A visceral and humorous poem exploring an intense aversion to raw tomatoes. It captures the sharp contrast between the fruit's aesthetic beauty and a "gag-inducing" texture, while acknowledging the irony of enjoying tomato-based sauces and ketchup.

Explore the hidden landscape of the human experience. "The Human Core" uncovers the buried truths of love, fear, ego, and memory that shape our inner lives.

"The Teacher- I" tells the moving story of a woman who pivots to a career in education after her father discourages her from becoming an attorney just because she is a girl. Teaching outside of Chicago, she quickly discovers that the children are the easy part of the job. The true challenges lie in battling crazed parents, navigating imperious principals, and enduring a lonely commute. Yet, amidst the struggles and her lingering dreams of the courtroom, she learns a profound lesson from her eager students. She realizes that she alone owns her happiness, and no one—not her father, nor any man—can take that away.

"Dad's Villanelle" is a tribute to living life fully—pursuing your dreams, your career, and your art, all at once. It's about finding that balance on the wire and realizing you can have your cake and eat it too.

#DadsVillanelle #Poetry #NewPoem #WorkAndArt #NoCompromise #LiveFully