analogous to where
the fountainhead of knowledge
gushes forth unstoppable
as a result after Atlas shrugged
his head and shoulders
loosing bits of esoteric material
(and hairs - i.e. fluff
as the spouse would say
caught up in the shower drain)
handy dandy blue's clues
deemed more valuable
then fine spun gold
retrieved with tweezers
filaments randomly stitched
into indestructible raiment
and remaining threads
woven into tapestry,
where weft and warp webbing
traded on eBay to the highest bidder,
whereat a veritable warehouse
of timeless tomes
erected like a walled fortress
to keep out neighbors
that tend to be a bit frosty.

Linkedin and synonymous
with stretching intellect
(to the breaking point) ecstasy
doth arise buzzfeeding
sixty plus shades
of gray matter
constituting soul asylum
analogous to a ******
desperately hankering to get a fix
knowledge my drug of choice
impossible mission to get enough
cause the more I learn
the greater the appetite
for cerebral consumption.

Ever since becoming
an emerging adult
(approximately my half-life ago)
drenching cerebral tissue
courtesy reading material galore
stoked hot spots of noggin
deliverance videre licet I did exult
some may hashtag me
as being haughty
being quick to insult
a run of the mill logophile
truth be told born
into a learned bookish environment
I eschewed bourgeoisie
and voluntarily naturally gravitated
toward chattering class
comfortably mixing with hoi polloi
but prudent not to downplay midcult.

Yours truly doth not seek to impress
nor necessarily exclude anyone
from the prospect of befriending her/him
nevertheless, I make at least one exception
to the above declaration and countenance
sparring with profoundly
literate and eloquent people
adroit with a clever
punishing turns of phrases,
thus specific pleasure
derived from reading
not linkedin to bragging rights,
but strictly associated
with expanding my vocabulary
and becoming knowledgeable
about various and sundry subjects
that piqued curiosity of mine.
Ofttimes the penchant
to while away hours
engrossed with reading
a well crafted story
(although I do enjoy perusing biographies
couched within historical fiction
and gleaning historical context
about the era of the respective author),
but whether fiction or factual
the might English words
themselves exhibit entrances me,
a veritable logophile,
who could even find pleasure
plodding thru a dictionary
with absolute zero ennui,
and learning the etymology
constituting designation governing
how we interpret the webbed wide world
and remembrance of things past
within the realm of being human.

I decided to title my piece
a concatenation of a few different notions
incorporating fictional romance
alluding to myself and spouse
in conjunction with hybridization
stemming from vague references
to tried and true value
tangentially sparring with Cinderella
but giving the following
free verse poem a slight twist and shout.

I take the liberty to contrive
a fictional tale of make believe
where faux royalty
née monarchical rule
encompassed great swaths of land
long before Lower Merion
coalesced into an enclave
and concentration of wealthy MainLiners,
which kingdom or fiefdom of Europeans
more or less duplicated
the type of government
from the so called old country
allocating the then sparse population
into a hierarchy or pecking order
where arranged marriages
sealed the fate of those
most aggressive to dominate
those people rather submissive and meek,
whose role became passive and subservient
to the dominant and overbearing
dons trumpeting might is right.  

The princess of Penn Valley
and the pauper of Collegeville
unbeknownst to each other,
(though they lived approximately
twenty miles from each other,
each existed hundreds of years apart),
nevertheless they would meet and marry
five months later predicated on pastiche
tenuously linkedin to
the Victorian era and the Modernist period
a daughter born to first time mother.

Iniquities heaped
upon head of Penn Valley princess...,
whose brutish, nasty
and short twisted sisters
relentlessly tormented their sibling
then out of desperation,
she wed Peter Peter pumpkin eater,
who kept her in a pumpkin shell.

