Month / April 2016

by J.L. Smith

Throwback Thursday: Crossed Eyes

This one is a very old poem, probably written in 1998, that was published in February’s Eskimo Pie.  Now, if that is not a real Throwback Thursday, I don’t know what is, lol.  “Crossed Eyes” for your Throwback Thursday enjoyment!

Crossed Eyes

A glossy photograph with eyes

scraped clean with black ballpoint.

Anger and pressure,

strokes of lines—

straight and circular—

penetrate white paper,

bringing it to the fore,

dehumanizing its former owner of its

identity

warmth

power

control

over the smiling figure pictured next to it,

you.

by J.L. Smith

NaPoWriMo Day 6

OK, I am posting this a bit early.  Remember, this is a raw excerpt.  As I continue to write, I can see the revisions to come.  This has been a difficult story to craft poetically.  I am thankful to you, readers, for your support and patience.

Thank you for coming along in this journey.

Today’s raw excerpt:

**This post has been removed as the next day’s NaPoWriMo post has been posted***

by J.L. Smith

NaPoWriMo Day 5

Day 5 is late because I preformed my civic duty and served as an election official for the Anchorage municipal elections.  The defense and preservation of democracy made for a 16 hour long work day. A democratic hangover, I am glad that I was able to serve my community.  It is amazing to see democracy in action.  Never take it for granted.  Even at the local level, please vote, folks.  Believe it or not, you have more power at the local level than you think.  Be the change in your community. Participate in it.

OK, now for our regularly scheduled program.  Here is day 5 for you, folks!

An excerpt from “Heirless War.” The war between Argos and Cisthene has begun.

**This post has been removed as another day’s post has been made.  Keep up with these post as they are made daily.  Each remain up a day.**

 

by J.L. Smith

NaPoWriMo: Day 2 excerpt

Again, these NaPoWriMo posts are  raw exerpts.  Enjoy!

From “The Gorgon Waits”

The blood sun neither sits nor rises on shores of Sarpedon,

where the gorgon slithers on her stomach like a lizard

on the basalt beach tombs she created.

***This excerpt has been removed as another day’s post has been added. Be sure to check in daily to see new posts as they are added***

 

by J.L. Smith

NaPoWriMo Day 1: Excerpt

NaPoWriMo Day 1 (still the 1st Alaska time!):

Note: All NaPoWriMo posts are rough excerpts are larger pieces.  Think of these as gems uncut that make up a larger finished (chapbook) project:)

Prologue/Excerpt from Medusa and Perseus (tentative title):

Fate binds the hero to the monster

like a knot of twine woven tight,

restricted and hard to remove

without fraying the core.

**this excerpt has been removed with the posting of the new day’s post.  Please be sure to see new posts daily, in their entirety, each day.***

by J.L. Smith

National Poetry Month

Happy National Poetry Month!  Many poets are writing 30 poems in 30 days to celebrate the month.  I’ve decided to join in on the fun.  I will be participating in two contests for the month.  The first is for Local Gem Press‘ NaPoWriMo Chapbook Contest.  For this contest, poets select a theme for the month for which to write a chapbook for submission.  My theme is Medusa and Perseus.  Yes, the gorgon and the hero–or not, you will have to see in my own version of this tale. The second is for Yellow Chair Review.  Check out both!

I will attempt to post each day, however, it may not be a poem a day.  For a Medusa project, I will post some of the work, but not too much, as it is for a chapbook competition.

Enjoy! And, please, if you are participating in a 30 day challenge, please let me know by dropping me a line!

J.L

#NaPoWriMo #localgempress #yellowchairreview