War Crimes

The Dream


THEY SAY IT BEGAN
ADVERSE TO THE PLAN
WHEN I ARRIVED
JUST IN TIME
IN A PLAN SO SUBLIME,
MY MOTHER WAS
COVERED
IN RED PUFFY BUMPS
ALL OF A SUDDEN
THEY QUARANTINED
THESE ITCHY OLD LUMPS
BARELY BEFORE
THE GRAND ARRIVAL
OF A BIG SLEEPY GIRL
WHO WAS BENT
ON SURVIVAL,
AND SO IT WENT
I WAS QUICKLY SENT
AWAY FROM MY MOM
TO THE FAMILY HOUSE
WHERE EXPERIENCED
LADIES CRADLED ME,
FED AND CHANGED
AND SANG FOR FREE,
MY AUNTIE AND GRANNY
TAKING CHARGE
OF THE FIRST REAL KID
TO ARRIVE ON A BARGE
OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER,
WHILE MY POOR LITTLE
MOTHER
WAS TEARFUL AND FEARFUL
FOREVER AFTER,
SHE MISSED THE TIME
OF THE CRADLED TOUCH,
THE ONE WHERE A CHILD
LEARNS ABOUT SUCH
WONDERFUL THINGS
LIKE NIPPLES AND RINGS,
NO BREASTFEEDING
ALLOWED
IN THIS FAMOUS CROWD:
I OFTEN WONDER
ABOUT THIS BLUNDER
AND SURMISE
WITH SURPRISE
THAT PERHAPS IT WAS
MEANT TO BE,
ESPECIALLY NOW
THAT I KNOW JUST HOW
MY PATH BEGAN
THAT DAY,
THE YEARS BETWEEN
MY BIRTH
AND DREAM
WERE ALWAYS MEANT
TO SURPRISE,
FOR I FIND THE HOPE
AND FLYING SCOPE
OF MISSIONS
OFTEN UNHEARD,
I CARRY THE
TALENT
FOR VISION
AND WORD
UNDOUBTEDLY
ISSUED BY FAMILY
FOLKS,

THOSE WHO
SUSPEND
THE DIFFERENT
STROKES,
THE REBELS
AND CRAZIES
THE WRITERS
AND CHEFS,
THE WIZARDS WHO
DESIGN
AND THOSE WHO
INCLINE
TO BURY THEIR
LIVES WITH WISHES,
THEY SWIM LIKE
FISHES
AROUND AND
AROUND,
AND NEVER ARRIVE
BY THE LIGHT
OR THE SOUND,
BUT I AWAYS HID
THE SECRETLY
KID, WATCHING
AND WAITING
TO SPEAK AND
BE SEEN,
WHILE OTHERS
WOULD ASK
TO EXPLAIN
MY DREAM,
I SANG
AND I WROTE
AS THE CHILD
OF HOPE,
THAT SOMEONE
WOULD LISTEN
AND NOTICE
MY SKILLS,
IT HAS GIVEN
ME CHILLS
UP TO NOW,
BUT THE GIFT
OF MY FAMILY
WAS THIS:
A SENSE OF
THE PLAN
THAT JUMPED
IN AND RAN,
EXERTING MY
DREAM TO THE
WORDLY MACHINE,
LIKE IT OR NOT
ASSURING MY SHOT
AT THE BIG MILKY WAY
ON A JUDGEMENT DAY,
NOW THAT TIME
HAS COME
AND I DEPART
TO INTRODUCE
A PIECE OF MY ART
TO A WRANGLERS
CROWD
SPEAKING OUT LOUD,
I FIND MY WAY
TO THE
JUDGEMENT DAY…
WHAT MORE
CAN I SAY
BUT TAKE THEM
ALONG
HOPING THEY
JOIN IN A
VERY SWEET SONG!

