“to walk alone” by Sonia Skolnik

to walk alone

i have scars and blisters on my
fingers
keys
between
my
fingers
instead
of
her
fingers
and i have blisters on my scars

4/11/2023

Sonia Skolnik is writer born and raised in Washington D.C. She is a freshman at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, studying in the Department of Cinematic and Literary Arts & Media Production. Skolnik is an aspiring author, playwright, and poet, and has had a love of writing since the age of seven. She primarily works with various forms of poetry and prose, but she is interested in cinematography and photography, as well. Her publications include a nonfiction article entitled “History Repeats Itself” in the Washington Jewish Week. More of Skolnik’s work can be found featured in upcoming showcases at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and at other such events.

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“Spring Roars” by Ingrid Bruck


Spring Roars

spring peepers wake
calling
louder
than
trucks
calling
wilder
than
wind
calling
awake, peepers spring

4/5/2023

Ingrid Bruck grows wildflowers, makes jam and writes poetry. A public library director by profession, now retired, she serves as a reader/writer for Between These Shores Books. She writes a monthly BTS column, “Pearl Diving,” with online writer resources. Four of her poems were Pushcart nominees, and two nominees for Best of the Net. Bruck has a chapbook, entitled Finding Stella Maris (Flutter Press). Some work also appears in BTSA, The Heron’s Nest, Failed Haiku, Verse-Virtual, Sanctuary Magazine, Spillwords, The Skinny Poetry Journal and Rat’s Ass Review. Embrace more of Bruck’s poetry at www.ingridbruck.com.

The Poetry of Anouk Schneider

Lovely Lilies Can’t Touch the Truth

Lovely lilies touch her hair,
When
She
Is
Bleeding,
When
She
Is
Crying,
When
Her hair touches lovely lilies.

Her tears water lovely lilies,
Flooding
Droplets
Of
Guilt,
Flooding
Regretful
Past
Choices,
Flooding
Her, tears water lovely lilies.

Her fingers pollinate lovely lilies,
Gifting
Presents
Of
Peace,
Gifting
No
More
Trauma,
Gifted.
Her fingers pollinate lovely lilies.

Life can now chase the lovely lilies,
And
Old
Vengeful
Vines,
And
Old
Rampant
Roots,
And
Now the lovely lilies can chase life.

—–

Unexpected Motherhood

I’m yet a mother, yet a child
I
Ought
To
Know,
I
Ought
To
Understand,
I
Am yet a child, yet a mother.

—–

Not So Hollow Bones

I shall become hollow bones,
Fluids
Empty,
Notions
Gone,
Fluids
revealing
pride,
Emotions
broken,
Fluids.
Hollow bones, I shall become.

The hollow bones warn me not to speak
I’m
only
Small
Sand,
I’m
A
Wandering
Warrior,
I’m
Not to speak, I warn the hollow bones.

And now am I a hollow bone forever?
Perhaps
I’ll
Break,
Or
Perhaps
I’ll
Grow,
Although
Perhaps
I am a hollow bone, now and forever.

3/28/2023

Anouk Schneider is a writer and filmmaker at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, known for its prestigious art programs. Schneider has been writing stories since the moment she understood how, and spent the first years of her life in Paris, surrounded by art and culture. She has been recognized within her art department for a comedy film entitled, “Lost in A Ruff Day” presented in the school film festival, “Awakening.” To be sure, Schneider is also recognized and very much valued here at The Skinny Poetry Nation.

The Poetry of Sabrina Butler

my body is a temple but
empty
stricken
walls
violated
empty
robbed
forced
barren
empty
but my body is a temple

3/20/2023

Sabrina Butler is a poet and storyteller based in Washington, DC. She attends Duke Ellington School of the Arts as a part of their exclusive Cinematic Arts and Media Production program (also known as CAMP). Butler enjoys writing about issues that aren’t usually addressed. In the future, she wishes to pursue a career related to Literary Media. For that, and for her talent, the world should be very grateful.

