MIKE DILLON
Autumnal
Chopping wood
to the deckled chorus
of the crows
two days after
the first few salmon
thrashed the creek
I want (yet again)
to lay down my axe
and walk away
just walk away
in the way
I never do.
Gathering Storm
The horses are restless, he says.
I’m not sure why.
They feel the storm building on the other side
of the mountain, she says.
How do you know?
You mean you don’t? she asks back.
She approaches the corral.
The four horses turn
their anvil foreheads to face her.
And drop dead-still as monoliths.
As the first plop of rain
pocks the dust at his feet.
Mike Dillon lives in a small town on Puget Sound northwest of Seattle, from where he writes essays and poetry. His most recent book is Nocturne: New and Selected Poems, from Unsolicited Press (2024). https://www.unsolicitedpress.com/shop/p/nocturnepoems
Unfortunately I have just spent the last seven days in hospital
after an injury, and haven't been able to process the September issue and will have to move it back to October. Sorry about this. I may not respond to your emails in the usual time as I am on strong meds.
It's not easy getting a book or pamphlet accepted for review these days. So in addition to the regular review section, the One Poem Review feature will allow more poets' to reach a wider audience - one poem featured from a new book/pamphlet along with a cover JPG and a link to the publisher's website. Contact the editor if you have released a book/pamphlet in the last twelve months or expect to have one published. Details here
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