©JW WINSLOW 3/1/2022

Black Kitty


HE SLINKS ALONG
UNDER THE
BUSH
NEVER STOPPING
FOR A SIDEWAYS
GLANCE,
THERE’S NOT MUCH
CHANCE
OF A MEETING,
HE’S FAST
AT DUCKING
THE BIGGEST
BIRDS
THEY HIDE IN WAIT
AND MAKE HIM
SWEAT,
(HE WANTS THEIR
FEATHERS)
BUT DON’T FORGET
THE MINOR
CAUSES
OF MANY CATS
ARE BOUND TO
POUNCE
ON THIS
AND THAT,
SO SOMETIMES
(OFTEN)
I CALL HIM OUT
ON MY MORNING
GARDEN WALK,
I WHISPER
“BLACK KITTY”
AS I MEANDER
AROUND,
CHECKING OUT
THE GRASSES
AND WEEDS
THAT ABOUND,
AND OFTEN
IF NOT
HE IS PERCHED
THERE ABOVE
ON THE HIGEST
BRICK FENCE
AS MY AUDIENCE,
I SMILE TO
SEE HIM
FOR HE REMINDS ME
OF THE FELINES
BEFORE HIM
IN MY HISTORY,
YEARS AND YEARS
OF SLINKY GUYS
WERE MY VERY
HAPPY AND
SOULFUL PRIZE,
AND FINALLY WHEN
THE LAST ONE
VANISHED,
FLYING OFF TO
PAWSLAND
I DECIDED I WAS
THROUGH,

WAY TOO SAD
AND VERY BAD
WERE MEMORIES
OF DEVOTION,
STARTING WHEN
I LIVED ABOVE
THE PACIFIC OCEAN,
SO DURING
THOSE DAYS
I SAT IN THE SUN
STRETCHING OUT
FOR SOME
TANNING FUN,
LOTS OF THOSE
KITTIES
LIVED AT THE COVE,
UNDER THE
COTTAGES
OR IN THE SWEET
GROVES,
BUT THAT
WAS A WARM PLACE
WHERE SUNSHINE
DID LIVE
AND PARTIES
WERE JUST THE
RIGHT THING
TO GIVE…
NOW, IN MY
DANGEROUS
AND WILDEST
DREAMS
COMES THIS
CRAZY BLACK
KITTY
SECRET AND WITTY,
DOUSING MY HEART
WITH THE
QUIET APPROACH,
I KNOW THAT
HE LIKES ME
AND HIDES OUT
TO WAIT
SMILING AS ALWAYS
TO OPEN
THE GATE,
I’LL GIVE HIM
MY HEART
IN A SECOND SWEET
DREAM
IF ONLY HE
WOULD
JUST TASTE UP
THE CREAM,
INSTEAD OF
PAUSING
AND ALWAYS
CAUSING
THAT PANG OF
DELIGHT,
ON BLACK
KITTY
NIGHT!

©JW WINSLOW 2/1/2022

Main Beach


WE WALK BAREFOOT
DESPITE THE COLD
UP THE REC TRAIL
HOT AND BOLD,
THIS IS OUR PLACE
TO CALMLY ERACE
THE WOES OF LIFE
THE PAIN OF STRIFE,
HEREBY HIGHLIGHTING
OUR RECENT STORY
(THE ONE WHERE
EVERYTHING COMES
TO GLORY)
ONLY AFTER A
STRANGLING TIME
OF HARDSHIP
DAYS
OF HUMOR AND RHYME,
NO MATTER WHEN
OR HOW OR WHY
THE JETS SOUND
GREAT
IN THE BIG BLUE SKY,
OFF THEY GO
TO LALA LAND,
WHILE WE WAVE
BYE BYE
AND MAKE OUR STAND,
OFTEN EMPTY
THIS FAMOUS
PLACE
IS A BEACH FOR
THE PURPOSE
OF A FAST EMBRACE,
WASH OFF
THE HEARTBREAK
THE PROBLEMS
OF SURPRISE
ALL OF THOSE
THINGS
THAT MOST LIKELY
ARISE
JUST AT THE
TIME WHEN
YOU NEED
LUCK THE MOST,
IT SEEMS TO
GO SAILING
AWAY UP THE
COAST,
AND OUT COMES
THE IPHONE
DIALED UP
AND READY,
SOME POSING
AND SMILING
WITH A HAND
STRONG
AND STEADY,
POKING
ELOPING
PLAYING WITH DOGS,
TRIPPING ON THINGS
LIKE BIG
WHITE DROWNED
FROGS,

WE COME TO
A STAIRCASE
A FAVORITE OF HIS
WHERE I POSE
AND HE THROWS
THE JOKE
AS IT IS,
I JUMP DOWN
AND RUN
ROUND,
UP ON THE
HILLSIDE
BURY MY FEET
IN THE JUICY
ICE PLANT,
(HE SAYS
I CAN’T)
BUT I CLIMB
AND PEEK
WHILE HE
WILL SEEK
THE RIGHT
HOT ANGLE
TO SMILE AND
TANGLE OUR
DREAM,
SO ALL ALONG
THIS PERSONAL
SONG
WE FIGURE
OUT OUR PLAN,
SO SIMPLE IS
LIFE
WHEN HIDDEN
FROM NO ONE
YOU JUST DISSAPEAR
IN THE FOG
OF UNKNOWN,
LITTLE HOT DOGS
NIPPINGLY MOAN
DYING FOR
SOME ATTENTION…
BUT NOW I WILL
MENTION
IT’S TIME FOR
RETREAT,
WIPE OFF
OUR FEET
AND GO HOME TO EAT…
CONSIDER OUR
LIVES
WHILE
MONTEREY
THRIVES!