The Poetry of Melodel Amdemariam

close your eyes and close your mind
you
don’t
need
pain
you
will
survive
if
you
close your eyes and close your mind

3/20/2023

Melodel Amdemariam is a student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. This student writer very much enjoys the wide range of art choices that Ellington makes possible–and finds the school “marvelous.” Moreover, she expresses an interest in being a “full-time poet forever, in order to break walls and build bridges,” with her writing gifts. All of us at TSPN wish her nothing but success on that noble journey.

The Poetry of Zuri Kenyatte

Rose

She is a rose
Pricked
Prodded
Clipped
Cut
Pricked
Picked
Planted
Grown
Pricked
A rose,she is

~~~

Don’t

Close my door
Don’t
Let 
Him
In
Don’t
Look 
That 
Way
Don’t
Close my door

3/20/2023

Born and raised in Washington, DC, Zuri Kenyatte is a dynamic student artist at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. She is in the Cinematic Arts And Media Production (CAMP) department. Kenyatte is also a member and former captain of Taratibu Youth Association, a performing arts company based in Mount Rainier, Maryland. She has performed in plays and musicals, but prefers to focus on poetry. For that, and for her talent, the Skinny Poetry Nation is exceedingly glad.

“No Home” by Ela Albrecht

No Home

Winter
Freezing.
Benches,
for
bed,
Freezing
metal.
No
breakfast,
Freezing
Winter

3/18/2023

Ela Albrecht is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School in Hartland, Wisconsin. Albrecht found out about the “Skinny Poetry Competition” through her creative writing teacher and poet, Ms. Elizabeth Jorgensen. This student writer enjoys snowboarding and hanging out with her friends in the summer. Some of her future goals include going to Arizona State University. While Albrecht is not sure what she “wants to be when she grows up,” a career in the field of business is of keen interest to her.

“Grandpa Was” by Carson Ketterhagen

Grandpa was
Paralyzed.
Waist
Down.
Young
Paralyzed.
My
Dad
New-Born.
Paralyzed
Was Grandpa

3/11.2023

Carson Ketterhagen is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School who plays football and lacrosse. Next year, he will be attending Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) to study electrical distribution–where, no doubt, this promising student writer will continue to excel..

The Poetry of James Norcross

The architect, he set fire to his house;
burned
burgundy
cedar,
plans
burned,
preying
problems
shattered—
burning,
the house, he set fire, to his architect

Ducts are packed on a Monday night—
hiding
emergency
room
tears,
hiding
true
blue
news,
hiding
ducts are packed on a Monday night

Dive, for me, a blue pearl,
engulfed
with
wisdom,
isolated,
engulfed
by
crystal
solutions,
engulfed,
for me, dive a blue pearl.


3/5/2023

James Norcross is a vibrant and promising student at Arrowhead Union High School. He composes poetry during his school hours and also in his free time. Norcross hopes to pursue some sort of English-related career in the future. All at TSPN wish him best in that very noble endeavor.

““Where is my son?” by Ian Callies

Where is my son?
Ringing
Shells
School
Sirens
Ringing
Screaming
Bodies
Death
Ringing
Where is my son?


2/9/2023

Ian Callies is a Senior at Arrowhead Union High School, in Hartland, Wisconsin. This student writer has lived in Wisconsin all of his life. Writing has always been an escape for him and a way for him to truly express his feelings. Callies is currently working on becoming a world-class auto technician, in the interest of possibly being able to one day work for a high-end dealership. No doubt, he will be successful in any career of his choice.

“Was I too young?” by Evangelia Maxwell

Was I too young?
Cussing
fists
violence
shouts
Cussing
smoke
alcohol
blood
Cussing
I was too young.


2/9/2023

Evangelia Maxwell is a Junior at Arrowhead Union High School. When she is not writing, this student author very much enjoys playing varsity golf and lacrosse for her noble school. This poem is her second piece this year to be published. To be sure, The Skinny Poetry Nation is very pleased to be a part of both of these very happy events.

“Where is he?” by Noah Pfannerstill

Where is he?
Blood
red
glass
blue
blood
