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 amulet, physician, dare, and vertical. Below are the resulting selected poems.

If you would like to participate in the next special poetry assignment, the new words are hoax, mosaic, thirst, and courteous.

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

 

If the dog barks at midnight
 
you may witness a miracle—
the Devil eating mulberries
with Eve at his feet  
 
Barbara De Franceschi

 

Weather-wise
 
Paul is no saint; I am no virgin.
Diamond gleams with sinister flaws.  
 
Arlene Ang

 

Bearing Witness
 
The physician and nurse
work as gently as possible to pry her hands off her baby—
already they see he will not last the night.  
 
Diana Dominguez

 

Nigel is Fuming
 
the moment before Angie hit the ice,
arms helicoptering madly, her mouth
forced into a silent O, subtitled: scream  
 
Michaela A. Gabriel

 

A Grandmother's Illness
 
she shuns medical help—
now a physician, he remains
helpless  
 
Deborah P. Kolodji

 

Relic Vat
 
Dear Calvert, I think
might need a live CRT
to spy an inch
of its own phasic yin.  
 
Brian Clements

 

The Girls on the Bus
 
Haunted eyes, ringed
with make-up, say that she needs
a physician.  
 
Jennifer Finstrom