Where is Martin Van Buren
now that America needs him?
(Glaring up from a creek
bed in Novato California)
A Martin Van Buren Frottage!
© 2024 by bob plainwilder
A Martin Van Buren Frottage, part one
//Tag: Contemporary American Poetry
//A Martin Van Buren Frottage, part II
//
(Where is Martin Van Buren, now that America needs him?)
When Martin Van Buren appears
we give a toot.
We are the only duly recognized
Martin Van Buren authority.
We’ve learned well from history
what would Van Buren wear?
what would Van Buren say?
what made V.B. presidential?
The Martin Van Buren look.
The Martin Van Buren way.
Martin Van Buren’s greatest hits —
A Martin Van Buren Frottage!
Martin Van Buren’s hairline
Evoked his life and time.
His bulbous nose and pointed chin
the world might never see again…
A Martin Van Buren Frottage!
© 2024 by b. plainwilder
Grosz Gonzo Grosz
//
This wild mongoose of an artist
Snapping in the social fray
turning lights on everything
a prophet of his day
A thoughtful and extremely rare
artist Visionaire
his particular winning shine
showed its detail for all time
A civilization in Decline
the Nazi rise it would unfold
in his paintings big and bold
Grosz unequaled social critic
Prescient foretold
Casting poignant imagery
Cultural degeneration
bureaucrats misguided
drippy grifters waving fists
Authoritarian Decadence
Grosz would be confronting this
Dramatizing evil snipes
who’d wipe the goodness from our midst
Courageous artists like George Grosz
today are sorely missed
© 2024 by Rob Sienna / b. plainwilder
Grinding Metal Corporate Teeth
//
Icky times in Dinjyville
Pacin round the platform waitin for a train
stumblebum plinkin phone
Everywheres another clanky
smart device encrusted soul
worlds away from satisfaction or fulfillment
in Some Hole
Under monstrous office towers
trapped in sticky mires
the maelstrom of each day
Weary eyed and hesitant
Disappointed mucho
Bad luck dangles down lapels
at times glinting off from those
Grinding Metal Corporate Teeth
that don’t let go
Drawing above by Frost Newton
© 2025 by Rob Sienna / b. plainwilder
Welcome – The San Francisco Review
//
Arts, Letters & Culture from SF Bay & Beyond.
Issue #101, Now – Contents:
Bomb Sniffing Dog Symbol
//
© 2017 by bob plainwilder
Have a Pressing Problem?
//There on Sacramento Street
they sit you in the catbird seat!
Finery in need of care?
Peninou he’ll meet you there.
Gamely Pierre Peninou
furthering your garment’s worth
measuring its length and girth…
In a hurry? Just don’t worry.
Ring up Pierre Peninou!
The inscrutable logo on his company hat,
such élan evoked in that.
Tasteful Pierre Peninou!
Pierre’s trending collar stays.
Engineering proper plays.
Comfy with the finer things,
sparkly suit enabling!
He’ll unwrinkle, block, repair, cuff & collar
skirts, culottes, sweats, blazers.
Even grungy laundry bags
re-done with a winning splash!
Velvet capes your emblem?
Get some pressed with dash!
If you want to you can have
them retrofitted too.
Crafty Pierre Peninou.
He can reinforce, depill
flat cuffs cold… that’s old hat.
He can stain guard or repel
stuff that no one else will do.
Outfits tailor made for you,
just ask Pierre Peninou!
© 2023 by bob plainwilder
uniquely dandy radio
//for Ken Freedman
tuning into old skool style
dial catching FMU
broadcasting essential spew
WFMU
uniquely quirky radio
a pillar of community
home to surreal flights uh fancy
FMU’s the best
celebrating east and west
ingeniously inventive
tuneage that inspires
fires all new takes on life
wiring up communities
FMU unmatched
espousing cool inventive ways
WFMU
© 2023 by bob z plainwilder
Music and Poetry Audio
//The following tracks are performances by author Robert Lane Wilder with music by Anthony Sepulveda.
To check out free audio clips from this author, click here
Plucky Robin Tweets HiQ
//