Perseverance

Jason Wright's latest Jagged Thought poem column is out now over at Oddball Magazine. 

 

This Thursday: Laurin Becker Macios at the Virtual Dire Literary Series

Hosted by Timothy Gager. Click here to join the group and get information on how to join the call.

Still Keeping Up with Patreon

May Contain Traces of Me, Part Three: Going Unheard. Read it on my Patreon.

Never Too Late

Patricia Carragon has an anti-ode to America turning a wizened 250. Glad to have photography paired  paired with her work this Tuesday at Oddball Magazine. 

This Week's Most Distinguished Network Names

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.

Enough with the fantasy stuff!

Happy Birthday, Lillian Ann Slugocki

 

 

Obligatory Southpark Follow-up Post

I don't need to work that hard today.

Excess!

Oh well. Probably won't get to the 300th anyway.

 

Oddball Stories with Madeline O’Neill

Thank you for reading Oddball Magazine this drawn out Monday.

 

Busy Monday

A lot has happened while I was away. While I was away from the computer, John Patrick Robbins published my poem "Your Job That Will Be Erased" over at The Crossroads. Thanks to him and Crossroads readers.

Have a Flea-Filled Monday

 

 

"Retribution" is my latest poem for the micropoetry journal Five Fleas (Itchy Poetry). Glad to be in the Monday post with fellow poets Noah Berlatsky, Ruth Holzer, Marie Derley and many others. Thanks to Roberta Beach Jacobson for putting this group together.

Playing with Blocks

Another Anne Skove's comic on the (lack of) creative process in this week's "She Who Laughs Lasts." Read it now over at Oddball Magazine. 

Keeping Up During Break

 

It's Later Now, Part Forty-Four: And Another Thing. Read it on my Patreon.

Aaaaahhh!

Post July Fourth Mike Mesterton-Gibbons gives us lighter subject matter for this Monday. Welcome to Oddball Magazine. It's like we never rest.

 

Two Tuesdays from Now

Mary Ann Honaker features on July 15 when Stone Soup Poetry returns.

Red Burst

When I visit my Mom for July Fourth, we go watch the fireworks because they are literally walking distance from my childhood house. Normally, nearly all of my fireworks photos are subpar because I don't want to stand up and block people's views. Luckily, it started raining by the time the show started, so the field wasn't as packed.  I took a few photos like this one that I'm happy with.

July 22: Marc Goldfinger Rides into Stone Soup

Poet, author, columnist and editor Marc Goldfinger has been a multiple time feature during my tenure at Stone Soup Poetry, and he has always been generous enough to share the spotlight with colleagues from fellow Boston poets to fellow members of the Highway Poets. This time, on July 22, we're giving Marc the full feature spotlight online. Join us for the local legend's performance.

Join us on Wednesday, July 22, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 832 0056 5037

Password: stonesoup

Happy Birthday, Bonnie Matthews Brock

We need to work together again soon.

 

Happy Birthday, Angela Ball

 

 

Happy Birthday, Shamenaz Shaikh

 

 

Getting Around

Amazing to see a Big ⇡ 02130 sticker in Kenmore Square during the spring.

This Week's Friendly Reminder

I love that a store put this sign up. More should do likewise.

My Monday Morning Music

New music from established. First is Bootsy Colins with Eric Gales.

 

 

WAYTA, 7-4-26

Must have been a bad lip read.

July 15: Stone Soup and Mary Ann Honaker Return!

Mary Ann Honaker has graced Stone Soup Poetry's real space and virtual space podiums. On July 15, she makes her virtual return with poetry from her new collection, Night Is Another Realm Altogether (which you can order here). Support the work of a prolific poet and be in the Zoom audience for her.

Join us on Wednesday, July 15, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 859 5282 8229

Password: stonesoup

Late Wisdom

Bruce Wise's Wise Words column was lost and couldn't be put up on Friday. Putting his column in today as a late entry marks what might be the first time Oddball Magazine has published seven days in a row! History made!

Thanks for reading us this entire week.

Chad the Grad

Here is a still shot from Mom recording my graduation from Framingham Sate College back in [REDACTED]. I'm thinking of writing a story for The Moth about something that happened the day right after I graduated. Writing my intentions down now in the hopes of fulfilling them sooner rather than never. 

Trump Shuts It Down

Well, that's it for freedom.

 

Grab Your Shovels

Too many people who don't really understand journalism use the term "burring the lead."

From a recent Yahoo story, starting from the lead paragraph.

Donald Trump has hailed the "unmatched achievement and unlimited potential" of the US in a triumphalist address marking the country's 250th anniversary.

