Left Hand Poetry

Another one from the Taco Bell Quarterly rejections file. Admittedly, reading it again and knowing TBQ's voice, this wasn't a great fit, but I still think it's a fun little piece of absurdism that I'd like to share with you. A couple more of these to go before I likely go dark again, unless I start selling a lot of poetry books and y'all demand that I carry on (https://lefthandrob.net is where you can find the links to the goods).

Friends, it's a been a few months and I might be a little rusty on my intro-ad libbing chops, but stick with me into the poem itself. It's fun, and hopefully up to my own standards for Weird. For this is the first in my little series of items, Taco Bell Quarterly Rejections. As mentioned in the pod, if you haven't go check out Taco Bell Quarterly. For poetry, it's a dream publication. If I could sneak in some Taco-Bell related Sci Fi, well that would be just perfect.  There's a Ko-fi link on my lefthandrob.net home page, where you might be reading this, if you want to help support the production of this podcast. And however much I'd like to see those dollars trickle in via ko-fi, I'd much rather you take that hard earned currency and donate it to one of the charities listed on that same site. Because we live in a capitalist society and the work toward justice and equality and maybe even equity requires money to run. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the poem. If you're happy I'm back, let me know with a comment or a tweet. If you wish I'd gone away for good, same.  

This is a fan-favorite (you know who you are, fan) sonnet, inspired by my father's rose garden. DO GOOD: Donate to Social Causes: https://www.lefthandrob.net/p/social-racial-justice-charities.html Poetry Books: Read along with the podcast, get your own copy of the poems (also another great way to support the podcast): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VW4TXV6 Direct Cash Contribution: Support this podcast by buying me a ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lefthandrob

DO GOOD: Donate to Social Causes: https://www.lefthandrob.net/p/social-racial-justice-charities.html Poetry Books: Read along with the podcast, get your own copy of the poems (also another great way to support the podcast): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VW4TXV6 Direct Cash Contribution: Support this podcast by buying me a ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lefthandrob

Direct Cash Contribution: Support this podcast by buying me a ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lefthandrob Poetry Books: Read along with the podcast, get your own copy of the poems (also another great way to support the podcast): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VW4TXV6 DO GOOD: Donate to Social Causes: https://www.lefthandrob.net/p/social-racial-justice-charities.html

Direct Cash Contribution: Support this podcast by buying me a ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lefthandrob Poetry Books: Read along with the podcast, get your own copy of the poems (also another great way to support the podcast): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VW4TXV6 DO GOOD: Donate to Social Causes: https://www.lefthandrob.net/p/social-racial-justice-charities.html This week, it's "Something." There wasn't an episode last week because I just wasn't feeling it. But hey, I'm back. The rest: like, share, rate, engage

Support this podcast by buying me a ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lefthandrob Read along with the podcast, get your own copy of the poems (also another great way to support the podcast): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VW4TXV6 Donate to Social Causes: Rob's Blog: Donate to Social / Racial Justice Charities (lefthandrob.net) For whatever reason, I did not read this poem at the week of the anniversary of 9/11. I don't remember why. But for you, this year, on the 20th anniversary, is "11."

Support this podcast by buying me a ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lefthandrob Read along with the podcast, get your own copy of the poems (also another great way to support the podcast): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VW4TXV6 Donate to Social Causes: Rob's Blog: Donate to Social / Racial Justice Charities (lefthandrob.net) It's not Fall yet, but as of this recording it IS September, so I'm going back into "Stand Right, Walk Left" for this week's piece, "September's Rent." It evokes a feeling from slightly later in the year here in the Northern parts of North America, but hey, listen now and then listen to this episode again while you're out among the changing leaves. Plus, you can tell your friends about the podcast in the interim.

I made the switch from Audacity to Garageband to record this week's episode ,and there's a little reverb in there I didn't catch until I was doing a final QA check on the mp3 file. So, for you dear listener, enjoy this week's episode as if it were coming to you from a 1970's recording studio, because damn they loved reverb back then! This week from Regret & Opportunity is "Focus," a brief work about the transient nature of our existence. Visit https://lefthandrob.net for more episodes, essays, and links to Social Justice Causes. Visit https://www.amazon.com/author/murrayrobertc for my full catalog of books, including all 3 poetry books. They make wonderful gitfts - the recipient will think you're quite erudite, giving poetry. Priced to move, Priced to Love, Priced so that Amazon gets their cut I can still afford to run this podcast. Help me keep making these for you.

