RKS Literature: The Death of a Lying and Comfort Loving Europe (Albert Camus)

“Let us rejoice, indeed, at having witnessed the death of a lying and comfortable Europe and being faced by cruel truths. Let us rejoice as men because a prolonged hoax has collapsed and we see clearly what threatens us.”

Albert Camus, “Create Dangerously”, 1957.

RKS Literature: The Justification of a Writer (Albert Camus)

“We must know that we can never escape the common misery and that our only justification, if indeed there is any justification, is to speak up, insofar as we can, for those who cannot do so. But we must do so for all those that are suffering at the moment, whatever may be the glories, past or future, of the States and parties oppressing them: for the artist there are no privileged torturers.”

Albert Camus, “Create Dangerously”, 1957.

RKS 2026 ITALIAN WINE: A Primitivo from Tommasi not a Zinfandel from NAPA!

To assuage those North Americans intimidated by the name Primitivo why not simplify and say it is Zinfandel.

The wine is from the Apulia region of Italy.

It is 100% Primitivo grape grown in limestone soil rich in iron.

It was fermented in stainless steel and spent 12 months in oak casks.

Aroma: Black cherry predominates with blueberry, cactus pear, dark chocolate and a tiny bit of cherry Jello. Well integrated oak.

Palate: Robust. A bit brackish. Blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and dates. Moderately long finish. Acids and tannins in complete balance.

Personality: I may be robust as can be expected from the wines of Apulia but you may enjoy me as a sipping wine although best consumed with food.

Food Match: Pesto encrusted leg of lamb. Traditional turkey dinner provided lots of cranberry sauce on the table.

Cellarbility: Consume in 2026.

Price: $20 CDN.

RKS 2026 Italian Wine Rating: 90/100. Wine Enthusiast 90.

(Masseria Surani 2021 Primitivo di Manduria DOC, Tommasi, Viticoltori, San Pietro in Cariano, Italy, 750 mL, 13.5%).

RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds): “The Untouchables” (COVID MEMORIES)

The Untouchables (COVID MEMORIES)

Politico and medicos message is trust none

All seen a potential disease carrying scum

All untouchables

Ground zeros of infection

Police powers imparting lessons and obedience

Like dogs on a leash

Results of a bungled vaccination policy

Canadian provinces blame it on the feds

Everyone the enemy

Imprison for “safety” at home

Hopefully resulting in a germ-killing military drone

Harassed and intimidated 24 hours a day death counts and public service announcements

Only possible relief of upcoming elections

With revenge in mind for manufactured predilections

To wilt so many political power erections

Robert K. Stephen

RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds): “Cheap eats”

Cheap eats

Bill and Mona went to McDonalds for the all-American meal

Disguised hamburger with cereal

Hamburgers and shakes

It weren’t but minutes later until Bill was seized with the quakes

And Mona began to groana

Apparently the deal on Big Meal

Had their stomachs screaming for an appeal for the inhuman squeal

The pain became impossible to beat

And shortly after the ambulance transported them to a medical retreat

Stomachs emptied by an ominous looking steel machine

And whatever was pumped out looked ever so mean

The moral of the story is if you get change from your dollar

You’re going to be sick and holler

But if you insist on not heeding my word

And being a turd

Make sure if you eat a McDonalds regularly

To reserve a plot at your local cemetery

Robert K. Stephen

RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds):”Russian “liberators” of the Ukraine Heard Singing a Nancy Sinatra Tune”

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