Boris Schleinkofer, poetrywatch editor
“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?
Artwork by Hilary Cole
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 such as government, the environment and media. Send your poems to: poetry@whatcomwatch.org and let’s make magic happen.
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.
Tree
by Janet Riley
The spiral willow is done with the hack
and chop of her upper limbs
from which all the birds have flown.
She feels the agony of the cut, her lower limbs flailing
not really knowing what to
do or how to look.
Perhaps by summer’s end
her new leaves will be pulped with the juice
that all
leaves have inside themselves
then the autumn wind will come
to strengthen and bend her branches
like the ankles of teenagers;
that wind from the north having left
noticeable gaps in our souls
so very done with the waiting.
____________________________
Janet Riley was born and raised in London, UK. After travelling much of the globe in earlier days, she now is content to stay put in the beauty of the PNW.
The mountain tall
by Daniel McCann
The mountain tall
with roots beneath
its peak above all
eagles soar
with feet unsure
I climb
I fall
and tremble
I gaze above
again I climb
my strength fails
my hands reach
sight is lost
stones lie silent
soil loose
the mountain calls
my heart faints
burdened still
the mountain stands calling always
I climb and fall again
I sit and gaze at all
and tremble.
______________________
Daniel McCann is a poet, writer and truly a Renaissance man who has recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest.