With all the new homes under construction in my development, it's hard not to look back through my poetry books and pluck out this little gem to share with you all this week. It's a silly little ode written when I moved into a house I'd bought many years ago, full of optimism as a homeowner after years of renting a place. Hey everyone, this is where I remind you that this podcast can't continue forever without your support! Pick up one of my poetry books, tell a friend about the podcast, the usual rate and review stuff. Links to purchase all my books (poetry and otherwise, if you're so inclined) can be found at my site: https://LefthandRob.net There's also a link there to some Social Justice causes that could use your money to keep doing their good work. To my long-time listeners, thanks for sticking around! For all the new folks, welcome!

A brief, light ode this week to the fuzzy little bunny who lets me take their picture and eats the grass (and probably carrot tops) in my yard. It's a fuzzy little poem that could use a little more work, maybe, just like the little bunny who isn't as scared of me as they ought to be. My dear fans of the podcast, here we are after 15 months together. I began this podcast for 2 reasons: 1. To make the opportunity to read out loud the poetry I'd been writing for all these years, and 2. To sell some poetry books. Goal 1 - accomplished! Goal 2 ... Folks, I'm not asking you to head over to Amazon and buy my poetry books apropos of nothing. They make great gifts. They look good while taking up not much space on your bookshelf. The proceeds from sustained sales of them would go a long way to making this podcast pay for itself. I've hinted, suggested, proposed that my books are out there, and maybe I'm just impatient, but it's been just the baker's dozen of us (there's 12 of you out there listening regularly, plus me!) along on this journey. As much as I appreciate an intimate venue, if it's not in your means to buy a book, then help spread the word about the podcast. Your friends care more about your recommendation than anything I could tweet or post about. Let's keep this little art project of ours going together. Let me feel your love. You know who else needs love? Black People, LGBTQ people, immigrants and refugees.  Open up your bank accounts and give some money to the good organizations doing the work to make the world more equitable for everyone. Or your time, or whatever. Sometimes I wonder if it's because I made the decision last year to begin sharing this message in every podcast episode and every podcast post like this that my audience has remained limited. But honestly I don't care. It would eat me up more inside if I DIDN'T say something in every episode, every time. OH OH OH And get vaccinated if you haven't (or if you can, I know this podcast is available worldwide, unlike the vaccine) and keep wearing your mask! So to recap: Go do some good! Get vaccinated and wear a mask! Tell people about the podcast and the companion books so I can keep doing this.

I've spent almost no time in casinos, and given my awareness of my luck at games of chance there's a good reason why. However, I have been a working musician on and off over the years and many of my friends are full-time working musicians (damn good too). So I respect the hustle and the need to pay rent and furthermore just to perform (hi, I have a poetry podcast, whatsup). So with all that in mind, I give you this week's debut of "House Band at a Casino." OH - quick note that this week's poem has the theme music I created for the podcast playing underneath the poem itself. Seemed like a neat thing to do, a little experiment. If I had more time to devote to the podcast I'd figure out how to record something fresh to lay under the reading each week. But now I'm just rambling.  If you've read this far, you seem to have some interest in this podcast. Thanks for that, I appreciate it! This is more than a one-way communication, though. Your feedback is important to me. Did you like a particular rhyme scheme? Did a topic strike your fancy and you'd like to hear more poems like that? Did you absolutely hate something I read and worry that I might inflict a similar poem on you in the future? How should I know? That's where you come in. There are so many ways to get back to me: Leave a comment on my blog Comment on the Tumblr post Comment on Libsyn @ me on Twitter (@Lefthandrob) Like, comment, share on my Facebook page Visit my Instagram page Rate and review in your podcast app After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.   House Band at a Casino The dichotomy of the soul That must exist for the lounge singer That unknown musician on stage at the casino,   the house band in a house built on a sketchy grasp of math But the split must run deep For they ply their trade Express their talent and speak their vocation   But to a largely disaffected audience who are otherwise consumed By greed or addiction Rare is the soul who just pops in to hear the house band play Thank you, house band. Play on.

