The Chad Parenteau's Lost Causes newsletter for April 8 is up now at Substack.
Wednesday, April 08, 2026
Rough Water
The theme for today could be called guarded optimism. I think Jennifer Gurney's poem mixed with Bonnie Matthews Brock's photography makes this pretty clear. Thanks for reading Oddball Magazine this Wednesday. We do this for you.
To My Stone Soupers
The last issue of Stone's Throw was released in December 2024.
I wanted to do a sequel to the Democracy Benefit Issue from years before.
I've changed my mind.
The theme for the new issue is "Please Do Not Put Epstein Files in the Toilet."
Who's with me? Who wants to submit.
Out in the Open
Poet David Anson Lee and photographer Jennifer Matthews kick off Wednesday at Oddball Magazine. Thanks for stopping by. I'm scrambling to put everything together.
Celebrating April
Editors g emil reutter and Diane Sahms have created a special issue of North of Oxford this April to celebrate National Poetry Month. Read this month's collection of poetry and reviews right now.
The Day the Babies Die
Elizabeth S. Wolf commemorates the Sandy Hook massacre in this week's Lyrical Somerville. Read Doug Holder's weekly feature over at The Somerville Times.
Took a Closer Look
Went to Brookline on Saturday and took a look at this piece of graffiti again.
I filmed it for a TikTok I'll post later. Turns out there was more to it.
A Moment of Comics
I read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight before college for personal enjoyment. It helped me appreciate what writer Walt Simonson was doing with Thor and his final fight with Jormungand the World Serpent, his writing style emulating an epic poem. From Thor #380, words and breakdown by living legend Simonson with finishes by the recently departed Sal Buscema.
Behind
Was so engrossed in other projects yesterday that I forgot to post something for NaPoWriMo. I'm hopefully fixing this today. No, the haiku below this don't count.
American Haiku: Daddy Does Diplomacy
When I started my Sarcastic Haiku series, I wrote my first American Haiku.
An American Haiku doesn't care about tradition, formality or history. it takes as long as it wants to make its point because America. You can read
others I've written since by clicking here and scrolling down.
American Haiku: Daddy Does Diplomacy
You agree to peace
right after I declare it
or I'll take out my genocide belt again!
Your Wednesday Morning Poetry
Thanks to TikTocker and YouTuber Kaelin for posting this Instagram post by Lucas Jones. Read "This country is an abusive parent" on his page. Or you can listen to it in a video version I found on Reddit.
Tuesday, April 07, 2026
Four Hours Left
"Complete and Total" is my latest Truth Social blackout poem--and yes, it's based on THAT post--up now at Medium.
World Grown Mean
Jason Wright is back with his Jagged Thought poem column. Read his latest now at Oddball Magazine.
That Simple
Jeff Weddle with more timely poetry with help from protest photographer Jack Marty. Happy(?) Tuesday at Oddball Magazine.
This Week's Most Distinguished Network Name
It's amazing what people will name their online networks. I'm always trying to hijack Wi-Fi when I'm commuting, so I often come across a number of interesting names. Every Tuesday, I post the most impressive and/or cringe-inducing names.
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| Sure is feeling like it, my Fimbulwinter jokes aside. |
Thoughts While Walking, 4-7-26
Sure, let’s do one of these when I’m tired and coming down from a cold. I’m pissed.
Monday, April 06, 2026
More Things
Edward Michael Supranowicz is next in our writer/artist series for National Poetry Month at Oddball Magaizne.
I Forgot It's Spring!
Anne Skove's comic shares the spring wear of her local stomping grounds. Thanks to Anne Skove and "She Who Laughs Lasts" at Oddball Magazine for reminding me it was spring.
Let's Go God!
Glad to have my photography paired up with flash fiction by Steven Schutzman for Monday's opening salvo at Oddball Magazine. Glad you survived the weekend. Let's tackle the new week now.
Still Life After Breakfast, Part 168
The coffee cup in the "Free" distribution box always cracks me up.
Perfect for the Season
This Death Rabbit is the only type of bunny I'm celebrating this April. Also, it has the same friendly reminder for this week.
Sunday, April 05, 2026
Your Weekly Dose of God
It almost feels like a joke for Easter to already be here. Here's a card I found at the Forest Hills station that serves as an invitation to Easter mass today at the City on a Hill Church's Jamaica Plain location. As the card says, "He Lives."
No One Listened
"Don't Make America Sick Again" is a sign that I spotted not after 2020 but during a healthcare rally in April of 2017.
Another plea that went ignored.
Just recently, an article came out saying patients are refusing blood from vaccinated donors.
Donor vaccination status is not tracked, which means people can die from people waiting to receive their so-called untainted blood.
Too many Americans trust none of the people who have actively worked for years to serve or heal others.
Instead, they place their faith in the engines that serve to kill dreaded "others" and allow them to watch from their armchairs.
Saturday, April 04, 2026
My Saturday Haiku for Bluesky, 4-4-26
Bitter Saturday.
Fimbulwinter continues
despite changed seasons.
Friday, April 03, 2026
My Friday Evening Music
The song that keeps on popping up consistently when I search for The Showcase Showdown.
The First Spotlight
Poet and photographer Edward S. Gault is the first of our spotlighted writer/artists for National Poetry Month.
Thank you for reading Oddball Magazine this week. We'll see you this Monday.
Coffee With the North Andover Poets This Saturday
From former Poet Laureate Mark Bohrer:
You are invited to the next monthly "Poetry and Coffee"! This Saturday is the first Saturday of the month, April 4th. We are meeting at 9AM, at Diane's Cafe at the North Andover Historical Society.
Tonight: First Fridays Youth Open Mic with Rijah
Held at the First Baptist Church on 633 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. Doors open at 7:00. Click here for more info.
Ron
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| Ron Goba with Tom Daley after a Salon reading in October 2010. |
Below are the words I prepared for my introductory piece to Ron Goba's tribute held this past Wednesday on April first at The Cantab Lounge in Cambridge. Though I rehearsed reciting the piece to make sure it was under three minutes, I ad-libbed an anecdote I kept forgetting to add during the various draft phases. I don't have a recording of my reading, so the ad-libbed part has been added according to my very faulty memory.
Ron was a giant who had conquered the world.
On the basketball court. In the school where he taught for decades.
Check and Check
Janet Cormier is back with Bamboozled No More! is back at Oddball Magazine. Friday is here!
Na/GloPoWriMo Update
It's been a rough 24 hours. My running around got the best of me.
So now I'm a day behind, and it's only Day Three.
I have to get back to work.
Leopards Eating Faces Update!
Thank you, Pam Bondi, for making my work easy this week. Funny. When the news was trending on social media, I thought she had already been fired. Silly me. I was confusing her with other Trump Pickme, Kristi Noem. Another woman sacrificed to save countless yes men, who we're apparently supposed to feel sorry for. No. Just no.
Thursday, April 02, 2026
New Clip Video While I Get My Voice Back
America doesn’t have a king! Why aren’t you working?!? UhweyooweyooweyooWEYoo!!!
Back Up
Appreciate John Patrick Robbins for publishing my poem "Closed" in today's edition of The Crossroads.
Nothing to See Here
Just me and my emotional support poets Timothy Gager and Jason Wright. Thanks to them and everyone else for coming to Ron Goba's tribute last night at The Cantab.
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