poetry

Two Poems in Salamander Magazine!

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I’m honored and excited to share the news that my poems, “Neurodivergent” (see below) and “Presentiment (*cento),” appear in the gorgeous literary review published out of Suffolk University, Salamander Magazine #57, Fall / Winter 2023-2024. Please do visit the link provided for information on accessing individual copies of the issue and/or becoming an online or print version subscriber. 

I’d like to express my heartfelt appreciation to EIC Dr. José Angel Araguz for selecting my poems for inclusion in this luminous issue, and for facilitating an all-around rewarding publishing experience!

Poems Live at Samjoko Magazine!

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I’m pleased and proud to share that three of my poems—“Spotted Orb Weaver,” “Sestina for a Queen: Northern Cardinal,” and “Requiem”—have been published in the Winter III issue of Samjoko Magazine, a beautiful online literary journal based in South Korea. I’m grateful to Todd Sullivan and the Samjoko poetry editors for selecting my work. 

Please view on a full/computer screen, if possible. Thanks so much for reading!

Poem Live in Taos Journal of Poetry!

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I’d like to express my gratitude to poet-, editor-, and human-extraordinaire Catherine Strisik for including my poem, “Message in a Bottle to Arthur Sze,” in the gorgeous new issue (issue 13) of Taos Journal of Poetry. I’m thrilled for this chance to share my poem with you, and deeply honored that it now resides amongst such gloriously earnest, inspired company…

Poem Published in Caesura!

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The 2023 issue of Caesura: objects in the mirror is a print publication of Poetry Center San Jose.

Thank you all for reading!  

The Hole

twinge
above your right brow

in a mirror     that dusky spot

the hole
acute     scalene     deep
about an inch in height
just above your right eyeball
loosened from its socket
oozing blood
from cracks around your lids

a clear view
to the back of your skull—
the bone is floodlit like a surgical theater

accentuating the osseous fabric’s
orderly interweaving of dark
green lettuce leaves
with your head’s sealed fissures

it makes no sense
but to accept it—

your neighbor     who constantly drops by
unannounced     needs you     again
to watch her kids tomorrow afternoon
“for just a few hours”

sure     not a problem

she’ll be inviting you to her wedding this summer
“third time’s the charm”

how nice

a flash
on the porcelain screen
(where your brain should be)
previews the upcoming afternoon—

gazebo with picnic tables
at the breezy confluence
of the Columbia & Willamette rivers

 daylight encasing you in the naked
mole-rat’s skin you’d mistaken
for a modest-pink sundress

siphoning the cash bar’s cut-rate Riesling
as you try to make small-talk without thinking

about the cool tingle of exposed bone
above your right brow
flora     slick in plasma     creeping out— 

which puts extra strain on the wobbly eyeball…

STEPHANIE L. HARPER

Two Poems Live at Stickman Review

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A black & white ("monochrome"), somewhat disturbing/creepy illustration of a furry, non-descript, automaton-like Muppet with completely expressionless eyes, waving on a stage.
Illustration: What Have I Created? by Cameren Harper

Thank you Stickman Review editor Anthony Brown for selecting my poems, “Letter to My Daughter after Dreaming of Joy” and “Race Day” for inclusion in Stickman Review: Volume 22 ¨ Number 1. 

I’m honored and thrilled for these two pieces—inspired by my daughter, Cameren, and my son, Matthew, respectively—to be featured together in such an impressive journal. 

~ Thanks for reading! ~

Four Poems up at Resurrection Magazine!

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I’m excited to share this feature of my following poems: “Child’s Pose,” “Indigo Bunting,” Gateway,” and “(Cento) On the Way Back to Dreaming” which is now live at the splendorous journal, Resurrection Magazine!

I’m grateful to editors Ingrid M. Calderon-Collins and John Collins for their warmly enthusiastic response to and publication of these little soul-bundles… 

Poem in Foothill Journal

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I finally received my contributor’s copies of this gorgeous issue of Foothill Journal, Volume 12 — which includes my poem, “(Cento) I’m tired of understanding…” — presented by Claremont Graduate University in November 2022. I’m grateful to editors Lauren Davilla, Holly Eva Allen, Emily Schuck, and Stacey Park for their outstanding professionalism throughout the publication process.

Poem up at Five South’s *One for the Road*

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My poem, “Dear Autocorrect,” was published last month on Five South’s weekly humor column, One for the Road. I’m grateful to editor Kristen Simental and the Five South team for featuring this piece (accompanied by a lovely introduction and original artwork, no less!). I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed, uh, letting it write itself! 😉

Special thanks also goes to Jazz Jaeschke for initially sponsoring (and inspiring!) this poem during my husband Robert Okaji’s September 2021 fundraiser for Brick Street Poetry. 

Poem Up at The Big Windows Review

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In the foreground are brown weeds behind which a stubbly, brownish expanse of cornfield dominates. A white farmhouse and white barn are the sole manmade structures standing at the far edge of the cornfield, and a mature thicket of tall, naked, brown deciduous trees beneath a grey pall of sky makes up the background.

Photo credit: “Brown” by Robert Okaji

Thank you to editor Tom Zimmerman of The Big Windows Review for selecting “Winter Poem” for publication on The Big Windows’ website and in its upcoming print journal. I’m so pleased my poem has found such a lovely home.

new publication: woodlands anthology

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The amazingly talented editor, d. ellis phelps, has done it again!
I couldn’t be more honored to be a contributor to this beautiful project with my poem (and opening piece of this anthology!),”American Beech.”

Huge American Beech Tree trunk and large roots spread out like feet.

American Beech

Let’s try, here,
in the cloud-grey
of this centuries-old beech—
stunning Bathsheba,

her toes, immense,
clinging to the path’s edge—
to be held
tightly enough;

let’s try, in this world
feathered green,
its daylight’s golden
crowns & rosy breasts,

its predawn depths
teeming with robin-songs,
to dream ourselves
being alive:

Shouldn’t we try
to wake up
high in this tree,
in tranquil forest-scent,

roll over, lean
the other cheek against her
smooth-muscled wood
& listen?

STEPHANIE L. HARPER

dellisphelps's avatarformidable Woman sanctuary

It’s a Wrap!

After months (four to be exact) of work, sorting through and considering hundreds of submissions, sending out acceptances and declines (thank goodness for Submittable), asking for and recording permissions and adding contributors to my database, re-reading and arranging the book, creating a cover image (many thanks to Cynthia Yachtman for her art that graces the cover), sending out the proof copy, publishing the digital version here, answering hundreds of emails, re-reading and making edits and more, woodlands (Moon Shadow Sanctuary Press, 2022) is finally ready!

This beautiful anthology includes the work of forty-nine writers and artists (we’ve included full-color art this time) from across the United States, Canada, and South America, most of whom are accomplished, seasoned writers.

The title poem and the concept for the book were generous gifts from Spirt Thom. His poem, 14 Ways to Stay Awake is the finale for the book…

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