7 - Advance #NaPoWriMo Day 7 and today I’ve been writing a sonnet inspired by the prompt “JD Vance Learns in Real Time Trump Left Him Out of Iran Attack Plans”. This one will also get sent to the weekly Rattle: Poets Respond challenge, because hope springs eternal, and why not get another twofer in there? (And if you fancy learning how to write your own sonnet, why not come to one of my workshops on exactly how to do that?) Remember that, if you’re a subscriber to my Patreon, you can hear a recording of this piece (and the six preceding it) there. The link to the relevant post is here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/advance-155057788 --- Exposed, you send a memo to yourself, as, in full view, you’re ridiculed, alone. They ask why you’ve been left up on the shelf – it’s something you can’t see; you must be shown. You’re never more than one nudge from the drop; when elevated, check your footing’s fast, or else you’ll end up head-deep in the slop that’s everywhere – how long can this thing last? A while ago, you chanced upon a show that demonstrated toxic benthic vents, and even though it poisoned all below, the best-adapted worms thrived on the scents of threats to normal ways of backboned life. Your mission? Stay afloat on hot-aired strife. --- The Yeti crab (Kiwa hirsuta), discovered at a depth of 2,300 meters on a hydrothermal vent of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge; photo by Alexis Fifis, via Wikipedia Because that’s how these things go, subsequent to writing this, I got lost in a maze of trying to find pictures of hydrothermal vents (and/ or their creatures) and now I know a bit more than I bargained for…

Latest piece: 7 - Advance: #NaPoWriMo Day 7 and today I’ve been writing a sonnet inspired by the prompt “JD Vance Learns in Real Time Trump Left Him Out of Iran Attack Plans”. This one will also get sent to the weekly Rattle: Poets Respond challenge, because… #news #poetsrespond #rattle #sonnet

Nos Ipsos Servamus I’ve been writing a lot more lately, and submitting pieces to different places. One of the places I’ve started submitting to is the Rattle “Poets Respond” – a weekly call to write something topical, inspired by the news. Since these are going to go out of date very quickly, I’ve decided that, when they’re rejected, they’ll get posted on my Patreon (and, a few days later, here). I’ve been ill again recently, so only properly clocked the time with a couple of hours to spare before the deadline for this… On Monday, I was all set to talk scathingly about entertainment news and then… over the last few days several famous people died who had hoards of devoted fans and some terrible views and actions to their names (as well as the less celebrated who appear thoroughly blameless, even worthy). We keep being told not to speak ill of especially the freshly dead, but, even when it’s family or friends, I’ve always found it difficult not to look at every aspect of who they were, the full layers of their legacy. In the UK, it took nearly a year after his death for people to be allowed to reveal the full monstrosity of Jimmy Savile, and I think that fetishisation of celebrities for whom we develop parasocial feelings is still very much a problem. Nos Ipsos Servamus translates roughly as “we save ourselves”, and the poem is in the form of a rondo redoublé. --- In solemn tones we mark them: blessèd souls; the ones who go before us, bear the tales, while we, in turn, must choose to shoulder roles until it’s time for us to test the scales. But God forbid that on the night they sail we dare to run adrift on bitter shoals. (We must not speak aloud of any ‘fails’!) In solemn tones we mark them: blessèd souls. Bring down the flags, so they divide the poles, and let the heavens ring with sacred wails, as, in our hearts, we guard the tight-bound scrolls: the ones who went before us bear the tales… But later? Well, now common sense prevails, permitting heels to turn and check the soles of those departed (now it won’t hurt sales…) while we, in turn, must choose to shoulder roles. To pass the test of time? a solid goal. It’s best to keep the buck and carry pails of our own crap and pay the debts we owe until it’s time for us to test the scales. Entitlement talks loudly, posts the bails for those who live above us foolish proles. The ones who fight to tell their honest tales? Now they’re the folks to whom we owe our souls. In solemn tones we mark them. --- If you fancy having a go at writing one of these Rondeaux Redoublé yourself, why not try my handy-dandy tool here? Let me know how you get on! Transfer of ashes of Voltaire to the Pantheon (1791) via Wikipedia The words under the title of the picture read: “Il est digne de recevoir les honneurs décernée aux grands hommes. La Cérémonie du Triomphe de Voltaire a eu lieu le Lundi 11 Juillet 1791. Cet hommage rendu aux talents d’un grand Homme, a l’Autour de la Henriade.” which translates to “He is worthy of receiving the honors bestowed upon great men. The Ceremony of Voltaire’s Triumph took place on Monday, July 11, 1791. This tribute was paid to the talents of a great man, the author of the Henriade.”

