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
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. Let’s try to 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-to-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.
Nooksack
by Rick Herman
On the flood
of the spring melt,
this river mothers me,
works her fingers
into my bones,
rocks me.
Coming cold
off the glacier,
she closes
her flashing eyes
at night,
dreamless, cool,
urgent.
There are reasons
to live, she tells me.
Good reasons
to stay alive.
Rick Hermann has lived in Bellingham since 1987.
The People’s Choice
by Bob Markey
There’s little question that a good many
successful politicians, (those with the
ability to win elections) are
power-hungry, huckstering, con artists.
All trades have some scoundrels, (poets are one
exception to that rule!)
It seems unlikely the above traits are
what founders had in mind for Presidents!
But early polls for the
two thousand sixteen race
suggest that the current
leader is this nation’s
most prominent huckster!
Look the word up in your
Webster’s! And, he could win,
unless second thoughts should
prove the sound wisdom of
a majority!
Bob Markey lives in Enumclaw. For more than 12 years, he delivered Whatcom Watch newspapers.