tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41246090283931966442023-11-16T03:34:22.296-08:00Dirty Watered LimboDirty Watered Limbo is a new poetry blog that anybody can submit to and enjoy!
Please send all poetry submissions to robertatherton18@gmail.comRobert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-85843136781450194382012-11-30T12:14:00.000-08:002012-11-30T12:14:02.517-08:00Snared<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span></u></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">I’ve a snozzle</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">For a distressingly putrefied pride,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">Lingering rustiness</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">In a milk-and-honeyed world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">A squeal for break-no-bones intentions?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">Ha! Heads shake.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">A puncture of confidence,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">Slump head-teeter</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">Into a tub, Scotch-fuddled.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">We’re plunging into a flow,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"> Conversations –</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">Obliged to unsnarl riggings</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">To hitch that sort of pull.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">You used to swank the whiskers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">Of a tin lion. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">By Christopher Barnes, UK</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span></div>
Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-50789650794174686182012-08-26T06:05:00.002-07:002012-08-26T06:06:05.624-07:00The Imagined and the Real<!--StartFragment-->
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">You wear your clothes inside out</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">to confuse me.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">You let me believe I am inside you.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Breathing out</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">a flood of light.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">To feed you.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">But my happiness is pallid and
grotesque.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">It blinds you instead.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">That’s why I am still running.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Backwards.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Before you.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Trying to keep you</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">from walking away.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.J. Huffman is a poet and freelance writer in Daytona
Beach, Florida. She has previously published four collections of
poetry: The Difference Between Shadows and Stars, Carrying
Yesterday, Cognitive Distortion, and . . . And Other Such Nonsense.
She has also published her work in national and international literary journals
such as Avon Literary Intelligencer, Writer's Gazette, and The Penwood
Review. Find more about A.J. Huffman, including additional
information and links to her work at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000191382454"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000191382454</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> and </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4124609028393196644#%21/poetess222"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">https://twitter.com/#!/poetess222</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-89903029072588004532012-08-26T05:49:00.001-07:002012-08-26T06:02:00.052-07:00New Boss<br />
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They warned me my new boss was</div>
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intimidating.</div>
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The CEO was an elegant lady that</div>
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was all business.</div>
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She was thin as a rail and half a head</div>
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taller then me.</div>
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Smartly dressed in an navy blue</div>
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tailored business suit.</div>
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She had stoic sharp chiseled features.</div>
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Her words were clipped and she had</div>
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a low sounding male voice.</div>
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She wanted to know all about me</div>
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and stoically sat and listened.</div>
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There wasn't a hint of a smile on her</div>
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face when I told her I was a perpetrator</div>
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of puns.</div>
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After ten minutes, she stood to signal</div>
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the interview was over.</div>
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Jumping to my feet, I was glad to</div>
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leave.</div>
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She took my hand and stared straight</div>
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into my eyes.</div>
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A subtle soft smile cut across her face</div>
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as I walked out the door.<br />
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Biography<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Mike Berger is an MFA, PhD. He is a retired and writes
poetry and short stories full<o:p></o:p></div>
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time. He has been writing poetry for less than two years.
His work appear in seventy-one<o:p></o:p></div>
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journals. He has published two books of short stories and
seven poetry chapbooks, He<o:p></o:p></div>
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is a member of The Academy of American Poets. poetry
chapbooks, He is a member of<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Academy of American Poets.</div>
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Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-64198141832164284282012-08-25T06:52:00.000-07:002012-08-25T06:52:40.034-07:00Apologies Just wanted to excuse the gap in submissions, to make up for it i'll post two this month and get things back on track. Please continue to send your work, I really do enjoy reading them all!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Robert.Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-64049162480418376652012-03-03T13:06:00.003-08:002012-03-03T13:08:27.360-08:00I WALK WHERE MEMORIES WALK<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I walk where memories walk</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I trace their steps</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Breathe their air</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">And before my very eyes performs</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The life I once called mine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Before the edges were worn away,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The fringes tattered,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The hopes and dreams not yet conceived</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">So could not die</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">And all was hope and longing:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Was this me? Where did we go?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Have all left home so soon?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Scattered to the heavens by the</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Centrifugal force called life</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">That honors no adhesion?