Category: poetry
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An Everglades Encounter
by John Grey What emerges from swamp, spiraling like a moving S or coiling up on itself? What announces primal life force to a man’s quickened breath? What can strike like lightning or slither away on its belly into grass or water or myth? The floating island seems drawn by ropes underneath. Wings of stork…
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Anger, Shame and Blame
by John Garmon I grew up in anger, shame, and blame. I found later others knew the same. Moving around this country, I was aware Of living in a nation of much despair. I know you won’t find it everywhere, However, it is there. All of it is there. Some ignore it almost successfully. Then…
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A New Note From Underground
by Cliff Saunders The less you can understand, the more it hurts. — Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground & Can’t stand sickly streets full of holes. Can’t find a loop of grace in the Holy City. The children are silent, and blue with cold.The revolution is devouring their road, endless as a month…
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Getting Even, Oddly Enough
by Cliff Saunders Even white snow is full of bacteria, full of passion and a sigh. Be thankful for its sex appeal. September sings, even to spouses who need a bodyguard of lies. Even a blue wave sings beautifully but leaves out something important. Let a thousand flowers love it nonetheless. Everything must go, even…
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A White Singer In a Black Blues Club
by John Grey The big woman plays the piano. Modified blues for white fingers. She may not fit the model but still wants her story told. That’s why she bellows like there’s slaves in her ancestry. There’s not. Hollers like the whip came down. It didn’t. Her pain, her bruises, come with a history that’s…
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Jupiter and Saturn
by Leah Mueller for Russ November storm-watchingon the Pacific coast,I saw you fiercethe first time. You: afraid of webs and travel,always giving methe helm during gales. Cheap Westport motel,probably gone now.Anchors and ashtrays in the side yard,decrepit station wagonsfilled to overflowingwith fishing gear. Ice-cold wind:seventy miles per hour,both of us bundledagainst gusts. Winter uprooted trees,ripped…
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Aquatic Pipe Dream
by Leah Mueller Faith has claws and scales,skitters across the bottom of oceans, emergesfrom depths while the tide recedes, sinks backwhen the moon changes signs. Faith walks along the shoreline,points to spots no one else can see: the disappearing horizon,last flash of light at sunset. In the distance, curve of earth,and beyond, sailboats in search…
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Touch of Evil
by Leah Mueller & “Read my cards,” he said, stumbling drunk into the parlor,but the cynical fortune tellerregarded him with uncharacteristic pity. She lifted her eyesfrom the pile of bank receipts,shook her head at the spectacle. Perhaps she remembered the manhe’d once been, before the candy bars,the alcohol, and the henchmen. He demanded to know…
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When Opposites Meet
by Angelica Liu Twilight and rains followed us here Daylight and city were left behind The ancient temple lies in its lonely solemnity Intruders, we had met the end of our world Here the opposites meet The day was meeting the night The summer was meeting the autumn The civilized was meeting the primitive The…
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Cool Johnny Robs Dock Forty-Two
By John Caulkins North storm blows strong frosty fog, From typhoon onto Bronx blocks. Crowds opt off of snowy lots From posh port to ghost town now. On boggy docks, crooks do jobs. Oblong orbs from Morocco Worthy of crowns or gold cloth. Cool Johnny plots con slowly. “Molly, go stroll, look for folks.” “Otto,…
Dream Noir 