For the last Wednesday of National Poetry Month, I'm featuring Jennifer Martelli, another recently lost local poet. Read her poem, "To Be Stevie Nicks Cool" over at New Ohio Review.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
An Early Moment of Comics
Gerry Conway passed away a couple of days ago. I saw his work sporadically in the eighties (a few issues of Firestorm), likely seeing more of his work via television and cinema. I didn't pay much to writers for a long time. The first time I ever noticed his name was in Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #8, where he closed the chapter on Gwen Stacy via a supposed clone.
I See Now
From gig economy dirt farm country to gig economy dirt farm country with a nice ballroom.
At least the future is clearer now.
Recap
A prompt reaction poem by one of Oddball roving poet Russell duPont. It's a busy Tuesday over 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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| If people like this lived close to me, I'd airdrop them work. |
Monday, April 27, 2026
Poem from a Rose
Poet Rita 'Rusty' Rose gives us a tribute to John F. McMullen, a recently fallen poet and promoter of the arts. Read it now over at Oddball Magazine.
Tonight: The Contro-Verse Open Mic at Urban Media Arts in Malden with Shannon O'Connor
From 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM. At Urban Media Arts on 145 Pleasant Street in Malden, MA. Hosted by Anna Geoffroy and Ethan Mackler. Click here for more information.
Memoirs of a Door Dasher
Anne Skove's comic can help you be a better door dashee. Read "She Who Laughs Lasts" at Oddball Magazine.
Yep, the Poem's About What It Sounds Like
Mike Mesterton-Gibbons whizzes by with another acrostic to kick off Monday at Oddball Magazine.
April 29: One More Time on the Open Mic Merry-Go-Round
Closing out April with a mere open mic on April 29, but I'll be announcing the rest of Stone Soup's features for May very soon. I hope you all enjoyed our National Poetry Month features.
Join us on Wednesday, April 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 862 7581 2885
Password: stonesoup
May 6: Harris Gardner Helps Celebrate Fifty Five Years of Stone Soup
I'm making an effort this year to welcome old friends of Stone Soup in 2026, so I'm very pleased to be welcoming Harris Gardner to our virtual podium on May 6.
Even if you haven't stopped by in a while, I hope you join us as we welcome back more Stone Soup alum from my early days of hosting.
Join us on Wednesday, May 6, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 842 4574 9317Password: stonesoup
My Monday Morning Music
Surprised I haven't featured Charles Bukowski. One more focus on spoken word for National Poetry Month.
Sunday, April 26, 2026
There's More of Ron to Share
This artwork titled Butter Moon was created by Ron Goba's granddaughter Sayla and used for a chapbook collection that debuted as part of his feature on May 11, 2013. With the permission of Ron's family, I would love to have this and at least one other collection available as a downloadable PDF on my website this May. I also hope to share other Goba related media in the coming weeks. Announcements will be made.
You Know Who's New Look!
“I just want you to know that I’m fine. I’m healing. I have a healing factor like Deadpool. Not wolverine. Wolverines a loser. He died his last solo film. Sad.”
NaPoWriMo, Day Twenty-Six, Poem Twenty-Six
Retire Already
Holed up
hiding.
Same spot
you once
shamed me
out of.
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Another Coming
"Trump Sitting Above a Pile of Bones in Palm Beach, Florida" is my latest entry in the Indolent Books Second Coming series. Thanks for having me back, Michael Broder.
Saturday Fleas
Read my poem "Insight" in the Saturday edition Five Fleas (Itchy Poetry). Thanks to Roberta Beach Jacobson for keeping the poetry going on the weekends. Glad to be with poets Linda M. Crate, Richard Magahiz and several others.
My Saturday Haiku for Bluesky, 4-25-26
Fimbulwinter in
Spring is still Fimbulwinter.
Sun hangs uselessly.
Friday, April 24, 2026
My Friday Evening Music
The last King Missile spoken word piece for National Poetry Month. Heard this years ago on the late Yahoo Launch. Always remembered this.
Stone Soup Croutons, 4-8-26: Where do You Go Now?
Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions selected from Stone Soup Poetry's open mic readers and features. I figure out a title (and sometimes the rest of the poem) later. You can read the other ones I've done since 2015 here.
I also have a book collecting the best of my first year of poems. Click here to purchase it.
I haven't wanted to do these in a while.
I was enjoying writing other things for a while.
I was enjoying writing other things for a while.
I wondered if this was a worthwhile exercise.
I figured I would see by starting to do Crouton poems for National Poetry Month.
I enjoyed recapping the show. And then I didn't.
I don't have the energy to do admin work for a Zoom call and take notes for the poem.
It was easier live. AT least I had an excuse for not being able to take down everything.
Now I don't.
It's such a tedious process.
And did I haven't done something in a while, It's like ripping bones from my body.
I did it anyway. Here's what I came up with.
Thanks for reading.
Where do You Go Now?
A sex course is being offered
by a relative whose funeral
you attended. They say you
can please your partner
and a mistress you don't have.
Monday: The Contro-Verse Open Mic at Urban Media Arts in Malden with Shannon O'Connor
From 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM. At Urban Media Arts on 145 Pleasant Street in Malden, MA. Hosted by Anna Geoffroy and Ethan Mackler. Click here for more information.
Grab Those Last Pearls
Continuing our series of featured writer/artists with longime Oddball staple Jennifer Matthews. Thank you for reading Oddball Magazine this week. Stay safe this weekend.
This Is Happening More
Soneone tried to follow and communicate with me on Bluesky posing as an anti-Trump wrestler using the above photo of Bayley, one of the most famous women wrestlers. Maybe it was just a random catfish, or maybe they connected with me due to my wrestling work. I don't know which is sadder.
Jennifer Bannan, Virtual Thursdays Dire Literary Series Plus Q and A with Timothy Gager, 4/23/26
Yesterday's Dire today. Hosted by Timothy Gager.
My Friday Morning Music
When I heard this King Missile track, I thought the lyrics inspired Rich Mackin's non-protest from over two decades ago. I asked Rich if he knew the track, and he said no. He's a punk guy, so I still believe him all these years later. Still...
Leopards Eating Faces Update!
I could just say "women" this week and end it there, but let's start with Lori Chavez-DeRemer, another of the women forced to leave Trump's administration. Trump throwing women under the bus (or under the dirt of his golf resorts) is so predictable, now Tulsi Gabbard is projected as being next on the chopping block. Between them, Riley Gaines last week, and Caitlyn Jenner a few days ago, it seems like Trump is taking his frustrations out on women to make himself feel better about Iran. And unlike Iran, Trump is winning that fight.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Sick and Tired of It
Jesus f--king f--k. Why is The Face That Is the Space blocking my post for James Van Looy's poem column It's All One Thing today and making it less noticeable. I have guesses.
Madman Theory Foreign Policy
James Van Looy is back again with It's All One Thing, the longest running poem column to run in Oddball Magazine.
Diane Sahms Features at Stone Soup Poetry, 4-22-26
From this week's online gathering. A true night of experimental work. Pick up Diane's latest book, of an octopus: an archite|x|tural awareness of words, as soon as you can.
Goodbye, Philly!
Thanks to everyone who came out last night and special thanks to Diane Sahms for a fantastic feature. Be sure to buy her collection, of an octopus: an archite|x|tural awareness of words. Stay tuned for more Stone Soup News as we approach our fifty-fifth anniversary.
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