The Listening Eye recently published two of my poems in Issue 2024, no. 52, and I’m happy to share them with you. “Comedy or Death (in eleven acts)” and “Cue the Music” are two very different takes on the issue theme of health. I hope you enjoy them. The journal has been around for decades and served as a poetic home for many; this is their first online issue. You can find my two poems here, but it’s worth exploring the issue to experience the diverse poetic styles and perspectives on health. (Note: this is like a sneak preview, because the issue is still under construction!)
Those of you familiar with my work know I’m prone to pop a little real-life in my fictional poems (like The Meet-up and Now Fall) or to find my muse via ekphrasis (e.g., Adam & Eve: After Temptation, in response to Mariotto Albertinelli’s “The Temptation of Adam and Eve,” ca. 1509–13). So is it any surprise “Comedy or Death” is inspired by real-life events, and “Cue the Music” is an ekphrastic poem written in response to Alma Thomas‘ “Red Rose Cantata?” Sadly, I was not familiar with Alma Thomas when I discovered her compelling painting. Click her name (linked above) to learn more about this fascinating artist whose work donned at least one White House wall in Washington, D.C., during the Obama administration.
More Poetry
Want to explore more of my work? You can find some here, including a link to SoundCloud, where I’m slowly populating published poems in audio format.
Want to explore more poets? Check out the Poetry Society of Tennessee bookstore here and see why we say poetry is alive in Tennessee. Or try this new book out from Florida State Poets Association friends, Claire Webb and Lori Zavada.
About The Listening Eye
The Listening Eye, the long-running literary arts magazine of Kent State University (Geauga), has been published since 1970. While for many years it has been published in print, it recently converted to an online format. Learn more.
The Listening Eye opens for submissions again in October. You’ll have to wait to find out what theme may be selected for this issue. Get submission details.