Poetry

Get Angel Wing Tattoos—Stephanie Valente

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Get Angel Wing Tattoos Like It’s the Late 1990s by Stephanie Valente Get Angel Wing Tattoos Like It’s the Late 1990s she asks me why i am collecting tattoos careful dots grey shadows my dog’s face a witch, flowers mother mary, leaves wolves, a turn of phrase i say: i’m less attached to my body i almost lost it so many times cancer scares car accidents attempted murder i honor it like replanting seeds painting it with tributes survival vines, petals stitching my skin back ...

These Hands Must Speak—Rebecca Ramsden

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 These Hands Must Speak by Rebecca Ramsden These Hands Must Speak These hands measure the distance. These hands put on a mask. These hands wash frequently. These hands scroll the screen, witness leaders who only mask what they say, call this a hoax. Their legislation a sleight of hand, coffers quickly emptied of funds for small businesses onto the desks of overpaid elite. Each day these hands brush the hair of nurses, caregivers, service workers putting their lives, their children’s ...

Patience—Ermelinda Makkimane

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Patience by Ermelinda Makkimane Patience The nurse checks the patient’s blood pressure. Adjusts the flow of the IV drip. Makes a note in the file. Washes hands. Goes to the next patient. Repeats blood pressure check. Repeats washing hands. This happens seven times. She is more patient than any of us here. To what extent does her patience extend? Ask the patient’s distraught relative who came running ...

View Out My Window—Catherine Klatzker

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 View Out My Window by Catherine Klatzker View Out My Window The worst thing is she died alone as so many do these days isolated from all who love her. In pandemic, we are globally unprepared for this novel anguish. There is nothing outside in the grey evening, nothing outside my window to distract me from the memories of dying patients, how we used to use our lunch breaks to hold and rock those who had no families, so ...

Tribute to Henrietta Lacks—Jill Jennings

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Tribute to Henrietta Lacks by Jill Jennings Tribute to Henrietta Lacks: The Hero in the Laboratory They even changed your name, first to Helen Lane, then to Helen Larsen, finally to Henrietta Lacks. After they harvested your cells. The strangest form of life a cell could have, that’s what they said. And you said go ahead and use them, “if it’ll help somebody.” Now there’s a vaccine against the HPV-18 that did you in, grown ...

Prayer for a Pandemic—Dina Greenberg

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Prayer for a Pandemic by Dina Greenberg Prayer for a Pandemic Awaken at two a.m. day four of Passover, Easter Sunday enumerate the dead & the afflicted break open your heart again don’t fight the pounding fear growing there, relinquish each footfall, touch silken ash to forehead make the sign of the cross Believe, believe behold the Paschal Lamb behold the promised land face the east rock from heel to toe drop and give me twenty repent, repent kiss the ring click your heels together & ...

Darnella—Michael Giorgio

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Darnella by Michael Giorgio Darnella She is just seventeen afraid for her life as well as for his witness to injustice she is powerless to prevent but brave enough to stay She records what she sees what she should never have had to see a man murdered before her eyes by one who is sworn to protect and serve She is mocked harassed by those who think her wrong for preserving the action rather than act herself against ...

Washing Hands—Pamela Cranston

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Washing Hands with Florence Nightingale by Pamela Cranston Washing Hands with Florence Nightingale No one dreamed she’d come back from retirement, but there she is, in her long black gown, white apron, and small lace cap, pulling up the guards over her straight sleeves, making sure the towels are clean. She is standing by the sink, stern as ever, never giving an excuse nor taking one. I stand by her side, learning to wash my hands like ...

Poetry Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Poetry Letter from the Poetry Editor: Of Heroes, Poets, & Prophets Prayer for a Pandemic | Dina Greenberg These Hands Must Speak | Rebecca Ramsden Darnella | Michael Giorgio Washing Hands with Florence Nightingale | Pamela Cranston View out My Window | Catherine Klatzker Tribute to Henrietta Lacks | Jill Jennings Patience | Ermelinda Makkimane Get Angel Wing Tattoos Like It’s the Late 1990s | Stephanie Valente

Two Poems—Seth Grindstaff

Poetry Issue #4: Hope March 31st, 2020 March 31st, 2020 Two Poems by Seth Grindstaff Bookends My twelve-year-old cousin said Turtle Wax should do the trick when Poppy’s hair began to thin out after chemo, as if sixty-five years of all-natural, jet-black hair were enough. Delicate, it returned for our final visit, as if to offer a comfort that only a child is bold enough to reach for—a patch of lasting faith these hands, now grown, long to feel again. With the final ...