Submissively a man nods
A “Yes” to what is being spoken.
He did not hear what was said,
But nodded “Yes.”
A woman said to him,
“You must read Erasmus.”
He read Erasmus.
The woman sensing his submissive nature,
Put a pistol in his hand,
Said, “Shoot your children.”
He shot his children.
She said, “Shoot your wife.”
He shot his wife.
She said “Shoot yourself.”
He shot himself.
The woman no longer
Having someone submissive to dominate,
Picked up the pistol, shot herself.

Biographical Note:

Duane Locke, Doctor of Philosophy, English Renaissance literature, Professor Emeritus of the Humanities, was Poet in Residence at the University of Tampa for over 20 years.

 Has had over 5,000 poems published.  As of  November, 2006 5,726 poems published.

 Over 2,000 were published in print magazines, such as American Poetry Review, Nation, and Bitter Oleander.  In September 1999, he became a cyber poet, added over 3,000 poems published in E zines.

 Is the author of 14 print books of poetry, and in 2002, added 3 E books, The Squids Dark Ink,  From a Tiny Room, and  The Death of  Daphne.

 The entire Spring 2004 issue of the magazine Bitter Oleander  is devoted to a 92 page interview with Duane Locke and will include sixty of his poems.

 In August  2004, e book, 45 poems, Observations, from Poetic Inhalation.

 In August 2004, feature poet in Adagio Poetry Quarterl.

 In December 2005, a 28 page interview in Penhimalaya, plus many poems.

 His work is included among the neglected poets,  such as H.D., Amy Lowell, Weldon Kees, In Dan Schneider’s renown Cosmoetica.

 He is also a painter, having many exhibitions, such as at the city art museum in Gainesville, Florida. A recent book,  Extraordinary Interpretations by Gary Monroe, published by University of Florida Press, Has a discussion of Duane Locke’s paintings. His work is currently on exhibition at the Polk Museum of Art, and will be added to the permanent collection.

 Also, a photographer, now has over 278 photos in e zines.  He does close-ups of trash tossed away in alleys and on sidewalks. Now, he has completed a series called “mystic vegetation.” and “The Goddess Inanna.” He is currently doing what he calls Surphotography, and photographing nature, birds, insects, Etc.

 He is listed in Who’s Who in America, 2006 (Marquis.)

 His old biographical notes, published many time, are now obsolete. The notes stated that he lived in an old decaying house in the sunny Tampa slums, populated largely by drug dealers and the homeless.

  The house was condemned by the city of Tampa inspectors, what he calls the “Tampa Gestapo“, and after his living at this location for fifty years, he was forced to leave within six days.

The forced move was due to the fall of the bungalow in his large back yard.

The bungalow contained a priceless literary scholarly library which is now under debris. An army of inspectors descended and decided he could no longer live in his home, so Duane Locke left Tampa to relocate in Lakeland, Florida.  He lives by a lake abundant with wild life.  The fall was a “Fortunate Fall,” for he now lives in a more desirable and pleasant location.  The only disadvantage is that he can find no trash to photograph, no broken beer bottles on sidewalk, no litter as it was in Tampa.

 For more information on Duane Locke, click on Duane Locke on Google,  There are about a half-million entries under his name.

On MSN, only 60,000 entries.