Just by chance I happened
to hear the quiet lament
a damsel in distress
surreptitiously signaled knight
whose newborn baby
suckling at the ample *****
one shining armor,
yours truly himself donned role
though hashtagged as pawn,
he convinced said lass
to accept unconditionally
unbridled love his hands
grasping those soft fingers
of a young mother with innocence,
yet full of wisdom
beyond scant seventeen years a
slave in the role
of scullery maid ****** courtesy
when one generation
prior to another
one poor lass barely out
of childhood when a series
of unfortunate events -
found lass gravid
with child automatically denying
only scant opportunities
for escaping mean vicious
cycle, thus unbeknownst
to chivalrous brave heart
fictionalized as the writer
of these words me, whose
overzealous overactive imagination
expounded one being born
hundreds of years ago,
when bulk of folks agrarian
at a time when many
if not most civilizations and
their discontents
could never have foreseen
nor believe as an eye witness
time traveler reported
videre licet onset of The now
Fifth Industrial Revolution
(5IR), also known as
Industry 5.0 represents
a new phase of industrialization
characterized by the harmonious collaboration
between humans
and advanced technologies,
particularly AI and robotics.

It builds upon the
Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0),
focusing on a more human-centric approach,
increased resilience, and a stronger emphasis
on sustainability.

This shift emphasizes
the importance of human creativity and skills
alongside machine capabilities, aiming
for greater societal well-being.

Key aspects of the Fifth Industrial Revolution:
Human-Machine Collaboration:
The core concept is the integration
of human intelligence and skills
with the speed, productivity,
and consistency of machines.

Sustainability:
5IR prioritizes environmental
and societal impact, moving
beyond purely economic value
to encompass broader concepts
like human well-being.

Cognitive Intelligence:
The rise of advanced AI,
particularly technologies like GPT models,
is a driving force in this revolution,
leading to the creation of cognitive partners
that can augment human capabilities.

Focus on Human-Centeredness:
5IR aims to create a more
human-centric approach to technology,
ensuring that it serves the needs
of people and society,
rather than the other way around.

Increased Resilience:
The ability of systems to adapt
and recover from disruptions
is a key aspect of 5IR,
particularly in areas
like supply chains and manufacturing.

Earlier this merry month of May
a goniff who possibly did gossip
about his/her surreptitious exploits
when he/she brazenly
accessed ATM machine
situated at 13 West Ridge Street
Lansford Pennsylvania 18232
pulled off outright theft
found him/herself
in possession of debit card
with Mastercard logo
(I deduce mail meant for us -
particularly the missus
got sent to incorrect address)
unknown person took liberty
considered themselves blessed
a golden opportunity
became their manifest destiny
initially linkedin to activate debit card
immediately afterward acquired access
to monies in our joint account
and stuffed their pockets with moolah
belonging to yours truly and the missus
he/she blithely devolved
into criminal mind,
nevertheless mischievous person
had themselves a handy dandy
blue's clues field day
when they considered
him/herself lucky duck
emptied checking account
(belonging to sexagenarian
husband and wife, and as the former
generally identified victim)
can attest to electronic record identified
espying online account in question
with erroneous withdrawn funds
incorporating a half dozen transactions -
instantaneously rendered me penniless,
the writer of these words
matter of fact pondered joining dead souls,
and rider in the emotional storm
hankered for eternal peace
proffered courtesy "Spiritus Mundi,"
I suddenly felt compelled
to renounce living social
and (despite lack of life insurance)
capitulate to the afterlife,
yet restraint and being
support animal of the wife
checked impulse to surrender
on a wing and a prayer
to the divine cosmic force
ideally for monetary salvation,
where upon the countless rungs
of each heavenly stair,
presented a daunting task
nevertheless these little feet
of mine tirelessly climbed
every mountainous step
attempting to reach the elusive summit
in sum re: experienced a spring in mine gait
with subsequent ascendent footstep
taken with increased vim and vigor
as if being buoyed forth,
perhaps invisible strings
controlled me as a marionette
ascending closer to another
lightness of finally being
no longer discombobulated
nor distressed simian
gifted with eternal blessedness
to behold the infinite blinding starburst
signaling out of this world
magnificent phenomenal supernova,
bathing, hashtagging and searing
across retinas freed from cataracts
courtesy opthamologist Aaron Cohn
rendering vision to behold
brilliant permanent images
attesting to the infinite
starry eyed breadth, scope, and width
of the universe city of galactic accretions
splayed out across the cosmos
an ever expanding
profound show stopper
fanfare for a common man
enjoying an Appalachian Spring
while attending a Rodeo
reinforcing nihilistic existentialism
while reducing egotistical pomposity
into an infinitesimal nothingness,
yet in the meantime welcomes
munificence videre licet largesse
or more simply stated
as cold hard cash for this Johnny.

