081726

I<br>

hate<br>

that the<br>

time machine<br>

stranded me back here<br>

got no cataract surgery<br>

in the damn 16^th century<br>

medicine is the<br>

pits you catch<br>

something<br>

you're<br>

dead

081626

 

Available speculative poetry books by David C. Kopaska Merkel<br><br>

Contact information: 10055 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge LA 70815, 205-246-9346, jopnquog@gmail.com (PayPal or questions)<br><br>

Available from the author:<br><br>

The Ambassador Takes One For The Team, diminuendo press, 2019, ISBN 978-1-936021-63-5. $13 postpaid<br><br>

Some Disassembly Required, diminuendo press, 2022, ISBN 978-1-936021-67-3. $16 postpaid<br><br>

Unwelcome Guests, Weird House Press, 2024. $22 postpaid.<br><br>

Risk Assessment, Island of Wak Wak Press, 2025. $8 postpaid. (senryu)<br><br>

The Edible Zoo, Hiraeth Press, second edition, 2025. $15 postpaid. (children's poetry)<br><br>

 

Contributors to 133

Some contributors did not receive their copies of the latest issue. If you are one of these people, please email me at jopnquog@gmail.com.

Review of The Pogo Sunday Parade

Walt Kelly, 1959, The Pogo Sunday Parade, Simon & Schuster. Our story opens with an intrepid band of Soviet explorers on the dark side of the Moon. The names have been changed, but you will recognize all of the players.<br><br>

The scene shifts to a battle of wits between two old friends. Who is better than who at what? Staring, screeching, the sky's the limit. If that isn't enough, fisticuffs lead almost inevitably to consumption of laundry and the heavyweight championship of the world. The story goes along and goes along and before you know it bear is on the menu. And then off it!<br><br>

Not one but two octopuses take up residence on pates, and a serious discussion of grammar ensues, at high volume. Sunday page nonsense continues all the way to the end of the book without let up. You have been warned.

Carrier crew on short rations

seaman eyes

the well-fed Captain

tests his knife's edge

Review of The Pogo Poop Book

Walt Kelly, The Pogo Poop Book, Simon and Schuster. In which the origin of the Jack Acid Society, representing all fascists everywhere, is investigated. Most of the denizens of the fortress are played by familiar characters. This tale is followed by a parable about stone-age people, flying dinosaurs, and religion. There is quite a bit of nudity. Next is a rather sobering tale of the Kluck Klams. It does have a hopeful ending, and the coolest pictures of goblins I have ever seen. Of course there's plenty of nonsense verse, a story of magic, mice, and mayhem, and a tragedy about a robot. The familiar story of Chicken Little is recounted, with a twist.

081326

the ship came down fast <br>

I felt the explosion even before <br>

it hit