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The chill of drafts drops my gaze</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Away from all that was hidden:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A cursory glance,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A dismissive shiver,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A quick step onward in life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I leave the memories there to walk</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Alone, no steps retraced;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The air is still,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The eyes are closed to all performances:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The life I now call mine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"></span></span></p><span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bio:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Rev. Judith Mensch served as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. She began writing poetry in the last years of her life, as a way of responding to and coping with breast cancer. She passed away in 2003.</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p></span>Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-36957377784596559822011-11-16T06:23:00.000-08:002011-11-16T06:35:16.613-08:00ExposedNatural three<div>in those days spent,</div><div>red lights.</div><div>It's not too late to cross them off your list.</div><div><br /></div><div>I saw it in your pocket.</div><div>I saw you place it there</div><div>under supervision</div><div>in wed-locked circumstance, </div><div>across the stoney floor</div><div>we fall. </div><div><br /></div><div>Through smoke and dim lit forests </div><div>we grow and tackle to the ground,</div><div>until</div><div>our bodies, clothes</div><div>are smeared in blood and grit. </div><div>To be the act of violence </div><div>and dance with its ideas. </div><div><br /></div><div>By Robert William Atherton </div><div><br /></div>Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-16822599586158326772011-10-25T15:26:00.000-07:002011-10-25T15:35:37.081-07:00Poetry in the Mens Room<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Rc_h6AsekpJLQraDtguW-DXJMI7Fv4msVr9-1uTQdURmgWbgM_H8VAq7UUelR4JTSK1pRvOazay02BzR5pCxLx9aQnMiD4A5r8BI_1lcgvlFwq4SBDPsnxgojXxmRCZAy_jmjN5zd5Q/s1600/photo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Rc_h6AsekpJLQraDtguW-DXJMI7Fv4msVr9-1uTQdURmgWbgM_H8VAq7UUelR4JTSK1pRvOazay02BzR5pCxLx9aQnMiD4A5r8BI_1lcgvlFwq4SBDPsnxgojXxmRCZAy_jmjN5zd5Q/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667560099702080418" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Graffiti that caught my attention in the toilets of a bar in Liverpool. </div>Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-61820617795972785342011-10-12T07:28:00.000-07:002011-11-16T06:38:32.428-08:00THE BE-GOOD-NEWS CARNIVAL DREAM<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Here come officiators</div><div>on all-terrain bikes</div><div>semaphore animal companion hands.</div><div> </div><div>The herd ogle ambient shadows</div><div>under an automated teller machine.</div><div> </div><div>Dancing juveniles in hoop-skirts</div><div>stagger as flutes choke.</div><div> </div><div>The Attitude Queen gawps</div><div>at the tar-black tongue</div><div>of a hanged bail bandit.</div><div><br /></div><div>by Chris Barnes. </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:ArialMT;">In 1998 I won a Northern Arts writers award. In July 200 I read at Waterstones bookshop to promote the anthology 'Titles Are Bitches'. Christmas 2001 I debuted at Newcastle's famous Morden Tower doing a reading of my poems. Each year I read for Proudwords lesbian and gay writing festival and I partake in workshops. 2005 saw the publication of my collection LOVEBITES published by Chanticleer Press, 6/1 Jamaica Mews, Edinburgh.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:ArialMT;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:ArialMT;"> On Saturday 16Th August 2003 I read at the Edinburgh Festival as a Per Verse poet at LGBT Centre, Broughton St.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:ArialMT;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:ArialMT;">I also have a BBC web-page: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/videonation/stories/gay_history.shtml"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:#0B11C6;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/videonation/stories/gay_history.shtml</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div></span>Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-4202290059039321782011-08-14T07:42:00.001-07:002011-11-16T06:40:43.372-08:00Reoccurring Dream (Including The Soundtrack)<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana-Bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">It starts the way it ends-</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">someone yells Hallelujah</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">and the hooligans put away their </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">brass knuckles and firearms then </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">sing lullabies to coax the wings out.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">Pin the tail on the donkey is replaced </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">with games of ball and jacks.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">The bungo juice is passed around one </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">final time and then the soberest one </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">in the bunch stumbles up to read out </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">aloud the note scotch-taped to the pearly </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">gates, you know, the one that says;</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">Picking-up some Chinese takeaway, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;">Be Back In A Jiffy!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana-Bold;font-size:10.0pt;"><b> </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana-Bold;font-size:9.0pt;"><b>Biography</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">After almost a decade of working as a freelance photographer in Europe,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">Maurice Oliver returned to America in 1990. Then, in 1995, he made a<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">life-long dream reality by traveling around the world for eight months. But<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">instead of taking pictures, he recorded the experience in a journal which<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">eventually became poems. And so began his desire to be a poet. His<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">poetry has appeared in numerous national and international publications<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">and literary websites including </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana-Italic;font-size:9.0pt;"><i>Potomac Journal, Pebble Lake Review,</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana-Italic;font-size:9.0pt;"><i>Frigg Magazine, Dandelion Magazine, (Canada), Stride Magazine (UK),</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana-Italic;font-size:9.0pt;"><i>Cha Asian Literary Journal, (Hong Kong), Kritya (India), Blueprint Review,</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana-Italic;font-size:9.0pt;"><i>(Germany) and Arabesques Review (Algeria). His forth chapbook was One </i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana-Italic;font-size:9.0pt;"><i>Remedy Is Travel (Origami Condom, 2007). He edits the literary ezine </i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana-Italic;font-size:9.0pt;"><i>Eye Socket Journal at: <a href="http://eyesocketjournal.blogspot.com/"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:#0E16F8;">http://eyesocketjournal.blogspot.com</span></a> . </i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">He lives<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;">in Portland, OR, where he works as a private tutor. </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-42211750642357965832011-06-13T01:59:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:32:12.074-07:00Our second poet on the blog!