alternately titled give one targeted scapegoat a break,
an unquenchable thirst for moolah before I wake
from nightmare of computer hackers.

I tread upon the oblate spheroid
along the edge of night glistening
like a blade runner wielding a knife.

Dark shadows hoover
from the outer limits of the twilight zone
illuminating one bisel mashugana naked ape
alienated and lost in space.

An invisible umbilical cord
tethers yours truly to planet earth,
whereat sorry excuse for a human
symbiotically uber twittering
exhibiting more information about me
than you dear reader wanted to know,
a nameless anonymous poet
pantomiming living social
linkedin to webbed wide world
a fool on the hill
analogous to buzzfeeding
as a prairie home companion wannabe
and poet of Perkiomen Valley,
who writes free verse
frequently bordering
(while housed in a noble barn)
glommed on the side of melancholy.

Now I take nine prescription medications
to keep in check anxiety, dysthymia,
obsessive/compulsive disorder,
and palmar hyperhidrosis
(excessive sweating of palms)
where baseline difficulty coping
with ordinary life demands
such as joining the woke
work a day world in general
signaling to those who begat me
to marvel at ingenuity of their sole son
evincing capability
to reap what he did sow
regarding maintaining
impressive curriculum vitae
versus his poor track record
peppered with barely
passing lousy grades
and reflecting deliberate intention to fail
aborting native potential
to succeed with flying colors
wishing scores of decades later
to retry and live vicariously
thru elements of style
exhibited by "star student"
the first born daughter
between himself and wife.

The married status of mine
one once upon a time mattress
(early in our
pre-marital months long honeymoon phase)
connubial bliss now fraught
with emotional and financial hardship,
and yours truly (me)
still afflicted with monetary woes
exacerbated courtesy
electronic highwayman/woman,
who virtually robbed and pillaged
my checking and savings accounts
(by hook and crook incorporating Zelle),
thus spurring a short spiel fostering
a Caucasian, sexgenarian,
and Unitarian Democrat
to please supplement
very meager cashed out resources of mine,
whose modus operandi to supplicate
with cents and sensibility,
and pride without prejudice
indicative of my modest demeanor.

originally written May 31st, 202_
humorously, posthumously,
and tempestuously expressing woes
from the top of my talking head
to gnarly nails of
(this little piggy fame) toes
in sore need and want
of a podiatrist I suppose,
which keratin structures
at the end of plates
of meaty ten digits
topping off little feet
dextrous enough to type poetry and prose
and play violin highs and lows,
but only the shadow knows
that one among
common prickly Joe's
alternately titled re: double entendre
the red, white and blue
diminutive soldier (when
squeezed like a toy gun
cocked and primed
to fire off load)
then gets flaccid like a slimy hose
does double duty
in tandem with magic wand,
lifelike snaky entity
that actually grows
particularly necessary when
burst of fiery secretion flows
intense spray powerful enough
to pulverize knees and elbows
subsequently witnessing
yours truly to doze
an ideal time to take
a naked lunch break
at petticoat junction
to figuratively close
itty bitty teensy weensy
of cross between humpback ***** whale
analogous to miniscule Moby ****
regarding how prurient introduction
to reasonable rhyme blows.

