European poems

Berlin Kinder parks darkened Imaginations enlightened There, a sharp stool There, a dull red bench Slide straight and narrow Empty, for lack of light Echoes of children passed: we were here we were here once Kinder ghosts A new type of chocolate Wrapper left in the sand box We were here   Paris Blunt pencil [...]

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Not Queens Anymore (or, possibly the saddest thing I’ve ever written)

Lady, I know where you’re coming from Treat us right, you say Treat us with respect We’re worth so much more than that, you say But what did you expect   This body, it’s here for the taking Because it’s been taken before It’s been there before, you see, my dear So we’re not queens [...]

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poem: reassuring statements (or not)

You say You are pretty, which means You never have to prove yourself Not like us You are a corpse merely Of perfect hair and high cheek bones Void of stretch marks Void of alternate endings People need not imagine beauty in you It is already there You could be a salesperson Simply by modeling [...]

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One Haiku

It’s been almost two years. Let’s try this again: One Haiku

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Notebook Writings – Part 2

This is a day to celebrate being alive. Kick your legs up and grass stain your knees. Roll down a hill into your lover’s arms and eat crab apples from trees made for picking. Somewhere between the mall and the bus station, there is a patch of green, and this is where I sit. Flower [...]

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Bang Said the Gun

It also reminded me that no matter where I go, poetry is one of my homes – Megan Ann Ward Bang Said the Gun was my saving grace last time I was in London, a consistent source of entertainment, inspiration and camaraderie with my fellow bangers. And yes, the innuendos are endless. Affectionately referred to [...]

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Where are the poets?

Where are the poets? Hiding between the pages of books Mumbling loose phrases on street corners Or wringing their hands behind the red curtain I find it funny that a poem has to ‘hold up’ on the page in order to be considered successful. Would you say the same thing for a musical composition or [...]

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Thicker Skin

You told me once “Don’t pout. It’s unbecoming” And I cried for a week You told me I should develop a thicker skin And I wondered why you felt the need to teach me that lesson When it was you who seemed to value my skin for its softness And my lips for their sweetness [...]

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Women are strong

Women are strong Women can twist hurtful words into a playful turn of phrase Even when those words still sting in her ears It’s nothing more than a survival technique To listen attentively to every harsh sound that escapes their lips And yet choose to hear soft music only

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Dear Volcanic Ash (or, a love poem)

For perhaps the first time in the history of my poetry, I’m writing about something topical. You might have heard about this volcanic ash that is sweeping Europe right now and forcing airlines to cancel all flights to the surrounding areas. It’s chaos. Don’t expect anything but the busy signal when you try calling Air [...]

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