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 build, ground, hungry, and light.

If you would like to participate in the next special poetry assignment, the new words are hope, walk, sugar, and sky.

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

 

Winter's Ills

Flurries build
from cloud to ground
as if exhaled unmasked

Nancy K. Jentsch

 

Mellification

we pretended to get sick too
so that Teta wouldn't make us go to
masjid Nabi Jleel, and stand with bearded men

Tarek Ghaddar

 

What Grounds Us

Build what,
I'd ask, but I know your answer:
it doesn't matter.

Elizabeth Brewster Thomas

 

Through the Stomach

Aren't you hungry?

Emily Burton-Uduwana

 

I Wasn't Prepared for an Early Spring

I didn't expect for these fireworks
of blooms, my Mexican sage
throwing out long trajectories

Bob Bradshaw

 

Chimneys in Winter

Like smoking rooftops. A kiss of bliss.
Exhaling the burden of being ourselves.

David Mathews

 

Aubade with Medea

It's something out
of a movie: hungry flames, other cars
too close

Jennifer Finstrom