O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

Poem Nominated for a Pushcart Prize

Posted on November 24, 2019 by robert okaji

I’m delighted and honored that my poem “My Mother’s Ghost Scrubs the Floor at 2 a.m.” has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize by The Indianapolis Review.

Many thanks to editor Natalie Solmer for accepting this piece.

Click on the link to read the poem or listen to a recording of it.

68 thoughts on “Poem Nominated for a Pushcart Prize”

trE on November 23, 2019 at 7:01 am said:

Whoa, Robert! That’s outstanding! Congratulations!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:13 am said:
  
  Thank you, Tre. I’m truly honored.
  
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  - trE on November 23, 2019 at 11:40 am said:
    
    You’re most welcome! As you should be, it’s an incredible honor, I would imagine!
    
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    - robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:53 am said:
      
      I can’t even imagine receiving a Pushcart. The honor for me is all in the nomination. That out of all of the submissions a journal receives, my piece somehow managed to stick with and affect someone ever after the initial read. What more could a poet want?
      
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      - trE on November 23, 2019 at 12:03 pm said:
        
        Robert, I’d pick you any day for a Pushcart. I bet you’re floating on cloud nine. Be well.
        
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derrickjknight on November 23, 2019 at 7:32 am said:

Congratulations, Bob. That is a tribute to your mother.

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:15 am said:
  
  Thank you, Derrick. She was a memorable woman!
  
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Andrew McDowell on November 23, 2019 at 7:43 am said:

Congrats!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:15 am said:
  
  Thanks, Andrew.
  
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  - Andrew McDowell on November 23, 2019 at 3:33 pm said:
    
    You’re welcome.
    
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Cate on November 23, 2019 at 7:44 am said:

Wonderful news, Bob. Congratulations!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:16 am said:
  
  It is, Cate. Especially with such a personal poem.
  
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Jazz Jaeschke on November 23, 2019 at 7:50 am said:

Super!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:17 am said:
  
  Yes! Maybe the sixth time is the charm?
  
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memadtwo on November 23, 2019 at 7:57 am said:

Definitely worthy of the nomination. Congrats!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:18 am said:
  
  Thanks, Kerfe. It was a very pleasant surprise.
  
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qbit on November 23, 2019 at 8:02 am said:

Wow!!! Outstanding.

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:19 am said:
  
  Thank you, JRB. It was quite exhilarating.
  
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Susi Bocks on November 23, 2019 at 8:09 am said:

Congratulations, Robert, great news! 😊

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:20 am said:
  
  Thanks very much, Susi. It’s quite the honor,
  
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  - Susi Bocks on November 23, 2019 at 1:41 pm said:
    
    Yes, it is! I wish you much continued success! 😁
    
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thotpurge on November 23, 2019 at 8:15 am said:

Congratulations!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:21 am said:
  
  Thanks very much, Rajani.
  
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merrildsmith on November 23, 2019 at 9:23 am said:

Congratulations!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:23 am said:
  
  Thanks, Merril. I’m thrilled.
  
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Jennifer Novotney on November 23, 2019 at 9:38 am said:

Yay! 🥳

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:49 am said:
  
  Thanks very much, Jennifer!
  
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stephanielharper on November 23, 2019 at 11:13 am said:

You are stupendously talented and you blow my mind! 🤯
This honor is so well-deserved!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:25 am said:
  
  Ha! Even though I can no longer claim the exalted title of “backyard poet”?
  
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  - stephanielharper on November 23, 2019 at 11:33 am said:
    
    The Shack was in you all along…
    
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    - robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:50 am said:
      
      And now it’s the dining room table… 🙂
      
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The Writer's Village on November 23, 2019 at 11:24 am said:

My congratulations along with everyone else.
What a wonderful honor.
Keeping my fingers crossed for your being awarded the prize.

Nice!!!!!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:26 am said:
  
  Thank you, Randy. The odds are against it, but one can dream… 🙂
  
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  - The Writer's Village on November 23, 2019 at 11:38 am said:
    
    It’s a dream come true, no matter what!
    
