Category: Uncategorized
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Winter Walk: challenge poem #35
must be a dry landwhen right as rain means good I’m a wandering pilgrimwalking wildernesses bright as hellwinter rain feeling wrong as sinjudged by loss and stung by deathstagger through this barren monthfiery as arctic auroras in search of a new flowerto gift my morning-eyed loverand salve her shattered heartwhere we spread the ashesof our…
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For C: Challenge Poem 33
at the end of that summerwe went to Chicagodrove up from Springfieldin your olive Ford Probestayed at the Carpenter House Hiltonif you’re a poet in Illinois, you told me,you have to do open-mic at the Green MillI did not read, but Mark Smithleft me a great appreciationfor Carl Sandberg, reciting from roteThe Right to Griefeven…
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Challenge Poem #22
Connor’s question hit me as a surprisehad no idea the lad was a poet:“how to mature as a poet?” he asks.First, says I, you have to prove a poet.poets have to have grown a unique voice;until you do that, you’re just a kid playingwith words. from there – assuming you get there –well, first of…
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Jenny: Challenge Poem #21
Jen, I’ve left you. this note – goodbye, adieuif you need a friend, don’t bother to callI left your number on the wall, wiped itfrom my mind, my heart, my phone and all Jen, you have too much love for just one manas you’ve proved again and again – what cana man do but give…
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challenge poem #20
No harbor for delusions,I have only a fly-by-night operationwhere all such things pass through dmpitchford 12/10/23
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Challenge Poem #19
Too much the peacemakershe says this in snide toneas though it were an abominationshe aims for triggersI no longer hostand so I see the truthdenied all these yearssorry, mum, you don’t get tohurt me any moreeven witches can’t come backfrom cremation. dmpitchford 12/10/23
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Challenge Poem #18
seventeen black birds sitting on lamp postsseven on this side and seven on thatand three down this side next to the four-lanegazing all this direction bold as blue sky hooked necks craning, marking them buzzardsnot ravens, never saying ‘nevermore’and Hitchcock in the passenger seat nodsappreciation, those birds are not his birdsand Kentucky sure ain’t Kansas,…
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Poem 16
Words: something from nothingDan calls this Cognitive Alchemythis combination of disparate threadsinto articulations of verse such miracle of nature, thissystem of symbols from gray matterto black on white – ink on pagepage to book – book to library poets are alchemistscreating gold in crucibles of thoughtmining the heart of self and societyfor lead and tin…
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Poem 15
Uphill from here, she says. Unintimidated by aught,I climb Parnassus though I stumble betimesthough stones bruise my bonesand storms wash me cold and dampdown weathered heightsundaunted I stride
Fringemonkey Scribbles 