I chose to memorialize, alas and alack
atypical/unusual fond memory -
argh, a sudden nostalgia attack
many... countless years gone back
livingsocial at 324 Level Road,
elapsed good times,
I can never buyback
prominent Gambone family builders
demolished complex edifice
currently repurposed mansion
manse sin courtesy
vinyl city as Stella's Way
boyhood address above,
never seen since transformed
into latter place name, which property
originally christened Glen Elm,
(within national registries)
yours truly can easily callback
detailed information searching internet
if mine eyes espied absent estate...
slack jawed stare would repeatedly
sow sadness weighing me heart
heavy as coalsack
accompanying sorrow with
attendant flood of tears,
would make an immediate comeback
impossible mission to stopper
feeble, futile and lame counterattack
where sentimental reverie would
carry me far away to Old Virginny,
for no particular rhyme nor reason.
e'en attempting to write
recollections might trigger
tsunami imminent domain
grievous childhood memories
recollecting watching silent home movies,
while chomping on crackerjack
when I had real teeth.

Like **** in boots, the Missus
axed me to enliven herself
regaling humorous instances, thus I cutback
to... party hardy times,
the major drawback
x amount of time elapsed
summoning special occasions
(surgeon general's warning
such mental revisitations)
fraught with onset,
where perilous flashback
will moost likely
violently grip cerebral cortex
analogous to suckerpunch puny chap (me)
knocked unconscious courtesy
searingly robust fullback,
nevertheless impossible mission
to restrain waterworks I intend to hijack,
and hoop fully succeed tamping tears
strong suggestion
as encouraged by hunchback
from Notre Dame Dublin
known within these neck of woods
as storied Paul Bunyan
also alias Philanderer,
(especially among superficially
prim and proper, but
actually prurient women folk),
whose services regarding payback
best abide, adhere, and afford
to pay forward credo fore playbook.

Said burly lumberjack
with severe scoliosis,
nonetheless quite self evident
his outsize implement,
(ye need not axe further questions)
extinguishing problematic residue
iterated further within
mine playful ramble
herewith to enliven
anecdote ever further,
I inject humorous tidbit
just gimme moment
to unload and reach
into psychological
metaphorical knapsack
particularly blue's clue
slimy hose from days of yore, my keepsake
to forcibly remove *******
birthed courtesy emergency pit stop
without means and ways to clean derriere,
a feeble and futile attempt.

Haint no fallacy
yours truly subsequently secured
more powerful giant accouterment),
while clinging for dear life
perched atop ledger
or edger domain of clawfoot bathtub,
(ah how convenient and timely
smallish size Jacuzzi getup to appear)
and lemme figuratively
continue closing pathetic riffraff
(apropos of nothing) rifling around
mostly strewn with random tchotchkes
and odd bubba's zayda's knickknack
such as ahh... look here hocked wares,
acquired ready to receive paddywhack
giving doggerel bonafied chops.

awash with intermittent amnesia.

Scant number of minutes elapsed...
before I forgot whether yours truly
took another dose of glycopyrrolate
ingested as a palliative prescription
medication addressing the issue of
palmar hyperhidrosis -- excessive
perspiration of palms of hands, an
unpleasant physiological symptoms
afflicting me more than three fourths
of my threescore and six years or
more specifically sixty six orbits
alive to the sound of music
debilitating, hobbling, loosing
a torrent of water dripping
(think Murchison Falls -
After crossing the gorge,
the water pours down
falling freely 45m below
creating a strong water spray
on which the rainbow is formed)
off the ventral side, id est anterior
(front) surface of the hand
an uncontrollable exudation
of wet sometimes saturated
issuance wren during
physical contact (particularly
a handshake) quite aggravating
and part of the reason
(without rhyme), I shied away
filling out applications,
a major self conscious
legendary characteristic
of my being at least
as far back as when
yours truly a poor student
at Methacton High School
creating a great disruption
when quizes or major midterms
or final examinations occurred
witnessing dog awful dilemma
when using pen(cil) and paper,
because the royal pain in the ****
sopping wet diaphoresis
significantly like duh impacted
satisfactory writing without the ink
or graphite turning into liquid,
yet never did I
(an extremely shy youth)
tell teacher (if young and female
generated flushed and hot sensations
finding me to blush),
but even if the pedagogue
a male never did mine tongue
wag to plead if I could retake the test
teasing out qualifications or knowledge
(ofttimes memorized strictly
for those minutes
of absolute zero noise),
when intense concentration
attempted to bring
to the fore of the mind
(essentially a mission impossible
even for the likes of ace actors,
who made their debut
when original "Mission: Impossible"
television series and made for silver screen
(countless decades later)
"Mission: Impossible - starring macho
and adroit Top Gun globetrotter,)
to **** out unsavory malefactors,
and Cruise’s (he
of Risky Business endless fame)
endearing, one-man crusade
to get butts back in movie theater seats
in spite of executives trying
to sell the industry out to streaming
the none-too-subtle subtext
of 2023’s delightful
“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning”
also included a cameo appearance
of nondescript appearance
with his trademark characteristic
of longish wavy hair
giving him cachet as self anointed
free verse writing Poet
of Penn Valley, Pennsylvania
playing a well known woolgatherer
who recently returned from zzz land,
where dreams made
but rarely REMembered.

