Poetry
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National Poetry Month Day 17: “The Mother In This Poem Is Me or You or Your Mother” by Wendy Chin-Tanner
The Mother In This Poem Is Me or You or Your Mother mother is a falling star a bead of sweat of blood of bread our daily bread on which we fed the thread of life the trouble and strife…
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National Poetry Month Day 16: “The electric body” by Matthew Siegel
The electric body changes like a sky bleeding peach, gray feathers and smoke – – a body…
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The Last Book of Poems I Loved: “Death Tractates” by Brenda Hillman
The poet does what poets do: reactivates words, makes odd associations, connects things that do not ordinarily belong together in order to create deeper meaning.
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National Poetry Month Day 15: “Exercises in Breathing” by Kimberly Southwick
exercises in breathing I. knowing the rules is not enough. when it snows, it doesn’t always mean it. when it snows, sometimes it snows for the museums and sometimes it snows for the papers and sometimes it snows for only…
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National Poetry Month Day 14: “The Vindication of Judas” by Daniel W.K. Lee
The Vindication of Judas Forgive me at last, Brother, for the death sentence: a kiss that revealed me, an act of obedience which began your martyrdom. Who else but you—who loves me still—could I ask to bear blame for my…
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National Poetry Month Day 13: “Today” by Gina Myers
Today Each year I know less about myself but the insurance company knows how much my life is worth. This is for those who suffer & endure & laugh about it later. Someone asked, “where do you get your news…
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Rumpus Contributor Kima Jones on NPR’s Code Switch
When NPR’s Code Switch went searching for “young poets who were livening up the literary landscape” in honor of National Poetry Month, they found themselves in the world of Rumpus contributor Kima Jones. Code Switch and Ms. Jones set out…
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National Poetry Month Day 12: “My First Male-to-Male Kiss” by Rigoberto González
My First Male-to-Male Kiss ______was on Mexican TV. In the 80s. Believe me. Like my cousin Mari, I too wished I could be Érika Buenfil, her blonde locks so close to René of the dark pompadour that looked like a…
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Red Mavis by Merrill Gilfillan
Patrick James Dunagan reviews Merrill Gilfillan’s Red Mavis today in Rumpus Poetry.
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National Poetry Month Day 11: “The History of Asterisks” by Elisa Gabbert and Kathleen Rooney
The History of Asterisks It is midnight under the sky’s dome ceiling. The moon speaks, saying nothing of consequence. John Wayne is from Iowa, so we hitchhiked West and I realized I never really loved you. Your skepticism of scientific…
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The Saints of Streets by Luisa Igloria
Christian Anton Gerard reviews (in epistolary form) Luisa Igloria’s The Saints of Streets today in Rumpus Poetry.
