Tracey McTague is the first featured poet of July for The Arts Fuse.
Thursday, July 02, 2026
Stone Soup Poetry All Open Mic, 7-1-26
From this week's online gathering. Stone Soup is taking a break this week. Stay safe this July Fourth weekend. I'll see you back two Wednesdays from now.
Bye for Now
I'll be off next week, bound for parts unknown. Stone Soup will be back on July 15 for special feature Mary Ann Honaker. Stay safe this holiday weekend and until I see you next time.
Wednesday, July 01, 2026
How They Run
Poet Kevin B and photographer Edward S. Gault give us the closing post for the first day of July. Thank you for reading Oddball Magazine today. Be back for more.
Revisiting an Old Piece
Decided to share an old article of mine, "Is Trump adding a dash of salt to the hate?" Read it now on my Medium page.
Trickling Forward
Poet Spencer Keene is matched with artist Edward Michael Supranowicz to give us our first Wednesday post of July. Oddball Magazine says welcome to the new month.
The Message of the New Trump Passport Is...Confusing
Saw this tweet and thought of George Carlin immediately.
A Moment of Comics
Maybe if told people that superheroes were being caged alongside immigrants and other brown people, we could end ICE tomorrow and turn this country around. A slightly out of context page from Spawn #10, written by Dave Sim with artwork by Todd McFarlane.
American Haiku: Trump Does Logic
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: Trump Does Logic
Help me pass this law
ending birthright citizens.
It's my birthright. It's my birthright.
It's my birthright. It's my birthright.
Your Wednesday Morning Poetry
In light of the Great American State Fair, here's the poem "State Fair Fireworks, Labor Day" by Maryann Corbett, courtesy of the Poetry Foundation site.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Zine Alert!
For you zinesters, Quadzilla is looking for writers to contribute to their next zine. Visit their Instagram page, follow them, and DM them with questions.
Still Time
There's still time to submit to Molecule. Check out the guidelines and send in your microwork before July 15.
Pride Closer
Robert Fleming returns with the last Pride entry for June (but hopefully not the last one for the year). Enjoy your 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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| A good way to end Pride Month. |
July 1: Stone Soup Says Happy July! (is it though?)
Going into July with an all-open mic this Wednesday.
Just before I have to take a week off.
We'll be back with features. I even hope to announce a couple for September soon.
Join us on Wednesday, July 1, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 874 6930 3823
Password: stonesoup
Annoying Thought of the Day
Sometimes rage is the best cure for crippling fear.
Emotional chemo.
One poison to kill another.
Monday, June 29, 2026
Learn Something New Today?
Here's Anne Skove's latest comic with something you may not have known.
"She Who Laughs Laughs" is here now at Oddball Magazine.
Timber
A tree falls and Mike Mesterton-Gibbons writes about it. Welcome to Monday at Oddball Magazine.
My Monday Morning Music
For a change, I'm focusing on an album from my young summer days. Kamakiriad by Donald Fagen was introduced to me by my then-girlfriend during my senior year at college. It became an unofficial soundtrack for the last part of my year and the summer. I recommend the album, especially if you're a Steely Dan fan. Here's the first of a selection of songs from the album.
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Can't Keep Up
A still shot of Deta dancing back in 2019. I hope to make the video more available. You couldn't keep up with Deta Galloway then, and honestly you can't now.
Your Weekly Dose of God
A bag of religious paraphernalia I found just lying on the sidewalk. The card with the cross right on the bag starts with the words: "Somebody loves you - more than you know."
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Remembering Deta Galloway
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| Deta with Toni Bee at her RE/Max Destiny Gallery opening |
There are many women poets at Stone Soup Poetry who took on motherly roles on the open mic, presenting their best selves that urged the unruly rabble of males to do better.
There was Joanna Nealon, who I proclaimed the First Lady of Stone Soup. Carol Weston was dubbed (again by me) as Our Lady Queen of Stone Soup.
The recently departed Deta Galloway--poet, artist, singer--certainly served as a mother figure to some but seemed to me more of the fun aunt in our makeshift poetry family, just as likely to share wisdom with the younger members as she was to be up and partying with them.
Unacceptable
I am furious to report that poet, artist and friend Deta Galloway passed away in Boston two days ago.
This is devastating news for what's been for many a horrific year.
This ever darkening world has lost another of its beacons.
My Saturday Haiku for Bluesky, 6-27-26
Morning breaking in,
birdsong repelled away by
arguing neighbors.
Friday, June 26, 2026
My Friday Evening Music
HummusVacuum closes out the week (finally). I'm heading off to dinner and bed.
Leave Them Be
I've spent years writing about how the time pigs annoy me.
No more.
I refuse to give them anymore power over me.
The latest time pigs have left.
New time pigs will come and go.
Moving forward, I'm ignoring them as best I can.
They can go to hell.
But then, they're already there, aren't they?
Next Friday: First Fridays Youth Open Mic with Ricky Shah
Held at the First Baptist Church on 633 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. Doors open at 7:00. Click here for more info.
Leopards Eating Faces Update!
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