Frank J. Tassone

Tag: Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads

  • First Taste of Summer: My latest .@ImageCurve #haibun

      The Torne Valley Vineyard occupies a former estate that overlooks the Ramapo River. It offers lunch and outdoor seating. We’ve tried to dine there since Father’s Day. Now, we sit at a table for six, just off the tented patio. The band Hip Replacements—whose members’ average age exemplifies the tongue-in-cheek name—play “California Dreaming.” Several…

  • A Rain Meditation: an .@ImageCurve #haibun

      Steady rainfall. The Pastore’s new generator hums. Across the street Stacy and Laurie talk. A sparrow perches on a maple tree, taking shelter under its leaves. Cool draft at my cheek. The power is out again. Rain picks up. A steady swoosh with a hint of rattle as it strikes the asphalt. Waiting for…

  • I, Cuchulainn

    By Stephen Reid (Eleanor Hull, The Boys’ Cuchulain) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons   I, tied to a post, await them, my enemies who’ve killed me at last. I’ll stand my ground against them to the end. Not much longer, now. My blood-stained blade, heavy in my hand one last time. My torn tunic saturated…

  • Essential

    ALFRED PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/GETTY IMAGES   “In the beginning was the word…”   Logos. The essence of consciousness, the embodied will of creative Love, from which the universe began with a Big Bang. An utterance of voice so tender and loving that potential gave birth to actual. A voice so awesomely heartbreaking, and heard now…

  • An Art of Unlearning: A #TankaTuesday (5/8/18) #TankaProse

    Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash   a starlit sky residing in fantasy at my peril I let go of my cravings to embrace this passing wind   I learn to unlearn each day. Unlearn the paralyzing fear of others’ judgement. Unlearn the urge to rail against every inconvenience I encounter. Unlearn the way I bend under the…

  • Our Esoteric Toil: A #quadrille #haibun

      She gathers dandelions for a new herbal tea. While I muddle words, photographs, and impressions to craft an epiphany among the ephemora.   The last robins and chicadees could care less. Their evening song carries on.   a clouded sunset among the dogwood bloom a woodpecker     for dVerse Poets Quadrille #56– Muddle,…

  • Vive La Geekdom!

      The Friday night audience at the Lafayette filled the one-screen, National Historic Landmark theater nearly to capacity! We cheered when the curtain opened. We applauded when our favorite Avengers arrived on-screen. We laughed at every gagline, gasped at every surprise, and cried in shock and disbelief as some of our favorites… (sniff! sniff!)…  …

  • Take a walk

      Mira and I walk at Kakiat Park. The rain-swollen Mahwah River cascades under the bridge. It foams the rocky bank where a lone fisherman fishes. We turn onto the blue trail toward the tributary feeding the river. Or is it the river? The cold ground doesn’t mud our shoes like last time. We’re not…