W.k.kortas : Writing

satchmo in albany, 1956

satchmo in albany, 1956

A Poem by W.k.kortas


He is in his rooms in the Kenmore Hotel, Once-gracious lady favored by the ancient city’s elite, Now tired old harlot patching and ..
The Dragon Of Parikkala

The Dragon Of Parikkala

A Poem by W.k.kortas


Above the Arctic Circle, where the Laplanders dwell, A place where sunlight never melts the tundra’s icy shell And Beelzebub hi..
In Which The Shade Of Mr. Jacob Marley Ruminates Upon The Vagaries Of Fate

In Which The Shade Of Mr. Jacob Marley Ruminates U..

A Poem by W.k.kortas


My admonition to my erstwhile business partner, Delivered in stentorian yet otherworldly tones Augmented by gnarled and accusatory finger..
In Which The Recently Widowed Callie Soames Takes A Moment To Reflect Upon This And That

In Which The Recently Widowed Callie Soames Takes ..

A Poem by W.k.kortas


There are the mysteries of life, those of faith (Leastwise according to Pastor, though I suspect That is the get out of jail free card on..
A Veteran Of Passchendaele At Rest, Lillyfield, Manitoba, 1923.

A Veteran Of Passchendaele At Rest, Lillyfield, Ma..

A Poem by W.k.kortas


They said you could see the madness in Haig’s face: A certain set of the jaw, a steeliness to the gaze, Which to some spoke of a..
Freebooters And Other Gentlemen.

Freebooters And Other Gentlemen.

A Poem by W.k.kortas


It was sufficient to be our ocean, Though in reality it was a tiny pie of a lake, shallow and weedy The shoreline bereft of cottages or d..
a cartoon cat in a time of cloud computing

a cartoon cat in a time of cloud computing

A Poem by W.k.kortas


You have been finally set free, the attendees are told (Although, in truth, free is a very large and entirely vague word), And the mess..
The Illumination Of Musya The Condemned

The Illumination Of Musya The Condemned

A Poem by W.k.kortas


i. I remember, when I was a much younger girl, How my grandfather would hold a kopek in his hand And, making it flutter slowly as if ..
the long good friday

the long good friday

A Poem by W.k.kortas


We were able, at the end of the day, to broker a sufficient compromise; Oh, there wasn’t the transcendent joy of a stoning, ..
A Woman With A Polka-Dot Scarf

A Woman With A Polka-Dot Scarf

A Poem by W.k.kortas


It was every bit a part of her as her fingers or her voice (That being an instrument mostly unused now), And it didn’t matter that ..