“Dead Beat” by Frank Thomas Rosen

Dead Beat

One more hit
punk
hugs
father
wrench
punk
banging
electric
wall
punk
Hit, once more

Frank Thomas Rosen
6/24/2019

Frank Thomas Rosen, an immigrant from East-Germany, is a nurse practitioner, former English teacher, and writer based in Ohio. He moved to the United States in 1997. After earning his BA and MA in English and TESL, he taught English and ESL at universities and community colleges in Northeast Ohio for over ten years.  In his poems, he addresses recurring themes of sociopolitical injustice, cross-cultural struggle, and civil rights. He has published one book of poetry: scratches (2003), German-English. His second book, auschwitz of the digital age and other poems, will be forthcoming on Cherry Castle Publishing in November of 2019. The Skinny format provides an excellent framework for Rosen’s minimalist style.

“Business” by Patrick Cabello Hansel

Business

Trafficking of girls, and boys
Merchandise
Skin
Organs
Teeth
Merchandise
Knives
Kisses
Names
Merchandise
Of girls, boys, and trafficking

Patrick Cabello Hansel
6/24/2019

Patrick Cabello Hansel is the author of the poetry collection entitled The Devouring Land (Main Street Rag). He has poems and prose published in over 60 anthologies and literary journals. He blogs about his passion for beauty and justice at http://www.spiritwound.blogspot.com

“Dear, Uncle Greg” and “Two Pumps” by Elizabeth Jorgensen

==

Dear, Uncle Greg

I didn’t know
death
rattled —
coughing
gurgling —
death
spit
unswallowed,
awaiting
death.
I didn’t know.

Two Pumps

I order
skinny
mochas,
from
Starbucks,
from
skinny
baristas —
emaciated,
pinched,
skinny,
I order.

Elizabeth Jorgensen
6/13/2019

Elizabeth Jorgensen, a teacher and writer, graduated from Marquette University. Her memoir, co-written with Nancy Jorgensen, Go, Gwen, Go: A Family’s Journey to Olympic Gold, is available from Meyer & Meyer Sport. Jorgensen’s work appears or is forthcoming in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Azalea, Wisconsin State Reading Association Journal, The Ohio Journal of English Language Arts, Gyroscope Review and Bindweed Magazine. Jorgensen enjoys sharing Skinnys with her students and encouraging them to write their own. Learn more at https://lizjorgensen.weebly.com/

“Drifting” and “Waves In The Glass” by Nancy Jorgensen

Drifting

Sand grains
aggravate
feet,
red
moons
aggravate
waves,
tide
waters
aggravate
grains: sand

Waves In The Glass

In the wave
ripples
reflect
age,
memory,
ripples
distort,
create
unfamiliar
ripples
in the wave.

Nancy Jorgensen
6/3/2019

Nancy Jorgensen is a musician and writer. Her professional choral books have been published with Hal Leonard Corporation and Lorenz Corporation, and her 2019 memoir is published by Meyer & Meyer Sport. Other works appear or are forthcoming at “Prime Number Magazine,” “Smith Magazine,” “Cagibi,” “Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,” “Crack the Spine,” “Coffin Bell” and elsewhere.

“Today’s Need” by Sister Lou Ella Hickman

             today’ need

             critical thought
             write
             line
             crafted
             language
write
             form
             crafted
             line
             write
             thought critical

Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S
6/3/2019

Sister Lou Ella’s poems have appeared in numerous magazines and journals, as well as three anthologies. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2017. Her first book of poetry, entitled she: robed and wordless, was published in 2015 (Press 53).

“No Internet, No Life” by Yuan Changming

No Internet, No Life

Come off the line, & the fish
Would
Die
Of
Hunger
Would
Gnaw
Deep
Inwards
Would
Come off the line, & the fish

Yuan Changming
6/3/2019

Yuan Changming published monograph translations, before leaving China. Currently, Yuan lives in Vancouver, where he edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Qing Yuan. His credits include: ten Pushcart nominations, the 2018 Naji Naaman’s Literary Prize, Best of the Best Canadian Poetry and Best New Poems Online.