Strange Sundays: Poetry That Surprises

Strange Sundays: Poems that surprise. “Knowledge”

KNOWLEDGE Now that I know That passion warms little Of flesh in the mold,  And treasure is brittle, I’ll lie here and learn How, over their ground, Trees make a long shadow And a light sound. By Louise Bogan  ⓒ Louise Borgan 1922 This poem first appeared in Poetry Magazine in 1922, later republishes in… Continue reading Strange Sundays: Poems that surprise. “Knowledge”

Strange Sundays: Poetry That Surprises

Strange Sundays: Poems that surprise. “Touring the Doll Hospital”

Touring the Doll Hospital Touring the Doll Hostpial By Amy Gerstler Why so many senseless injuries? This one’s glass teeth knocked out. Eyes missing, or stuck open or closed. Limbs torn away. Sawdust dribbles onto the floor like an hourglass running out. Fingerless hands, noses chipped or bitten off. Many are bald or burnt. Some,… Continue reading Strange Sundays: Poems that surprise. “Touring the Doll Hospital”

Strange Sundays: Poetry That Surprises

Strange Sundays: At the Lilac Lodge, The Televised Animal Pageant Begins at 3

Poems that surprise. Featured poet: Jeanne Morel “At the Lilac Lodge, The Televised Animal Pageant Begins at 3“ I wanted a cat but I got a meditating monkey. Iwanted a cat but got a meditatingmonkey instead. No cat, but a meditating monkey. If you know your party’s extension youmay be a believer. If you suffer… Continue reading Strange Sundays: At the Lilac Lodge, The Televised Animal Pageant Begins at 3

Strange Sundays: Poetry That Surprises

Strange Sundays: Head of a Doll

This is a short poem by another one of my all-time favorite poets, Charles Simic. I admire him for his concise, yet rich imagery. Head of a Doll Whose demon are you, Whose god? I asked Of the painted mouth Half buried in the sand. A brooding gull Made a brief assessment, And tiptoed away… Continue reading Strange Sundays: Head of a Doll

Strange Sundays: Poetry That Surprises

Strange Sundays: “Listen: there was a goat’s head hanging by ropes in a tree”

“Listen: there was a goat’s head hanging by ropes in a tree. All night it hung there and sang. And those who heard it Felt a hurt in their hearts and thought they were hearing The song of a night bird…” In an effort to share more modern poetry with the world, I am attempting… Continue reading Strange Sundays: “Listen: there was a goat’s head hanging by ropes in a tree”

Literary

The Shadow Awards Update

The shadow award winners will be announced tomorrow night, along with the close-but-no-cigar honorable mentions. In the meantime, here’s a little glimpse into the process, or a bit about what creeps behind the shadow. We’d been talking about doing a poetry contest at Molotov Cocktail for a couple of years. Finally, in the middle of… Continue reading The Shadow Awards Update

Literary

Johns Hopkins University, Project Muse poems

It just came to my attention that 2.5 of the 5 poems I had in the fall 2015 issue of Prairie Schooner are available on the Johns Hopkins University website, via Project MUSE. Wow. I think I’ve entered a parallel universe. Thank you, Poetry Muse!: https://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/prairie_schooner/v089/89.3.bond.html *please be advised: contains graphic language.