This poem has been, appropriately, in the works for some time. I believe it's the first I've ever written about my father, though I have thoughts for several more. The text of the poem is at the bottom of this post, as this is another debut of a work. If you've read this far, you seem to have some interest in this podcast. Thanks for that, I appreciate it! This is more than a one-way communication, though. Your feedback is important to me. Did you like a particular rhyme scheme? Did a topic strike your fancy and you'd like to hear more poems like that? Did you absolutely hate something I read and worry that I might inflict a similar poem on you in the future? How should I know? That's where you come in. There are so many ways to get back to me: Leave a comment on my blog Comment on the Tumblr post Comment on Libsyn @ me on Twitter (@Lefthandrob) Like, comment, share on my Facebook page Visit my Instagram page Rate and review in your podcast app After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice. Scoping I'm standing on the landing Of our brand new house, staring out into the yard. My son asks me what I'm doing, and I reply That I'm thinking about something.   In my thinking I am tinkering Building out a shape, Resolving the problem. Working out the requirements As my father did So many times when I was a son.   I never gathered why it mattered why he just stood there. Staring at an empty parcel of our yard, or a wall of the house Why not just start doing?   He was scoping in that moment As he stood there still. His mind assembling the pieces and the measurements He would tell me.   Eventually I knew I would see Something new out in the yard; Or some fresh construction: Bringing craftsmanship And utility to our home.   And as I am standing on the landing Staring out the window of our brand new house, My son asking me why I was just standing there…   I know that in so many small ways, I have become my father.

Another fresh poem making its debut on the podcast this week! I've been reading a lot of more sparse poems lately, but "Ask Not For Whom The Vulture Lands..." is step back in the direction of using more words to give us some rhythm in addition to rhyme. You can find the text of the poem at the bottom of this post, but before moving on I wanted to offer my apologies to John Donne, Ernest Hemingway, and Edgar Allen Poe for borrowing from all of them in the writing of this piece. Like Harry Chapin said in his live recording of "30,000lbs of Bananas," you'll know it when it comes by. If you've read this far, you seem to have some interest in this podcast. Thanks for that, I appreciate it! This is more than a one-way communication, though. Your feedback is important to me. Did you like a particular rhyme scheme? Did a topic strike your fancy and you'd like to hear more poems like that? Did you absolutely hate something I read and worry that I might inflict a similar poem on you in the future? How should I know? That's where you come in. There are so many ways to get back to me: Leave a comment on my blog Comment on the Tumblr post Comment on Libsyn @ me on Twitter (@Lefthandrob) Like, comment, share on my Facebook page Visit my Instagram page Rate and review in your podcast app After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice. Ask Not For Whom The Vulture Lands, It Lands For Thee One hazy morning while out walking The wife, the dog, and I were talking (Only spouse and I were talking; The dog was just out there to pee).   We happened on a large black bird I wondered if she had overheard? Of what and which we both were talking And if she'd swooped down to see.   At first I thought she was a turkey We get them 'round here, so often lurking In the woods where folks go walking Maybe it … was a he?   And then I took a closer look and found That this bird was far too round I took his measure, firmly marking That bird was not a wild turkey.   I paid my wife this next cognition Aided by my further vision A closer look without gawking: This was a vulture, Comma, turkey.   A turkey vulture there just sitting Eying roadkill, stock-still sitting. Dare I say its best at lurking Against the roadbed's adjacent quey.   And so we left him (her?) there in peace The wife, the dog, and by default, me. We left that turkey vulture to his hawking Obeyed his silent, hungry plea.   Thus some truths eternal hold Be they often meek or seldom bold See me sane and never barking, Ask not for whom the vulture lands: It lands for thee.

One of the things I enjoy writing poems about - as you may have guessed by now - is the weather as I experience it throughout the year. My problem of writing snow poems is well documented, both here on the podcast and in my poetry books (which you should be buying, look, the link is right there). But now I turn my sweated eye toward our current season here in the northern hemisphere, as we find ourselves in the depths of Summer. This is born "Axial Tilt," this week's entry. Well, last week's entry, but I'm a little late to the game this week. If you've read this far, you seem to have some interest in this podcast. Thanks for that, I appreciate it! This is more than a one-way communication, though. Your feedback is important to me. Did you like a particular rhyme scheme? Did a topic strike your fancy and you'd like to hear more poems like that? Did you absolutely hate something I read and worry that I might inflict a similar poem on you in the future? How should I know? That's where you come in. There are so many ways to get back to me: Leave a comment on my blog Comment on the Tumblr post Comment on Libsyn @ me on Twitter (@Lefthandrob) Like, comment, share on my Facebook page Visit my Instagram page Rate and review in your podcast app After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.    

