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My poem “Where Would We Go?” was nominated for a Spillwords Press Award.

I was notified last night that my poem “Where Would We Go?” was nominated for a Spillwords Press Publication of the Month Award for June.  I am just thrilled with the distinction; thanks so much to those of you who’ve supported this piece already.

“Where Would We Go?” was published for the first time at Spillwords Press on June 13  — you can find it right here.   I’d be flattered, of course, if you liked the poem enough to vote in its favor.  You’d need to register as a user first with the Spillwords Press website, but that’s quick and easy enough.  Here’s where to vote.

I hope you all had a great weekend!



Poster for “The Handmaid’s Tale” Season 1 (2017)

Hulu.

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“Epigram,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Sir, I admit your general rule,
That every poet is a fool,
But you yourself may serve to show it,
That every fool is not a poet.



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Do these five things.

Read.
Think.
Learn.
Question authority.
Question the consensus of your peer group.


Anyone who does NOT want you to do these things is not acting in your best interest.



Norfolk Southern train seen from Norfolk Avenue SE

Roanoke, VA, June 2022.

Heading east.  Overhead is the Market Street Walkway.

As always, I apologize here for the shaky-cam. I was especially discombobulated after running to get the shot. It even exceeded my daily baseline of dysfunctional discombobulation.

Cover to “House of Secrets” #154, Mike Kaluta, 1978

DC Comics.

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Sign for defunct “1 Hour Cleaning” on Campbell Avenue, Roanoke, VA

June 2022.

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Cover to “Flashpoint: Reverse Flash” #1, Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes, 2011

DC Comics.

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Market Square and Market Street, Roanoke, VA, June 2022

I passed a neat milestone today.  With my letter in The Richmond Times-Dispatch, I’ve now seen my writing appear in 50 periodicals (in addition to standalone publications like anthologies and such).  I started waaaaaay back in 1996 or so with my first job as a reporter for the Culpeper Star-Exponent.

This arrives just a bit ahead of my 50th birthday, too — so I celebrated with a strawberry lemonade in Market Square.



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“Feldblumen,” Odilon Redon, circa 1905

Oil on canvas.

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