“Antietam Abridged”

Nearby a boy and his parents were on a bench resting from the battle.
Burnside’s Bridge seen from the Confederate side. Action came here late in the day on Sept 17, 1862.
The Bloody Lane (the Sunken Road to locals) from the ground’s eye view.
The Bloody Lane from the observation tower.
Site of the early post-dawn action on what remains the bloodiest day in American history.

“What’s Wrong With This Pic?”

In my international survey, 53.7% of displayed chess sets (in store fronts, etc.) are not properly set up. The mnemonic device is “white on the right (bottom right square to each player) AND queen on her own color (black queen on black square).” This needs to tighten up, worldwide.
In Paris, they got the queens right but blew the corners, plus the knights and bishops are reversed.
At Harrods in London, where they also drive on the wrong side of the road.
But this one looks so nice!
Marcel Duchamp once again wonderfully muddies the waters.
Man Ray renders the discussion moot.
Yoko Ono’s set says white always wins….

“Rat Patrol”

A dead rat don’t move

Unless you do its moving.

But let that steely stink

Of rat-rot drag itself back

Into the darkest cracks of your

Jelly-roll mind folds,

It will turn trapped,

Attack, and claw your dreams

Wide-wide awake.

—- Mortimer X

East Baltimore in Oct 2022 (taken from my car in traffic)

This is part of an experiment in poetry wherein I try to write with a different voice, one more raw and visceral, less rational. I call this alter-poet Mortimer X, for no specific reason other than he represents a certain puerile rebellion from my more lofty attempts at self-expression (high school chess club meets Malcolm X). Let me know what you think. As for Mortimer X himself, he couldn’t care less….