Monthly Archives: August 2015

Day Thirty-one, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (last day!)

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33

Rattlesnake sign

“Synapses and Other Conjunctions” is my 31st and final offering for the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to Luanne Castle, who sponsored and provided the title. Since the 30-30 marathon officially ended yesterday, this poem will appear only on this site, and not on the 30-30 site.

Even though my participation in the 30-30 project ends today, please feel free to contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here, which I will continue to honor over the next month.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?” and select my name, “Robert Okaji,” from the pull down so that Tupelo knows to credit the donation to me. And please let me know so that I may send a thank you and incentive gift your way.

Thank you for your support over the past month. I promise I won’t bombard you with fund raising solicitations anytime in the near future!

Now here’s the poem:

Synapses and Other Conjunctions

My advice? Wear boots, even among the dead.
Our barefoot friend, having separated the rattler’s
head from its body, picked up the six-foot
length to show off, and stepped back onto

***

Day Thirty, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (last day, sort of)

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14

imbricated

“Pinecone on a Pedestal, Open Poet” is among the Day Thirty offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets have agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to Ken G. / rivrlogr who sponsored and provided the title.

Pinecone on a Pedestal, Open Poet

Look deeper. Within that grain, a mineral,
inside that word, a book
folding into itself,
leaf by leaf…

To read the rest of the poem, click here.

Even though today is the last official day of my participation in the 30-30 project, please feel free to contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here, which I will continue to honor over the next month.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?” and select my name, “Robert Okaji,” from the pull down so that Tupelo knows to credit the donation to me. And please let me know so that I may send a thank you and incentive gift your way.

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Luanne Castle, I have one final, sponsored title, “Synapses and Other Conjunctions,” which I’ll post here tomorrow.

Thank you for your support! Only one more day to go (again)!

Day Twenty-nine, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

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tracks

“Hunger is Hunger” is among the Day Twenty-nine offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets have agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to the 1874: First Impressionist Exhibition blog who sponsored and provided the title.

Hunger is Hunger

Somewhere we jumped the tracks,
he said, wiping himself clean with my

blouse. But this life’s all you got…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Even though no more title sponsorships remain, please feel free to contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?” and select my name, “Robert Okaji,” from the pull down so that Tupelo knows to credit the donation to me. And please let me know so that I may send a thank you and incentive gift your way.

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “Pinecone on a Pedestal, Open Poet,” thanks to the kindness and generosity of Ken G. / rivrvlogr.

Thank you for your support! Only one more day to go!

Day Twenty-eight, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

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Nawlins

Tupelo Press still has a few openings for September’s 30-30 challenge. Leave a comment or email me for contact info. It’s well worth doing.

“With Summer Purpled Awe” is among the Day Twenty-eight offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets have agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to Charlotte Hamrick who sponsored and provided the title.

With Summer Purpled Awe

1
No one wants to be forgotten
or remembered for the wrong reasons,
but how do we attain that sweet spot
between regrettable and a barred…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Even though no more title sponsorships remain, please feel free to contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?” and select my name, “Robert Okaji,” from the pull down so that Tupelo knows to credit the donation to me. And please let me know so that I may send a thank you and incentive gift your way.

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “Hunger is Hunger,” thanks to the kindness and generosity of the 1874: First Impressionist Exhibition blog.

Thank you for your support! Only 2 poems to go!

Day Twenty-seven, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

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bird

Tupelo Press still has a few openings for September’s 30-30 challenge. Leave a comment or email me for contact info. It’s well worth doing.

“His Softness” is among the Day Twenty-seven offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets have agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to Sarah Rivera who sponsored and provided the title.

His Softness

What name would survive
had you not stepped into the water

that day? Memory assigned
a separate word, another given…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Even though no more title sponsorships remain, you can still contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?” and select my name, “Robert Okaji,” from the pull down so that Tupelo knows to credit the donation to me. And please let me know so that I may send a thank you and incentive gift your way.

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “With Summer Purpled Awe,” thanks to the kindness and generosity of Charlotte Hamrick.

Thank you for your support! Only 3 poems to go!

Day Twenty-six, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

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broom

Tupelo Press still has a few openings for September’s 30-30 challenge. Leave a comment or email me for contact info.

“Something Lost, Something Trivial” is among the Day Twenty-six offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets have agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to Darryl Williams who sponsored and provided the title.

Something Lost, Something Trivial

Another word, another bewildered
moment in transition: the phrase
barely emerges from your mouth
before crumbling back into a half-opened…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Even though no more title sponsorships remain, you can still contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?” and select my name, “Robert Okaji,” from the pull down so that Tupelo knows to credit the donation to me. And please let me know so that I may send a thank you and incentive gift your way.

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “His Softness,” thanks to the kindness and generosity of Sarah Rivera.

Thank you for your support! Only 4 poems to go!

Day Twenty-five, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

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O at the Edges

cracking eggs

“A Cheese Omelet at Midnight” is among the Day Twenty-five offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets have agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to Pleasant Street who sponsored and provided the title.

A Cheese Omelet at Midnight

You can’t ever leave without saying something,
no matter how insipid. That sweater looks good
on you. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow. I’m sorry
I burned the omelet. Nasdaq has plunged 3%… 

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Even though no more title sponsorships remain, you can still contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this…

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Ron Evans of Haiku Odyssey

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Since I can’t access Ron’s blog directly, I thought I’d post this note, with appropriate tags.

For those of you who may be wondering why he hasn’t posted as much as usual, Ron has been hospitalized. He expects to be released in a couple of days, and will no doubt bombard the world with haiku and bad puns shortly afterward. Please send him your best wishes. I’m sure he’d love to hear from you, and I’ll forward your comments directly to Ron as they come in.

Day Twenty-five, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

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5

cracking eggs

“A Cheese Omelet at Midnight” is among the Day Twenty-five offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets have agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to Pleasant Street who sponsored and provided the title.

A Cheese Omelet at Midnight

You can’t ever leave without saying something,
no matter how insipid. That sweater looks good
on you. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow. I’m sorry
I burned the omelet. Nasdaq has plunged 3%… 

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Even though no more title sponsorships remain, you can still contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?” and select my name, “Robert Okaji,” from the pull down so that Tupelo knows to credit the donation to me. And please let me know so that I may send a thank you and incentive gift your way.

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “Something Lost, Something Trivial,” thanks to the kindness and generosity of Darryl Williams.

Thank you for your support! Only 5 poems to go!

Day Twenty-four, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

“Katharsis” is among the Day Twenty-four offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (9 poets have agreed to write 30 poems apiece in 30 days, to raise funds for Tupelo Press, a non-profit literary publisher). Many thanks to Plain Jane who sponsored and provided the title.

Katharsis

The questions, as always: which rocks to ignore, who will
place them, and how to defy the laws of mathematics.

Note: you will create two separate walls to build one…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Even though no more title sponsorships remain, you can still contribute to Tupelo Press! Every bit helps (even a dollar or two), and I’ve some other sponsorship opportunities, with corresponding incentives, listed here.

If you’re so inclined, please visit the 30/30 blog at: Donate to Tupelo. Scroll down to “Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?” and select my name, “Robert Okaji,” from the pull down so that Tupelo knows to credit the donation to me. And please let me know so that I may send a thank you and incentive gift your way.

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “A Cheese Omelet at Midnight,” thanks to the kindness and generosity of Pleasant Street.

Thank you for your support! Only 6 poems to go!