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.

 

Threat/Not Threat

Jon Wesick takes wisdom from the internet despite the internet and gives us a poem you can read now over at Oddball Magazine. 

Sub Culture

Poet Jon Wesick and artist Eric N. Peterson close out this Wednesday sandwich segment at Oddball Magazine. Thanks for reading. 

 

New Gospel

Jon Wesick presents new wisdom for our horrible age with the most fitting artwork from Eric N. Peterson. All to kick off our late afternoon portion of Oddball Magazine. 

Sometimes I Make Appearances in Other People's Poems

Thanks to Jon Wesick for writing a poem...kinda about me but kinda not? I can neither confirm nor deny that anything he alleges in the poem "Chad's Poutine," but I'm flattered regardless. 

Stone Soup Croutons, 3-12-25: Patient History

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.

 

Another all-open mic this past Wednesday. I missed part of it and hurried back only to be breathing heavy throughout the rest of the night. Sorry, guys. 

 

It was interesting to go play the video. I usually do this, but in this case I was hearing some work for the first time. It was fun to catch up. It altered this poem's outcome. More nonsensical than I'd like, but I'm going with it. Thanks to opening poet Jackie Chou and emergency host Jon Wesick for giving me the idea for the title.

 

See you for Lee Eric Freedman's feature next week.

 

Thanks for reading. 

 

The Case Against Poetry

 

The rush of doing

something horrible

over and over again

inspires music genres.

Please Sir, No More

Writer Jon Wesick pairs up with artist DL Polonsky to give us a timely two punch at Oddball Magazine. 

Issue 8 of Stone's Throw Released Just in Time

The "Unalive the Algorithm" issue is out just in time to wish 2024 a very happy Y2K! Featuring the writings of Mark States, Jon Wesick, Robert Fleming, Ari Whipple, Richard Spisak, Edward S. Gault, Katharine Schulz, Shannon O’Connor, R.M. Engelhardt and Luis Lázaro Tijerina. Cover art by David House and additional art by Robert Fleming.

Available for download here.

 

The Christmas Wars Have Begun!

Poet Jon Wesick leads the charge and takes point with his poem for today and artist Robert Fleming has his six. Welcome to another Christmas Wars at Oddball Magazine. 

The Hammer Drops

 

 

After weeks of reading it in installments at Stone Soup Poetry's open mic, Jon Wesick's "Sledgehammer Ex Machina" is now available to read over at Underside Stories.

Stone Soup Croutons, 7-24-24: Stars Keep Us in the Dark

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.

An all-open mic happened on Wednesday. A chance to get my bearings before more features come down the pipe. We have Charles Coe next week on the last day of July. I I had more time, I would do highlight reels on YouTube and elsewhere instead of just posting the entire video. I would still post the whole video but highlights might actually entice more people to come. Just a thought in my head. 

Richard Spisak's opening poem about Joe Manchin got me thinking about a certain Dr. Seuss character that couldn't take a hint and leave. That made this poem fun to write. The title comes from another of Richard's science poem. Thanks to Jon Wesick for sending a link.

 

Thanks for reading. 

Stars Keep Us in the Dark

 

Marvin K. Mooney 

never left, has hidden

in congress under 

fake names for years.

The cruel shoes gifted

by Steve Martin

fit like moonshine

with filet mignon.

Stone Soup Croutons, 7-17-24: Trash Ending

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 came back from my vacation, and Gabby Gilliam was our first feature. I enjoyed listening to this night all over again. Jon Wesick finished his pulp lampoon "Sledgehammer Ex Machina," which he's been reading installments of for the last few weeks. The difference between his opening and Gabby's poetry gave me a poem that surprised me. I'm grateful to have written it.

 

Thanks for reading. 

Trash Ending

 

Don't read much about 

pregnancy in pulps. 

 

Once you have the

kid, it's over. 

 

No more double

entendre one-liners.

Face held together

by constant bruises

Stone Soup Croutons, 6-5-24: Mapping Drama

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.

A simple open mic this past Wednesday. A simple recap of this reading led to this simple poem. It helped that all the open mic sets really blended together, as if they knew the order and planned in advance. 

Thanks to Jon Wesick for giving me an idea for the title in the eleventh hour of jotting this down. Id like to work on this more, but my Fridays are anything but simple now. I have to go.

Thanks for reading. 

Mapping Drama

 

People in glass houses

invite poor friends over,

dare them to wreak havoc

before you say how many

times average rent their 

domicile costs to polish.

They Just Report! Honest!

Thanks to writer Jon Wesick and artist Richard Spisak for today's work in Oddball Magazine. 

Wars Keep Going Even on Fridays

Fiction from Jon Wesick and artwork from Robert Fleming makes The Christmas Wars worth fighting over at Oddball Magazine. 

Stone Soup Croutons, 12-20-23: Hacking Holidays

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.

 

The show went on. Stone Soup had an open mic despite my illness thanks to Jon Wesick hosting and organizing.  My first day of COVID was rough. I couldn't even participate. Luckily, I was able to listen to the recording. 

 

My head is still pretty stuffed and clouded. Won't be writing any manifestos this Christmas holiday. This is my first, well, first person poem in a while. 

 

A rare moment of intimacy or a near failure to draw from the open mic? You can decide as I go back to sleep.

 

Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays.

Hacking Holidays

Quarantined Christmas.

At least I have a home 

where I can roll up cold. 

Stone Soup Poetry Open Mic, 12-20-23

From this week's online gathering. The best open mic I've never been part of. Thanks to Jon Wesick for carrying the torch. More announcements when I feel better.

 

 

They Even Got a Christmas Wave In

 

 

Thanks so much to Jon Wesick for hosting last night's Stone Soup Poetry when I couldn't. We'll have to wait and see what happens next week when I'm hopefully better. More announcements coming hopefully.

December 20: Stone Soup Poetry Thanks Jon Wesick for Stepping In

Tonight's Stone Soup is an all-open mic. I am recovering from COVID, so I'm thankful to Jon Wesick for stepping up as host and Zoom Master. Thanks to everyone for their patients. Happy Holidays to all my online buddies.

Join us on November 8 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.

The meeting ID is 891 7617 7048

Password: 712123

It's Time

Jon Wesicks flash fiction kicks off the 2023 Horrorthon at Oddball Magazine. Thanks to Jason Wright again for this year's Horrorthon banner.