“If curious by chance, you ask the refugees, they /say, Don’t ask for answers anymore. Let the ashes speak.”
Poetry
Well After Williams
Can parody be tender? Dennis Mahagin's send-up of William Carlos Williams sure is.
Can parody be tender? Dennis Mahagin’s send-up of William Carlos Williams sure is.
The Working
"I’m trying to sand down the edges of a jagged life /Thinking back to that boy who refused to accept a cookie from his classmate"
“I’m trying to sand down the edges of a jagged life /Thinking back to that boy who refused to accept a cookie from his classmate”
All the Things Your Blood Forgot After Making You
"I’m inspired to take heaven hostage, to /line up the saints in 21 rows and force them /with love to feed you forever"
“I’m inspired to take heaven hostage, to /line up the saints in 21 rows and force them /with love to feed you forever”
Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!
"we know food is political the taco bowl an emblem of American efficiency /eight-hour workdays rice assembly lines appropriation seasoned beef Frida Diego sour cream"
“we know food is political the taco bowl an emblem of American efficiency /eight-hour workdays rice assembly lines appropriation seasoned beef Frida Diego sour cream”
uploads.288364.HIV_opportunistic_ infections.pdf
"I couldn’t touch a thing at dinner /the meal the conversation all had no /flavor, as if my mouth had lost its way"
“I couldn’t touch a thing at dinner /the meal the conversation all had no /flavor, as if my mouth had lost its way”
Parable
"Maybe it’s about forgiveness /for what comes next, /for the two boys at creek side— /wouldn’t you like one to represent pure goodness /and the other pure wickedness"
“Maybe it’s about forgiveness /for what comes next, /for the two boys at creek side— /wouldn’t you like one to represent pure goodness /and the other pure wickedness”
2017 in Poetry
We've hosted a lot of great poems this year, including these...
We’ve hosted a lot of great poems this year, including these…
The Unmade Choice
"I could have listened /to him forever if that was a choice I had. Instead, /I’m building a sculpture of words, called 'I never looked /for God in my Father.'"
“I could have listened /to him forever if that was a choice I had. Instead, /I’m building a sculpture of words, called ‘I never looked /for God in my Father.'”
Ota Benga: Therapy
Ota Benga was kidnapped from the Congo, Africa, and put on display in a cage at the Bronx Zoo, New York City, in 1906. This poem pays homage to him in the hope of keeping his memory alive and that others would not experience the same fate.
Ota Benga was kidnapped from the Congo, Africa, and put on display in a cage at the Bronx Zoo, New York City, in 1906. This poem pays homage to him in the hope of keeping his memory alive and that others would not experience the same fate.
It’s like in golf.
"forget the stats /for one season a man discovered /his brilliance by doing what came natural /the graceful arc of the ball /all eyes watching as it soared"
“forget the stats /for one season a man discovered /his brilliance by doing what came natural /the graceful arc of the ball /all eyes watching as it soared”
Youngest Son
"I don’t want the word dead around my kids/ or around any mother’s son so I say Honey, you were never dead /and he says Then I fell like a raindrop into your mouth and I say Yes"
“I don’t want the word dead around my kids/ or around any mother’s son so I say Honey, you were never dead /and he says Then I fell like a raindrop into your mouth and I say Yes”
Just Enough Spectacle
"Childhood ponds skate into space; and, yes, this is winter—the calendar’s last portion."
“Childhood ponds skate into space; and, yes, this is winter—the calendar’s last portion.”
Dome
"The meds encased in little clear domes, /villages of white and primary colors—the porcelain /of your clonazepam, the yellow of your Seroquel, /the blue of your Adderall"
“The meds encased in little clear domes, /villages of white and primary colors—the porcelain /of your clonazepam, the yellow of your Seroquel, /the blue of your Adderall”
2017 Pushcart Nominees
GMP's Pushcart Nominations for 2017
GMP’s Pushcart Nominations for 2017
Poetry Interview: Austin Allen
Award-winning poet Austin Allen talks sports, pleasure, and poetry. Form and failure are also on the table.
Award-winning poet Austin Allen talks sports, pleasure, and poetry. Form and failure are also on the table.