“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 What- com 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.
Boris Schleinkofer, poetrywatch editor
Making Money With Poetry
by George Wright
I have a plan for making money with poetry.
First, I’ll do some market research
to find out which words get people most excited.
I’ll look for phrases that startle the senses,
cause temptation to bubble
and passions to boil.
I’ll dig through historical records,
sift through the sweetness and sentiment,
the left-handed rhymes and limping cadences,
and squeeze out the good stuff,
the juicy details, the blood.
I want to make stones fall in love,
cause monks to grit their teeth
and burn the paper.
I want to turn women into men
and men into animals.
I’ll add water and fire,
glacial ice and gasoline,
then roll them all up like literary sushis
and sell them on eBay
for $10 a pound.
I’ll get rich.
_______________________
George Wright is a semi-professional writer, artist, and musician, as well as a gardening/self-suffiency advocate.
Raining Peace and Justice
by Charlie Kyle
I’m listening to the rain on the walkway
between our house and John’s house next door.
The splat of the drops hitting the cement merge with
the gurgle of the water pouring down the gutters.
Out back, water flows in two narrow streams down the alley
finding its way to Bellingham Bay, the Salish Sea, and the Pacific Ocean.
I ask myself, what if each act of peace and justice
like a raindrop, makes a small noise or impression
and fills Fairhaven, Bellingham, Whatcom County, the State of Washington,
and the United States of America with peace and justice?
____________________
Charlie Kyle is a writer living in Bellingham, Washington. He likes the sound of moving water.
