The Last One On The Island

Miss Sopa

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Sopa Abraham Botswana Jonson

b. 1907

She knows the best clay to eat

is through woods by the shore.

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Slick on her tongue, blue-gray,

smooth, it rumbles like thunder

between her time tough teeth.

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She names the wild horses

that eat grass by her shack–

loves them like her people

who are all dead now.

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She’s the last one left

on Grandmother Island,

the last one to smell sweet

magnolia rotting on the path.

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The last one to weave baskets,

laugh, tell ghost stories, scrub

her clothes on a washboard.

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She feels the spirits of kin

sway in mossy live oaks.

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But her eyes are too old

to see bright lights grow

on the deep pink horizon.

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She does not know the high

market price of her heritage.

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She cannot hear real estate

snakes slither on the edges

of her quiet island, waiting.

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Julie Buffaloe-Yoder

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Miss Sopa was originally published in Plain Spoke

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For another Miss Sopa poem, click HERE.

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To read some background about the great lady who inspired Miss Sopa, click HERE.

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Why You Should Always Tip The Waitresses At Dodie’s Diner

Inheritance

Julie Buffaloe-Yoder

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Every morning, for thirty years,

she comes into Dodie’s Diner

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and tells the same story

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to the tired-eyed waitresses

who bring her free refills

of cheap, black coffee.

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On and on the story goes

about a father who died

with cirrhosis of the liver

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in that dumpy house

across the alley

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and a sister who took

the lion’s share

of the inheritance:

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a silver mirror,

a four poster bed,

some china,

a chiffarobe.

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Every year, her hair gets grayer

and she adds layers to the tale,

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buffs it, shellacs and shines

that grudge until it has grown

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into a living, breathing beast

she keeps on a leash to trot

into the diner at six a.m.

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Now to hear her tell it,

the house was a palace,

her sister, a witch,

her old man was a prince

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and she’s a Cinderella

whose pumpkin got squashed.

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She won’t leave a tip.

She’ll just ride that nag

into the dust, for hours,

steam rising up

around her lips,

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the ghost of stale, bitter

coffee on her tongue.

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Then she’ll stop talking

and stare

at the empty pack

of Lucky Strikes on the table,

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her jaw locked like a pit bull’s,

her knuckles white from gripping

the chipped handle of a mug

for so long.

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GOOD READS

If you come here and read more than two words, you’re probably a lover of poetry and fiction.  You’ve hit the jackpot this week.

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Here are a few good reads (in no particular order).  I hate to put them all on one post, because they deserve much more attention.  But if I wait until I have time to do them all justice, a year might roll by.

Some are just coming out.  Some I meant to shout out ages ago.  They’re all good.

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….Poiesis #4:   I just ordered a copy.  Woot!

Poiesis #4 is a poetry chapbook (compilation of various authors), edited by leah angstman of Propaganda Press.  I’m not going to wait to read it before I recommend it, because everything leah does is awesome.  I know it is good.  And it’s only four bucks plus shipping!

You can get all of the details about Poiesis #4 and easy ordering  HERE.

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…No One Gains Weight In The Shoulders

by leah angstman. Propaganda Press.

 

 

 

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…Some Misplaced Joan Of Arc by leah angstman

Propaganda Press

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Yes, leah is an excellent poet, too.  I love her voice and her style.  Some Misplaced Joan Of Arc blew me out of my seat.  It is one of my favorite chaps of all time.  But I love both of these poetry chaps.

Propaganda Press titles are affordable, which is one of the reasons I’m a big fan.  But the MAIN reason I’m a fan is that they are good.

Order No One Gains Weight In The Shoulders HERE.

Order Some Misplaced Joan of Arc HERE.

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…The Map of Our Garden by Rebecca Schumejda.

Verve Bath Press.

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……Falling Forward by Rebecca Schumejda.

Sunnyoutside Press.

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The Map Of Our Garden is fantastic–and probably one of the most physically beautiful chapbooks I’ve ever seen.  It even comes with a bookmark in a pocket on the inside back cover.  It’s obvious the editor takes great care with what she presents.

I do love it.  But I wouldn’t mind if Rebecca’s words were written on a paper bag.  She is an amazing poet.  The beautiful presentation just makes it that much more of a pleasure. 

Falling Forward is equally as beautiful.  The poetry is excellent.  I plan on coming back to tell you more about both of these books.  But why wait for me?

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Order The Map Of Our Garden HERE.  Scroll down and take a look at the images of the chap.

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Order Falling Forward HERE.

