“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
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 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 permission for one-time publication rights in the paper and electronic editions.
Back Deck Circus
by Karen Moulton
An upside-down squirrel
clutches the bird feeder chain
with one thumbed paw
while the other purloins the prize.
Finches in red and yellow capes,
deftly catch the suet brick
setting it a twirl as they swing
back and forth to their tree limb base.
A yellow streamer shines
on red-headed cardinals
who whistle and skitter
as they tussle for seeds in the debris.
Just a spectator with a front row
seat to this three-ringed event,
I sip my morning tea,
mesmerized by their antics.
____________________________
Karen Moulton is a seasoned international teacher who spends the school year in Taipei, Taiwan, and summers in Bellingham, Washington. She has had a home in Sudden Valley for the past 15 years.
Cars of Consternation
by David P. Drummond
We all feel awesome
in our sexy, animal-name
auto-matic, auto-mo-biles:
Cougar, Impala & Isuzu
and more alpha-numerics
like, S U X 3000
Turn the key, raw power
Press buttons for Bach
fresh air and fanny heat
Join the cattle drive of
long lines north, south
Cement to tarmac Auto-
Bahn of dead animals
Auto-centric societies
Thirsty for mo’ “go juice”
Rollin’ on four synthetics
Goin’ everywhere, until
“She won’t turn-over”, “Yer
battery of systems, is dead!”
Never mind, the rain or snow,
pile of plastic, fiberglass
and chrome mag wheels
Good luck, if you can find
a car computer analyst
Asian language fluent
To “re-boot” broken pony
Without breakin’ One’s
Piggy Bank
__________________________
David P. Drummond enjoys scribing for the universe in perceptions inspired within nature, human interaction and cultural interface. He is grateful for world travel opportunities that allow contextual comparison between life forms and our shared challenge of survival.