Do You Enjoy poetrywatch?
Want to see it continue? Then please, send your poems to us and let the Whatcom Watch share them with our readership! Seriously, we really do want your roughly 25-line poems (though length is by no means a deal-breaker; it’s how you use those lines.) featuring or specific to Whatcom County and issues addressed by Whatcom Watch like government, the environment and media. Send your poems to: poetry@whatcomwatch.org and let’s make magic happen.
Boris Schleinkofer, poetrywatch editor
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“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” — John F. Kennedy
Poetry has a voice in our community, and the Whatcom Watch is adding to its chorus. You all love poetry, right? Well, here you go! Subject matter is unlimited, but poetry featuring or specific to Whatcom County and issues addressed by Whatcom Watch (government, the environment and media) will likely get first preference. Please keep it to around 25 lines; otherwise, we might have to edit your work to fit. Don’t make yourself unprintable.
Send poems and your short, two- or three-sentence bios as a word document attachment to poetry@whatcomwatch.org. The deadline is the first day of the month. Please understand that acceptance and final appearance of pieces are subject to space constraints and editorial requirements. By submitting, authors give Whatcom Watch express permission for first-time publication rights in paper and electronic editions of current or future volumes of Whatcom Watch.
Fashion
by Bob Markey
A fashionable trend for men that’s lasted
for several years has been clothing worn by
common laboring
stiffs … going way back!
It all began with Levi trousers and plaid
“logger’s shirts” is what they called them I believe.
More recently the
rage has been pants with
thirty seven pockets … has anyone filled
more than the traditional four other
than real working men?
My guess is that of the millions that have been
sold over the years, not one of those loops sewn
over the side seam
has ever held a
hammer!
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Bob Markey delivered Whatcom Watch newspapers for over 12 years. He recently moved to Enumclaw to be near his children.
Questions for Quitting
by James Bertolino
Who laughed
longest
when the bright
young Senator
from Nevada
pitched the
Siamese kitten
and string of lit
cherry-bombs
into the broom
closet?
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James Bertolino has had 12 volumes of poetry published, as well as numerous chapbooks. He is featured in “WA129,” the anthology of Washington poets edited by current Washington State poet laureate Tod Marshall.