Imagine the warrior princess Leaning against a sword almost As big as she. Terrible twin breasts Are barely contained in a brief Animal skin bra, and her own un-road-mapped skin Dips into brave loincloth half G-string, half suggestion. Uncovered Arms and pole-dancer thighs. All the boys would want To be heroically with her. Their fathers,… Read More Institutionalized Temptation ~ poetry by Ken Poyner

After “The Snow Man” by Wallace Stevens and “Because I could not stop for death – (479)” by Emily Dickinson Because one must stop winter’s mind – though I could not have death – the forest’s rearguard held its snow as kindling bowed to crust. Like sour elves, immortal carnage slowly stooped. The pine-trees drove… Read More Triple-Bubble Puddle: The Satiety of Influence ~ poetry by Jake Sheff

Nourishing Traditions Two words meant to soothe. Even the cover of this cookbook appeals— palm trees, shepherds, sheaves of wheat in drawings that frame the title below a sleepy sun. Traditional recipes sound like a great idea, back to basics, natural ingredients, no added chemicals or preservatives. I’m gung-ho, ready to jump in the pot,… Read More Nourishing Traditions ~ poetry by Joan Mazza

How to Drink Yourself Sober Step Four, Into the Land of Nod Creation gave us the inquisition. Ripe erotic Old Testament Blues with a flat Midwestern accent. She’s a murder ballad with a happy ending, has a story for every place she’s never been. Our whole fable takes place before there were angels. The sky… Read More How to Drink Yourself Sober ~ poetry by Alex Stolis

Theater Recluses They never leave.  Dress rehearsal in an hour.  The stage is the cage where dreams battle to become more ludicrous than you.  We received our lines for the day backstage.  The band sat up awaiting direction.  Tickets sold.  The lights came down.  The curtains were drawn.  Makeup people, costume people, stage craft, management,… Read More Two poems ~ poetry by Al Simmons

words can come to have no meaning if you look at them a certain way wordscancometohavenomeaningifyoulookatthemacertainway w ordsc anc ometoh aven omea ningi fyoul ooka tthemac er tainw ay word scan co meto ha venom ean in gif youlo okat hema certa inway wo rd sc an co me to ha ve no me an… Read More words can come to have no meaning ~ poetry by Paula Donovan

inconsiderate spectre clothes w/ bullet-holes in them on display in shop windows / teenagers berate their parents for being married for so long, all the cool kid’s parents got a divorce [a long time ago!] / no love letters for the lonely no wave no gentle kisses good-bye / Don’t pray for me pray for… Read More Two poems ~ poetry by William Jackson

The boldest man might have shrunk, riding around of nights, beyond the reach of the warm grasp. Loss of time, Reason to fear, Worn with travel, Defeated. Compelled to flee to the defense of their hearth,    traitors, at heart, Surrender. Parting must come, Utterly,    in the end. Rosa Jivani is an x-ray technician in the… Read More Hidden verse in Harry Castlemon’s Rodney the Overseer (1892) ~ poetry by Rosa Jivani

It starts … With a woman Beyond youthful giggles Accent thick Old-country rhythm A life’s experiences Wisps of gray Glasses perched It starts … With a boy Bright eyes glimmering Gloomy bodega Coins in hand Jingle, fade He dances foot to foot Asks for a Coke Quick and shy It starts … With a car… Read More It starts … ~ poetry by Mark Paxson

beautiful eyes see the ugliness of the world a [tall] woman in a blue polka dot dress stand[s] alone by a window in a  library[. She’s] looking off somewhere, hands holding each other,  nervous and unresponsive to the voice that’s speaking to her.  decisions [are] being made but no options [are] being offered.  calculated mistakes… Read More Constellations Ms (folio#073.119.82) ~ poetry by William Jackson

You gotta talk the talk  ’cuz it’s a no-brainer. Don’t go down for the count after drawing a blank.  The jig is up! Gotta be quick on the draw or go back to square one,  Know what I’m sayin’?   Ride ’em, cowboy! But when the plot thickens and it’s down to the wire, We gotta… Read More From a Random Phrase Generator ~ poetry by Hallie Dickerson

1 I paid the entrance fee To Elvis Aaron Presley’s mortal Grave, there in Memphis, Tennessee. What did I learn there? He was thee and me. 2 I tried to walk down To the sylvan river Wye. But the field was muck And mined with cow dung, And clouding the air, flies. 3 Inevitably we… Read More Five Pentagraphs ~ poetry by Kevin Brennan

The finest and the fattest is for their board, But she would rather take refuge in a convent. Moved to compassion by the anxiety, His levity and petulance,        perpetually breaking out. Exhausted with his various exertions, He resolved to trust to the sagacity of his horse. And she would have compassion upon them    into a… Read More Hidden verse in Ivanhoe ~ poetry by Nathaniel P. Mahar

  Pru Marais is a poet and educator who lives in the eastern half of the country, though she has not told us which country.