War dead fell in patterns around craters, and will long enrich the battlefield. Some forever will inhabit the soil. Survivors, like shadows, return to circle the lush grass; argue possible versions of their own history. Since victory, I offer my shame at living; I offer atonement as demanded by our leaders; I offer up partisan fantasies couched with propaganda; I offer … [Read more...]
America
:: American Literature & Poetry |Poems from America by wonderful American Poets. Read, enjoy and do share the world of American Poetry.
Dolly’s Place on S.R. 29 | Keith Moul
Dolly's life and my life proceeded apace, anyway, but only since 1996 overlapping at her prairie cafe. She was only thirty when the former operator quit the lease, held so long patrons forgot “before Bill.” At sixty years, I only ate, without talent as a cook. One thing I know for sure, thirty years of separation tends to bar sentimental talk between contemporaries. But, … [Read more...]
Red Light Run | Joe Albanese
Maybe I’ve always chosen the cloth monkey over the wire one, tazing myself with absorption Maybe I chewed the apple straight to the cyanide Maybe I queued behind myself, ouroboros once or twice or ten times over Maybe I’m Sisyphus pushing my own boulder back down the mountain Might I follow through with this, these sotto calls to arms — just a red light … [Read more...]
Man Walking Cow | Carlos Reyes
He has saved her from four lanes of traffic on the Inner Ring Road of Domluru brushed her black coat to a sheen, and dressed her up, starting at the tip of curved upward horns, she could hook the yellow moon with, to her well-trimmed hooves that were the nails of a princess, wrapping her in blood red, and green yarns, elegant silk saris, and bleeding madras. He leads … [Read more...]
The Presser | Carlos Reyes
He squats blowing life into coals of the ubiquitous shallow bowl to heat his fifty year old iron. He pushes his table cart from block to block where he is expected like a friend by those who need him to press their shirts and pants. He is unreflective, modest, smiles benignly if you greet him, doesn't need to advertise his presence with chatter, doesn't … [Read more...]