Sentimentalized Failure

I did this new thing recently. They call it erasure poetry. I call it a back door into writing. Either way, I was inspired to give it a go because I was listening to this podcast in which Jeff Goins riffs on mix tapes, creation v. curation, etc. It got me thinking about how it's …

DO Cross The Streams

Dr. Egon Spengler: There's something very important I forgot to tell you. Dr. Peter Venkman: What? Dr. Egon Spengler: Don't cross the streams. Dr. Peter Venkman: Why? Dr. Egon Spengler: It would be bad. Dr. Peter Venkman: I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad"? Dr. Egon Spengler: Try to imagine …

Ashes

The featured image and the following poem are part of a larger collection (titled "Transit") which was the result of a collaboration with photographer Tom Darin Liskey in the spring of 2020. It was an honor to work with Tom, whose photography I have admired for many years. We are currently preparing this collection for …

Essential Work

Sitting on the back porch of 2020, watching for the sun to rise on the next year, I am grateful for our common task that binds us - this essential work of loving in the time we have to love. Let's get busy with that, shall we? And in the meantime, I share some excerpts …

Ten Random Observations at a Time of Social Distancing

This strange season has not been conducive to writing for me, although I can’t say I haven’t had the time. It just seems my mind only has the capacity to capture random observations and store them away for some unforeseen future use.  As that future use may never be revealed, I share a few of …

Before and After (a poem)

Before and after There’s this thing going around about how we should not want to go back to “normal” because what came before should be – upon reflection – forsaken. I don’t know what your normal looked like before, but as for me, I can’t wait to have an unplanned conversation with a colleague by …

Confessions of a Failed Poet

Seeing as how I just received notice that my chapbook did not make the cut in a competition I had entered a few months back, it's as good a time as any to confess my poetic failures. But in reflection, every day is a good day to be honest about the real. There's no shame …

In Transit: VII (A Collaboration)

The selection below ends our series showcasing a collaboration of photography and poetry. Thank you, Tom Darin Liskey, for offering up your stunning images for reflection. Have a blessed Easter, my friends. He is risen. He is risen indeed. The Cross What is there to say about a cross with bling? In your face, judgment. …

In Transit: Part V (A Collaboration)

Continuing the collaboration with Tom Darin Liskey into Holy Week with a response to his cover image for this series. X. In Transit The whole world is on a bus Together. It’s some bus. Big enough for safety, close enough for comfort. That guy in the hat is here, and so is Mr. Button-down with …

In Transit: Part IV (A Collaboration)

One more for the weekend in this collaboration with photographer Tom Darin Liskey. VIII. Broke Down Light Squint into sunlight, stretch – ten bricks higher to the left, and then a few more, just out of reach – but you never give up, do you? There’s a thing needs straightening, always your hand quick to …