M Christine Delea's Blog, page 51

Rain for Days by Diane Holland

Rain for Days by Diane Holland

published in Crab Orchard Review

And the sky closed, but now the TV weatherradar screen shows the few last showers,here and there pale green, red at the core

with downpour. Suddenly the screenis awash in deep green, what appearsa deluge, a flood. Pay no attention—

it's just the migrating birds! Just the birds?How many must there be, streaming outof the north on their urgent, necessary way,

revealed by an instant pulse of energysent out where our eyes...

Gaudy by Cassy Dorff

Gaudy

by Cassy Dorff

published in Rust+Moth, Winter 2021

The bird book called him America’s most

gaudy bird. Some said the king cakes

in New Orleans were gaudy

and the Mardi Gras beads too,

gold, green, and purple inelegance

thrown from floats in the parade. Now

in central Texas, I look for this

bird in the Lost Pine Forest

wondering if he will be gaudy,

like the brassy god inside me

and the twinkling drag queens

who introduced me to the next world.

I want the sight of this bird to cut

my ...

May Day: Poetry Prompt

Today is May Day, and there is a lot to unpack with this holiday.

First, it is often celebrated as the unofficial start of spring. Festivities can include making garlands, wreaths, and crowns from vines, branches, and flowers; dancing around a May Pole while wrapping it in ribbon; and making and giving flower bouquets.

May Day is also the International Workers' Day. This celebration honors workers (especially blue and pink collar), their contributions to societies worldwide, and the Labor Move...