Clara Mae Gregory

2026-09-10
Logically speaking, if anyone had such a power that they could kill an IMMORTAL person even just one time, much less many times- then you have a paradox. They can't be immortal if they can be killed. To create a special kind of immortality souly for the purpose of an eternal punishment, that operates as torture by repetitive resurection followed by destruction forever is twisted, distorted theology. It would indeed, surely be like a Ground Hog Day The Movie Kind of Hell for sure. If Biblical facts are correct,
IMMORAL PEOPLE (sinners) can be saved, repurposed for a permanent and holy IMMORTALITY

2026-09-10
What if "John" did not want that job, for who would? It is an evil idea that you've invented and presented. Is this a poem or a puzzle?

2026-09-10
And it's good therapy to write. Let it out. Relieve your emotional pain. I cried too, once I knew about your grandson. You are not alone and don't give up. As for my own painful experiences, I prayed and I did not give up. But the scars of emotional trauma don't completely disappear. The potential exists to heal and renew and restore those relationships within the family and others. It can be done. I'm old fashioned- where there is a WILL, there is a WAY. I didn't mention earlier, that as my dying brother's caregiver-- I made it happen, what he most needed and received-- I was able to bring David's ex-wife and David back together in his final months of life. That, in itself, was a miracle. They had achieved long over due reconciliation and closure to the wounds both still carried. She never remarried and neither did he. They still loved each other and it took his death bed to discover that realization

2026-09-10
The time WILL GO. Fast or slow. Make the most of it, Alan.
And continue doing your best and try not to fret. And most if all, dear one, Please, please, please keep on writing and sharing. .

2026-09-10
You are so funny!
Thanks for the chuckle, Albert.

2026-09-09
For those that may not know:

An Epulaeryu is a seven-line poetic form entirely dedicated to food, featuring a strict 33-syllable count distributed in a 7/5/7/5/5/3/1 structure.

(http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/epulaeryu.html)

Structure and Rules:

Lines and Syllables:
Line 1: 7 syllables
Line 2: 5 syllables
Line 3: 7 syllables
Line 4: 5 syllables
Line 5: 5 syllables
Line 6: 3 syllables
Line 7: 1 syllable
ending with an exclamation mark (!)
Theme: Every line focuses on a specific dish, main course, or culinary treat. Ending: The final one-syllable word captures the writer's excitement and sums up their feelings about the food.

(https://www.poetrysoup.com/dictionary/epulaeryu)

The form was invented by Joseph S. Spence, Sr. while studying poetry and culture at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The name combines the Latin word epulae (meaning feast) with the Asian term ryu (meaning style or form).

Personally, I have never written one and this wonderful poem challenges me to do just that!

2026-09-09
Can I say "yum!"? Those metaphors are delicious!
Can I have more?

You are a wonderful word crafter--
Your poems fill my heart often
With fantasy, joy and laughter

Something you deserve a "Thank You" for.


Thank You
°🙃°🐞°🙂°

2026-09-09
Alan, this poetry is beautiful and super special....I am praying for you and your wife to receive special blessings as you fulfill your days together. What you two must navigate is very challenging....but I believe true love conquers all. A special time is due for celebrating the both of you and your life together. I hope someone close in your family can make that happen. At the very least, you can read and see your best memories-- even if you have forgotten the man that made them, you can still feel the joy of that life. Love and hugs and lots of prayers sent up and your way.🙏💗🙏

2026-09-09
This is how my spouse looked when we first married. I am older than him- I married a younger man. They say women outlive men...maybe it will balance things a bit. I seem to have aged a bit better than him. Now he looks a little older than me. He looks completely different sporting an aged face with long hair and beard.

2026-09-09
No need for a formal critique-

This poem speaks.
And I love it!

Very nice, Sona--
The last line fits so superbly well and is a perfect closure.

2026-09-08
Just keep writing, Alan. It is very beneficial for you and your brain. So is music and hugs. It will help remind you of who you are and your name. I pray for a cure so your thoughts are regained. I do not like it that you may feel lost in your own mind. I pray you will always be loved and people are kind.
💗

2026-09-08
This is so beautifully expressed. It is appealing to the romantic side of humans. I am just amazed by your creativity and mastery with words.
I think I am dazed and speechless.
You really are gifted. I love this. Truly.

