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 “I Laugh” is today’s Throwback Thursday feature at Stone Circle Review. Many thanks to editor Lee Potts for this and other kindnesses.
Thanks again to the wonderful Barbara Leonhard for sharing two poems from and an order link for Our Loveliest Bruises, my first full-length collection, in the “Bookshelf” section of LatinosUSA—English edition. I am honored and proud to be a 3: A Taos Press author. Thank you Veronica Golos and Andrea Watson for making this dream come true.
MasticadoresUsa is helping to promote my first full-length collection, Our Loveliest Bruises (3:A Taos Press), which was released in January 2025. i’m unable, due to health, to adequately promote the book via the usual path (a tour, readings, etc.), and am extremely grateful to Barbara Leonhard for providing this service and for sharing two poems from the collection: “Ashes” and “My Mother’s Ghost Looks Away When I Say Her Father’s Name.” Thank you, Barbara!
My poem “Moonlight at Noon (Afterlife)” is live at Spare Parts Literary Magazine. Many thanks to poetry editor Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi and the Spare Parts team for taking this piece.
My poem, “Even with Eyes Open,” which originally appeared in North Dakota Quarterly, has been republished by Ellie Magazine. I am grateful to the Ellie Magazine team for taking this piece and offering it new life.
My poems “When to Say Goodbye” and “I Praise the Moon, Even When She Laughs” are live at Does It Have Pockets. Many thanks to Camille Griep and the Does It Have Pockets team for taking these previously published pieces and offering them new life.
I’m delighted to announce that my poem “Love Poem with Eight Questions” is live at Spirit Lake Review. Many thanks to the Spirit Lake Review editorial team for taking this piece!
I’m pleased to announce that three of my poems are live at the stellar literary journal Book of Matches, which features poems from such luminaries as Ace Boggess, my wife and partner in everything—Stephanie L. Harper—and Tim Kahl, among others. https://www.bookofmatcheslitmag.com/post/issue-14-unfurls-its-petals
Many thanks to editors Nicholas Christian and Kelli Allen for taking these pieces, and gratitude to Luanne Castle for providing the title and inspiration for one of them (I’ll let you guess which one).
I am thrilled to announce that my second full-length book is now available directly from Broadstone Books at a 20% discount. Just use the code POETS24 when you check out.
https://www.broadstonebooks.com/shop/p/his-windblown-self-poetry-by-robert-okaji
After I expressed concern that I might not live long enough to see or experience the book’s publication, publisher Larry W. Moore prioritized its production, and here it is! Thank you, Larry! Lest you worry, I am feeling pretty good, and have no plans to give up the ghost anytime soon.
The cover art is a painting by my favorite artist, Ron Throop, titled “Sentiment for Bob While Listening to ‘Common One, Bonus Track Addition’ by Van Morrison, Over and Over Again” 2024 Oil on canvas, 20″ x 24″. Ron actually drove some 1,300 miles round-trip to deliver the framed painting and break bread with us, a memorable evening that I’ll cherish forever.
O at the Edges 