©JW WINSLOW 1/1/2022

Ghost Tree


THERE ARE TIMES
I MUST BE
HIDDEN AWAY
BY THE SUN
AND THE CLOUDS
AND THE SEA,
IT’S PART OF MY SOUL
THIS SALTY AIR
AND FRAGRANT BREEZE
THE LONELY HOWL
OF THE WIND
OFTEN RECINDING
MY PASSION
INTO GRUEL,
ONLY REMINDING
OF THE TERRIBLE
BINDING
THAT LANDS MY
SOUL TO CRUEL,
THERE IS NO
WAY
TO ESCAPE
THE PAIN THAT
LIES SO DEEP
INSIDE,
AND OFTEN
THE LAYERS OF
LONLINESS
PROVIDE
A PLACE TO HIDE,
BUT THE
SUN KNOWS HOW
TO DRAW ME OUT
AND THE WIND
BLOWS IN
MY HAIR,
THE ENORMOUS
STONES AND
ROCKS OF
GHOST TREE
LAND ME
IN THE LAIR
WHERE I WANT
TO BE
ESPECIALLY
TO OPEN UP
MY HEART,
IT’S A PRIVATE
AFFAIR
TO LIVE
IN THERE
WHERE I CANNOT
HIDE
AND BURY
THE PRIDE,
THE ENORMOUS
GAME
THAT COMES
FROM SHAME
AND A BIG
REMORSE
FOR PRETENDING,
I WANT TO
KNOW
WHY I CANNOT
GROW
AWAY FROM
THESE DREAMS
THAT INSIST
ON THE SCHEMES
CONTINUING
THE CHASE
I MAKE
TO ERASE
THE PAIN
OF THE BLAME
CALLED LIFE,

AND THEN THE
WAVES CRASH
BELOW ME,
AND I LISTEN
TO THE
HOLY CINDERS
THAT FLY UPON
THE BREEZE,
AND DESPITE
MY SORROW
AND THE GAME
OF TOMORROW,
I CANNOT CHASE
THE GODDESS
WHO WAS THERE
WHEN I WAS BORN,
AND WALKS ALONG
AS THE ARTISTS
SONG
BECOMES A
MEMORY,
CLOSING MY
EYES TO THE
BLUE OF THE SKIES,
I PICTURE
A NEW DAY
ONE OF TOMORROW
WHILE A GULL
SITS BESIDE ME
AWAITING A SMILE
REMINDING THE
PLEASURE
AND LAUGHTER
BEGUILED,
WHILE GHOST TREE
ONCE MORE
EVENS THE SCORE,
HOLDS ME IN
BONDAGE
ALWAYS BELIEVING
NEVER DECEIVING
MY TENDER
SWEET HEART,
KNOWING FOREVER
WE NEVER WILL PART,
I RISE AND APPEAR
ON THE WAVES
OF THE SHORE,
READY
AND WAITING
TO CRY OUT
FOR MORE, FOR NOW
IS THE MOMENT
OF LOVE…

