The Ecphorizer
| Keep Off the Grass |
| Neal Wilgus |
Issue 12 (November 2008)
in a loving tone:
follow the rules
but make up your own.
Be damn careful where you tread,
you're only flesh and bone.
Follow the rules
but make up your own.
Strive to always get ahead,
leave no untumed stone -
follow the rules
but make up your own.
When you're thin and underfed
call me on the phone.
Follow the rules
but make up your own.
And if you wish that you were dead
and hate that devil loan
follow the rules
but make up your own.
If your books are in the red
and you moan and groan:
follow the rules
but make up your own.
Now remember what I've said
when you're out on your own:
just follow those rules
but make up your own.
Neal's been a frequent contributor to the original print version of The Ecphorizer and now he has graciously offered to let us reprint some of his original poems and stories. These three poems first appeared in Rhymed and Dangerous, © 2004 Neal Wilgus, published by Kindred Spirit Press in Corrales, New Mexico.
Contributor Profile
Neal Wilgus
Neal Wilgus was born in Jerome, Arizona. He has a degree in English from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, and moved to New Mexico while working for the US Forest Service in the early 60s. He is a prolific writer of poetry, science fiction, and satirical humor. His latest chapbooks are The Leakoids: Newsalizing the Nation, and Rhymed and Dangerous, a book of poems. Neal currently resides in Corrales, New Mexico, and works the night shift with his illustrator, Filo Martinez, who provided the sketch of Neal at right.
| They Had it Coming |
| Neal Wilgus |
Issue 12 (November 2008)
met on a path.
Strong gave a tweak
and Weak fell in half.
Whereupon Strong
stifled a laugh
and before very long
he choked on his wrath.
Contributor Profile
Neal Wilgus
Neal Wilgus was born in Jerome, Arizona. He has a degree in English from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, and moved to New Mexico while working for the US Forest Service in the early 60s. He is a prolific writer of poetry, science fiction, and satirical humor. His latest chapbooks are The Leakoids: Newsalizing the Nation, and Rhymed and Dangerous, a book of poems. Neal currently resides in Corrales, New Mexico, and works the night shift with his illustrator, Filo Martinez, who provided the sketch of Neal at right.
| A Peace Creep |
| Neal Wilgus |
Issue 12 (November 2008)
give the victory sign;
his hair is long and tangled
but his head is doing fine.
Too bad this easy rider
is so easy to malign
by the folks who brought you Vietnam
and so on down the line.
Contributor Profile
Neal Wilgus
Neal Wilgus was born in Jerome, Arizona. He has a degree in English from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, and moved to New Mexico while working for the US Forest Service in the early 60s. He is a prolific writer of poetry, science fiction, and satirical humor. His latest chapbooks are The Leakoids: Newsalizing the Nation, and Rhymed and Dangerous, a book of poems. Neal currently resides in Corrales, New Mexico, and works the night shift with his illustrator, Filo Martinez, who provided the sketch of Neal at right.