The Hard Work of Hope

A Cento by Erica Charis-Molling

A Cento by Erica Charis-Molling

“Dear child of the near future, / Here’s my permission. Take it. It’s alright to replace sirens / with the light shot through them. / All the old gray gods have fallen / in a field of decapitated corn stalks. / I’m trying to tell you that the world is beautiful.” — Erica Charis-Molling

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Disability Justice Folio

Disability Justice Folio

For the last two years, Mass Poetry has been bringing you the “Hard Work of Hope,” a series of poems from members of our community that tell the story of the pandemic and all its ripple effects in our lives. But we cannot tell the full story without hearing from...

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Grace Mattern’s “An American Elegy”

An American ElegyGrace Mattern We go back to not dying,wherever we fall is the beginning —an allée of elms planted to createa lace of sunlight and shadow.What separates branches from windin designing their dance? Nothing.We carry our own seasons wonderingwhen we will...

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Elisa Rowe’s “Grounding Lavender”

Elisa Rowe’s “Grounding Lavender”

Grounding Lavender Elisa Rowe Wrap a scarf likekneading dough, poola little lavender to grazemy cheek.My body, a slippingfinger on a piano. Mybody, trembling into tune.I want to be soft likebelonging. I wantmy neurons to fire acountry into memory.Routine is like a...

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Anthony Febo’s “notes on: acts of service”

Anthony Febo’s “notes on: acts of service”

notes on: acts of service by Anthony Febo and so i propose to you to ponder thisin all the attire you may dress Love in  - a night by fire or a stroll under starlight or the pulse of the city - may you not overlook the way “everyday small acts”...

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The Hard Work of Witness Poetry Folio

The Hard Work of Witness Poetry Folio

Shortly after COVID-19's arrival in our state, Mass Poetry put out a call for poems of this moment and we were stunned by the overwhelming response. In a way, these were poems of witness, asking you to pay attention to what was happening in the world during...

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