Take a look at some reviews and information about Falling Forward HERE.

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And read a great review of Falling Forward at

Open A Real Book Reviews.

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You can also see more of Rebecca’s books at her site.   The next must buy on my list is Dream Big, Work Harder.  I love that title!

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Male, Pale and Old:  16 Outstanding Men of the Small Press.

Edited by Jenifer Wills of Literary Mary, this online journal is exactly what it says.  Outstanding.  Powerful work.  And it’s free to read by clicking HERE.  What more do you want?  Great work that’s free!

Be sure to read it all.  And read Jenifer’s introduction, which explains how she came up with the name for the zine.  It’s right on.

I love the cover, too.  The desk sort of looks like mine, but it’s a lot neater than mine is.

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….Blood & Irony by Joaquin Carvel.

Available at LuLu

Joaquin is one of my blog friends and is an awesome writer (both poetry and fiction).  Joaquin has heart and soul.  I dig that.  I love Joaquin’s voice and stories.  We are on opposite ends of the country, but Joaquin feels like kin.

You can order Blood and Irony by clicking HERE.

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You can also read more of Joaquin’s work at Lyrics and Maladies.

Joaquin also has a poem recently published at The Smoking Poet.

And another excellent poem at Deuce Coupe.   Coffee Machine is one of my all-time favorite Joaquin Carvel poems.  Go read it now.  You’ll see what I mean.

And be sure to check out Blood & Irony.

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………..OUT ON A LIMB by Ed Galing

Propaganda Press

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…………..DINER by Ed Galing

Propaganda Press

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Have you ever read a poet’s work and felt as if you would really like that poet as a person?  I don’t know Ed Galing, but I wish I did.  He’s open and honest, and his words always stop me in my tracks.

Ed Galing has been through many things (born in 1917), and his poems tell it all.  I love his work.

Order OUT ON A LIMB HERE.

Order DINER HERE.

OUT ON A LIMB and DINER are also Propaganda Press chaps, and you can find more of Ed Galing’s books in the catalog.

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Now Might As Well Be Then

by Glenda Council Beall

Finishing Line Press

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Glenda Council Beall is one of North Carolina’s finest poets.  I know that’s a big statement to make, but it is true.  She doesn’t waste a word, and her poems are pure music.  Glenda’s poetry touches my soul.

But you don’t have to be a Southern writer or poet to enjoy Glenda’s work.  It reaches across all geographic boundaries and paints a picture of humanity.

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You can read more of Glenda’s work at Writing Life Stories.   Scroll down to Glenda’s October 6, 2010 post and read the poem Tomato Man.  You’ll see why that’s one of my favorites. 

Tomato Man was the winner of the 1997 Clay County Arts Poetry Contest.  It is also included in Now Might As Well Be Then.

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You can also read more about Glenda and read her poem Miracle of Love at Scott Owens’ Musings.  I love how he calls Glenda a “MVP” or “Most Valuable Poet.”   It’s so true!

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Order Now Might As Well Be Then HERE.

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Adopted Behaviors:

Flash Memoir, Short Stories & Flash Fiction by James R. Tomlinson

Motor City Burning Press.

James is another one of my blog friends, and I know him as JR of  JR’s Thumbprints.  Now, before you go thinking I just shout out people because I know them from my blog…take a look at his site.

James Tomlinson works as a teacher in a Michigan prison.  He sees more in one day than many people see in a lifetime.  Week after week, I wonder how he does it.

His words are powerful.  James Tomlinson is one of the best flash fiction writers I have ever read.

And the book is only four bucks!  Motor City Burning Press does a great job of bringing us good reads at low prices.

HERE is one of James’ recent stories at Staccato.

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The first story in Adopted Behaviors is posted at Sleet Magazine.   It is called The Trigger Man and His Accomplice, and you can read it HERE.

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You can also read more by checking out his site.  Click on his link and look on the right sidebar for places where his work has been published.

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Anything Kell Robertson has ever written.  Okay, I just had to mention Kell Robertson again.  You knew I would didn’t you?  He’s the greatest.

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Speaking of Kell, check this out.  Yep, it’s him.  Cool and Dark Inside is his song.  I have the CD, and it’s awesome.   I don’t know who Bob is, but I love him for making this video.  It’ll probably look weird here, because I don’t know what I’m doing.  But take a listen if you can.

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There are many more books I want to tell you about.  But there’s just so much my squeaky wheel can do in a free hour.  I’ll try to be better in the future.

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Be sure to bookmark the links.  I highly recommend it all.

Thanks for reading!

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