The Maze by Steven Monte The hero finds himself within the maze:the minotaur awaits him. He’s pulled stringsto get this far. And since he has no wings,he must stay grounded, thinking of the waysto make sure, even down the paths he strays(all the wrong turns and false imaginings),he’s moving forward in the scheme of things—which, … Read More
Walking with My Daughter After a Funeral When she asks me if trees live a long time,I tell her longer than a person lives.She says that she won’t die. We start to climbour hill and she brings up the relatives who wheeled the casket on a squeaky bier:Am I as strong as them? Her stroller rocksas … Read More
THE ETERNAL RETURN: NIETZSCHE AND THE MONSTERS by R. G. Evans When darkness falls at last, what’s there to fearfor Freddy, Michael, Jason, and the rest?They laugh at death they know is always near. We resurrect our monsters, hold them dear.Return Eternal: Nietzsche said it best.When darkness falls, for them, what’s there to fear when … Read More
Slowing Time by Erica Reid My husband is a podcast guy. He says that scientists believe now climate change is starting to affect the length of days:for the first time in a geologic age Earth’s molten core is slackening its spin,our day-long cycles longer by a breath. It’s slowing time, he says — then, earbuds in, returns to stories of our … Read More
Night by Rick Mullin Every angel is terrifying ~Rainer Maria Rilke When I opened for Los Dildos at the Y,I knew I’d get my ass kicked. They had hornsand huge cojones. And a different guyon drums. Their singer wore a crown of thorns(a little heavy on the metaphor)and introduced himself as Caliban.“This isn’t going to … Read More
The Knife, The Throat by Dawn Manning I’ve had a knife at my throat and didn’t die, though when I swallow it tastes like pennies.This scar’s my pearl choker—chic as a fly. My head’s bound on tight—just give it a pry;and put down the green ribbon, dear Jenny.I’ve had a knife at my throat and didn’t … Read More
IWe are delighted to announce the results of the Poetry by the Sea Book Award: At the Lepidopterist’s House by Chelsea Woodard, selected by judge Jane Satterfield. Chelsea will be awarded a prize of $500 and is invited to read from At the Lepidopterist’s House in May at Poetry by the Sea 2024. As we … Read More
Roughly True by Barbara Lydecker Crane Suzanne Valadon, 1865-1938, Paris What, you haven’t heard of me, despitemy art and stormy life? There’s much to tellof pride and bitterness, of bliss and hell—but not regret. I’ll fill my pen and write. I was born a bastard. Maman worked,a laundress, while I’d roam Montmartre, spying through café and whorehouse … Read More
Calling Hours at the Funeral Home by Jean L. Kreiling He wants to be here—it’s for his Aunt Lou,who baked him cookies, sent him cards and money,applauded his good news from first grade throughthe senior partnership, and called him honeyto her last day. But this grim atmospherecould not be further from Aunt Lou: his nosedetects old carpet, … Read More
DRIVING NORTH FROM FLORIDA IN MARCH by Brian Brodeur I think of you out thereon the sandy edge of things—Anthony Hecht, “Message from the City” On viny medians near Fayetteville,spring in reverse begins un-greening trees.Ryegrass recalls its pollen. Creeks re-freeze.A rumor of itself, the nascent yearwithholds its buds and songbirds disappear.Unsalted roads carved into each … Read More
