.

.

painting by James Brewer

.

.

 

Stella In The Starlight

Stella sticks her toes in the grass
and she don’t know the impact—
the moonlight bending on the bowing blades of grass
casting long shadows like tracks
I follow her, relaxed.

Stella don’t know her impact.

She lifts the cup to her lips to drink
and sets it tender on the forest floor—
shadow roses bloom underneath
I take one and smell one and it smells like
hot caramel on a skillet in the softest of winter blues.

Stella don’t know her own tact.

When she walks she makes the wind
that blows the snow dust from the trees
to swirl around like cotton
in the springtime.
The night is an electric blanket

with Stella in the starlight.

.

by Josie Rozell

.

___

.

At Last
…………..(sung by Etta James)

She moves through phases,
tags behind
his earthly shadow.

He leaves by daylight—
follows his orbit
outside her door.

Inside her head,
anticipation still spins.

She’s in love,
waited too long
for him to come.

The blues
bring on her winter’s night,
sways to the rhythm
of a hot summer’s eve.

In the shower,
his evidence
dances down the drain.

He’ll leave
by daybreak.

Should she ask him to stay?

Her crescent smile waxes.

.

by Patricia Carragon

.

.

___

.

.

Josie Rozell writes to the long-notes of Nina & Billie and laces the stanzas with a little Miles Davis. She lives in Hawaii where she plays jazz mandolin.  Her first collection of poetry, Articulated Soul, is now available. More of her work can be found at www.thehydrogenjukebox.com, and she can be reached at [email protected]

.

.

___

.

.

Patricia Carragon’s poem “Paris the Beautiful” won Poem of the Week from great weather for MEDIA. Her fiction piece “What Has to Happen Next” is nominated for Sundress Publications Annual Best of the Net Anthology. Her latest book from Poets Wear Prada is Meowku. Her debut novel, Angel Fire, was just released by Alien Buddha Press. Patricia hosts Brownstone Poets and is the editor-in-chief of its annual anthology. She lives in Brooklyn, NY. She can be reached via email at [email protected]

.

.

.

___

.

.

The artist James Brewer works in oils on both canvas and paper, and employs abstract as well as representational approaches.  Influences include the art of Willem deKooning and Henri Matisse.  He lives in Nelson County, Virginia. 

To view more of his art, visit his website by clicking here

.

.

 

Listen to the 1960 recording of Etta James singing “At Last”

.

.

Click here for details on how to submit your poetry

.

.

.