Tarantella
by Ted L Glines

Haunting dance on heaven's web
worlds all spun to spawn and ebb
as Spider Woman spins her dance
an arcane rhythm of romance
among the stars all blazing bright
her light of love shines down tonight
on moonlit lovers dancing fast
as if they'd lose tonight's repast
her music of the brilliant spheres
tarantella soothes your fears
as young hearts dance and hope and bleed
our Spider Woman comes to feed
plants her fangs in hearts gone mad
sucks out feelings good and bad
look up - look up - you'll see her there
eyes blink down from cosmic glare
her fangs are dripping avatars
dancing streaking shooting stars.

Author's Notes: The  earliest historical mention of  the Tarantella is the St. Vitus  Dance in 1374. It’s not mentioned again until  1839, as the title  of a ballet, “La Tarentule, ” produced by Jean Coaralli. In  1844, Madame Michau introduced the dance to the public. The origin  may be about  the bite of the Tarantula, Arania or Apulcian Spider.  The dance itself was used  to cure the poison from the bite of  the spider. Town folks would play music and  the afflicted person  would dance non-stop to avoid succumbing to the poison. Or,  the  origin may be in the mighty universal web above us. Beware of stars  that  "blink."

Texas Night
by Ted L Glines

It is two o'clock in the morning
people who war all day
dreaming but not resting
in the Texas night
obsessions paranoia
images of grandeur
plots and fears rule
in the Texas night
red red wine looking
for a tequila sunrise
la la la la life goes on
in the Texas night
alcohol - a bad mirror
euphoric bravery
mixed with deep depression
in the Texas night
three thousand miles away
a small soul - insecure
spirt screams are even heard
in the Texas night
and at three o'clock
while all the world is sleeping
a cold cloud of sadness
drowns the Texas knight.

Sweet
by Ted L Glines

Gimme a deep-dish apple pie,
peaches and cream and my-oh-my,
short-bread cookies crunching good,
strawberry shortcake - understood,
and chocolate brownies hot from the oven,
the smell and taste and touch of lovin',
but best of all if I have my choice
is “I love you” in your baby voice,
the phrase which makes me fuzzy and warm
entralled and melting in your charm.

Pumpkin pie is oh so nice,
creamy topped and rich with spice,
but my all-time top-line favorite treat
is your “I love you” - savory sweet.

Dedicated to someone very special who is stuck in a hospital bed with a tube in her nose, monitors going “beep-beep-beep,” nurses trying to help, but there are too many long and lonely hours for her. This poem is a magick spell which requires her speedy recovery. 12:30 PM Sunday 6 May 2007.