I’ve been writing poetry for a long time, but I haven’t been very diligent about submitting my work to literary magazines and journals. I’ve only submitted a handful of pieces over the years. Earlier this year, I submitted a few pieces and two of them were selected for publication by convergence: an online journal of poetry and art. This is my first official publication credit, which is pretty exciting. I’ve included the text of both poems below.
BANKING MIDNIGHT
Leaves twist in the autumn breeze,
tortured servants of the season. They still
on winter’s first chill night, ice hinting
at the edge of a sharp star. Shadows lengthen,
light posts awaken, just a flicker
in the fog.
The pads of the wolf’s paws are silent
on pavement, quiet as nature’s blink.
He wanders the streets in his mangled coat,
blood warming his teeth the way fresh sex
tastes like copper and earth. Tender foe,
he curls in the snow, a hot whisper
in the freeze.
YOU ARE NOT THE MOON
I’ve been sucking on American Spirits
through the night you abandoned, like a star
trails fading into the tar-sky.
You are not the steady moon
you claim to be
watchful, reluctantly circling.
Wretched winter broke the spell
icy dawn slipped between my sheets
where the hours creaked
my eyes cracked
against the breaking snow-light.
