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 hemisphere, indignant, thistle, and wipe. Below are the resulting selected poems.

If you would like to participate in the next special poetry assignment, the new words are orphanage, eggshell, vile, and summon.

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

 

Hospital Emergency 2 am
 
an impersonal moon
looks through the skylight  
 
Barbara De Franceschi

 

To clean or dry by rubbing
 
I wash away
The me and you
With thistle soap
For skin and hair  
 
Dorothee Lang

 

Attracting His Attention
 
A fly
wiped off a wall
would receive more notice  
 
Deborah P. Kolodji

 

Two Word Poems
 
I see my memories wiped
away by a flick of the witch’s
wand and know that she has left
me nothing.  
 
Jennifer Finstrom

 

From the percolator
 
Sometimes I think of all the indignant
ex-spouses in everyone's lives
& try to collect lies like seashell pieces.  
 
Arlene Ang