2026-09-07
Good one.

And yes....the element of suspense building up captured my attention.
ALL WORTH it....the last line....classic.
It made me laugh. I like your humorous approach in the expression of our own vanities that a soul can become riddled with from time to time.
When I look at trees, I see mankind.

Thank you for brightening my day with that little dose of laughter.

Good medicine.

2026-09-07
This is beautiful and brilliant-- I love every line. I personally think it is better than Baudelaire's. Yours dazzled my senses much much more. This should be a featured poem on Poetbay's main page. The word choice and structure is perfect and smooth...a real pleasure to read. THANK YOU.

2026-09-07
The reason the west was notoriously wild, was because of a lawless economy during a booming Gold Rush during that era... I enjoyed reading, Alan, especially that last stanza, which in my opinion, is the strongest and I liked the word play with incorporating the word "goat" with the famous gunslinger known as Billy the Kid. Clever with a moral message: crime doesn't pay.....just ask Billy.

2026-09-07
Enjoyed! As I read, I thought, these rhyming couplets would make good lyrics for a guitar song. I could hear the tune in my head. Thanks!

2026-09-06
Wow. This is well described. It evokes memories too, for I went to that same California beach when I was about 4-5 years old. It is relatable to me, all the same, because Atlantic Beach and Surf City, Carolina Beach, Myrtle and many beaches going down the East Coast and especially in Florida-- are like the one des ribed in the poem. The feeling it gives me, is the chill is symbolic for the isolation one potentially can feel emotionally, especially lost in a sea of strangers.I guess I'm selfish to say I prefer places with few or no people- imagine yourself going there minus the people! Hope this gives a chuckle ( my eyesight is poor now)- The line with the word "throng"-
When I first read, I thought it said "thong"....fortunately my vision corrected and I was able to reread that line correctly....for a second there, you had me trying to visualize you wearing a thong! Imagine that!.

I really enjoyed this one.

2026-09-05
Wow.🤔

2026-09-05
Beautifully expressed. I sighed, too. And you, sir, are a true poet, as your penned words have surely proven.

2026-09-05
Also, I want to share in other languages...well, how can one do that using rules of haiku [5/7/5] and tanka[5/7/5/7/7] syllables? I never thought about that before. When using translators the poem gets distorted and often loses intended meaning, especially symbolism and metaphor! Quite a challenge.

2026-09-05
I know it is not "traditional". A traditional tanka's last 2 lines should reflect a personal note at the turn. Maybe that one will be version 3 soon to come.

2026-09-04
This poem is EXCELLENT, like on genius level. Strange as it may be, it first evoked my memory of what a fugue is and my favorite thing to sing when I was young- "Row, Row Your Boat" in fugue style, at least three voices. You cleverly fuse water and fugue metaphors and the passage of days from dullness layering into an anxious counterpoint and a swirling centrifuge. It is a unique and creative description of the mounting tension hidden beneath a monotonous weekly routine.
It is a reflection of your recent reality in your country. Beneath the surface rhythm, an anxious counterpoint hints at a brewing chaos ready to shatter the routine at any moment....and it did.

2026-09-04
Ingvar, greetings! There is so much to digest here, you leave me speechless! The visions it evokes is intense.....at the very least...wow

2026-09-04
That is good news, Alan.Hopefully you can get up and do a little strolling. AND POETRY is good medicine for the mind---
Always has been!

2026-09-04
Good Luck, Ken!

2026-09-04
You are still young. Lol, I started college in 1972."60" is actually the true "middle age" marker. Enjoy your birthdays and your life. Celebrate your name! I appreciate you for being you. I learn new things everyday and from everyone. Today I learned about Belgium's King's Day. I love history but there is so much of it....lol. Happy much belated birthday and I won't forget it- it is my brother-in-laws birthday date as well.