baby
car-seat
gone
blood
He is where?


2/9/2023

Arrowhead Union High School student, Noah Pfannerstill, enjoys writing about things that truly inspire him, and get him thinking – about his past, his future, and what he can do to improve himself and the lives of others. In his free time, he also enjoys golfing, building LEGOs, hanging out with friends, as well as spending time with his family.

“Tris” by Addy Moseler

Tris

the Fun uncle
Taken
depression
smoking
loneliness
Taken
laughter
no
longer
Taken
the Fun uncle


2/9/2023

Writer Addy Moseler is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. She loves volleyball, track, and other outdoor activities. Moseler is very creative, social, and enjoys collaborating with others. This is her first attempt at composing a Skinny and, along with all The Skinny Poetry Nation editors, love how it turned out.

The Poetry of Nathanael Zabel

Death leads to
ruins
War
leads
to
ruins
famine
leads
to
ruins
lead to death.

2/2/2023

Nathanael Zabel is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. He enjoys hiking, creating digital art, and playing video games with friends. This is his first time composing a Skinny, as well as his first time submitting to The Skinny Poetry Nation. The inspiration for this piece comes from his avid interest in history. For that, the editors of TSPN are very grateful.

The Poetry of William Hess


Christmas with snow
Frigid.
Bitter
snowflakes
creeping,
Frigid,
presents
chocolate
laughter,
Frigid
Snow with Christmas

William Hess
10/5/2022

William Hess is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. He is a varsity athlete in both Hockey and Baseball. This is Hess’s first time competing in a Skinny poetry contest, and he is excited for the opportunity to show the world how much emotion his poems bring. His excitement is only matched by that of The Skinny Poetry Nation.


“Crash” by Trinity Dahl

Crash

A car is flipping and screaming
anger
pain
horrified
stabbing
anger
scratched
bleeding
breathing
anger
Screaming and flipping in a car.

Trinity Dahl
10/5/2022

Trinity Dahl is a senior at Arrowhead High School. She enjoys writing, hiking, drawing, watching movies, and hanging out with friends and family. This is Dahl’s first effort with skinny poetry and was really proud with the outcome of the piece as a student writer–as is The Skinny Poetry Nation.

“The Plastic Ocean” by Alex Sobczak


The Plastic Ocean

Waves of plastic wash ashore
destruction
bottles
straws
Hazard
destruction
dirty
damaging
tainting
destruction
Washes ashore, waves of plastic

Alex Sobczak
10/5/2022

Alex Sobczak is a senior at Arrowhead High School. He enjoys his time playing football for Arrowhead, going out on the lake, and being with his friends and family. Sobczak acquired a vision for this poem when he traveled to Florida with his family. He looks forward to a great senior year and hopes to go to college for business and finance.

“The Red Currency” by Ana Casper


The red currency
Blood
spills
open
wounds
Blood
Ruby
tokens
glistening
Blood
The red currency.

Ana Casper
6/3/2022

Ana Casper is a student-writer and incoming freshman at UW-Milwaukee. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and creating digital art. This is her first time composing a Skinny and The Skinny Poetry Nation is very glad she did.

“The Lone Traveler” and “What We Made“ by Michael Stadler

The Lone Traveler

Death walks
forgotten
broken
wounded
dying
forgotten.
They
lay
still,
forgotten.
Death walks.

***

What We Made

The end.
Made
smoking
burning
future
Made
ignorance,
unchanging.
WE
Made
The End.

Michael Stadler
6/3/2022

Michael Stadler is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. In his free time, Stadler enjoys camping and spending time with friends. These poems represent his first attempt at writing Skinnys, and he greatly enjoyed the experience. He loves writing poetry and looks forward to writing more in the future.

“Whatever Fruits Your Loops” by Luca Schiro

“Whatever Fruits Your Loops”

Toucan Sam loves colorful, circular, fruity cereal.
Delicious!
ix-nay,
oot-fray,
oops-lay!

Delicious!
Follow
your
nose!

Delicious!
Toucan Sam loves colorful, circular, fruity cereal.

Luca Schiro
6/3/2022

