"Oasis"
warm water streaming over strained muscles taut with the tension of
a thousand
stir-crazed hours of intrusive solitude within a small space yet
none purely owned by me excepting this waterproof box
where for five too short minutes
steam tingles wet skin
voice reverberates
Beatles and Aretha
bounces against panels
of thin
acrylic as
peppermint
suds wash my
worries
down the
drain
alongside
white
soapy
bubbles... .. . .
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Thank you for visiting my blog! I’ve been wanting a break from all the depressing news lately, so I thought I’d share this poem as (hopefully) a little break for you too: an oasis in this shared storm we’re all weathering.
Wherever you are, stay safe, stay well, and read often!
Today is the one year anniversary of the Book Launch for my first published book, my poetry collection, Soul Picked Clean.
Since an in-person event is obviously not possible now, I wanted to celebrate online! I read a few of my poems, explain the thoughts behind them, and talk about how to keep in touch online. Enjoy!
If you would like to attend my FaceBook LIVE Book Birthday Party tonight, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/rhmzktp
This past week has been challenging for the entire world, so I thought this poem would be both appropriate and cheering. I hope you enjoyed it. Stay safe, stay well, and read often!
Happy November! And if you are participating in National Novel Writing Month this year, Happy Novelling! If you would like to be writing buddies or just check out my progress, I go by ‘ganymeder’ on the NaNoWriMo site.
I’m concentrating this month on my (already work-in-progress) novel, but my posts will still drop here once every two weeks and my additional Patreon posts once a week. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions or requests, please let me know in the comments, and have a great holiday!
For All Hallow’s Eve, I’m going to skip the tricks and just give you an extra post this week as a treat! Believe it or not, it’s inspired by a real event. I picked this poem, because I thought the creep-factor fit the holiday nicely. I hope you like it!
“Her Neti Pot Ate Her Brain”
The news article was not
particularly specific,
at least I didn’t absorb more
than the fact that when
the doctors opened her skull
to operate they discovered
a golf-ball sized patch of brain
turned to bloody mush
from the amoebas eating away
her grey matter–or is it pink?
no matter, at least none
of that golf-ball sized patch
that could think clearly,
the amoebas in the tap water
she used in her neti pot,
tap water organisms normally killed
by stomach acid
given free access to her brain
through her nasal cavity.
Do I dice with death
during every shower?
Turning my face up,
head tilted back
to wash the shampoo
from my hair,
each drop’s
a tiny clear bullet
just waiting
to hit its target.
What else is given access?
–a spider crawling
in nose or ear, making its way
to build webs in cerebellum,
normally there would be
no room for such an enterprise,
but a hollowed-out golf-ball size
patch of medulla oblongata
might be enough
for a small spider
to set up housekeeping.
Waiting for her first
unsuspecting prey,
she sits,
a bloated black ball
chitchatting with killer amoebas
awaiting the fresh kill.
#
Happy Halloween! And if you are participating in National Novel Writing Month this year, Happy Novelling! If you would like to be writing buddies, I go by ‘ganymeder’ on the NaNoWriMo site.
Since I’ll be concentrating on my (already work-in-progress) novel during November, I’ve already scheduled my posts to drop once every two weeks on this blog, and once a week on my Patreon–except for my podcast; I’ll record my second episode of My Writing Niche 3.0at the end of November, so I can recap November’s excitement! In the meantime, if you have any suggestions or requests, please let me know in the comments, and have a great holiday!
The lovely month of May brings dandelions (my favorite flowers), free comics, and nerdtastic holidays, but it’s also full of personal milestones as well. My anniversary, my son’s Prom, and his graduation all happen in the next few weeks!
I’m also really excited about upcoming poetry events this weekend! First, this Friday at 7pm, at Hackenberg Realty Group in Canton, I’ll be competing against the esteemed John Walters in my second Writing Knights sWord Fight! I’ve created a promo video for the event (above); it’s suitably serious. The other event I’m really excited about is the Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition this coming Saturday evening.
For now though, I’d like to share a poem with you.
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“Blessed Milk Thistle”
Your bright purple blooms
so reminiscent of dandelions
and other maligned weeds
guilty of growing
where they shouldn’t–a blight
to urban gardens, but a delight
to lovers of wild things and bright
colors exploding against green grass
a boon to herbalists, home cooks,
pharmaceutical companies,
and mothers presented with
fiery bouquets picked by small,
chubby fingers and presented
with a smile.
Upon your spiky green leaves,
gardeners wage eternal war.
.
Upcoming and Current Events:
Friday, May 10th (7pm – 9pm)
Writing Knights sWord Fight poetry competition is a monthly event where poets compete against each other via verse. This is my second time participating; this time I will compete against poet John Walters. Come by, and wish us luck!
Saturday, May 11th (7pm – 9pm)
I’m so honored to be a finalist in the Hessler Street Fair Poetry Contest. I will be competing in Cleveland against the other finalists. Come and hear some great poetry!
. Wednesday, May 15th (7pm – 9pm)
Latitudes Poetry Night is every third Wednesday at Compass Coffee (Akron) from 7pm – 9pm. There is usually a featured poet, followed by a short break and then an Open Mic.
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Thursday, May 23rd (6pm – 9pm)
The Write Stuff Authors’ Group meets monthly at the North Canton Library to workshop WIPs before adjourning to TD’s Grill at about 7:30pm for general literary merry-making.
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Saturday, May 25th (all day)
Towel Day! May 25th is the fan-tastic holiday for fans of the late great Douglas Adams. Every year my son and I celebrate by taking photos of ourselves to post to the Towel Day Flickr group, watching a Douglas Adams themed program (such as the BBC Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy mini series), and attempting a Terran non alcoholic version of the universe’s most alcoholic drink: the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster! The drinks are almost always terrible, but that’s in keeping with the effects of a drink that’s the equivalent of “having your brains smashed in by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.” We often attempt Vogon Poetry as well, but then again, we like to live dangerously.
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Now that National Poetry Month is over, I’m returning to my regular schedule of posting every other Friday. I plan to continue to include a poem and/or short story each time, as well as updated current events. If you are interested in keeping up with my appearances and other poetry events, I suggest you check out the Cleveland Poetics Calendar (page link at top) or my social media accounts (on right).
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In the meantime, I wish for you a month filled with poetry. Thank you for visiting my blog, and I hope to see you at one of these events soon!
