Variation As Defined

It's rain spent on a soggy estate of linked umbrellas,
finding some slightly jazzier meaning
for those insulated canopies,

one more one-millionth of a word
drenching the waterlogged dictionary
as we argue for affordable language

(I'm not even fundraising and I'm out 1,000 zeroes).
Rain and quibbles diminished, the adjustable tents reset,
it's slowing choice as somewhat of a victory for choices.

-- Glenn R. Frantz

And the millionth word is ... hardly a word at all
Wet Weather Doesn't Dampen Relay For Life
Foreclosure activity see-sawing

Stop Gap Forwarded

ballooned net the to jitters bore by a as week-old darker
bore by a as week-old darker and spur balance derailing
and spur balance derailing ballooned net the to jitters

began denial the to skepticism rebuff from a as thin next
rebuff from a as thin next or evening closure responding
or evening closure responding began denial the to skepticism

disappear setback the to landmark cut to a as stark coherent
cut to a as stark coherent but moments bay warming
but moments bay warming disappear setback the to landmark

-- Glenn R. Frantz

House panel passes climate bill - without Matheson
Poor would be hard hit by proposed California budget cuts
NIMBY mires Gitmo

Another Terminator Plot

Robots at phony war. Relentless as a Schwarzenegger sequel.
You can’t kill those off—the movies, that is—their explosive
mixture of missiles and working-class novelty. Entertaining,

innovative destruction innocuous as a family conspiracy
on loan from a Stiller flick. The formula (for the robots’
holy war, that is): tough-minded men plotting to bomb

New York, to launch the United States’ salvation
on the Hudson River. It’s old hat, but this new take is
Terminator to death. And the paradox: what if we lose?

-- Tyler Chadwick

Alleged N.Y. terrorist plotters known as regular guys
Terminator Movies Shouldn't "Be Back"
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Some New Gesture

Peace talks held Derby constantly in terror. President Jordan
—US-backed, the finest of her gender—whipped the daylights
out of reporters, detainees, a prison director.

Her office is military; her photographs, immortal.
There she is in Damascus, tearing down a great arch.
That week she told New Nation the purpose abuse serves:

Geldings did something the Nobel Peace Prize never did.
In every war, some torture is ceremonial.
What a gal! that Jordan. Our enemies abide.

-- Nicholas Liu

Rachel Alexandra probably best horse in America
Rep. Peter King: ACLU Is "Tearing Down The United States"
Israel urges Syria to join direct peace talks

On Being Caught

He avoided birthday parties,
for who could know a human year?
As if people were recognizable in a television silhouette.

Instead, worried by the strain of simple hours,
retiring in evenings to celebrate with lights turned out
in a star-studded garden bathed in gray unfamiliarity,

his wooden summers wore on a long-hand bench.
You cannot cover your steps, even barely,
but you could wash your mouth if you have to.

-- Glenn R. Frantz

Justice Souter: A man of tradition, and surprises
Array of stars honor Seeger
Apply concern felt now to next fall's seasonal flu

Three American Animals

“Mr. President, did you consider a robot dog?”
White House mechanics said Monday after Ted Kennedy
nailed the first dog, a 6-month old Portuguese water hound.

Mr. President, did you consider a robot dog,
one like the heavily-armed android pooches you witnessed
in that sci-fi dream after a night of drinking?

Mr. President, you did consider a robot dog?
After that robotic pooch was found guilty of second-degree
murder for lovin’ an actress to death from behind?

-- Tyler Chadwick

Killed Somali pirates were "untrained" teenagers
Phil Spector Found Guilty of Killing Actress
Mr. President, did you consider a robot dog?

Q: Irrational Architecture?

My one legitimate business is in designer bombs.
My boss fears finding cologne in his e-mail.
But rationality is just a clear bath for the imagination.

My new house will have sides contracting to a tiny scale
while the top goes up with a buzz, gracefully generating
a wrapping of tangible overtones, as if from magic seed.

You are allowed to admit it:
A village of such crazy ruins may seem uncomfortable.
Art is a popular game, but who wants to play for buildings?

