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 rescued, minority, cashew, and bonnet. Below are the resulting selected poems.

If you would like to participate in the next special poetry assignment, the four new words are chrysanthemum, flip, dial, and heritage. Send your poem(s) to editors@eclectica.org by December 1, 2002.

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(Click on the title to view the whole poem!)

 

The Girl Who Lives in Her Head
 
She remembers that, the easy give
of shell, the smear of brown on her palm,
the beginning of "I don't want to" forming.  
 
Julie King

 

Five Word Poems
 
Oh, the things that were
and aren’t, and might have been.
Over years you’ve called a dozen dogs
to heel, and one by one
you’ve buried them  
 
Taylor Graham

 

Dream after Reading Dramatic Monologues
 
Girl, wise up. You say
everything that comes to mind,
to anyone, so certain it's
all true.  
 
Chris Murray

 

Girl in an Imaginary Painting
 
You might think I'm the sort of woman who needs to be rescued.
My dress is all ruffles, unsuitable for this austere hillside.
Flounces and tulle drag on the ground, heavy with dust.
The hint of a slipper peeks out beneath my skirt  
 
Jennifer Finstrom

 

Not Concerning Rain
 
The Prairie Rattler coils in the heat
And aims itself at the presumptive
People, alive and dusty, warm as mice.  
 
D.W. Hayward

 

Nostalgia
 
Golden amber
Autumn smeared in the sand
And the rocks
Rusted and running rampant with life  
 
anjuna

 

Two Word Poems
 
Red-Camaro-boy, he sloshes
sexy around in his clothes, cool
as the glowy blue gin winking in my glass  
 
Tara Gilbert-Brever