Poetry Corner Part 1

Poetry Corner 1

The Quest

Throughout history and literature there have been many famous quests Gawain for the Holy Grail Marco Polo for China Ahab for Moby Dick Frederick Douglass for Freedom Billy Pilgrim for Truth Chuck Yeager for the Speed of Sound Charlie Brown for Respect Neil Armstrong for the Moon

And, in 2021, my wife Barbara and I went on our own quest using modern technology the phone and Internet we travelled through: Manhattan The Bronx Westchester Putnam and all through New York State And on February 11th we were successful when the Moderna went into our arms.

Words by John F McMullen adjunct professor at Westchester Community College, a member of the American Academy of Poets and Poets & Writers, the author of over 2,500 columns and articles and 8 collections of poetry, and is the host of an Internet Radio Show (300 shows to date). www.johnmac13.com.

Post-Concussion

Clumsy, wavering shaky plod, stomach awry, head pounding, a sudden need to sleep. Worrying about another fall; unable to focus, read, write, uncertain when left alone.

Sleep is the blanket to my thought, a release from grief, pain, dizziness; my new lover. A loss of self all the more frightening as it comes and goes; my life drifts part into soft shatters.

By Kim Whysall-Hammond ern England. Her poetry has been published by Palewell Press, Wild Pressed Books, Marble Poetry, Total Eclipse, Ink, Sweat and Tears, telecommunications arcana, Kim believes, against all evidence, that

Clumsy, wavering shaky plod, stomach awry, head pounding, a sudden need to sleep. Worrying about another fall; unable to focus, read, write, uncertain when left alone.

Sleep is the blanket to my thought, a release from grief, pain, dizziness; my new lover. A loss of self all the more frightening as it comes and goes; my life drifts part into soft shatters.

By Kim Whysall-Hammond ern England. Her poetry has been published by Palewell Press, Wild Pressed Books, Marble Poetry, Total Eclipse, Ink, Sweat and Tears, telecommunications arcana, Kim believes, against all evidence, that website.

Fairytales?

As a kid, I didn’t believe in Prince Charming. Just seemed so unlikely that a King’s son’s kiss, following designated quest, could liberate Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White.

And though behind Dad’s back, he was lovingly referred to The Toad by his grandchildren, they didn’t link him to Kermit the Frog who in Grover’s hilarious retelling turned from Prince to amphibian after Sesame Street’s Maria plants a wet one right on their favorite Muppet’s lips. But now this mid-septuagenarian thought he’s possibly seen it all, hopes that some very noble biomedical researchers can come up with cause plus cure for post-COVID long-haulers’ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which haunts thousands

By Gerard Sarnat Gerard Sarnat won San Francisco Poetry’s 2020 Contest, the Poetry in the Arts First Place Award plus the Dorfman Prize, and has been nominated for handfuls of 2021 and previous Pushcarts plus Best of the Net Awards. Gerry is widely published in various presses. He’s authored the collections Homeless Chronicles (2010), Disputes (2012), 17s (2014), Melting the Ice King (2016). Gerry is a physician who’s built and staffed clinics for the marginalised as well as a Stanford professor and healthcare CEO. Currently he serves on Climate Action Now’s board. Gerry’s been married since 1969 with three kids plus six grandsons, and is looking forward to future granddaughters.