Luca Schiro is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. This student author loves Disney, eating cheese curds, and watching food reviews on YouTube. Schiro is on the Autism Spectrum, and this first published poem is a good reminder to be kind, reverence the talent in all people, and to celebrate and honor all of our differences.

Author’s note: The Pig Latin phrase ”oot-fray, oops-lay” was Toucan Sam’s strange language in the original commercials. It gave a unique identity to the new cereal “Froot Loops.” It was brilliant marketing and all the kids wanted to learn Pig Latin so they could talk like Toucan Sam.

“fast fashion” by Caroline Frost

fast fashion

done quickly —
stabbing
needles
cheap
seams
stabbing
pains
aching
hands
stabbing
quickly done.

Caroline Frost
6/3/2022

Caroline Frost is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School, where she enjoys playing lacrosse and field hockey. Frost is also part of Earth Club and is passionate about the environment, which helped inspire this piece. She loves how poetry allows her to express complicated emotions in a concise way.

The Poetry of Emma Schwenker

Stumbling around.
Crashing
cans
cut
me.
Crashing
captain
bottle.
Father,
crashing,
stumbling around.

***
Pain

I flinch.
Pain.
Bloody
round
fist.
Pain,
waiting
for
more
pain
I flinch.

Emma Schwenker
6/3/2022

Emma Schwenker is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School and enjoyed writing Skinnys. Schwenker likes to play soccer and get together with her friends in her free time. This is her first time composing Skinnys. Relatedly, she reports that she is “glad when she considers the reach of her work,” especially in the context of how her readers may relate to her poetry.

“Gone in a Hurry” by Brooke Hafferman

Gone in a Hurry

time
Passes
through
the
flame.
Passes
my
skin
and
Passes
time.

Brooke Hafferman
6/3/2022

Brooke Hafferman is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. She loves dancing and spending time with friends and family. This was her first time composing a Skinny. As she found it to be a creative challenge, Hafferman also really enjoyed how the finished product turned out (as does The Skinny Poetry Nation).

“The Nature of Today’s World” by Cam Prescott

The Nature of Today’s World

Another GUNshot
kids
Hide
Door
Shut
kids
Tremble
Curtains
Closed
kids
Another GUNshot

Cam Prescott
6/3/2022

Cam Prescott is a rising senior at Arrowhead Union High School. Her favorite classes have been the writing classes that she took her junior year. She likes to hang out with friends and she works (outside of Arrowhead), ever-industrious, to edify both her academic and professional goals. Note: the author wishes readers to know that this piece was not based on her personal experiences.

“May 24th by Jura Gerlach

May 24th

The voice over the telecom
Shots
Fired,
No
Police,
Shots
Parents
Run,
Cries
Shots
The voice over the telecom

Jura Gerlach
6/3/2022

This Skinny, by Jura Gerlach, regards the tragic shooting that took place on May 24th of 2022 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Gerlach, an avid cyclist from Wisconsin, recently graduated from Arrowhead Union High School. He plans to continue racing his beloved bike in college, as he pursues a degree in business.



New Jimmie Smith, Jr. Poem @ TheSkinnyPoetryJournal.com 4/2022

Just take a literary stroll in the Featured Poetry section.
Jimmie. Smith. Jr. Chicago. Strong.
A Skinny for the CRT Call and Response

https://www.theskinnypoetryjournal.com/featured-poetry

www.theskinnypoetryjournal.com

New Ingrid Bruck Poem @ TheSkinnyPoetryJournal.com 4/2022

Just take a literary stroll in the Featured Poetry section.
Beautiful. Ingrid. Bruck. Poetry.
https://www.theskinnypoetryjournal.com/featured-poetry

www.theskinnypoetryjournal.com

“Seagull” by Em Hollern

Seagull

i call my family for dinner, and
eat
an
unattended
fry,
eat
a
child’s
sandwich;
eat,
and i call my family for dinner.

Em Hollern
1/2022

Em Hollern is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. Hollern has been writing fiction as a hobby for three years. She enjoys composing poetry as either a serious creative outlet, or just for fun.

“Paper Thin” by Max Rebella

Paper Thin

Paper thin kids.
Plain.
Not
hungry
but
Plain
and
lacking
depth.
Plain
kids, paper thin.

Max Rebella