In a late-night campaign-style speech in Washington DC on Saturday, the US president claimed his country was "just getting started" as he vowed to take it "to new levels".

Celebrations have been marred by extreme weather, including a dangerous heatwave in recent days, and a passing storm that delayed Trump's speech. An apparent white nationalist march through the streets of Washington also caused alarm.

Folks, this is what's called "burring the lead."

Happy Birthday, Maxwell Kessler

 

 

Happy Birthday, Colorado T. Sky

Been a while!

 

Happy Birthday, Doug Holder

 

 

Your Weekly Dose of God

Found another standard "God Bless America" pamphlet they print out every June. God better hurry up and bless us. I don't know how much longer we have.

Lament

Jon Wesick shares his recent work to close out our holiday posting. Thanks to him and to Eric N. Peterson for being our artistic MVP. Thanks to everyone reading Oddball Magazine this extended week.

 

Some Weather We’re Having

It’s probably nothing.

 

Birthday Thoughts

Jackie Oldham is the first poet with a special entry this Fourth of July. Thanks to her and artist Eric N. Peterson. Enjoy special holiday content at Oddball Magazine. 

 

My Saturday Haiku for Bluesky, 7-4-26

On the Fourth, we now

keep a look out for fire 

above and below.

Happy Happy Happy! Joy Joy Joy?

Thanks to James Penha for publishing my poem "Department of Justice Releases America’s 250th Birthday Song" in The New Verse News on this Fourth of July.

Happy Birthday, Jennifer Jean

 

 

American Haiku: 250th Anniversary Edition

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: 250th Anniversary Edition

 

Moment of silence

is reserved for the losers. 
U-S-A!  U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
U-S-A!  U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

July 8: Stone Soup Poetry Takes a Break

I keep going with Stone Soup Poetry without taking many breaks.

The week of July 8 is one of those rare times I take a break.

I'll be back on July 15 with special feature Mary Ann Honaker.

Hope to be back refreshed and ready for the rest of the summer.

My Friday Evening Music

One more from Donald Fagen's Kamakiriad album. I wasn't sure what song to include, but then I found out Rick Moranis was in the video for "Tomorrow's Girls." Truly a summer song. Be safe this weekend. 

 

Tonight: 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. 

Be Safe This Weekend

Things feel dangerous now. Not just because the sun is slowly murdering me.

Same Ole

Janet Cormier with words on one facet of the American spirit.

Bamboozled No More! is up for Friday at Oddball Magazine. 

At Work

I think my output always increases around July Fourth.

I think it’s because my schedule opens up so much after my girlfriend starts her summer break.

It makes me very happy.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Maheswar Das

 

 

Birthday Eve

"One Choice is my latest From Picture to Page poem. Join my Patreon (even as a free subscriber) to read it. 

Trump Blames Democrats (again)

Anyone carrying a jackhammer in DC will be arrested. 

My Friday Morning Music

It's weird to think of a song like "Snowbound" from Donald Fagen's Kamakiriad album as a summer song, but I do. 

 

 

Leopards Eating Faces Update!

 

Stop trying to make Marjorie Taylor Greene appear noble. 

News from the Front BREAKING

Follow me for more news on decaying soulless octogenarians propped up by evil science. Or not.

Practice Haiku

Noting poetic
will happen as long as you're
on the telephone.

WAYTA, 7-1-26

This weekend he'll be having a conversation with Little Nero.

Terminal Farewell

 

Tracey McTague is the first featured poet of July for The Arts Fuse.

Seeing Color

James Van Looy returns with It's All One Thing.

His poem column is up now at Oddball Magazine.

Happy Birthday, Laura Mattingly

 

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. 

Meet Bluey!

Named after his spawning pit. I mean the Freedom Pool..

 

Aaaaaah!

Sweet relief at the end of a Wednesday. 

For once. 

Stone Soup's open mic is tonight. 

I hope you join us. 

Happy Birthday to...We?

The Chad Parenteau's Lost Causes newsletter for July 1 is up now at Substack.

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.

Oh, Hi, Liz!

 

Meet Lizzie Rutberg in this week's Lyrical Somerville for The Somerville Times. 

The Message of the New Trump Passport Is...Confusing

Saw this tweet and thought of George Carlin immediately. 

 

I Dunno...

Is this supposed to be a flex? Because I'm not sure it's really a flex. 

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. 

News from the Front, 7-1-26: Zombie Journalism

Not enough popcorn to outlast this slow death.

Happy Birthday, Kenning JP García

 

 

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.