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 middle, never, coerce, and skull.

If you would like to participate in the next special poetry assignment, the new words are ribbon, illuminate, visitor, and question.

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

Two Word Poems
 
Out-roads offer an escape,
but that lead-dust coerces intentions
with loyalty to a birthplace.
 
Barbara De Franceschi

 

Gooseberries
 
In the middle of never and always the water would move in its way
Crashing in tiny brakes over tiny rocks
In tiny creeks sitting between tiny hills
 
Ramsay Wise

 

Such a Time
 
Tonight we find nothing
except her skull, her feet and her hands.
 
Jude Goodwin

 

I Need New Themes
 
I need to look inward, bring out
the skull over which time

has etched comfort
 
Mihir Vatsa

 

Digging a Fallout Shelter During the Cuban Missile Crisis
 
his wife pregnant, he couldn't have been coerced
to heave the dirt out faster
 
Bob Bradshaw

 

Almost Sonnet Written as I Think about The Tempest and the Temperature Drops to Negative Seventeen
 
And I know that I have walked here for no reason,
never solaced, only to see what lights are on
 
Jennifer Finstrom