1/2022

Max Rebella is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. He enjoys skiing, track, reading, and hanging out with friends. This was Rebella’s first attempt at composing a Skinny and, like TSPJ, he is extremely happy with how it turned out.

The Poetry of Brishanna Malysa

A Child I was
Child
Crayons
Drawing
Laughing
Child
No
Don’t
Touch

Child,
I was a Child.

Brishanna Malysa
1/2022

Brishanna Malysa, whose nickname is “Bri,” is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. She likes to write in her free time and she enjoyed composing a Skinny. Malysa likes to write about more serious topics and this poem is powerful evidence of that fact.

The Poetry of Caitlyn Klopp

The man in the moon
Smiles,
watching
bats
fly,
Smiles,
stars
crossing
him,
Smiles,
The man in the moon.

Caitlyn Klopp
1/2022

Caitlyn Klopp is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. She enjoys baking, reading, and cheerleading. Klopp had never tried writing a Skinny before this, but she immensely enjoyed the process. TSPJ immensely enjoys the confection of her composition.

The Poetry of Riley Rogers

The bodies drop.
Falling
bodies,
bullets
flying,
Falling
bombs,
exploding
corpses,
Falling
The bodies drop.

Riley Rogers
1/2022

Riley Rogers is a junior at Arrowhead Union High School. He enjoys getting out and driving around with friends and family, along with playing some tennis in the summer. Rogers had never written a Skinny before, but found it an interesting challenge. TSPJ greatly appreciates his creative efforts.

“February 12th” by Nathan Goodreau

February 12th

Gone too fast
Dad
breathe
no
screams
Dad
gasps
death
gone
Dad
gone too fast

Nathan Goodreau
1/2022
______________________

Nathan Goodreau is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. This poem is about his dad’s passing (about which, TSPJ extends its sincere condolences). Goodreau enjoys working on diesel trucks for recreation, as well as in the automotive industry. This was his “first go” at a Skinny and, like him, all of us at the journal are very impressed with how it turned out.

The Poetry of Chandler Maniscalco

Clocking into work
Long
Sauce
Cheese
Toppings
Long
Wrap
Cashier
Dishes
Long
Clocking into work

Chandler Maniscalco
1/2022
______________________

Chandler Maniscalco is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. In his free time, he likes to lift weights, play guitar and cook. He wrote this poem simply about his regular work shift and it was my first time writing a Skinny. TSPJ is happy to share this authentic picture, one noble slice of his life.

The Poetry of Sara Low

Was she breaking?
Cancer
crawled
spread
wandered.
Cancer
surging
through
her
Cancer.
She was breaking.

Sara Low
1/2022
______________________

Sara Low is a student-writer and junior at Arrowhead Union High School. This is Low’s first time composing a Skinny and has let the journal know that she “really enjoyed learning the process.” To be sure, TSPJ has also “really enjoyed” her debut Skinny and is honored to share it with the world.

The Poetry of Onesti Ekholm

Emmett Till

You were a boy
Young
Happy
Small
Naive
Young
Scared
Drowned
Alone
Young
You were a boy.

Onesti Ekholm
1/2022
______________________

Onesti Ekholm is a junior at Arrowhead Union Highschool. She loves watching movies, reading, and most of all writing. Ekholm has always loved composing poems in her free time, and she especially enjoys writing Skinnys because of their accessibility.

The Poetry of Jack Morrow

We Starve
Crumbling
Pastries
Falling
Empty
Crumbling
Stay
Afloat
Kids
Crumbling
We Starve

Jack Morrow
1/2022
______________________

Jack Morrow is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. In his free time, he loves to ski, lift weights, and embark upon adventures with his friends. Morrow is thrilled (as is TSPJ) with the composition of his first Skinny about child hunger affecting children all over the world.

“School” by Christian Carter



School

School could care less
About
Anxiety
Depression
Fatigue
About
Workload
Poverty
Bullying.
About
Less, School could care

Christian Carter
1/2022
______________________

Christian Carter is a senior at Arrowhead Union High School. He enjoys playing tennis, basketball, and performing in the AHS Broadway Company. This is his first time writing a Skinny and TSPJ, much like this student author, is ecstatic at how it turned out. 

