Why Trees Stay Outside – poems by Terry Tierney
As readers, we seldom have the chance to chat with the authors we enjoy and admire, so I’m delighted that Terry Tierney is here to share some thoughts about poetry, writing in general, and of course his wonderful forthcoming collection, Why Trees Stay Outside, which publishes on October 1, 2024 from Unsolicited Press. Anne: Terry, […]
From Below
What do we have and when must we give it away? Ask the oak that stands by the vineyard Two limbs, only one in leaf The other bare, perhaps dead Maybe its life has been pushed down where we can no longer see Or maybe it’s gone to the survivor who carries on season By […]
like a shade of dawn
originally published in Libretto Magazine in shadow the glow is soft in sunlight it’s hard candy a room in a house through trees with a purple-pink light you can’t read by it draw by it knit a sweater or darn a sock you can lie, though, surrounded by how it makes you feel which is […]
Two Poems in Honor of National Poetry Month – April 2021
if the sky won’t have me originally published in FEED issue 2.2 the rain makes a river of the road rushing rivulets, eddies all aswirl it goes where gravity takes it & gathers in a low point, getting deeper & wider as the storm fails to relent i step into the river, reluctantly at first […]
Girl With The Broken Back
originally published in Feminine Collective See how she scuttles across the floor The cold tile numbs, then burns Her palms, knees, shins All portions of flesh pressed on The harder thing—the hardest thing Not cursed yet— —Soon Then there’s this back The thing that holds her together The thing she’s built around Grew up around […]
Evolutionary Process
originally published in don’t die press Fire eats the forest Evergreens turn to ash Water chokes the canyon Slopes fall under mud Wind inhales the neighborhood Throws rafters to the ground A woman gives her body out of hunger for the touch Her private land is fertile where scattered seeds are sown […]
What We Talk About When We Watch The Handmaid’s Tale
originally published in Feminine Collective What if my dystopia is your heaven, my utopia your hell? We’re not on the same page, darling May I still call you that? You said it could never happen here Isn’t that what the Germans said of Hitler? Where did they think his anti-Semitic rants would lead? Darling, […]
You Made The World
originally published in Feminine Collective Agony—a gone knee Can’t bend—no way to mend This isn’t about aging—maybe about raging What stops the crazy rhyme-time? Unplug the clock Blind its ruby face Tear your eyes out if you must Choke on dust There I go again, too easy This lilting rhythm and sound Trapped by […]
when a cliché
originally published in Q/A Poetry when a cliché, she’s wily, cunning, crazy as a fox in her foxy coat made slyly of her own fur when not, she escapes the brush, crosses the road, cut by hunger’s knife to seek the fleeing prey when a cliché, the a gentleman farmer slows his […]
Sailing Off The Edge of The World
originally published in 34THParallel Magazine All my life I knew one day I’d sail off the edge of the world Into the mouth of a smiling dragon That’s me on that painted Medieval ship Canvas billowing Men pulling the ropes in terror STOP! But the world is flat & the wind has its way […]