2026-09-01
These activists need brain transplant. Duh.....having a G20 in Asheville was a huge and much needed boost of an economic stimulus.....these peeps are really stupid. They truly are.

2026-09-01
I agree with the other two. I can't add anything without being redundant.
But I will say I love the way you express this. I guess I could add, that with your poems, I feel the heart behind them and they evoke my emotions in response. You are a good writer and I always look forward to reading you.

2026-08-30
Scary to me, too.....I have days like that.....It's mild right now-- I forget stuff...Just little stuff- It's weird because I know I have forgotten but can't remember what that was! After some concentrating, it comes back to me.
💗🙏💔🌻💞

2026-08-30
Du är en av de mest unika mästarna på beskrivning! Gud ske lov för de där chokladbollarna och jag hoppas att du mår mycket bättre nu! Blodsocker är en allvarlig sak. Det är sannerligen inte en trevlig upplevelse att drabbas av och du hade potentiellt kunna falla i koma och värre därtill. Gud ske lov för Anna – ängeln som fanns på plats för att hitta och ge dig de där chokladbollarna! Du är en lycklig man.

2026-08-29
Hello, Chris. Well, this is certainly a sort of borrowed minimalistic and repurposed descriptive phrase that you have transformed into a very conceptual poem snipped from David Bowie's music. It's clever and pure whit for sure. It reminds me of how Picasso once transformed the bicycle seat and handlebars into "art" titled "Bullshead" or Duchamp turning a urinal into "art" and calling it "Fountain" by R. Mutt. This is great.

>(THE BUGGALOWS...) not sure about what it means, perhaps where Bowie gave this performance?

>LET's D A N C E

> ...PUT ON YOUR RED SHOES

>...AND DANCE THE BLUES

are the original iconic lyrics to David Bowie’s 1983 global hit song "Let's Dance".

Seen through a literary lens —the hidden meanings of the text were originally explained in interviews and music magazines.
In one interview, Bowie’s co-producer, Nile Rodgers, explained: "Put on your red shoes"...was a metaphor for the human condition. It refers to the "conceptual dance" of life—the act of masking true emotions.
"...and dance the blues" is a powerful line of contrast. The "red shoes" are energetic and vibrant- they act like a magic disguise projecting a brave, happy face for the world. To "dance the blues" means to take all the sadness, despair, or melancholy and de-stress and move through it. It's about pretending to be happy when you are secretly sad.

We can easily pin this poem on the world today....

Or a one on one lover.

The structure and presentation let's the verses sink in.
I like it.

2026-08-29
You are a gem. The first sentence I read caused me to laugh out loud. I love your sense of humor. I love the rhyming and the rhythm of your work. The content is universal and easily digested. You are a beautiful human and you connect. The essence of you is still there and you still know your name. We, at Poetbay love you. Hope you have a lovely and splendid day!

2026-08-27
Dear Sameen, don't focus on peeps like that- they do not make up the whole of the world. I speak from experience. I lost a home in one and know the fear of fleeing it, water up ti Robbie's waist on our street transformed into a river. Our daughter lives in the mountains and was there when Helene hit. They didn't lose their home but were trapped and supplies had to be brought in by helicopter. And we had no communication for several days and had no way to know their fate for many days. There is the event and the aftermath. In both events, we lost several friends. Both good and bad people show up. The rest just sit on a fence oblivious. I care very much. Message me privately if you are needing assistance.

2026-08-25
I brought this back out of the woodpile. This person and I were dating during a time of separation (with intent to divorce) from my husband. He took me out dancing, gave me flowers and we had several dates. What factored in negatively eventually was he was one of the last Goldsboro hippyfied holdouts still pushing their "Heartmath" that I rejected and still rejected. On the last of our many dates, we started kissing and in just a few minutes, he told me he needed to lie down and pulled out his heartmath monitoring gadget to practice the techniques to calm himself down. And that was our last date and inspiration for this poem.