Ingrid Bruck, Citizen of Earth, One Poem


lobster pots, harvesting
glop
lost
in
storm
glop
sinking
in
sea
glop
harvesting lobster pots

Ingrid Bruck
1/15/2022
______________________

Ingrid Bruck lives in Pennsylvania Amish country, a landscape that inhabits her poetry. She’s a retired library director with a passion for short forms and poetry. Some of her current work appears in Failed Haiku, Verse-Virtual and Heron’s Nest. Embrace more of Bruck’s poetry at www.ingridbruck.com.
______________________

Ingrid Bruck, Citizen of Earth, Two Poems


the red sun shines
smoking
west
coast
fires
smoking
misty
gray
haze
smoking
the sun shines red

***

fading colors
burn
wind
dried
leaves
burn
rain
plucked
heaps
burn
colors fading

Ingrid Bruck
1/15/2022
______________________

Ingrid Bruck lives in Pennsylvania Amish country, a landscape that inhabits her poetry. She’s a retired library director with a passion for short forms and poetry. Some of her current work appears in Failed Haiku, Verse-Virtual and Heron’s Nest. Embrace more of Bruck’s poetry at www.ingridbruck.com.
______________________

“The Winter Wolf” by Carol Parris Krauss

The Winter Wolf

Once winter howled at the wolf as she
Followed
Ridgelines
Matted
Fur
Followed
My
Evening
Walks
Followed
As one she-wolf howled at the winter.

Carol Parris Krauss
12/11/2021
______________________

Carol Parris Krauss’ poems are visual and New Southern. Her work can be found in a variety of journals such as The South Carolina Review, Story South, Broadkill Review, and Black Bough. She was honored to be recognized as a Best New Poet by the University of Virginia Press. In 2021, she won the Eastern Shore Writers Association Crossroads Contest.
______________________

“Flagged Behavior” by Chad Parenteau

Flagged Behavior

Don’t blame me I voted for Trump
and
changing
back
change
and
shoving
time
back
and…
I voted for Trump! Don’t blame me
for
disease
or
immigrants
for
immigrants
with
disease
for…
don’t Trump me! I voted for blame
on
Black
Lives
Matter
on
Antifa
other
animals
on…
Voted Trump for me! I don’t blame
the
partly
built
wall
the
post
office
or
the…
I don’t blame me! Trump voted for
revenge
for
winning
then
revenge
for
not
endless
revenge!
(Trump don’t blame me, for I voted)

Chad Parenteau
10/15/2021
______________________

Chad Parenteau hosts Boston’s long-running Stone Soup Poetry series. His work has appeared in journals such as Résonancee, Molecule, Cape Cod Poetry Review, Tell-Tale Inklings, Ibbetson Street, Off The Coast, Nixes Mate Review and Wilderness House Literary Review. He serves as Associate Editor of the online journal Oddball Magazine. His second collection, The Collapsed Bookshelf, was nominated for a Massachusetts Book Award. To learn more of Parenteau’s keenly focused poetry and literary events, go to Chad Parenteau: Poet for Hire.
______________________

“Behind Each Win” by Nancy Jorgensen


Behind Each Win

For fans, only results—not the

disciplined

runs

weights

stretches

disciplined

thoughts

nutrition

recovery.

Disciplined

results—not only for the fans.

Nancy Jorgensen
7/30/2021
______________________

Nancy Jorgensen is mom to Gwen Jorgensen, 2016 Olympic gold medal winner in triathlon. Jorgensen’s memoir, Go, Gwen, Go: A Family’s Journey to Olympic Gold, is co-authored with daughter Elizabeth Jorgensen, and published by Meyer & Meyer Sport. Her choral education books are published by Hal Leonard and Heritage Music Press. Other works by Jorgensen appear in Prime Number Magazine, River Teeth, CHEAP POP, and elsewhere. Find out more about her at NancyJorgensen.weebly.com.
______________________

“Principles Drowned” by Anneka Chambers


Principles Drowned

I should believe in the interlocking Rings, the symbol of Unity and Values.

Sinking

Diversity

Hair

Protection

Sinking

Texture

Inclusion

Survival

Sinking

I believe in Unity and Values. The symbol of the interlocking Rings should…

Anneka Chambers
7/6/21
________________________

Anneka Chambers (she/her) is a Black British poet living in London. Anneka’s work can be found in South Bank Poetry, Vine Leaves Press, Dwelling Literary, Superfroots Magazine and other notable publications. In addition to writing, Anneka is a social activist and heads her petition campaigning on behalf of the Windrush Generation in the UK.
