Russian “liberators” of the Ukraine Heard Singing a Nancy Sinatra Tune
“These boots are made for walking
And that’s just what they’ll do
One of these days these boots are going to walk all over you”
Robert K. Stephen
RKS Literature: What Can Art Speak of? (Albert Camus)
“Of what could art speak, indeed? If it adapts itself to what the majority of our society wants, art will be meaningless recreation. If it blindly rejects that society, if the artist makes up his mind to take refuge in his dream, art will express nothing but a negation. In this way we shall have the production of entertainers or of formal grammarians, and in both cases this leads to an art cut off from living reality.”
Albert Camus, “Create Dangerously”, 1957.
RKS Literature: The Wretched Condition of the Masses (Albert Camus)
“The questioning of art by the artist has many reasons, and only the loftiest need be considered. Amongst the best explanations is the feeling the contemporary artist has of lying or of indulging in useless words if he pays no attention to history’s woes. What characterizes our time, indeed, is the way masses and their wretched condition have burst upon contemporary sensibilities. We know now they exist, whereas we once had a tendency to forget them. And if we are more aware, it is not because our aristocracy, artistic or otherwise, has become better-no, have no fear-it is because the masses have become stronger and keep people forgetting them.”
Albert Camus, “Create Dangerously”, 1957.
RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds): “The historians”
The historians
Contained in the pens
The scribes of the rulers and victors?
Attend to the justifications of the slaughter
One by one or the thousands
Throats slit and bodies thrown on the hooks
Guilty historians white lie in the books
Justify the hero crook
Blind to the fact millions were sorely took by ITT, GM, Livingstone and Cook
Robert K. Stephen
RKS Poetry Anthology: “What you have to look forward to or you’d best pawn that gold watch”
What you have to look forward to or you’d best pawn that gold watch
You slave for the dignity the weekly pay affords
Yes SIR!
No SIR!
The fortunate may have a pittance of a pension tossed their way
Retire and read the paper all day
And stretch that cat food all the way!
Robert K. Stephen
RKS 2026 Ontario Wine: Redtail 2020 Meritage from Niagara
Ontario wineries do well by Meritage particularly where Cabernet Franc is in the blend.
This Redtail 2020 Meritage is 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc.
Aroma: One might say a perfect blend of a “balanced” red wine. The essential aroma characteristics of each grape is identifiable but none predominate so if you are searching for a “balanced’ red wine blend you have it here. A black cherry and dark chocolate core with a smoky blueberry frame.
Palate: Perfection as to acids and tannins which contribute to the “balance”. A certain thin elegance to the dense cherried core. Medium finish with a comforting bit of heat.
Personality: I am a fine example a blended red wine from Niagara, Ontario.
Food Match: Black eyed bean stew with tomato and spinach.
Cellarbility: In its prime now so down the hatch by end of 2026.
Price: $29 CDN.
RKS 2026 Ontario Wine Rating: 88/100.Natalie MacLean 90.
(Redtail 2020 Meritage, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Redtail Vineyards, Consecon, Ontario, 750 mL, 14%).
RKS Poetry Anthology: “Merry Christmas”
Merry Christmas
A lukewarm bottle of beer
Or two
Or three
Just to ease into the propagated spirit
And a can of beans with mock turkey loaf
Climaxed with Johnny Carson
On the fucked up black and white
The gifts of life from Christ working in the aftershave department
Blessing of the meek with Mastercard
And the disciples of bill collectors crusading in his name
Tumorous tomorrows
The happy lechery of life
Smashed in the barrages from the artillery of lies
Constructed in the armament factories
Of technocratic trawler monsters
Netting misery and profits
Canning and distributing false consciousness
For legions of Park Avenue aspirers
But the peaks are already
Auschwitzed
even
prior the departure of the expedition
Robert K. Stephen
Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom: PUPPYDOM HALFWAY DONE
PUPPYDOM HALFWAY DONE
I am now six months old. Can I sum up my experiences?
