Poetry

king james version there was amazement gold bars for the rich who loaded camels sent them off gleaming through deserts no one had ever heard of at first no one cared so we were surprised that day the butcher was selling lambs heads charged silver shekels when we had no coins it got worse and […]

Birthday Every year a leaf falls, one at a time, hands, days full of raking, scattering and I come to see the bare tree of us against the sunlight strewn in branches, shimmering naked against all those colors you give me tumbling free within a small, a time together walking in woods — David Radavich […]

perceptions of joy in chicago a good afternoon we all had a share in what we did not earn someone smiling on wacker hello old man how are you why girl just fine and ready for winter  © John Knoepfle 2003

Edited by Corrine Frisch Illinois Rich loamed tumescent earth black as Mississippi silt crusty as brown sugar lies waiting for the plow. Yielding with sensuous delight to the disc and harrow furrowed rows of yawning mouths greedily eat the seed that drops in measured cadence. Then sated quietly quicken through sun lit days and moon […]

something about love love is like a bowl so when you break it glue it together if it won’t hold water fill it with apples © John Knoepfle 2003

fall night stars in their dormitories they are like students even when they are awake they are asleep © John Knoepfle 2003

By Lee Gurga Here is a piece by Martha Vertreace-Doody from her new series of poems on Elizabeth Caldwell Smith, wife of Joseph Duncan, the sixth governor of Illinois. Northern Cross Railroad, 1838 Engineer Fields coaxes a crochety locomotive, “Rogers,” from Meredosia to Morgan City, tracks laid with his magic pen filled with State funds […]

rising with mars the best of springfield how about that the merry-go-round the brass ring have a muffin I like the blueberry this is the best that I can do this is the best for the best in springfield the carousel is called a lively uncle in spanish let us all get up and look […]

by Lee Gurga A few turns around the Windy City with a Chicago girl who doesn’t seem to have opened the sports section lately! Jivin’ Chicago Girl High steppers, high heels, high signs, high rises I’m just a Chicago girl, living in a Chicago world High rises, high heels, high steppers, high signs Sophisticated clothes, […]

mr lincoln in his garden here now the sun westering abandons these pools of light they shimmer in the deep woods earlier there were miracles of butterflies resting in tall grass prairies sunning for their solar power regal fritillaries black swallowtails and those monarchs beyond simplicity of belief gearing for mexico and the fall flowers […]

scott joplin he had these quarter notes look easy play hard new rags he did these in 1912 lots of glides afro american rag before anyone in the world had to think about this chrysanthemum gold flowering gold pebbled beaches of africa jewel box of twinkling notes controlled as a bird cage these songs without […]

afternoon for a fable the ants are busy making the most of sidewalk cracks and what of this grasshopper fiddling his time away well not to worry he can leap over shrubs and play out the best chaconnes and sarabands he has it all over the ants when it comes to talent © John Knoepfle […]