-- Glenn R. Frantz

Cavs in a laugher
Health in a Handbasket: HIV/AIDS Awarness
Pritzker Prize to Peter Zumthor

Evidence Of Speaking

"Adversary, no bridge will keep the lost"
we say, removed. Strong consequences
and driving power do not make connections.

Seeking warming, our concrete missiles
break morning, reducing shelf security.
In private, illusions of mercy ice-up.

If filming is the new defence,
we could harness the strategy.
Words must mean something!

-- Rebecca Eddy

Ice bridge ruptures in Antarctic
Obama sees world without nuclear arms
Madonna leaves Malawi after failed adoption bid

Easter, of Sorts

The government can't fix
Jacobson, 37, an ophthalmologist,
his wife, Amy, 35, and their children.

Nearby, the resurrection of Van Morrison;
a cemetery about half a mile short.
Mired in, already the deepest in.

Three more nights --
then Los Angeles.
The band, the orchestra.

-- Sherre Vernon

Will potential profits help lure the private sector?
5 in Bay Area family die in Montana plane crash
Van Morrison will bring 'Astral Weeks' show back

A Giant Defended

Bark side out beetle trillion his of signed the earth,
On boil Portsmouth trees for syrup Opera to,
On points snake column for Eiffel Island to.

Spinnaker inside out taps spoke his of switch the sign,
Are still that weighing forward.
Are hay that clogging sharply,

Switching average out warmth pipeline his of sap the cold.
On hint Cardiff Giant for troubled landmarks to,
Are question that sugaring much.

-- Glenn R. Frantz

Some sweet news on tap
MP switches on to Earth Hour
Treasury Details Plan to Buy Risky Assets

Portrait by England

My patience is thin.
England lost two wickets,
The damage is irreparable.

Where’s my exquisite oil painting?
The Chiefs are meeting,
Sir Walter Raleigh is convinced

Kevin Pietersen said
The debonair investors
Were Scottish Widows.

-- Jesse Garrick

England set for final-day charge
Lloyds chiefs face grilling by investors
William Shakespeare portrait in Irish home

Blamed The President

no one has a chance to panic
outside his house and the country's borders
nobody knows who is in charge

a rabbit and a rat
who are already worried
offered a few clues

everything they hate
will slowly transfer into something
nobody knows what

-- Glenn R. Frantz

President of Guinea-Bissau said to be killed by soldiers
Chinese bronze heads' winning bidder is revealed
Timing the health care fight

Apology By Salesmanship

Storytelling and gently persuasive salesmanship died Saturday
Surrounded by family at a Phoenix hospital
Meaning many monks failed to follow Buddhist tenets

Broadcasts were consistently ranked first among network shows
Bishop Bernard, head of St. Pius, was honest
Consistently the title of Dalai Lama was not granted

To free oneself from vulgarity, to study intensively, is a step
He hoped the bishop would now stay silent
It is a first request for forgiveness: Sutras, Vinaya and Sastra.

-- Lauren Witts

Longtime radio commentator dies
Origin of the title of "Dalai Lama"
Holocaust denier apology is first step, bishop says

Concrete Skill Stripping

Orators of the past delivered
Concrete and treatment expenses,
Confidence, a past-feel Amro America.

Powerful talks opened from each side:
Rival grandparents’ talk bought skill
Of speech at each delegation meet.

Abraham 2008 compares losses
With 2007, stripping its fireside poise,
Health factions, million delivered losses.

-- Edward Cottrell

RBS posts record £40bn pre-tax loss
Palestinians pledge era of unity
Obama's Stirring Words Offer Hope, Few Details

Time to Escape

Day back full a from bay,
Open air without telephone shackles
In terror, we are detained by our family first.

Still not satisfied but I am still flanked to a chimpanzee
Similar gaffe issued in those cartoons,
I wonder, will he branded happy?

Fire then ripped our homeless extension -
quickly through the six
desperate Tuesday after Tuesday between China.

-- Aquila Dunford Wood

Chinatown apartment fire leaves 2 dead
Mohamed's long walk of freedom as debate rage
Obama: 'Day of Reckoning' for U.S. Economy