poetrywatch

“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” — John F. Kennedy

Boris Scahleinkofer, poetrywatch editor

Poetry has a voice in our community, and the Whatcom Watch is adding to its chorus. You all love poetry, right? Well, here you go!

Subject matter is unlimited, but poetry featuring or specific to Whatcom County and issues addressed by Whatcom Watch (government, the environment and media) will likely get first preference.

Let’s try to keep it to around 25 lines; otherwise, we might have to edit your work to fit. Don’t make yourself unprintable!

Send poems and your short, two- or three-sentence bios as a word document attachment to poetry@whatcomwatch.org.

The deadline is the first day of the month.

Please understand that acceptance and final appearance of pieces are subject to space constraints and editorial requirements. By submitting, authors give Whatcom Watch express permission for first-time publication rights in paper and electronic editions of current or future volumes of Whatcom Watch.

Raven Black

by Sally Hewitt

Under the forest canopy, raven rested
Black sheen reflecting on the cedar trunk
Corvid enveloped by green understory
Eyes darting warily, survival strategies
Collecting courage for the next foray
Not quiet, his coarse voice resonated
Like a bold billows on the nearby river
Sending shivers down the spines of prey
A beacon call for the perching eagle
Higher on the food chain, recalcitrant
Hesitant, comfortable at rest at last
Not willing to be harassed by raven
Bald eagle flies away, out of sight
Raven’s reputation deters other outliers
Until the forest stuns with utter quiet

Sally Hewitt who has degrees in English literature from the University of Washington and art from WWU, edited Whatcom Watch for nine years. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in literary magazines, and her book of poems, “Confetti Wind,” was recently published by RWG Press.

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News From the ‘Home’

by Bob Markey

Carl and wife Sharol joined our “Home’s” bowling
team months ago … not real bowling, it’s a TV
game … we make bowling-like throwing motions,
remote in hand with buttons to push, sending the on-
screen ball careening down-alley toward pins.

I’m guessing Carl’s in his nineties, once was an
accomplished bowler … she was not, but with him
coaching, she became one of our better bowlers!
Carl has two pairs of eye­glasses … his small
binoculars for close work. He’s legally blind, can
barely see the large screen TV, but manages … and
his game is improving!

I talked to the “Home’s” boss lady … said that ninety-
year-old bowlers are the stuff most newspaper’s love
to write about … and if they’re blind too, well …
WOW! She agreed, will contact our Weekly’s editor.

I suggested she should talk to Carl first.
Unlike a paranoid, neophyte pol currently
cluttering up our airwaves, some of us do not
thrive on personal publicity bingeing!

Bob Markey delivered Whatcom Watch newspapers in Bellingham for over 12 years. He has moved to Enumclaw to be near his children.