2 Poems in POETRY Magazine

Kicking off 2022 as best I could imagine: two of my poems appear in the January 2022 issue of POETRY Magazine. Part of the issue’s “Flyover Country” folio, “Hayfield Prayer” and “New Queer Cinema” engage my love of storytelling and pay homage to Appalachia, rural queerness, twangs and much more.

I’m over the moon, humbled and proud, checking off the last remaining item on the list I made in spring 1989 called “Things I’d Like to Accomplish in Life.”

Into Winter

Strangely, after swearing off writing new poems this fall and winter, so as to focus on my essay project about Madonna’s Erotica album, I’ve written a lot of new poems. Most of them ponder the state of the modern relationship – how do we navigate our hearts, desires and lives in the digital moment? How have new tools and paradigms changed us?

I’ve also written a lot of ghost poems. Which is what I do when I fly – I hate flying and it makes me think of death, of meeting the ground. The permanence of gravity.

Yet, research continues on the Erotica project. I’ve moved from rereading old reviews to listening to a ton of podcasts and YouTubes about the era. It’s striking how many Madonna fans my age or slightly younger have deep thoughts/feelings on Erotica, that whole SEX book era, the ensuring backlash, etc. I almost abandoned the project because I wasn’t sure I have anything new to add, but I think I’ve found my angle. (And that’s all I’ll say, as oversharing isn’t conducive to creating, although I feel less strongly about that with nonfiction as I do poetry or fiction.)

Meanwhile, as the year ends, turns into 2022: big things on the horizon. I’ll be in a Mellon grant funded anthology of Ohio Appalachian poets and I’ll be appearing at stops on the statewide tour for that project. I’ll have work in POETRY and Southeast Review, a few other places. More on those as they debut and fingers crossed that my dozens of submissions currently under review find a welcome yes or two…or three. Ha!

I hope everyone has safety and care – don’t eat or drink too much these holidays and be kind to those around you. Well, except for the mean and spiteful people who want to suppress so many in our world. Kick them, lol.

Fall 2021 Poems

Wow. This fall has witnessed the debut of several new poems! Check out the links below.