Vultures preyed on my vulnerabilities
forcing me to carrion camping
as fine young cannibals
sharpened their knives
and licked their lips
while eyeing me as their naked lunch
bound and gagged
as a huge cauldron bubbled
awaiting yours truly as human sacrifice
preparatory to be boiled alive
shorn of clothes
embarrassingly in the buff
with me *** bellied gut
and spindleshanks for legs
presenting a poor excuse
and laughing stock of **** sapiens
lowering my head in resignation
as a die hard atheist
putting sudden conviction
in an all knowing divine creator
who reassuringly winked nonverbally
a handy dandy blue's clue
meaning just wing it
relying on atavistic survival instinct
playing possum to thwart rat fink.

After threescore and six bountiful years,
I learned the wicked wiles of **** sapiens
as a much quicker picker upper,
now than earlier in my life
as the fickle finger of fate veered
yours truly hither and yon, to and fro
necessitating me to apply
razor sharp wit as potent,
(albeit sometimes brittle) spears
particularly after a delayed reaction welled up
analogous to waves that rock
plowing whitecaps into piers.

As a diminutive boy
passive role of scapegoat
granted bullies carte blanche permission
to threaten me with verbal taunts
and stop just a hair's breadth short
beating the sh*t out of one scared lad,
who subdued submissively, subserviently
suddenly and deftly
adopted fetal position
as mortal blow poised to strike,
I hurriedly and subsequently
dropped down on all fours,
where miming panting
bonafide doggone friggin human
praying for immediate salvation.
 
Intimidation of badass nasty brute
heaped insult upon injury
whereby string of expletives
hurled like blackened barbs
to additional disproportionate
trademark attributes of mine
aside from being rather diminutive in size
(easily squashed courtesy
incredible hulk sporting outsize glute)
mine existence could be extinguished
and snuffed out
videre licet runt of the mill
without anyone giving a hoot
mama and papa would say
"forget the ransom cuz
he ain't worth the loot"
momentarily imagining myself
as a radical righteous leftist
being raised by a deaf mute
resembling a Doctor Zeus character
while attending regal affair
in my honor
as musicians and leader of the band
trumpeted the clarion call
initiating pomp and circumstances
as zeppelin size conductor led
electric light orchestra
donning a zoot suit.

Invisible battle scars
worn like well earned
emotional tattoos
pierced armor of soul asylum,
nevertheless gifted me
how to feign being a lunatic,
when intimidated not to crater
like totally tubular offloading,
jettisoning superfluous ballast
dumping cumbersome
Jerry Springer like baggage
analogous to primordial
third rock from the sun
birthing when the Moon formed
from a giant impact event
involving the Earth
and a Mars-sized celestial body
named Theia around 4.5 billion years ago.

This collision ejected
a massive amount of debris into space,
which then coalesced to form the Moon
regarded as the most widely accepted theory,
known as the giant impact hypothesis.