New poem: Nos Ipsos Servamus: I’ve been writing a lot more lately, and submitting pieces to different places. One of the places I’ve started submitting to is the Rattle “Poets Respond” – a weekly call to write something topical, inspired by the… #cultofcelebrity #death #news #poetsrespond #rattle

Physician, Heal Thyself... I’ve been writing a lot more lately, and submitting pieces to different places. One of the places I’ve started submitting to is the Rattle “Poets Respond” – a weekly call to write something topical, inspired by the news. Since these are going to go out of date very quickly, I’ve decided that, when they’re rejected, they’ll get posted on my Patreon (and, a few days later, here). Too depressed to write about the ongoing Are We All Gonna Die This Month? situation this week, I’ve been looking in the less front-page articles, and was struck by one entitled “AI advised someone to stick garlic where the sun don’t shine”. The article is actually more wide-ranging, more alarming, and more clinical than the headline suggests, but the initial premise triggered this two-part triolet, tongue tucked firmly in cheek: --- I can’t believe that, in this day and age, we must debunk this kind of wild advice… Sure, I’m no kind of therapeutic sage, but I can’t believe that, in this day and age, you would assume a robot is a mage! (though I won’t judge, in case that’s just a vice) I can’t believe that, in this day and age, we must unkink this kind of wild advice. Its sources are the loudest shouts around; the best you can expect: an eggy face. These tropes are fundamentally unsound: its sources are the loudest shouts around. (Please don’t wedge garlic somewhere so profound!) I wonder at the runners in this race... Their sources are the loudest shouts around – the best you can expect: an eggy face. --- If you'd like to have a go at writing your own triolet, you can get support from my totally handcrafted, no-ai-involved spreadsheet for repeating and concrete forms. Have fun! Picture of garlic courtesy of picryl.com

New poem: Physician, Heal Thyself...: I’ve been writing a lot more lately, and submitting pieces to different places. One of the places I’ve started submitting to is the Rattle “Poets Respond” – a weekly call to write something topical, inspired… #genai #healthandsafety #news #poetsrespond #rattle

Letter Written to Pam Bondi by Julia B. Levine - Rattle: Poetry Can we agree that your body is the kind that knows how it hurts to be broken?   A man […]

This poem in Rattle will break your heart & fill it with outrage & sorrow & yet with courage for tomorrow & what this fascist regime will bring. We will keep demanding justice!!! Make sure you read the poet’s statement at the bottom of the poem.

#poetsofbluesky #poem #Poetsrespond #Epsteinvictims

Eww goopy lmao, nice piece, also that #poetsrespond hashtag is quite clever!

And my brain matter
Is now on the floor,
A ceramic lather
Like a brain cake batter.

#poetsrespond #poetry

Poem-a-Day Poem-a-Day is the original and only daily digital poetry series featuring over 250 new, previousl

My poem "To Bear the Right" is the Poem of the Day on poets.org/poem-a-day @nerudap.bsky.social @maithreyikarnoor.bsky.social @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social #poets.org #poemaday #poetsrespond @rattlepoetry.bsky.social

“March 9th, Dusk” by Catherine Pond Catherine Pond MARCH 9TH, DUSK I wear my loneliness light...

“March 9th, Dusk” by Catherine Pond | http://ow.ly/ZxRyX @cattyshackb via @RattleMag #PoetsRespond