A Collection of Poems: Ethical ELA February 2021

Every month I try to participate in Dr. Sarah Donovan's Open Write hosted on EthicalELA.  Despite getting wonderful feedback for this writing, I never thought to collect it in one place until now.  Since this blog will be dedicated towards my writing -- especially of the poetry and narrative nonfiction variety -- I thought it best to start things off with my poetry from this month's Open Write.  

While I did not post every day, I have collected for you the two poems I did share, as well as links to the original invitation so that there is some context for what I have written here.

Sonnets (Don't Run Away)

The Ace’s Valentine Sonnet
I always hated that English has one word for love.
How do I capture the differences?
A love that varies in scope, scale, and even texture:
From the tiny, hard seed tucked away to the hearty, warm bowl of soup.

I always hated that Valentine’s was for couples.
What happened to passing cards through card board slits?
My love expressed on chalky hearts and candied puns.
From your best friend or from your mom, spilled out and sorted later.

But this is what it means to be Ace on Valentine’s Day.
A quest to reclaim a holiday for all expressions of love —
A love not limited by sexual attraction and romantic entanglements,
From red and white to purple and black.

I am not your normal Valentine, but I am still valid.
I will not deny my asexuality any longer.

Let's Meet Somewhere (Diction)

When Asked Where to Meet Next 
Let’s meet somewhere
below the gentle shade of giant
tomato stalks and zucchini vines
the dirt cool on our backs as the sun bursts overhead.

Let’s meet somewhere
along the crooked cliffs of the creek
chalk lines drawn before a storm
on the precipice of childhood.

Let’s meet somewhere
among the black-green weeds
of twilight farms giving way
to fireflies or stars we captured in glass.

Let’s meet somewhere
that slips between our toes
filling cracks unnoticed and unseen
a heart warmed like two hands around your favorite mug

Let’s meet somewhere
between the playground woods we explored
and the backyard wilderness we dismissed
that time between early snow days and midsummer nights.

Let’s meet somewhere
under your next dream or perhaps
behind the gap in my memory
as long as it’s sometime before soon.

 Alternate Names (a List)

Alternate Names for a Writer
1. that peach pit anchored between your heart and gut
2. a pen twirled restlessly between chewed nails
3. scratch, scratch, scratch to find the words, words, words
4. a pillow behind the back, easy now
5. the spider pulling threads at the center — to create and catch
6. eyes bright reflecting flickering candles
7. cracked fingers, cracked spine, release