2026-08-25
Thank you for a very fine, thought provoking poem. I think it was overdue. Sameen, your words feel like they were just plucked from my mind and at the same time you have publicly answered the questions I privately asked you. It works for me. This is part of our new reality and I believe you clearly expressed it. Furthermore, by doing so, it is not in vain, you are right and I will do better, for my part, as I hope others that need to, will too.
Again, thank you. I view this not just a poem but a gift. 💞

2026-08-23
Beautiful. Babies and children always brings a smile to my face.
God Bless You, Alan. Enjoyed this one very much.

2026-08-13
I am not sure what to think. In my experiences, science and intellect regarding the animal kingdom doesn't line up. Our daughter inherited a feral cat population problem when she moved to her new location near Candler, North Carolina up in the mountains. She now has transformed the situation into a creation of a feline sanctuary of about 12 cats, all fixed.Several were born into that situation, others were full grown. Cat behaviors are also unpredictable but she has them all claiming her as cat mama now. They're shy with other humans but not her. I began my farm education when temporarily taking care of our young grandchildren. I have delivered a newborn goat, accidentally killed one of the older goats due to feeding it too much food and learned about goats from hands on experience. I had a favorite chicken lay her egg directly into the palm of my hand. I had a goose that loved to sit in my lap and all these beautiful creatures had names they responded to. Another time, while walking on a trail in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the trail split into two and then merged again. When it merged again, I found myself walking in the midst of a heard of deer with a few bucks at the tail of the line. They never flinched or acted afraid of me. I walked with them, among them for a long time before the trail split again and we went our separate ways. It was the weirdest experience I ever encountered with animals. Those deer were not afraid of me at all and allowed me to flow with them. Perhaps in the more closed environment and the constant exposure to humans effected their behavior. I tend to think animals, like humans, can also be unpredictable, fluid and flunctuating in their interactions too.

2026-08-13
I like your expressive poem very much. There is one part though, that reads awkwardly in my perception perhaps because scientifically speaking, it is not accurate. There can be no shadows where there is no light is strong and true and I feel it can stand alone and doesn't need the additional and scientifically distorted detail of the next line. Darkness is simply the absence of light, not matter. Complete vacuums devoid of matter still allow light to pass through, but if no light source is present, total darkness exists even where there are no particles or matter.True darkness happens only when light is missing, regardless of how much matter is nearby. I hope you find this one small criticism as a positive consideration. Perhaps I am too analytical! I can't think of a suggestion except that maybe you could rework that line about the relationship of darkness and matter? Still, it was a very pleasant read for me. Thank you for sharing it.

2026-08-13
Yet, there is still your candle burning inside you, lighting the way. Hope you have a bright, love light day today, Alan. Blessings

2026-08-13
Good morning! I love this!-- especially that last line!
The rhyme and flow is excellent. You've taken a mundane breakfast topic and elevated it into a pleasant thought provoking piece.
For the record, I don't eat much cereal but when I do, I have 3 favorites in choices: Raisen Bran, Crispex and Frosted Flakes. I also like real oatmeal with real fruit added. Have a great day!

2026-08-11
I have revised this to death. The flow still has some weak spots.
My husband just scoffs and says it is too "Slyvia Plath-ish". Perhaps he's right. I really need to polish my writing skills with practice. This poem is a rough and raw draft, open for suggestions.

2026-08-09
What can I say? The scars of life... transform into masks we all learn how to wear, whether we like the fit or not-- to protect the softer side of who we really are from the outer darker forces seeking to harm us.
This is very creative expression and I personally love every line of it equally. The development of that emotional shell protects ourselves from our own gullible, naive vulnerabilities created from the pain of those outside forces. The use of nature images like oaks/bone is as appealing as it is effective in painting the imagery of a tough, defensive boundary built to keep the inner self safe and a reminder of the wounds we have recovered from. The scars.

I love each line's uniqueness:

🖤 The Broken Cadence: A scarring spot where the body or mind was hurt, leaving a white, hardened mark.

🖤 The Armor of Oaks: Tough, tree-like stiffness that hides a gentle or raw core beneath a creaky, wooden defense.

🖤 The Forge of Light: illuminates the reality as it slowly shaped this hard shell over time.

