EP: The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman

https://youtu.be/Jp9pyMqnBzk Mr. President, Dr. Biden, Madam Vice President, Mr. Emhoff, Americans and the world, when day comes we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade? The loss we carry a sea we must wade. We’ve braved the belly of the beast. We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace. In the norms … Continue reading EP: The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman

EP: No Good Bones by Maggie Smith

Life is short, though I keep this from my children.Life is short, and I’ve shortened minein a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,a thousand deliciously ill-advised waysI’ll keep from my children. The world is at leastfifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservativeestimate, though I keep this from my children.For every bird there is a stone thrown at … Continue reading EP: No Good Bones by Maggie Smith

EP: Oracle of the Povo by Dambudzo Marechera

Her vision’s scrubland Of out-of-work heroes Who yesterday a country won And today poverty tasted And some to the hills hurried their thirst And others to arson and blasphemy Waving down tourists and buses Unleashing havoc no tongue can tell – Her vision’s Droughtstricken acres Of lean harried squatters And fat pompous armed overlords Touching … Continue reading EP: Oracle of the Povo by Dambudzo Marechera

EP: Someone Leans Near By Toni Morrison

Someone leans nearAnd sees the salt your eyes have shed. You wait, longing to hearWords of reason, love or playTo lash or lull you toward the hollow day. Silence kneads your fearOf crumbled star-ash sifting downClouding the rooms here, here. You shore up your heart to run. To stay.But no sign or design marks the … Continue reading EP: Someone Leans Near By Toni Morrison

Trashed

On the first page of my scroll I'm in a small provincial cityIn a frisky foreign country The apartments all darkenedMinuscule storefronts shuttered Hours before a suggested curfewIt's always a cool and calm evening My traditional "sober" mask in onI'm walking past a trim street corner Where I admittedly shouldn't beAlone, wavering and coatless againOut … Continue reading Trashed