30poemsinNovember

Journal

Poems

Thoughts After Listening to a Podcast Interview of Tricia Hersey

Raising a child in America is an act of violenceEverything from the crashing together of the two cells(To say nothing of the act that caused that unionWhether it involved a…

30poemsinNovember

Journal

Poems

Firstborn

This is poem #28 out of my 30 poems, and I would so so so so appreciate it if you would support the amazing organization and community at Center for New Americans. Why? Because they are a non-profit adult education center that provides the under-served immigrant, refugee and migrant communities of Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley with education and resources to learn English, become involved community members and obtain tools necessary to maintain economic independence and stability. Because love your neighbor as yourself. Because we are all neighbors. Please support my efforts by contributing to this wonderful organization via my pledge page.

30poemsinNovember

Journal

Poems

Spelunking

See the world through your new pair of glasses: 
Only what is visible 
Through this rectangle.
This is your subject. 
Now, you may travel the world
To gain a new perspective
Or you can stay home, practice spelunking.
And when your child comes to you and announces
Their path is not your path…

30poemsinNovember

Journal

Poems

Sheath

Before I knew its name, I knew the laurel bushBy its gnarled branches, as bent as my grandmother’s hands,The space it made for a three-year-old’s fort. I knew its flowers…

30poemsinNovember

Journal

Poems

The Surprising Cure for My A.D.D.

My poem came from Sarah Sullivan’s prompt to “copy” the poem “Small Talk” by Kirsten Shu-yin Chen. As listeners to my band The Nields know, I am a big fan of borrowing/stealing the forms and tropes of others to make something new of my own.

By the way, I have been using that Pilates bar regularly, and to give credit where it’s due, I’ll say that I got it from a company called “Stretched Fusion.” They did not pay me to say this. And if they offered me big bucks for endorsing them, I would take the money and run.

Journal

Poems

Anam Cara

I fell in love with running writing groups eighteen years ago because of a man named Michael Biegner, and if it weren’t for his brilliance, humor, warmth and friendship, I…

30poemsinNovember

Poems

To Make Amends

I am looking for maps on GoogleTo show me the peoples my peoplesDisplaced. Finding their namesHearing their voices in the PennacookThe Pocumtuck the Mohawk But where do I even start?My…

30poemsinNovember

Journal

Poems

Siphonophore

After Stephen Philbrick. They say the mysteries of the heavensAre nothing compared to the mysteries of the seasWhose leagues we cannot fathom,Whose depths we take for grantedUnderfoot, our terrestrial backyard….

30poemsinNovember

Poems

Did you see those maps?

Stranger, you are welcome hereRegardless of the laws of men and womenWho don’t see that freedom can’t be contained by a wall.This land, always yours to claim, as much as…