Movement Poem–For Kelly

Finally! Time to type it up! Poetry project submissions are now open again! “Movement” It all happens in a moment: The twirl of leaves, of fingers, of teeth on the eve of breathing. Footsteps sound solid–vent- ing the tick-tock tales of time. We are all even with the ground–suspended slightly, arrows that move an inch […]

Poetry Project Saturday: Uncle Doug’s “Blues”

I’m sorry that this is so terribly out of order, I have gotten very mixed up in the move, and this is the poem I found fastest. Still a work in progress, for my Uncle Doug. His word was “Blues” (Hence the title of this post). Blues My fathers father and his father found freedom […]

Poetry Project: Rhonda G. “The Optimist’s Dilemma”

My Aunt Rhonda, of Ohio, sent me her favorite quote: “Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole”–Anon. I purposely made this poem very lighthearted. I felt it was a necessity, given the subject matter. The Optimist’s Dilemma Glazed or no, Risen or cake, […]

Grace: Poetry Project Saturday

Sara’s (NoH) poem. Her word was “grace”. This is a very rough draft and I’m not sure how I feel about any of it except I really love the last line. I will probably include another Grace poem soon. Grace: The Host Your features poses pleasantly for calling company why, hello–and curtsey–and thank you–and twirl […]

Raylene: Equate (Poetry Project, Week 7)

It’s Poetry Project Saturday! Here is Coloradoan Raylene P.’s poem for her word “equate.” I.. somehow made this poem kind of sexy, and I don’t know how that happened. Equate First, outside, inside, last- our breathing ragged, the subtraction complete. The signs are all there: we are divided, but nonplussed by the solution. We were […]

Poetry Project Saturday, Week 6: Poem 2

Logan O., Colorado’s Poem. Word: Awesome (This poem breaks from the usual structure, because the given word makes me so incredibly happy that I had to do something different. I find it… hilarious. I know Logan will appreciate it, too.) Tyrannosaurus Rex himself couldn’t stomp the greatness out of you, The great white shark finds […]

Poetry Project Saturday, Week 6: Poem 1

Kelly W., Colorado’s poem. Word: Seeking You are blind. Stuck standing still in the dark, your skin searches for an other. But you aren’t seeing– and you’re feeling in all the wrong places. Your knees are weak from lack of standing on your own. Your eyes are keen, if only you would open them. […]

Poetry Project: Week 2 (Poem 2: Wanderlust)

Where do you go when wanderlust takes hold in the tips of your fingers? In the crooks of your elbows? The back of your knees? When the kink in your neck calls for uprooting? (When even your spine agrees that it’s time to break?) Rooftops are too crowded. Subways too empty. The skies are too […]

Poetry Project: Week 2 (Poem 3: Robots)

Nick’s word: Robots Automated matron mechanically mothers– click-clack-creaking the breastfed laptop to sleep. The motherboard is heating up, laser pointers pointed pointedly: You are at [Fault: Error Message {367942, process stopped indefinitely}] The dial-up is down. Androids lost count of electric sheep, still awake, always awake. Weaponized.

Poetry Project: Week 2 (Poem 1: Celine’s)

This is Celine’s poem: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”–Moulin Rouge I am sick. Heart-broken coughs rattle my body and the cold burns everywhere. Sickly sweet, this sickness is the greatest pandemic. I am in love. And what a love! This thing is, it causes palpitations. […]