|
QUIET
by Eric Burbridge A cloud of pollen surrounded the machine I sneezed and finished the landscaping Sunlight pierced the haze and stimulated the imagination I reclined the glove soft leather. Pretty faces spread news and fear on high definition pixels DVR temptation distracted momentarily Discipline prevailed And the power button restored tranquility. Sunlight drenched the family room A squirrel paused on the window sill It nibbled on an acorn and moved on Admiration of a manicured landscape soothed wounded creativity What beauty will come out of the silence? |
WHITE GIANT ALLIUM 1 by Allyson Seconds |
|
TED KOOSER AND A CHICKEN
by James Lee Jobe Deep in the throes of spring, the barn has become a thing of beauty. The winter hay has all been eaten now, the stalls are as empty as the universe, and with all the doors open wide the prairie winds have blown the floor delightfully clean. The work-worn wood is from an ancient civilization, perhaps the bronze age, and the harness hanging proudly on the unpainted wall is a war trophy, or a statue of Ted Kooser. A lone, wide-eyed chicken wanders in, like a camera-laden tourist entering the Sistine Chapel in American shoes. She looks around with great reverence. And there I will leave you. When Ted Kooser and a chicken wander into your poem, you're done. |
WHITE GIANT ALLIUM 2 by Allyson Seconds |
|
THE EXPLANATION
by James Lee Jobe I counted and numbered the blades of grass across all of the fields of springtime. I inventoried the stars and divided the number by thirteen for poetic reasons. I found out how many telephone poles there are in Yuba County, California; it wasn't so difficult. Why did I do these things? For all the mathematics teachers I had as a boy who lied and said, "You'll need this when you grow up!" What horseshit. I tallied the sunrises since I was born, nearly thirty thousand. I counted the lovers that I can remember, even though none of them matter but you. |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
home | Table of Contents | archive