Colonel Edward Thomas Ryan died in June 2024, during Pride month. His obituary was shared with me by a friend who, like Colonel Ryan, lives in upstate New York. While I didn’t know Colonel Ryan, I saw in his words a man who lived a brave life and, in death, chose even more bravery: coming…
Tag: Poetry
“Sucker” and “Respire. expire:”
Sucker She circled it around her tongue.The stick clasped between newly stained red nails.Twirling it back and forth between her swollen lips.The threat of stickiness lingered as sugar infested salivatrembled towards her fingers.She allowed her canines to pierce throughas she crunched downon the glassy exterior shattering in her mouth.Lollipops were her favourite, especially now her…
Why 30 Days? Why 30 Poems? Because April is the Cruelest Month
As we look back on our recently concluded 30 Days, 30 Poems Project celebrating National Poetry Month and continue to mark Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we are sharing this piece today, about the intersection between the two. If you are in the US and need urgent mental health assistance, you can call, text…
“Picking Olives” and “Water as transitive”
Picking Olives Picking olives feels likePopping bubblewrapSatisfying thwap!Fingers pressSlight give Serotonin rush Or maybe it’s the other way around MaybeJust maybeMy need to runItching and burningAt my legsIs just my great222GrandparentsRunning all dayAgainst the windAgainst the elk and deerAgainst the wilting of the grains The chewing on pencilsIs my DNA longingFor my perfect WhiteTeeth to…
Saskia Hamilton: World Poetry Day
Saskia Hamilton (1967- 2023) was my teacher when I was a student at Columbia. She was on the faculty at Barnard, and one of the first classes I took was her Poetics, a lecture of about thirty students. A couple years later, I took her Advanced Poetry Writing seminar. Can I start by saying I…
For you to Stay
If I could have lobbied the gods for you to stay,I would have sunk to my knees.Asked them to choose any price.Diamonds and gold and dignity forjust one change: all the times I was too tired,too impatient,turn them to kindness. And if their glacial eyes did not seem too shocked, I would add,let me remember to…
The Dining Table
Day comes and he brandishes a small pocket-knife, silver and whetted; he sticks it in my back and the blade twists in my body, drawing not only blood but a soundless cry as well. It’s hard to practice indifference and even harder to let a wingless bird go, so I cut myself open and this…
“leukemia,” “die doktor,” “process & finale”
leukemia blood ate from his body wrapped in radiation. his tongue embrace the nectar that his mouth spills out. a hummingbird hovers above his lips—still nothing new. still the body caves onto itself. still there are little whispers to find the sick dying, & sick are dying. worms detect his eyes; sparrows discover the worms….
Albi Querci, Florida
Let’s get pebbles in our boots As the motionless sky gradients And the mountains turn grapefruit Let’s get out of our dents And escape from faux wood panels, scuffed beige walls, the popcorn ceiling, the off-white cracked molding, and our haphazard decor Before the sky petals white Upon a bright blue canvas Let’s take a…
“Homeland” and “Death, if you were a Lover”
Homeland I went to summer camp on old Keyauwee ground. We called returners Weekaya, as if we had been on a long journey away Though I could have driven it back and forth Sixteen times a day. And I would Just to feel like I was home Even though it was a home I stole….