The Catfish by David Bottoms From a traffic jam on St. Simons bridge I watched a fisherman break down his rod, take bait-bucket in hand, and throw to the pavement a catfish too small to keep. As he walked to his car at the end of the bridge, the fish jumped like a crippled frog,Continue reading “The Catfish by David Bottoms”
Category Archives: states
The Cranes, Texas January by Mark Sanders
The Cranes, Texas Januaryby Mark Sanders I call my wife outdoors to have her listen,to turn her ears upward, beyond the cloud-veiledsky where the moon dances thin light,to tell her, “Don’t hear the cars on the freeway— it’s not the truck-rumble. It is and is notthe sirens.” She stands there, on decka rocking boat, wantingContinue reading “The Cranes, Texas January by Mark Sanders”
Cold Cabin by David Bachner
Cold Cabin by David Bachner The Maine winter set in. Up until then, we would find isolated places outdoors to make love, our two sleeping bags zipped together. But when it got too cold for that our options were limited: neither of us had a car; all of our friends lived in dorms, like us;Continue reading “Cold Cabin by David Bachner”
Robert N. Coats, Searching for Arborglyphs
Searching for Arborglyphs by Robert N. Coats In the Jarbidge Range, my seventeenth year, I drove up dusty dirt roads, across clanging cattle guards, hiked into high meadows and aspen groves. There I found the spot where in 1929, Efrain Madariaga of Iparralde, Spain scribed his name, and a record of his loneliness and desire:Continue reading “Robert N. Coats, Searching for Arborglyphs”
Jeannie E. Roberts, Phoenix Park in Summer
Phoenix Park in Summerby Jeannie E. Roberts —near the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers In late Decemberwhen snow drifts and icicles freezewhen horizon’s cold hazesparks a remembrance I recalleach buoyant notethe vocal floatof quartets blendingmending sowing joy across crowdscouples strollingas rock ‘n’ roll fills the airand children dancing— defining beatsin the heatonContinue reading “Jeannie E. Roberts, Phoenix Park in Summer”
Poem for Oneonta, New York by Joan McNerney
Poem for Oneonta, New York by Joan McNerney We sleep with trains dreaming in Indian names. Otsego, Otsego long lake of night trailing snow showers of light. In black wells of solitude through silent fixed stars we search for trains brightened by Indian names. Neahwa Neahwa shadows of Indian names filled with fragrant spruce andContinue reading “Poem for Oneonta, New York by Joan McNerney”
The Naked Desert by David Del Bourgo
The Naked Desert by David Del Bourgo Coming home from a sales call at the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, stop at McDonalds in Mojave for take-out coffee. Winds gusting from the west at sixty-miles an hour slash around the tail-end of the Sierras. It’s too damned hot to be wearing a long sleeve shirtContinue reading “The Naked Desert by David Del Bourgo”
Textures and Hues by Merrill Farnsworth
Textures and Huesby Merrill Farnsworth I did not choose the texture and huesor build the loomI simply entered the world.Fate chose the fabricspun from tumbleweeds and tornadoes,carbon black creeping under windowsillsburnt orange flames licking the skylike tongues of thirsty dragonsreaching from the belly of the oil refinerywhere my father staked his claimon a bright futureContinue reading “Textures and Hues by Merrill Farnsworth”
Interlude by John Hicks
Interlude by John Hicks I’m driving home for the weekend, toward sunset fading eastern Nebraska. Leaving the world of data mapping and test design. Route 44. County seat to county seat across Iowa. The last stop sign half an hour ago, I’m still an hour from the Missouri. Farmyard lights coming on encase barns andContinue reading “Interlude by John Hicks”
Long Road to the Sugar Shack for Sugar on Snow by Tricia Knoll
Long Road to the Sugar Shack for Sugar on Snowby Tricia Knoll I stop my car in mud ruts from a thawafter a blizzard. Halfway to the shackwhere white vapor will be the happiest sightin Vermont in late March, last night’ssnowfall droops heavy limbs. The sun, our star of white on white,glares full strength inContinue reading “Long Road to the Sugar Shack for Sugar on Snow by Tricia Knoll”
POETRY and PLACES 