©JW WINSLOW 12/1/2021

Nicola


SHE ARRIVES
BY SURPRISE
FROM THE
FRONT DOOR
ENTRANCE
AND SMILES INTO
THE STUDIO,
WHERE WE
AWAIT
AND CONGREGATE
THE WINSLOWART
CREW
ON A FILMING DATE,
AND NOT EVEN
LATE
WAS SHE,
FLITTING AHEAD
FROM A PAST
APPOINTMENT
WHERE SOMBODY
TALKED A LOT,
SHE WAS HAPPY
AND SMILING
UNDER THE LIGHTS
READY AND
WAITING
TO SPEAK AND
TELL
UNDER THE SPELL
OF A BRAND
NEW STORY,
AND ONE OF
GLORY
DESPITE THE GRIT
OF THE PAST
LONG MONTHS:
NEVER A DUNCE
WHEN IT COMES
TO ACTION,
YOU CAN BET
SHE GAINED SOME
TRACTION
WHEN THE
CAMERAS ROLLED
AND TALK WAS
BOLD,
TRUTHFUL
AND FRUITFUL,
AND ALWAYS FUNNY,
FOR THIS IS WHY
SHE WAS BACK
TO SPEAK,
I FIGURED WE
COULD USE
AN AMUSING
STRONG TWEAK
FROM A BRIGHT
YOUNG
WOMAN,
ROLLING ALONG
DURING A TIME
WHEN LAUGHTER
WAS MISSING
AND THE WORLD
WAS HISSING
WITH ANGER
AND DANGER,
MASKED, ALAS…
NEED I MENTION
THE NAME,
OF THE HARSH
COVID GAME…
WHILE THIS IS
A SUBJECT
THAT OFTEN
IS TOUCHY
THAT WAS NOT
THE CASE HERE,
SHE WAS CLEVER
AND DEAR,
SITTING IN FRONT
OF THE LAVENDER
LIGHTS,
AS IF IT WAS
A NATURAL THING,
BUT SHES BEEN
HERE BEFORE,
AND THEREFORE
MY SCORE
OF A PERFECT GUEST,
WHO APPEARS ON REQUEST,
READY AND WAITING
FOR A CUE,

WE ROMANCED THE
HOT PICS,
GAZING AT THE SHOTS:
(GLEAMING FAMOUS
NEW YORK SPOTS)
WHILE SHE ADMITTED
TO YEARN FOR
A VISIT,
THE GLOW OF
MANHATTAN
RELEASED A SMILE
BOLDLY ANNOUNCING
A TRIP FOR NEXT YEAR,
MOVING ALONG INTO
STORIES OF CHEER,
I WONDERED WITH
CARE
IF I TIPTOED AND DARED
TO ASK ABOUT WORK,
THAT BEING TENDER
AND SOMETIMES A QUIRK,
WHILE SHE SMILED
SO BROADLY
INTO THE CAMERA
DETAILING THE
WAYS
A SYMPHONY BEHAVES
IN A QUANDRY SO DARK,
LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK
IT WAS ALL UNVEILED
A STUNNING HOT TALE
OF MULTITASKING,
WHEN WITHOUT ASKING,
SHE TOLD A GREAT
STORY
WITH A SECOND FLOOR
GLORY,
UPSTAIRS IN CARMEL
RIGHT NEAR THE OFFICE
SURPRISING THE FOLKS
AND OFFERING FUN
DESPITE THE GREAT
GLOOM
THAT COVID
BROUGHT ROOMS,
NICOLA FOUGHT
TO BRING ON
SOME SMILES
WITH MUSIC AND
WINE
THEY HAD SOME
GREAT TIMES,
ALONG WITH
TWO SONS
AND THEIR MOTHER’S
LONG RUNS,
THEY GREW QUITE
A BIT
IN A TEDIOUS TIME,
MAYBE SOME PRAISE
FOR A MOTHER
SUBLIME,
AND I SMILED
AND LAUGHED
AND ASKED HER
THE QUERY
ABOUT ALL THE PAIN
AND HARDSHIPS
AND WORRY,
WHILE SHAKING
HER HEAD
SHE CALMLY SAID
THAT THINGS
DID WORK OUT
DESPITE ALL THE
DOUBT,
AND SHE WAS RIGHT
THERE,
IN HER ROUND
WICKER CHAIR,
WITH THAT
GLORIOUS SMILE,
TO STAY
FOR AWHILE,
SO HERE’S A REQUEST
FOR NICOLA’S BEST:
PLEASE
KEEP ON
ROLLING ABOVE
AND LEAD US
JOYFULLY
HOME WITH LOVE!

