Diana Rosen

One man, aided and abetted by the archaic fear of being less than, chooses to rule uber allesespecially those darker, smarter, faster, more this or that. He starts a world war & almost wins. Peace seems to reign. Hope for equality, liberty, safety…

from Root Smoke

I was awakened by the rain sweetening the air clearing the heaviness of might have, should have, could have. It made me feel lighter like five, ten years ago when, despite the heavy workload every …

Sitting on the balcony of thiscentury-old apartmentstraining to view today’s sunsetall those pink and goldbrushstrokes hovering just beyondthe visual cacophonyof city lights, oh, wh…

it should     singe     leave an edge blackened  by fire   not destroyed not all    ash    its  beautiful, in...

That promise, made under the broiling heat of anger at all those incalculable losses, repeated like the mourner’s kaddish over decades (eight to be exact) … that promise has not been fulfilled. For, here we are, fighting those so fearf

Life’s in turmoil these days. We’re running out of resources, patience, hope. It’s not your fault, it’s ours. We don’t hold our truths to be self-evident, don’t uphold the rights of man, woman, other. We…

Poetry from Diana Rosen (Los Angeles, California) and J.M. Hall (Birmingham, Alabama)

Because every day someoneasks for a tissue, coin, cough drop,a safety pinbecause we could use some placeto hold our keys, the to-do list,the lone Xanaxbecause sometimes we’re…

The world is ridiculous, weird, difficult to understand: then, a rarity: a friend, flush with an unexpected inheritance, sends a poet an “arts grant” because she loves her work; an X-ray technician passes by a woman sitting with worry, & whispers, It…

Substitute Prom Date Gracing her closet for decades over many moves, a gossamer silk chiffon gown, its multiple linings caressing budding Rubenesque hips; shiny satin cummerbund, clasping her narrow waist, scaffolding the pleated bodice; coy, capped…

Running for the Bus in a Rainstorm You’re balancing the tote of groceries in one hand while holding an open umbrella, rushing for the bus, trying not to slip on the water rushing down this hilly sidewalk. An eccentric, effusive man bows, mumbles…