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!
O at the Edges 
Robert, I tried to donate through their Paypal setup but there isn’t a place to credit it to you. Do you know how to solve that problem?
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Hi Luanne. Thank you! If you go to the original “donate” page, scroll down to the donate button, the email address of Kirsten Miles, the person in charge of the 30-30 project, is listed. You could send her a message and ask her to credit me with the donation. I truly appreciate your support.
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I corresponded with Kirsten already this morning. I’m inspired by your work on this project and am considering doing it for September. Am I insane? 😉 I will do that re a donation in your honor.
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Do it! It’s fun, if a bit challenging and tiring. No, of course you’re not insane (but who am I to judge?). 🙂 And thanks again for donating!
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OK, Robert, I donated and am providing you with a title. “Synapses and Other Conjunctions.” Have fun!
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Woo hoo! A fun title. Unfortunately this will appear only on my blog, as the official Tupelo 30-30 marathon ends on the 30th, and I’ve titles sponsored through the 30th. I hope that’s okay.
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The elusive quality of this poem thrills me. It’s as if I’m trying to hold on to something that’s slipping through my fingers, fading from sight, echoing in the distance, a scent barely detected before it’s gone. Lovely. Strangely enough, it’s also the feeling I get when characters are heading toward disaster, continuing along that path, and there is nothing they can or will do to stop themselves. Nothing I can do to stop them, either. A dreamlike state. Interesting.
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Thanks, Jilanne. Memory is so intractable. Just when you think you’ve got it, something proves you wrong.
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Lovely poem! Thank you. 🙂
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I’m glad you approve, Sarah. Thank you for the title!
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