My poem “Wind” is live at Feed the Holy. Initially published in The Blue Hour Magazine, it is also included in my first full-length collection, Our Loveliest Bruises. Thank you, Barbara Leonhard, for this and other kindnesses!
My poem “My Mother’s Ghost Scrubs the Floor at 2 a.m.” is featured today at Only Poems Daily.
Many thanks to Svetlana Litvinchuk and the Only Poems Team for featuring this poem!
“My Mother’s Ghost Scrubs the Floor at 2 a.m.” first appeared in The Indianapolis Review, was subsequently nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and is included in my debut full-length collection, Our Loveliest Bruises (3: A Taos Press, 2025).
A video of the January 2025 Black Dog Poetry Open Mic may be found here. The passcode is: M51?8Ht0
The last character of the passcode is a zero. I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to celebrate the publication of my first full-length collection, Our Loveliest Bruises, among the company of so many friends and readersI. Thank you!
I’m thrilled to announce that I am the featured poet for the January 2025 Black Dog Poetry Open Mic. Many thanks to Sandy Coomer, co-host of the reading and the founding editor of the Rockvale Review. I am especially grateful for this online venue, as my health prevents me from participating in the numerous in-person readings traditionally required to launch and celebrate the publication of one’s first full-length collection. Our Loveliest Bruises is the culmination of much labor, exasperation, love, encouragement, luck and persistence, and I cannot adequately express my gratitude for this opportunity. Thank you!
Please note that an open reading follows my presentation. Poets are requested to present one brief poem. If you’re interested (and I’m talking to you, poet friends), please let me know and I’ll provide contact information. Black Dog Poetry Open MIc has a FaceBook page, where details can also be found.
I’m thrilled and honored to have received the inaugural Shō Poetry Prize for my poem “The Starlings Were You.” Persistence is key—this poem was rejected 28 times prior to winning the prize. If you believe in your work, keep sending it out!
Shō Poetry Journal is a print journal, but they’ve authorized me to post a photo of the poem:
Many thanks and much appreciation to Dominique Ahkong and Johnny Cordova for selecting this piece.
I’m thrilled to announce that I am the featured poet for the January 2025 Black Dog Poetry Open Mic. Many thanks to Sandy Coomer, co-host of the reading and the founding editor of the Rockvale Review. I am especially grateful for this online venue, as my health prevents me from participating in the numerous in-person readings traditionally required to launch and celebrate the publication of one’s first full-length collection. Our Loveliest Bruises is the culmination of much labor, exasperation, love, encouragement, luck and persistence, and I cannot adequately express my gratitude for this opportunity. Thank you!
Please note that an open reading follows my presentation. Poets are requested to present one brief poem. If you’re interested (and I’m talking to you, poet friends), please let me know and I’ll provide contact information. Black Dog Poetry Open MIc has a FaceBook page, where details can also be found.
I am thrilled to announce that my first full-length collection, Our Loveliest Bruises, is now available at 3: A Taos Press. Many thanks to publisher Andrea Watson for taking this book and seeing it through, and to Veronica Golos, whose wisdom and encouragement helped make a nebulous dream come true. I am also deeply grateful for the thoughtful and generous blurbs provided by Veronica, David Wevill, Anna Marie Sewell and Michael Simms. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
My poem “My Mother’s Ghost Sits Next to Me at the Hotel Bar” is live at Silver Birch Press. Many thanks to editor and publisher Melanie Villines for her continuing support. The poem was originally published inThe Lake, and is included in my first full-length book, Our Loveliest Bruises, forthcoming this fall from 3: A Taos Press.
Dry Well
I trace the symbols.
In the dirt, among the grubs and crooked
weeds. Writing of loss. Of missing things.
Wondering if words will fill my mouth
with wool or grit. With pebbles and salt.
If truth is what I want.
* * *
“Dry Well” first appeared in Vox Populi in August 2019. I’m grateful to editor Michael Simms for his steadfast support.
Shadow
walking,
crushing juniper berries
at dusk
the dog shadows me
in his absence
* * *
“Shadow” first appeared here in April, 2015. It could be considered a companion piece to “Mother’s Day,” which is included in the July 2016 edition of The Lake.
Music: “Thunderbird” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
O at the Edges 