Day Thirteen, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

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My poem “When to Say Goodbye” has now been posted among the Day Thirteen 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 Nori Rost, who sponsored and provided the title.

When to Say Goodbye

If all goes well it will never happen.
The dry grass in the shade whispers

while the vines crunch underfoot…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “Latitude,” thanks to the generosity and kindness of Cate Terwilliger.

I hope that the sponsored titles and my responses to them have been entertaining, but other sponsorship opportunities abound. For information on these and their corresponding incentives, click here.

“Name That Poem” sponsorships are still available for Tuesday and beyond. Conjure up a title (be creative, be weird, be gentle, be poetic, oh, heck, be mean if you wish), donate $10 to Tupelo Press, let me know what the title is, and I’ll write the poem. The  sponsored poems thus far have been a blast to write, and the titles have led me to poems I’d not otherwise have written. 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 as soon as possible what your title is.

Thank you for your support! Only 18 poems to go!

17 thoughts on “Day Thirteen, Tupelo Press 30/30 Project”

  1. Bob, I really like L2 — “The dry grass in the shade whispers” Sounds vaguely familiar. 🙂

    Seriously, I love this poem…very meaningful…not pleasant…but meaningful. I’ve taken too many precious furry friends on one-way trips…will it never end? Now Shadow, who was just a puppy when we got him, is now 8 years old, and oh how I dread another one-way trip. Or maybe I’ll be taking the trip………

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  3. Ha! You’re probably the only poet on your street ever to write a poem with a ref. to the “Ink Spots”! 🙂

    (On another front, my wife is getting me an appt. with my cardiologist to check into my concern that the specter of CHF may be rearing its ugly head. Oh, well. *shrug*

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  6. Well-wrought, Bob: the weight of those different and yet same losses, and the helplessness that travels alongside. Spare and beautiful.

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