Tag: poetry

Poetry

The Collar by Frank Freeman

in despair—about my writing—why couldn’t I ever get a lucky break?—like when Sherwood Anderson toldHemingway—to go to Paris—and wrotea letter for him to Gertrude Stein—orwhen Jim Harrison met Denise Levertovat a party—and she said—send me some of your poetry—voilà his firstpublished book—believe me—Icould go on—and on—I’ve readall the biographies of famous writers—each had a lucky break—or two—or more—but me?—what aboutme, goddammit!—then I looked atthe calendar—above my … Continue reading The Collar by Frank Freeman

Genna Rivieccio2 Comments
Poetry

Uncomfortable Listening by Malik Crumpler

Heckler: You hear this cat, man? Muhfugga sound like his fingers are broken… Or he’s experiencing a spasm in his hands—worst pianist eye ever heard—not even a pianist! He’s not a pianist, man. This muhfugga just takin’ out his emotions on— Another Heckler:Don’t sound like a pianist to meOr maybe it’s just not a piano, eye meanDig the incredibly ordinary contradictionsOut just to be OutNot cuz … Continue reading Uncomfortable Listening by Malik Crumpler

Genna RivieccioLeave a comment
Poetry

The Last Time I Saw You by Charlie Robert

The Letter.Just When You ThoughtIt’sGettingBetter.All He’llMiss IsHow YouFilled OutYour Sweater.Sacred PlacesSad And DryThat He’dMade Wetter.The Letter.The Letter.Clutched In Fist.CuttingSkin.You WereAlmostNext Of Kin.You WereAlmostSafe At Last.Upper Crust.Lower Caste.Made The Scene.Now That’s Gone.Once A Queen.Now A Pawn. Darkness At Dawn.The Last TimeI Saw You.The Light From The KitchenAnd How You Stood.Your CarefullyChosen WordsBruising The Silence. Continue reading The Last Time I Saw You by Charlie Robert

Genna RivieccioLeave a comment
Poetry

Ophelia’s Ventriloquy by John Jack Jackie (Edward) Cooper

What had she wanted, unknowable—within those lips, be heard, could have occurredshe did even know? Such power, possessed,dispossesses had she wit, the words, words, words,pure spontaneity of ignorancespoken at last out loud, to say if not whothen that vitality unspecified,entire life pursued, continually deceived,egregiously misled, disappointed—although promised, never on Earth fulfilled. This agony curtailed, herself set freefrom assumption, false alternative buried:like Ophelia, submerged beneath the … Continue reading Ophelia’s Ventriloquy by John Jack Jackie (Edward) Cooper

Genna RivieccioLeave a comment
Poetry

Blue by Mark Katrinak

Blue moods unparalleled by weather, moodswings seem suspended by clandestine chains.Blue minds imagine playgrounds at the endof June in silver light filtering through the trees,when light of day is emptied like a theaterafter the show, the darkness waiting silently. The vessels of our blood appearing blue,cool wavelengths penetrating skin with bluedeception. Cloudless skies in afternoonare entertaining kites and contrails, smokeand helium balloons, migrating birds—below, the … Continue reading Blue by Mark Katrinak

Genna RivieccioLeave a comment
Poetry

Blanket Hill by Mark Katrinak

Kent State shootings, May 4, 1970 May magnifies magnolias and memories,  red ones as bright as drops of chosen blood. Holocaustic flashes return to springtime air;tortured souls can’t cross over to the dead. Protests inflame the presidential lung.Under white cotton sheets trigger men lie.Student, beware the angles of geometry. “The shortest distance between two points is over four corpses.”  Thirteen seconds in Kent elicits screams.The demonstrations die … Continue reading Blanket Hill by Mark Katrinak

Genna RivieccioLeave a comment
Poetry

Boomer by Leslie Young

A deadly thing to holdCreation in a crucible of flesh.It burns, cramps. Its greatest touches,Softest kisses poison to the bloodAnd we never stop prying those Jaws wider, goingDeeper into life’s hot, white howlingUntil we forget the way back,That there is any way back,And that we could ever wantTo know a way back. Our children cry to nothing,Clutch empty hands. Them!They know nothing of hungerIts needs, … Continue reading Boomer by Leslie Young

Genna RivieccioLeave a comment
Poetry

Twelve Signs Your Loneliness Has Gone Too Far by E. P. Kataratos

I never felt my loneliness so clearly.–Frédéric Chopin, letter to Jan Matuszyński, 26 December 1830 1. You go to the supermarket late at night, not to buy something, but only to be around people. 2. You spend all afternoon listening to voice messages on your phone you haven’t deleted, messages from as far back as ten years ago, some from ex-girlfriends, others from now deceased friends. 3. … Continue reading Twelve Signs Your Loneliness Has Gone Too Far by E. P. Kataratos

Genna RivieccioLeave a comment
Poetry

Summer’s End by Antonia Alexandra Klimenko

Days may be shortDays may be longSome are steeped in wine and songClouds we chased ‘round river’s bendChildish wishes    childhood friends June July August SeptemberDaydreams we shall long rememberGreen green grass    the yawning lawn Soon Summer ends   and  I’ll be gone How quickly regret    fades   into forget How the sun rises   how the sun sets Golden yellow   azure blueSky that floats    through me and youStars that come … Continue reading Summer’s End by Antonia Alexandra Klimenko

Genna RivieccioLeave a comment