would do. Or Mohammed. Or the Buddha.

Remember the story of Wesley.