Hello Nurse, by Ron Throop. Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 24.

My poem “The Neurotic Dreams September in April” has now been posted among the day 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 writer/artist Ron Throop, who provided the title. Please note: if you like the poem, I’m responsible. If you dislike it, Ron is to blame. 🙂  If you haven’t yet read Ron’s writing, or enjoyed his painting, I implore you to visit his blog.

The Neurotic Dreams September in April

Already I have become the beginning of a partial ghost, sleeping the summer
sleep in winter, choosing night over breakfast and the ritual of dousing lights.
This much I know: the moon returns each month, and tonight you lie awake…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “Bent,” thanks to the generosity of my good friend Stephanie Kaufman. I have sponsors for Sunday and Monday, but next week is mostly open. Conjure up a title (be creative, be weird, be gentle, be poetic), 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.

For information on other sponsorships and incentives, click here.

Thank you for your support! Only 23 poems to go!

My poem “Your Armpits Smell Like Heaven” has now been posted among the day 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
Plain Jane of Family Rules: Reflections by Plain Jane, who is giving Ron Evans a run for the money for “worst 30-30 title ever.”

Your Armpits Smell Like Heaven

But your breath could melt a glacier at three
miles, she says, and then we might consider
the dirt under your nails, the way you slur…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “The Neurotic Dreams September in April,” thanks to the generosity of Ron Throop of Tam and Friends. I have sponsors for Saturday and Sunday, but could use one for Monday. Conjure up a title (be creative, be weird, be gentle, be poetic), 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. Believe me, I’ve never before written about armpits! 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.

For information on sponsorships (and my other incentives), click here.

Thank you for your support! Only 24 poems to go!

My poem “What We Say When We Say Nothing” has now been posted among the day 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).

What We Say When We Say Nothing

The rain has died and everything follows:
black, white – the law’s supposition. Their bodies

glisten only in memory. One says look at me from the steel…

Tomorrow’s poem is titled “Your Armpits Smell Like Heaven,” thanks to the generosity of Plain Jane of Family Rules: Reflections by Plain Jane, who is giving Ron Evans a run for the money in the “worst 30-30 title ever” competition. I have sponsors for Friday and Saturday, but could use one for Sunday. Conjure up a title (be creative, be weird, be gentle, be poetic), 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.

For information on sponsorships (and my other incentives), click here.

Thank you for your support! Only 25 poems to go!

My poem “Scarecrow Sees” has now been posted among the day 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).

Scarecrow Sees

Da Vinci maintained that sight relies on the eye’s
central line, yet the threads that hold my
ocular buttons in place weave through four
holes and terminate in a knot…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

I have a sponsor for Thursday’s poem, but could use one for Friday’s. Conjure up a title (be creative, be weird, be gentle, be poetic), donate $10 to Tupelo Press, let me know what the title is, and I’ll write the poem. The two sponsored poems thus far have been a blast to write, and the titles 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.

For information on sponsorships (and my other incentives), click here.

Thank you for your support! Only 26 poems to go!

My poem “Calvin Coolidge – Live or Memorex?” has now been posted among the third day’s offerings of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project (8 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 my good friend Ron Evans, for sponsoring and providing the worst title in the history of the 30/30 project.

Calvin Coolidge — Live or Memorex?

They say the wind in Alvarado bypasses closed doors, slips through
book-laden walls and plate glass and into your dreams where it circles
and accumulates, whirling, whirling, steadily gaining force…

To see the rest of the poem, click here

As of this posting, I’ve no sponsor for tomorrow’s poem, and, alas, no one else to blame for its possible unworthiness. But if you’d like to compete with Ron for worst title ever (or if you simply wish to be kind) 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.

For information on sponsorships (and other incentives), click here.

Thank you for your support! Only 27 poems to go!