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Poets within this community of writers are feeling this moment in time, and writing about it.

Here are two more examples.

If you have something you want to say about what is happening in the world and how it may be affecting you in the way of a poem, and would like to have it considered for this series, drop me an email with a subject heading “poems written in the midst of our times.”

Joe Maita

[email protected]

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Click here to read previous editions of “Poetry written in the midst of our time”

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photo by Lorie Shaull/CC BY 4.0

Minneapolis; January 23, 2026

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Poet’s Alliance

what else can we do
we’re poets for god-sake

did you all
………………expect something different
did you all
………………expect a blind eye
did you all
………………expect a turning away

it ain’t happening baby

to be an ally
of the oppressed
of the persecuted
of the dispirited
is something we do
on the natch

if you all are having trouble
with the abc’s of it
it’s all there in the manual
in the chapter titled

WHAT IF THIS
WAS HAPPENING
TO ME

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By Frank Papia

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(Mr. Papia’s poem was written in response to Connie Johnson’s “To Be an Ally” (for Alex Pretti), which was published on January 26.  You can read it by clicking here)

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So What’s Next

…..It seems like open season
…..Against those those having no shield or protection
…..To proceed with all the further quotas authority desires

……….Could Jazz be next?
…..…..A Public Music

After all
It too has a long standing
Diverse protest history
…..Complete with abused participants

How does current Government
Enable cause without
Divesting potential armament
From what it deems to imperil Public Safety?

Long range telescopic clarinets
Undocumented multi caliber saxophones
Slide trombones with open spit valves
Suspiciously curved trumpet progeny
Drum skinned gangs their sticks & clashing cymbals
And then there are the 88s
Heavy artillery, pesky ivories, sharpened sables
Tender & majestic so often misunderstood

Enough these days to undermine
A current administration’s efforts
When arranged together
By virtue of their distinction & looks

…..I’m not sure at this moment
If the streets in this era will ever be Safe
…..Becoming soulfully stained
…..From flattened brass phrases
…..Hatred & its muddled edges
…..From its discouraging disgrace by the unlovely

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by Terrance Underwood

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Listen to the 1959 recording of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross perform the Bobby Timmons composition “Moanin'”.  Lyrics by Jon Hendricks.  (Harry “Sweets” Edison is the trumpeter).   [Columbia]

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Frank Papia is a San Francisco native currently living in Sacramento, California.  His poems have appeared in various publications, including: Dream Machine – Madhouse House: An Anthology of Thorns-
Lone Mt. Press – Tarantula #’s 4&6 issues 1&2 – and most recently in L’Hoxa International Art Magazine #88 Poetry Issue. He also has two published works, Rhumba of the Heart and Lefty’s Boys-Along the Way to
Now  – both of which can be found on Blurb.com

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Terrance Underwood is a retired Gas Turbine Package Engineer whose career offered opportunities to work all over the world. A devoted jazz enthusiast, his first memory operating a mechanical devise was a 4-speed spindle drop record changer for his father’s collection of 78s. In 2024, he was nominated by Jerry Jazz Musician for a Pushcart Prize.

Click here to read Proceeding From Behind: A collection of poems grounded in the rhythmic, relating to the remarkable, by Terrance Underwood

Click here to read his collection of poems “With Ease in Mind”

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Click for:

The Sunday Poem Archive

More poetry on Jerry Jazz Musician

War. Remembrance. Walls. The High Price of Authoritarianism – by editor/publisher Joe Maita

“The Sound of Becoming,” J.C. Michaels’ winning story in the 70th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest

More short fiction on Jerry Jazz Musician

Information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction

Subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter

Helping to support the ongoing publication of Jerry Jazz Musician, and to keep it commercial-free (thank you!)

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Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced since 1999

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