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 brew, indigo, paper, and cruise.

If you would like to participate in the next special poetry assignment, the new words are long, west, moon, and news.

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

Elephants
 
people like us are brewing
our virus in a Petri dish
 
Bob Haynes

 

This City
 
Breathes wet trash and dog waste, cut grass and tar
Cruises past each day into the new,
Divines that everything will be left behind
 
Aileen Bassis

 

First Date
 
When I was nineteen, I went on my first date with another woman.
 
Patricia Haney

 

The Titanic phase
 
Stains went unnoticed while
we ran around, brewed relationships
in our bloated heads.
 
Michelle D'costa

 

Floating World
 
We linger here at sunset,
wait for the ferry to reach the pier, its legs creaky
like ours
 
Erika Michael

 

Age Is Just a Number
 
Boldness invites me
to dance the tango in pink slippers
 
Barbara De Franceschi

 

home
 
my brother, the ever-changing companion, is a friend to many, but seldom to himself
 
Graciela Barada

 

A Letter to Somebody Hurtful That Will Never Get It
 
You should know I sleep well—
 I have soul-mellowing indigo dreams.
 
David Mathews

 

Early Mourning
 
if you listen carefully,
the tiny laughter of my youth can still be heard
 
Sanjyokta Deshmukh

 

Mood
 
I grinned
as you shredded
the expulsion paper
 
Steve Deutsch

 

Erosion
 
Moments slip from the fist of time. He's just a boy.
 
Mandira Pattnaik

 

Like All Things Indigo
 
when I was
brown sugar sweet
when I was paper thin
 
Essah Cozett

 

Pantoum for my Father
 
This line I've drawn in the sand,
is no pleasure cruise for me or you.
 
Janet Rodriguez

 

Elephantine
 
the sleeping elephant
heaves her shoulders
with this epoch's single breath
 
Stephanie L. Harper

 

On the Stage
 
you are equal to anything, repeating
it out loud
 
Jennifer Finstrom