Notes on the Tucson Poetry Festival
Tucson recently held its 35th annual Tucson Poetry Festival, sponsored by the University of Arizona. I didn't go. In the 20 years I lived in Tucson,…
“The Whale,” “Five Minutes Later He Blocks Me,” “Show Me a Cliché,” and Other Poems
The Whale He’s fifty-five years of smug blubber, a bored heir to a lucky fortune who can barely walk on the vestiges of his legs bumbling in the…
“After a 14-Hour Shift in the Cab,” “The Envelope with the Big Red Stamp,” “Making Sense is Old News,” and Other Poems
After a 14-Hour Shift in the Cab The fan hums at 5:31 p.m. and the humans are tired. The birds are cheered out and the flies fall like hollow…
“Marshmallow Parties,” “Jealous Rose,” “It’s Cool to Cry,” and Other Poems
Marshmallow Parties Most writers’ groups, workshops, Facebook pages “critical” discussions poetry blogs, etc. are like potluck parties where…
“Poormouth,” “I Hate Those People,” “My Poems Are Not My Children,” and Other Poems
Poormouth My dad always said, “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” The idea was that we were very poor but still he always had lawnmowers, weed-eaters,…
“The New Artists,” “Fine,” “As I Am,” and Other Poems
The New Artists They want to live as long as they’re protected, they want to be outlaws and rebels without giving up pensions or pools. They want…
“Honk if You Love Freedom,” “Dream Girl,” “My Cab-Driving Friend John,” and “Naturally”
Honk if You Love Freedom I’m driving my taxi down La Cholla Boulevard when I see a large group of people well dressed and with comfortable faces and…
“Let’s Not,” “A Poem Written After Viewing Several YouTube Videos of Poets Reading Their Precious Works,” “Facebook Conversation with a Small Press Editor After 22-and-a-Half Cans of Beer,” and Other Poems
Let's Not Let’s not be melodramatic let’s not wear turtlenecks in the sun or scuff our boots on purpose let’s not stand at the podium and apologize…
“I’m Gay,” “Writers’ Bios,” and “Anaphylaxis”
I'm Gay and that pisses you off doesn’t it? It drives you crazy that I’m gay. Did I mention I’m gay? GAY GAY GAY GAY. How do you like them apples?…
One Poem Too Many
Two white mass murderers sit in a prison cell. One is reading a poetry journal on the bottom bunk. The other is bouncing a balled-up pair of socks…