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    - robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 11:55 am said:
      
      That it is!
      
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Jennifer Barricklow on November 23, 2019 at 1:06 pm said:

Congratulations!!

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 1:42 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much, Jennifer.
  
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AM Roselli on November 23, 2019 at 2:40 pm said:

Robert – fantastic!
your raw sensibilities are a wonderful thing to behold in words
am:)

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 4:20 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much! You’re very kind.
  
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James Walton on November 23, 2019 at 2:55 pm said:

Wonderful Robert. So deserved! All the best

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- robert okaji on November 23, 2019 at 4:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much, Jim. Any kind of recognition is always such a surprise. But always welcome!
  
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Amorina Rose on November 23, 2019 at 8:39 pm said:

Not surprised. I love all your work.

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- robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 8:59 am said:
  
  Thank you, Barbara!
  
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Wezzlehead on November 24, 2019 at 5:19 am said:

Well-deserved, Robert. Congratulations!

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- robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 9:00 am said:
  
  Thanks very much, Robert.
  
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The Cheesesellers Wife on November 24, 2019 at 8:06 am said:

Congratulations!

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- robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 9:00 am said:
  
  Thank you very much!
  
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Avia Tinder on November 24, 2019 at 12:59 pm said:

Huge Congratulations, you are an inspiration!

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- robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 3:33 pm said:
  
  Thank you. I’m mostly just persistent!
  
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  - Avia Tinder on November 24, 2019 at 4:22 pm said:
    
    I’ve heard that’s what it takes 🙂
    
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    - robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 8:04 pm said:
      
      It works for me. 🙂
      
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      - Avia Tinder on November 24, 2019 at 8:30 pm said:
        
        🙂
        
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stepsinbetween on November 24, 2019 at 2:19 pm said:

Congratulations! The final stanza pulled me in and somewhat summed up life (in many ways). Beautiful imagery creating a beautiful piece of work.

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- robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 3:34 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much, Celaine. I’m so pleased that it resonated.
  
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Anne J. on November 24, 2019 at 2:34 pm said:

That’s so awesome! Congratulations!

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- robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 3:34 pm said:
  
  It is awesome, indeed, Anne. Thank you.
  
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rivrvlogr on November 24, 2019 at 4:34 pm said:

Good news, Bob. Well done.

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- robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 8:05 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Ken. It’s always surprising to receive any sort of recognition, but nicely so.
  
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ダニエル・シュネー on November 24, 2019 at 5:42 pm said:

Of course you are nominated for prizes… your meters-long list of publications and the quality and power of your work demand nothing less. I’ll say it again, you have a Pulitzer in your future if the rest of the world wakes up and does a deep read of what you have written.

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- robert okaji on November 24, 2019 at 8:07 pm said:
  
  Thanks for your confidence, Daniel. Perhaps one of these days I’ll be able to publish a full-length book.
  
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Ali Grimshaw on November 25, 2019 at 10:29 am said:

That’s exciting news Robert. A well deserved nomination.

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- robert okaji on November 25, 2019 at 1:11 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Ali. It is exciting!
  
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grimspound on December 3, 2019 at 9:14 pm said:

Congratulations, Robert! Well done!

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- robert okaji on December 3, 2019 at 9:27 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Dianne!
  
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kenneturner on December 15, 2019 at 1:11 pm said:

Reblogged this on Becoming is Superior to Being and commented:
I find myself reading more poetry this morning, maybe because I’m receiving more online. Robert Okaji’s poem is excellent. For starters, I’ve become obsessed with time, with memory, with the language, all of which I find here. — kenne

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- robert okaji on December 15, 2019 at 5:14 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much for reblogging this, Kenne!
  
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dellisphelps on December 16, 2019 at 10:23 pm said:

stunning melancholy in these lines: “how does one reconcile…” AH! Indeed!

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- robert okaji on December 16, 2019 at 10:39 pm said:
  
  Thanks, d. It’s snowing here in Indy!
  
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