In an ongoing series, the editors, former contributors, and readers of Eclectica have been invited to write a poem containing four pre-chosen words. The words for this issue are indolent, antidote, chisel, and anoint. Below are the resulting selected poems.

If you would like to participate in the next special poetry assignment, the new words are geranium, squall, skull, and levitate.

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(These are excerpts—click on the title to view the whole poem!)

 

The Woman in Teal Pyjamas
 
There is some joy in never
coming clean  
 
Arlene Ang

 

New Profile
 
It is gray when he chisels
a nose out of granite,
each strike an antidote
to technology  
 
Deborah P. Kolodji

 

The End of the World
 
Everyone prayed
as clouds of lightning,
overloaded transformers  
 
Bob Bradshaw

 

Life's a Beach
 
seagulls spin years
at various angles
swallow life in breadcrumbs  
 
Barbara De Franceschi

 

The Story of Manole the Builder
 
The monastery is perfect—
worthy to be entered by any god—
the woman's sacrifice an antidote
to failure.  
 
Jennifer Finstrom