©JW WINSLOW 11/1/2021

Asia


TONITE
YOU REST
ALL WRAPPED
UP BEST,
AWAITING THE
JOURNEY TO
ANOTHER PLACE,
WHERE THEY
WILL LOVE YOU
AND THAT
BEAUTIFUL FACE,
BUT I NEVER THOUGHT
IT WOULD
COME TO THIS,
HAVING RESCUED YOU
FROM AN EMPTY WALL
THE ONE WHERE
I FIRST SAW IT ALL,
A BRIGHT
LIGHT ROOM
ABOVE THE
TABLE
WHERE GUESTS
WOULD LINGER
WHENEVER
ABLE,
IT WAS THE
MAN WHO
LOVED YOU
AND BROUGHT
YOU HOME
MANY YEARS
BEFORE
MY ARRIVAL,
AND YET IT
WAS PART
OF MY WILD
SURVIVAL:
SITTING
ABOVE US
NIGHT AFTER
NIGHT,
LISTENING
TO OUR GAMES
AND STRONG
HEALTHY FIGHTS,
LINGERING
OVER
A SUCCULENT DISH,
CLOSING MY EYES
AND MAKING A WISH,
I WANTED VERY
MUCH
TO BE SMART
AND FREE,
AND WONDERED
SO LONG
HOW THAT
COULD BE,
BUT THEN
I SAVED YOU
FROM GREEDY
HANDS
TAKING A STAND
TO FEATURE
A WOMAN BELOVED
AND GRAND,
SO YEARS WENT
BY
AND TIME MUST FLY,
WHEN ONE FINE
DAY
I THOUGHT OF
THE PERSON
WHO MADE THE PLAY,
SHE SOLD YOUR
CANVASS
ALL PAINTED AND
FINE
TO A HEALTHY
RICH
BACHELOR
ENJOYING HIS
TIME

AND LONG
BEFORE
HE SPOTTED ME
THERE WAS THIS
LOVELY MYSTERY
ON THE WALL
FOR ALL TO SEE,
AND NOW THE TIME
HAS COME TO
PART,
I WILL MISS
OUR MORNINGS
TOGETHER,
THE DEEP BLUE
SKIES
THE HARSH
WINTER WEATHER,
YOUR MENTOR
IS GONE
AND NOW YOU FOLLOW
TO A NEW
AND WONDROUS
SOUTH EASTERN
HOLLOW,
THE GIFT TO
A GIRL
FROM HER FAMILY,
ONE THAT
WILL SECRETLY
SET HER FREE,
SHE MAY SIT
CROSSED LEGGED
IMATATING
THE LOOK,
IT’S A FABULOUS
SIGHT
AND ONE FOR
THE BOOKS,
SO FAREWELL
MY LADY,
AND TAKE
MY LOVE
TO YOUR NEW
SUNNY DIGS
THERE AMOUNG
FANCY HOT
RIGS,
(WITH SNAZZY LADIES)
JUST WHERE YOU
BELONG,
AT THE END OF
YOUR SONG…
I WISH YOU WELL
I WISH YOU HAPPY
I WISH YOUR
NEW PATRON
A FINE HELLO,
AND BUTTERFLY
KISSES
SWEET AND SLOW,
BUT DON’T YOU
DARE
FORGET ABOUT ME,
I HOLD YOU
SAFE
IN MY MEMORY…
LOVELY ASIA
SLOW AND SHADY,
KEEP THAT HEART
FULL OF LOVE
FROM ABOVE.

©JW WINSLOW 10/1/2021

Wicked Game


I LISTEN TO
THIS SONG
IN A PLACE
WHERE I GO
TO DREAM
OF YOU,
ITS SOMETHING
SO SEXY
AND PRIVATE
I DO,
SAILING WAY
BACK
ALONG THE LINE
WHERE
THERE WAS
THIS MYSTERY,
WHEN I WAS
STILL A DREAMER,
IMAGINING
SOMEONE
DYING TO HAVE ME,
AND VICE VERSA
AS I DANCE
IN MY PRIVATE
ROOM,
SURROUNDED BY
THE FACES AND
BEAMS,
PLACES OF SCHEMES
IGNITED BY
THE IMAGINATION
OF A DANCER
WHO IS FOREVER
ENGULFED
IN STREAMS
OF HERSELF,
GOING BACK
TO THE BEGINNING
WHEN BELIEVING
IS ADJUNCT
TO GIVING,
AND SLINKY IS JUST
WHAT HAPPENS
TO THE RAW
IMAGINATION…

FOR WHEN
THE MIND SETS
ALONG WITH
THE
MUSIC,
THERE IS A PATH
OUT OF THIS
WORLD
THAT TAKES
YOU AWAY,
AND FOR JUST
A MINUTE,
OR FOUR
ITS SO MUCH
MORE,
LYING DOWN
ON THE BED,
OR DANCING
ALONE
WATCHING CITY
LIGHTS
OF A PLACE THAT
CHANGED MY LIFE
FACES APPEAR,
LINGERING LONG
AFTER THE SONG,
SOOTHING THE
MIND
THAT’S WHERE
I BELONG,
THE DREAMER
THE FLOWER
THE DANCER
THE BOWER,
HOLD MY
HAND AS WE
RUN IN THE
MOONLIGHT
AT MIDNIGHT
THERE ON
THE BEACH…
NOW YOU’RE
WITHIN REACH!

©JW WINSLOW 9/1/2021