Just got an email from Chiron Review notifying me that they had accepted three of my poems for publication in the Summer 2017 issue: “First Day On,” “Tonight’s Window,” and “Hit the Shoes.” It will be a long wait, but it’s pretty exciting for me, since the last time they published my work was in the 90’s.
Poetry
Poem on the Resistance Poetry Wall
Yesterday I posted my poem “Soup du Jour (Election Year)” to the Resistance Poetry Wall. Looks like my post was number 129.
A page on the 100 Thousand Poets for Change blog, “The RESISTANCE POETRY WALL has been opened in response to the call by many for an open place to post poetry and art about the recent USA elections. Poets and artists from around the world are invited to post their work here.”
If you have a poem related to the election, you should post it! If you don’t already have a poem, write one!
I wrote “Soup du Jour” several years ago, but it still seems prescient of the 2016 election results, where nihilism seems to have ruled the day. All this past year, I’ve been sending that poem out, thinking a journal would grab it for its timeliness. But no luck. Right now it’s out at another journal, likely to be ignored.
Anyway, if you read it, note that the line spacing was removed by the blog platform. I think the line spacing added to the movement and energy of the piece, but it means the same thing without it.
Two poems in Clockwise Cat #35
Just found out that Clockwise Cat Issue 35 went live on October 16. The journal includes two of my poems: “Egg Raid on Midtown” and “Just to Be a Hobo” on pages 17-19. You can find a link to the issue here. Clockwise Cat is an online magazine published via Yumpu, so it reads like a print publication. Lots of neo-surreal poetry and full color collage art amid reviews and rants, making a dynamic mix.
Flashback: Two poems in TAPJoE
That time The Anaprocrustean Poetry Journal of Enumclaw (TAPJoE) published two of my poems in their Spring 1988 issue. “Tshotsholoza Kylezondawo, Vyabaleka” is an isiZulu phrase meaning “Work steady, the train is coming,” as mentioned in Athol Fugard’s play Siswe Banzi is Dead. I wrote this poem while attending a performance of the play back in the 80’s at Virginia Tech. Double flashback! The other poem they published is “Seed” (below). These were the first of my poems accepted for publication outside Tech’s student lit rag, Silhouette.
Flashback: One poem in Exquisite Corpse
That time my poem “Christmas is Over” was published in Andrei Codrescu’s Exquisite Corpse, No. 50 1994/95. This was my second appearance in the journal. Very bummed it doesn’t exist anymore. I love the closing image of Santa Claus jumping up and down in a chimney on fire. That’s what happens when you’re in the zone.
Flashback: One poem in Chiron Review
That time Chiron Review published one of my poems, “Thought He Had the Skinny,” in Issue #46-47, Spring/Summer 1996. Looking at this now, it’s funny how it has that Bukowski type horse racing thing going on, which is possibly why it got accepted. I definitely was reading a lot of Bukowski back then, but I’ve never been to a horse track. Ridiculously amazing issue, though (see cover below).
Two poems in Zoomoozophone Review
Zoomoozophone Review released its eleventh issue today, which includes two of my poems, “Ampersand Abracadabra” and “A Nickel in the Sun.” The whole issue of the online magazine can be viewed here.
Flashback: Two poems in Paper Salad
That time Paper Salad Poetry Journal published two of my poems, “One-a-Day’s Revenge” and “Fast Pace of USA.” Issue #6, 1996.
Flashback: One poem in Washington Review
That time my poem “Reclaim the Streets” was published in the Washington Review, Volume 26, Number 1, from June/July 2000.
Flashback: Five poems in Articulate
That time Articulate published a big two page spread with all five of my “circus poems” in Vol. 2, Issue 1, March 1996: “The Last Scarecrow,” “Fall of the House of Usher,” “Under the Big Top,” “Neomi Said ‘Love, Who Are You” (the correct title), and “Operation Clean Sweep.” The journal must have retyped my original manuscript, introducing the errors in the title and body of the fourth poem. I’d have to check my originals to see who misspelled “you’re” in the last poem.
All the poems were based on my experiences as an usher for the Cirque de Soleil’s run of Saltimbanco at the mall parking lot in Tyson’s Corner, VA. This was their Washington, DC, performance, running from Oct 14, 1993 to Nov 7, 1993. David Craig and I signed up together; I’m not sure I would have stuck it out if it wasn’t for him. As I recall, the best part was the free meals, which were actually very good.
jeff bagato 