🖤The Soft Beast: The true, tender feelings, the inner self kept locked away and safe from harm.

Cleverly expressed themes are clear-

●Protection: the boundary that stops undesired pain of touch.
●Survival: presents the hard exterior that separates a fragile inside from a harsh world.
●Resonates: As unpleasant as it is, this defense is a normal part of life that many people have experienced.

In psychology it is commonly referred to as a "protection mechanism".

Again, another universal hit poem on this one--we all can relate to it.

2026-08-09
Hello, Alan. I hear you. And feel helpless. I am glad you are still writing and communicating with us. Our Creator knows when that time for you to finally depart will be. Being in a coma like state like what you describe is scary. I hope all that will go away and be replaced with loving vibes coming from everyone. You are loved and I weep for you when I know of the suffering associated with a failing body. I will be very sad when that day comes-- but your wonderful poems will linger on.
You will not be forgotten.

🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏
Praying for a good day today.
Love,
Melanie

2026-08-09
Warning: A Long Commentary

Your poem elicits this thought in my brain--- the yin-yang. "The Yin-Yang of Love" embodies a relationship of two opposing yet complementary forces balancing each other out. In Chinese Taoist philosophy, it means that the diversity between partners do not cause conflict, but instead create harmony, completeness, and a resilient bond.

The Beatles were like that. They were idolized and all the latest rage of super cool. When they broke up, they retained their individual talents but did measure up to what they were as a united band. Johnny Cash was deeply in love with his first wife but that didn't stop him from falling in Love with June. Love was there but the balance of needs wasn't. There is a unique "interdependence" in that one partner's traits rely on and complete the other's. It has balanced energies blending Yin (receptive, nurturing, quiet, and reflective) with Yang (active, assertive, driving, and expressive). Also, when one partner feels weak or overwhelmed, the other steps in as a grounding anchor. Love is more than just sexual, although sexual attraction and compatibility is significantly important. The truist Love goes beyond Gender. These fluid dynamics apply to everyone regardless of gender, meaning either partner can embody yin or yang traits as needed.

Lastly, this poem triggered my impulsively, a negative trait of mine that I have been working on to restrain. When I read this, it was like a deja vu. That is because I am currently working on a poem that also is using similar science based imagery and metaphor!

I like yours.
Short and sweet
And succinct.

Hope you have a good day!

2026-08-03
Hmmm.... and who is "me" in the portrait?

2026-08-02
I see the picture. I hear your giggle. I love your way of creation with words.

2026-08-02
We all have our stories to tell. But who is willing to read or listen to anything? People have become EMOTIONALLY illiterate, and in many cases, they actually are. WRITTEN EXPRESSION is very good for the brain!
If for no other reason, for yourself. It starts there first--connections come later and is a matter of the readers' tastes that are not in the author's control.

2026-08-01
Good morning, Alan. Hope you are having a good day. Your poem made me think-- life gives you lemons- make lemonade.
And you do it very well. 🙂 Bless you

2026-08-01
Hello, my friend. I have been musing over this one. It evokes what provokes poets to write. Our muses can be from within our own being or from the spark of another human being. I love the way you presented this work.

Depending on context, the "muse" is a source of creative inspiration, a mythological goddess of the arts, or a verb meaning to think deeply. But primarily refers to someone who inspires any artistic work.

The sad beauty of this poem is the revelation of hidden pain and the need to express it and be heard. The dichotomy of rigid art with that art generated by pure, raw feeling. It questions whether inner turmoil comes from a lack of voice or a lack of care from others' own apathy.

Breaking it down:

>A minor muse: A lesser goddess of inspiration who is tired of strict rules.
>Tired of marble and metre: Bored with cold, perfectionist art and fixed poetic rhythms.
>Do you burn: Asking if you feel deep, painful inner stress or anger.
>Because you cannot speak: Suffering because you do not know how to share your feelings.Or because you have never been asked to:

Suffering because no one ever cared enough to ask you how you truly feel.

Your poem speaks volumes with just a few short lines.

The poem is excellent in my humble opinion.

2026-08-01
I wish you success and hope it helps achieve those goals.