________________________

Twitter@annekachambers  Instagram@22poetrystreet

‘Death, With Occasional Smiling’ by Tony Medina / Songs of Black Lament and Love

Review by Truth Thomas
Editor, 
The Skinny Poetry Journal

July 6, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EDT

Tony Medina does with apparent ease what most people cannot do at all—prolifically composing fresh, compelling work, both in Spanish and in English.  In Death, With Occasional Smiling, his latest collection, he offers readers a moving view of what critical race theory would look like if it took the form of poetry. I make this point, because critical race theory is essentially a documentation of the blues—the social blues of racism that permeates every aspect of American culture. Certainly, the horror of racism, playing out in the lives of Black and Brown people in the United States, is unfettered in its historical and ongoing brutality. Though some folks choose not to see it, Tony Medina is not one of those people. Particularly, in terms of chronicling modern day lynchings, the poems in this volume hit like Mike Tyson in 1985.

“Father, Son Arrested in the Death of…” is a piece that fills the early pages of his full-bodied book with a genealogy of race-based terrorism.  The poem references Ahmaud Arbery’s murder in Georgia, though not by name, it speaks to the names of all the murdered—and martyred, so tragically. For those who may not be familiar with the family tree, which embodies, and emboldens, such evil, this poem is a history lesson, that begins with these words: 

Racism is an heirloom passed down through
Generations like a retrovirus

A rifle handed from father to son
Aiming to please some deep-seated heated

Urge to violate rape maim hurt some thing

Like James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, and a multitude of great writers before him, Medina makes it plain that Black life in America is an abnormal normality, a halfway freedom riding, a daily kind of death (although we sometimes laugh to keep our sanity from snapping). Also, much like those notable figures, it’s clear that his work springs forth from a decidedly beautiful mind. In a myriad of forms (eintou, diptychs, triptychs, odes, and elegies) he paints strikingly vivid pictures that are gut wrenching, of worlds he has come to know. These poems are richly informed by the Black Arts Movement and Nuyorican poets—of which, he is a beacon. This is especially true in his politically themed verses. In “After Pelosi’s Dropkick,” his humor and social commentary are protest marches in a pen:

After Pelosi got through with Trump all he could do was spit out
            some teeth, look
cockeyed and confused, swat aimlessly at stars, and mumble,
            Covfefe, Covfefe,
            Covfefe.
Trump folded like Mumbo Sauce on greasy-ass fries.
Covfefe is Russian for “To Cave.”
Covfefe is Russian for Rosebud.
COVFEFE is Trump’s anti-LGTBQ policy known as Don’t Ask
Can’t Spell…

Pelosi laced up her Timbs and STOMPED Trump’s off-white ass
            into the White House lawn
            until a wall formed around his toupee.
TRUMP CONSIDERS US THE ENEMY.
   WE CONSIDER HIM THE ENEMA…

There is tremendous range and a theatrical quality in the breadth of Tony Medina’s poetry. This book, that captures many sobering snapshots of early twenty-first century Black life, is no exception. With that in mind, if Broadway ever launches a production based on his catalog of work, it would be wise to fend for a front row seat. However, until that good show opens, Death, With Occasional Smiling, now lighting up the literary stage at Indolent Books, should more than tide over any thoughtful soul in search of a stunning, transformational, artistic experience.

Death, With Occasional Smiling
by Tony Medina
Indolent Books, paper, 132 pp. $20.00

