Rock Song – Vino y Sangre – Marcy Erb

The Family Dinner Party

Where the man
at the top of the stairs,
the butcher of our tiny land
came from, nobody will say.

Every family has one.
We gather together,
blood running down
the wooden steps

Continue reading “Rock Song – Vino y Sangre – Marcy Erb”

Rock Song – Vino Y Sangre II – JG

To Wash Away The Memory

Cut in a way,
A blade never will,
Shallow and deep,
But blood wasn’t spilt.
More subtle, more fine,
Complex and in my mind’s eye:
Divine.
These wounds taste like wine. Continue reading “Rock Song – Vino Y Sangre II – JG”

Rock Song – Vino Y Sangre – JG

By Your Thirst

Spilt scarlet,
Alarming, disarming,
Screams of ‘Harlot
Shattered glass –
Tasked with the act
Of post-row cleanup.
Is it blood
Or is it wine? Continue reading “Rock Song – Vino Y Sangre – JG”

January’s Theme: Vino y Sangre

Wine is traditionally symbolic of socially constructed things: celebrations and ceremonies, class and culture, elegance in communication and conversation. It’s an art with finesse and attention to detail, and when done right, holds complexity and character in every sip. Wine is classic.

Blood, meanwhile, is all about power. It rushes and demands all of its own volition; there is nothing made but what it makes. It’s aggression and passion and force and instinct and it pushes you to work its will. It’s all emotion and best felt when its owner is out of control. Blood is fierce. Continue reading “January’s Theme: Vino y Sangre”

Villanelle – December Theme – Marcy Erb

Mud and Gold 

Mud in California is a brindled and feral beast
No mythical runny bog, but a good thick paste
Sticky thick with gold, yes, sir! They say easy street

Continue reading “Villanelle – December Theme – Marcy Erb”

Villanelle – Mud-Stained Boots – SD

“The Runaway”

Soulful eyes gaze, and through the wild you’ve roamed
In the snowy mountains, sheltered in the night.
What is it that you sought, once lost, once alone? Continue reading “Villanelle – Mud-Stained Boots – SD”

December’s Theme: Tracking Mud through the House

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving/weekend. I spent much of my long weekend in the mountains, where we had temperatures from bitter cold to chilly-but-nice. That’s the Appalachians for you. My mini vacation gave me some inspiration for our next monthly theme, but we’ll get to that.

November featured our regular contributors again, with a galumphing theme which carried the symbolic depth I had hoped it would. Continue reading “December’s Theme: Tracking Mud through the House”

Free Verse – Soldier, Lake, Glass – JG

Reflections

Enthralled in the gaze of the hypnotic lake,
Vivid blue, for you, only, do I gladly forsake,
All others and all else; let the depth my will take. Continue reading “Free Verse – Soldier, Lake, Glass – JG”