WOW!
I remember very little about my sojourn Ardendale Kennels other than the day Bob and Fay visited me at four weeks old. I remember Bob picking me up cuddling me in his arms and sweet talking me. We pups love sweet talk! He then picked me up and we looked eye to eye. His nose touched mine and he smiled. What did all that mean? I think I tried to impress him by trundling over to the water bowl, putting my feet on its lip and having a drink. Then I headed over to Bob’s foot and oops out popped you know what!
Bob and Fay left and I had a sense of I don’t know what.
There were chickens outside the sliding door and a parrot squawking on the porch. I drank lots of milk from my mother’s stomach and started to eat a bit of kibble. I slept most of the time.
Then a month later Bob, Fay and their son A came to visit but this time they took me with them in a car to their house. A held me in a warm towel in the back seat.
I arrived at their house and being so curious and frightened with all this novelty I walked around the main floor exploring and squealing a bit.
On the first night I slept in a crate. I cried in the early morning and Bob had to pick me up and rock me to sleep. I felt so safe I treat the crate as my special home where I have three naps a day and sleep through the night.
I was not allowed to venture outside until I had all my puppy shots to ensure no dog germs made me sick. I spent a lot of time in the backyard running around, smelling everything and being so very happy. Now I love that backyard so much I don’t want to come back inside. I have been in a bit of trouble for this. We West Highland Terriers love to sniff and I must have sniffed something bad as somehow, I developed a parasite common to rabbits, but my system beat it back.
I love food and eat at will tasty chicken kibble but mornings I love a piece of sesame seed bagel or whole wheat sourdough. And when meals are prepared I am on high alert for a piece of cheese, pasta or tasty morsel. I love cooked squash, carrots and potato. Fruit not so much. At Christmas HOLY COW a piece of turkey and a bit of mashed potatoes.
I am now out walking four to five times a day and now it is warming up outside. Bob says as soon as the snow and ice melts we are going on some serious walks. The best of the best is meeting puppies so we can play. Jasper a Golden Lab pup is my bestie but Billie a King Charles Cavalier is so much fun but I don’t see much of him. There is Dash, Roosevelt, Eugene, Mooky, Remy, Cora and so many more!
I lost my manhood, whatever that means, and had to wear a cone for 10 days. UGGGHHH!
I hate baths and struggle so!
Potty training not so good. Don’t want to discuss that. Lots of trouble for me.
Puppy school soon. What is that?
Physically then I am well taken care of. I am also receiving lots of love and attention from Bob, Fay, A and in fact the entire neighborhood. I am so happy to be here.
Six months more then I am told puppydom ends. What could be more fun than being a puppy?
RKS Poetry Anthology: “Successive COVID terrors and the bottom line”
Successive COVID terrors and the bottom line
COVID-19 causing the initial scream
Delta variant augments the nightmare sharp and keen
a BIG PHARMA wet dream
Terror begs a solution and if so innumerable esteem
Then OMICRON
MORE VACCINES screams Big PHARMA!
The solution is “so brilliant” it requires three jabs of the vaccine to curb the harm
Billions made with innumerable jabs of the arm
Each variant met with concoction brilliance
Graphing up the profitability
All based on chemical manufacturing ability
Could it be BIG PHARMA is but a profitable cheat
Developing vaccines for each new variant
Could they be little more than a profit seeking deviant
Robert K. Stephen
RKS Poetry Anthology: “Slime in the back lanes”
Slime in the back lanes
Greasy bacon fat hair
Not exactly popularity on the suburban to downtown bus
Toothless and urine fumes
Scabbed red hands from the Oedipal clasp of sherry bottles
Decorated by black nailed claws
That must not touch!
Fleeing refugees from a spineless napalmed society?
Victims of a hedonistic society?
All depends on the current need for heroes
And funds of the welfare state
Robert K. Stephen
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 