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Truth Thomas is a singer-songwriter and poet born in Knoxville, Tennessee and raised in Washington, D.C.  He studied creative writing at Howard University and earned his MFA in poetry at New England College.  His collections include Party of BlackA Day of PresenceBottle of Life, and Speak Water, winner of the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry.  His poems have appeared in over 150 publications, including: Poetry MagazineGhost Fishing: An Eco-justice Poetry AnthologyRinging Ear: Black Poets Lean South (A Cave Canem Anthology), and The 100 Best African American Poems (edited by Nikki Giovanni).  He is the founder of Cherry Castle Publishing, creator of the “Skinny” poetry form, a former writer-in-residence for the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo), and the managing editor of The Skinny Poetry Journal

The Skinny Poetry Journal Seeks Submissions: Poems for the Tokyo Olympic Games: Deadline: August 8, 2021

The Skinny Poetry Journal (TSPJ) is a literary journal that is primarily dedicated to “The Skinny” poetry form. TSPJ is based in Washington, D.C., and edited by Truth Thomas, the creator of the form (in concert with a team of other D.C.- based. poets). The point of The Skinny, or Skinnys, is to convey a vivid image with as few words as possible. The form generally reflects more serious concerns facing humankind. In that light, as the Tokyo Olympics will soon be upon us, TSPJ is seeking poetry related to every aspect of the games–all the intrigue–all the drama–including its many political and social justice elements.

We are currently accepting submissions. The doors to the submission church will remain open until August 8th, 2021– ending with the game’s closing ceremonies. To submit your Skinnys for publishing consideration, email: theskinnypoetryjournal@gmail.com with your poem, or poems, copied into the body of your email. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.

The formal rules of the Skinny form can be found here @ https://theskinnypoetryjournal.wordpress.com/about/.

‘The Dandelion Speaks of Survival’ by Quintin Collins / Review by Dr. Rosetta Codling

Poet Quintin Collins, author of The Dandelion Speaks of Survival: Cherry Castle Publishing, 2021. 66 pages.

The Dandelion Speaks of Survival
Poems by Quintin Collins
Rosetta Codling, Ph.D.

In short, this is a diverse and uniquely beautiful collection of poetic gems. Beauty transcends diversity. This the lesson of The Dandelion Speaks of Survival. From the bowels of the city’s concrete, a flower…a dandelion…. defies convention and nature to spring forth. It is, simply, beauty triumphing over adversity. This is the message sent to us in Quintin Collins’ poetry collection. He announces, “This is Where You Belong” and it is in Chicago, in Atkins Park, and it is in Chris’ backyard. The concrete summons you in “After the Towers Fell, Black Boys Felt American.” You belong in New York on Baker Street and witness the smoke on Pulaski Avenue. But there are more seeds to be planted in Collins’ poem “Sag.” You lumber, you launch, and you have the security of a safety pin that evolves to become a life preserver in the form of a rope, provided by a teacher.

Things blossom further in Quintin Collin’s poetic bouquet. “The Barber Chair” is an ode that springs from the concrete cracks. This selection is about the ultimate union among men in the traditional barber shop. The fraternity of male kinship springs forth here because “Elsewhere, only a woman/gets this close to your blood.” There are challenges in any given city. There are obstacles in every given city. And there is the drive to defy the known barriers. There, within, is the poetry of Quintin Collins.

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Dr. Rosetta Codling is a freelance literary critic. She has written reviews for the Ama Books, the Manhattan Book Review, the San Francisco Book Review, the Journal of African Literature, Autres Modernites, and Examiner.com. She has obtained scholarships and fellowships from Queens College (NYC), Teachers College/Columbia University (NYC), and the Open University (UK). She retired (in 2006) as a secondary school teacher and Adjunct Professor of English for over 30 years in New York. However, she attends global conferences and continues to write professionally. In addition, she now is an Adjunct Associate Professor of English at Herzing University in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Order at Cherry Castle Publishing: The Dandelion Speaks of Survival