Plain Spoke

My poem, Miss Sopa, is in the December issue of Plain Spoke.  It’s not the same Sopa poem that appears on this blog, but it is inspired by the same woman.

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Plain Spoke is edited by Cindy M. Kelly and comes to us from Amsterdam Press in Ohio.  I love all of their work and have been introduced to many poets and writers through their pages.

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This awesome cover photo, Step Right Up, is by Christopher Woods.

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The featured poet in this issue is Marty Walsh.  His poems are excellent, and I am particularly fond of his poem, Ghost Town.

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Marty Walsh lives in Winterport, Maine, and his work has appeared in many journals and reviews.  His book, Furniture Out in the Woods, is out of print, but I am determined to find a copy when payday comes, because I dig his style.  If you have known me for more than five minutes, you’ll know that I would think Furniture Out in the Woods is the coolest title in the world.  He is currently working on a second book of poetry, and I’ll keep my eyes open for that one, too.

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You can order this issue of Plain Spoke HERE.   You can also order past issues and other books by Amsterdam Press by clicking on the right hand side under “seller’s other items”…or just click HERE.  In addition to Plain Spoke, there are excellent books at Amsterdam Press.

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There’s also a great review about the spring 2009 issue of Plain Spoke at Newpages.com.  You can read it HERE.

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Of course, I enjoyed it all.  Every issue of Plain Spoke is a pleasure to read.  Many thanks to Cindy M. Kelly for including my poem in this one.

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Eighteen Months Later

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Julie Buffaloe-Yoder

Those memories

are triggered

by small things.

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The smell of cloves

at the grocery store.

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A dented can of peaches.

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The way the bag boy

lifts one dark eyebrow

when he asks if you want

paper or plastic.

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Just when you think

you can walk home

without thinking,

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a screen door slams

in the distance.

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You smell burnt fish

in the hallway.

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You drink a cup of tea.

A soul rises in steam

around your lips

then goes cold,

disappears.

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You sit in the dark,

grip the handle

of a cracked blue mug

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the lingering taste

of honey

on your tongue.

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Art Coelho

Art Coelho is one of my favorite poets.  I love all of his work, including his fiction and art.  So you can imagine how happy I was to see that some of his work is highlighted at Irene Maria F. Blayer and Lélia Pereira Nunes’ Comunidades.  It is a beautiful site.

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Art Coelho’s poem, Like A Good Unknown Poet, is posted at Comunidades.  Like A Good Unknown Poet received the Pushcart Prize in 1976.  It’s one of those poems that will never leave me.  It reaches down into my soul and holds on hard.  It makes me want to howl at the moon.  It does everything a poem should do.

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You can read Like A Good Unknown Poet by Art Coelho at Comunidades by clicking HERE.

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Another must read is one of Art’s newer poems, Azorean Immigrant Rites of Passage.  You can read it on Comunidades and see his artwork by clicking HERE.   The poem is amazing, as is the picture.

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Art also has some very interesting posts on Comunidades about his brother, Michael Lynn Coelho, who was known as Badger Stone.  Badger was an artist, song writer and folk singer who touched the lives of all the people he met.  I wish I had known Badger, but just reading about him makes me feel like I have met him.

The tribute Art has written to Badger is excellent.  It is in four parts called Hard Road To Freedom.  You can read all four Badger posts by clicking HERE HERE , HERE and HERE.

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Art Coelho’s art website is HERE.  Take a look at his beautiful prints.  To purchase a print or if you have any questions, Art can be reached at artcoelho@cablemt.net.

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Be sure to bookmark Comunidades to see all of the future posts.   A big tip of the hat to Art Coelho for his excellent work.  He doesn’t do it for “recognition” or fame, because he is a true poet and artist.  But I like to give credit where it is due.  His work has taught me many things.

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Southern Women’s Review

My poem, Pentecostal Girls, has been published in the January issue of Southern Women’s Review.  Edited by Alicia K. Clavell, SWR is full of beautiful poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and photography.  I’m very pleased to be included with such fine poets, writers and artists.

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Layout of a journal is one of the things that always catches my eye.  In my opinion, the way work is presented is a testament to the love and commitment the creators of a journal have for the work involved.  Southern Women’s Review is gorgeous.  I love that cover!

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The next submission period for Southern Women’s Review will begin on March 1.

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You can read my poem HERE.  Look on the right side of the screen for the files.  I’m on pages 14 and 15.  But please stay to read it all.  Check out their premiere issue, too.   The work is excellent.

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As always, thanks for reading!

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