<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';">Beat Until Smooth</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">I am in the middle of discussing my recipe</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">for caramel nut brownies with Janet,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">the woman seated next to me on the flight home</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">when there is a loud popping noise</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">and the plane starts losing altitude fast.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">I can hardly breathe.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">I can hardly believe this is happening.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">This plane is really going down;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">we’re really going to die.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">It occurs to me that</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">when I hugged my wife</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">goodbye at the airport,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">I only kissed her on the cheek,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">and not on the lips like I should have.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">It also occurs to me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">that an airliner’s rapid descent from the sky</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">goes by way too fast for anyone</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">to be able to get their prayers organized</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">in any sort of way that would make sense to God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">So listen</span></i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">, I say to Janet,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">we really don’t have a lot of time,</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">but, as I was saying, you only want to use</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">the black walnuts from Diamond for this recipe</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">because the other kinds of walnuts</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">always seem to come out tasting weird</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;">when you take them out of the oven!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"></span></span></i></p><i><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';font-size:11pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size:130%;"><i>Bio:</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" ;font-family:'Baskerville Old Face';">A past member of five national poetry slam teams (Worcester, Mass. (x2), Washington, D.C., Wilmington, Del. and Albuquerque, N.M.), Rich has published four chapbooks of poetry and for seven years hosted an open reading and slam in Newark, Delaware. Since moving to Albuquerque in March of 2008, Rich has been performing and writing steadily in the Duke City, and is a regular contributor/editor at <a href="http://localpoetsguild.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">localpoetsguild.wordpress.com</a>. He is also an educator, adventurer and <i>desert compound prophet</i>. Rich’s poems have appeared in <i>Adobe Walls: An Anthology of New Mexico Poetry, Fickle Muses, The Rag, Menagerie, Clutching at Straws, Shot Glass Journal, Mutant Root, The Mas Tequila Review, and The Legendary.</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p></span></i><p></p></span></div>Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-90236650031475001302011-04-29T10:28:00.000-07:002011-04-29T10:33:39.723-07:00Our First Poet<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Congratulations to Kenneth and his poem Summer Home. The first poetry post. I enjoyed reading all work submitted for April, here's hoping May will bring me equal pleasure. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Summer Home<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">We all suddenly disappear from time to time.<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">It is not intentional, even when the thought<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">is as plain as the hands on a clock face.<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">It is the path that leads into the woods<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">or the rails that the hobos ride <span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">or the long American ribbon of highway.<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">And even though all paths and roads and rails <span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">eventually lead to the banks of the Acheron<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">that is farther than anyone I know <span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">will travel today—a Saturday in April<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">with blooms bursting forth from trees<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">and all the colorful tulips tall in the garden.<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">I own a house upon the Acheron’s near shore<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">and rent the spare room upstairs<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">to the dark angel who glows white light<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">that illuminates the river and far bank—<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">that tunnel feeling, that warm grip of wood<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">as oars stoke the river’s water.<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">But my house is not where you disappeared<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">when you vanished last Wednesday<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">somewhere between George R. R. Martin<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">and J. R. R. Tolkien at the local library.<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Your fantastical search continues<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">in its attempt to locate the thirteenth century<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">in the Allegheny Mountains <span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">long before the white men arrived<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">with their cutting tools <span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">that harvest both trees and rock.<span style="mso-font-kerning:.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">-Kenneth P. Gurney - </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">bio: Kenneth P. Gurney lives in Albuquerque, NM, USA. He edits the New Mexico Poetry anthology <i>Adobe Walls</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">. His poems appear regularly in print and on the web. For complete publishing credits and available books visit </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><a href="http://www.kpgurney.me/Poet/Welcome.html"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0B11C6;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">http://www.kpgurney.me/Poet/Welcome.html</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:ArialMT;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span><p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-628423975001498002011-04-16T07:39:00.000-07:002011-04-16T07:48:50.648-07:00April is the Cruelest Month<a href="http://www.teachersdiary.com/.a/6a0115703931fc970c0128765537ba970c-800wi" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 323px;" src="http://www.teachersdiary.com/.a/6a0115703931fc970c0128765537ba970c-800wi" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Two weeks until this months successful poet is announced and posted! <div>It's always hard to choose who goes in first but who ever doesn't make it, remember you can submit for each month.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Keep the submissions coming! </div></div>Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124609028393196644.post-43267773842116298712011-04-06T08:54:00.000-07:002011-04-06T08:57:16.614-07:00To Submit!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><div>Submissions Guidelines: </div><div><br /></div><div>Poetry - 1-5 poems (please send in the body of the email) </div><div><br /></div><div>Artwork - Send as a (jpg) file or link to online portfolio. </div><div><br /></div><div>Please send submissions or queries to <a href="mailto:robertatherton18@gmail.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">robertatherton18@gmail.com</a> </div></span>Robert William Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446586577433223622noreply@blogger.com4