Poet's Ink Review

January 2007

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Ink Stain

Dangerous classes swell
consuming the fibers of a map
that keys the obliterated text
with the religions of poor people.

J. R. Salling

J. R. is a antiquarian bookseller specializing in the history of science and medicine. His writings have appeared in a number of pubications, including Pindeldyboz, Flashquake, Eyeshot, Thieves Jargon, Mad Hatters' Review, and Rose & Thorn.

 

What Song We Hear, What Peace

Angels are a light to the eye,
offering clarity in the night,
bringing joy in message and presence
of the morning through the day;
of this season again what song, what peace~
Mary who says yes to the Lord.

Was it dark, the darkness
of the hidden life, among the secrets
of the darkness of night,
when Mary said yes to the Lord?

It seemed she was so alone,
young, but a girl. Innocent.
In the darkness of the world,
in the time of man's darkness
for lack of God. Turning away
from Him, lost in man's history.

When Mary said yes to the Lord,
the Angel brough light, to Mary,
to mankind in a darkness of faith,
adrift in the history of man's making.

When Mary said yes to the Lord.

Peter Menkin

Peter is an Oblate in the Episcopal Church. His work has been published in a number of literary journals, including Ceremony, The Shepherd, and Westward Quarterly.

The pond in winter~
swarms of birds cover the ice,
desperate for food.

Christine Bruness

Christine is a published author and artist. She is a lover of cats, a believer in the infinite power of nature, and recognizes the great potential of dreams and imagination. She believes that peace and compassion are the keys to a society's true success.

different denials

the gathering
seemed far less
personal t han previous
years, everyone
swallowing smoke
and useless expressions.

forced by the weight
of her cross, she bled
uncontrollably once the
walls thinned, unable
to define her religion
even when given
the freedome to do so.

he sat outside of earshot
straining not to believe
that time was ending-
even as he watched
the stars bleed.

and even when she came
to him in darkness,
he forewent depth
for the surface sky,
stretching up his aged arms,
futilely bracing against
its imminent descent.

Dawn M. DiBartolo

Dawn lives in Sacramento, California with her three children. She has been writing all her life, and has previously published a collection of her poetry entitled Love and Other Eternities, which is available at http://www.publishamerica.com/orderinginfo.htm.

A Winter Night's Sleep

As winter shows its deary tongue
My words are frozen from within
Unbearable are these speechless eyes
With you away and illness poking at my health
I duck my head
Listless and unmotivated
I am welcomed by my cozy bed
Since your memories check my sleep
I call you to say good night and
You sleep in peace
Though my sleep is done for due to joy

Ernest Dempsey

Ernest's book of humorous short stories, The Biting Age, is now available from Amazon.com. He is currently working on his first novel.

Marks on a Wall

I recall
growth marks
marching up the wall
at some point
they became
insignificant.

I have never seen
pencil marks
plunge down the wall
too soon
they become
way too
significant.

Genevieve Harten Borleis

Genevieve pays her bills by working as a computer programmer. Three years ago she wrote a poem for her mother's eulogy, and it was received so warmly that she's been writing ever since.