We walk the dog every morning and our walks take us past some of the drainage ponds that dot our little subdivided corner of the world. The pond in question - the pond that inspired this poem - is affectionately called "The Duck Pond" by my wife and me. Because last Fall we saw a number of ducks congregating there, I mean, it's pretty simple. Anyway, while walking the dog one morning recently I noticed a big white heron (egret? I think this was a heron, for the purposes of the poem it was a heron, but you can check the photo for yourself: https://lefthandrob.tumblr.com/post/655522651118403584) hanging out in the pond. Given the morning light and the fullness of the pond from recent rain, this was too good a photo opportunity to pass up. Of course as I crested the hill between myself and the pond I soon realized that there was not 1 but three herons (egrets?) hanging out. And a mother duck with her ducklings going for a swim. And thus the photo linked above was born. And thus this week's poem was inspired as I meditated on how damn peaceful the whole scene was, even though there's construction happening a hundred yards away from this bucolic vista. Hey, you know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

America: The United States thereof. I'm a firm believer that if we work toward the principles that we espouse that we could actually have a decent place for most everyone. I am also fully aware that this has not, is not, and will not be the case for a good number of people for years to come. But the work continues. This week's poem focuses on some of the symbolism of this nation-state we call home and hopefully you feel the call towards a better America for everyone in the poem. Happy Independence Day, America! Hey, you know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Y'all. Folks. My friends. Listeners. Poetry fans. A week ago my wife and I were on our way - in the car- to New York City to see the Foo Fighters perform the first concert @ Madison Square Garden since the pandemic began for most of us last March. And it was a glorious show. Whether or not you're a fan of that specific band, we all know the feeling of joy that coming back into the world and doing something that was not possible while we all worked to fight the disease that ravaged the world -- and in many places still does! Get your shots, people, if you haven't! This is important. This concert was for those of us who have been fully vaccinated and it was amazing. You too can enjoy amazing things again when you've had your shots and are back in the world. This week's poem is about that joy. Hey, you know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.  

Another ambient piece this week, meant to evoke the feeling of standing under low-hanging clouds in the night sky of June when you're trapped between the awe of nature and the fact that you're tired and you wish the dog would just wrap up his business already because you're ready for bed. Hey, you know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

I have a fraught relationship with Amazon. On the one hand, they provide a facility for me to publish my books (including my poetry books. Ahem) and also get pretty much whatever I realize I need with a few swipes and taps while also donating a tiny bit of that purchase back to an organization for which I care. ON THE OTHER HAND, Amazon exploits people via horrible working conditions and my consumer habits are funding the second-coolest billionaire rocket out there when he could be putting a good chunk of that money into any number of social programs, soooooooooooooooo  But when I leave product reviews, I like to do them in the form of poems, because duh. Thus this week's poem. Hey, you know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

A low-stakes poem this week, a wry look at how we're able to call forth the rain when all we've been waiting for is ... rain. And how Mother Nature can go a little overboard in Her response when she does make it rain. Hey, you know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Some poems take multiple passes, a lot of tinkering and thought, to take the shape of something I'd dare share with the world. Others just kind of flow out of the pen onto the page and I like them just as they are. This week, it's the latter. This Untitled Inspiration Poem just poured out recently as I stood in my kitchen one afternoon. Yeah, it has a touch of cliché to it, but there's nothing wrong with a little verbal remix, especially when it works rhythmically. Which I think it does, and it's my podcast and no one who listens to this thing has ever commented that my sense of rhythm is off (or commented much of anything, 'sup?), but I digress. I'm also doing something different with this week's show notes. Since this poem isn't typed up anywhere and it's a shorter work, I'm putting the text of the poem into these show notes. Check the bottom for the poem. But before that, you know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.   Untitled Inspirational Poem If you're waiting for a better, more unfettered time Do not decline to act instead attack and say "seize the day" (carpe diem) See them, all the things you're waiting on Take them on Put upon your shoulders the mantle of action for inaction breeds the like To psych yourself out of a taste Leaving naught but sour grapes

I wrote this week's poem many years ago, and reading it through this week in prep for recording the episode, it struck me again how much it would work as a song. I mean, it needs a chorus stuck in there, but that's an easy enough retrofit. You'll also notice if you're reading along in Blue., from which the poem comes, that the final line has changed. You'll also notice a missing period at the end of the second stanza. Both of these will be changed in my upcoming collected works poetry book (Coming 2022? How does that make you feel?). If you're NOT reading along at home, well, I mean, I included a link to Blue. above, and from there it's a quick hop to my other poetry books as well. Oh look at that, a link to them as well! But I digress. Enjoy this week's episode: "Works of Love." You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

More inane absurdity for your ears this week, thanks to an old can of wood stain I found while cleaning out the painting supplies for the local high school's theatre department. You can find it all over my social media (tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram - Insta is where a lot of my new poetry shows up these days, in the caption FYI). Just the word "woo" instead of "wood" made me giggle - yes giggle; not chuckle, smile, laugh, bray, snicker, chortle, etc. I giggled. Because it said "woo." Look at the photo, it's hilarious in context. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Hey, Internet - well, hey: Rob's fraught relationship with the Internet! I wrote a poem about you! A brief poem this week that some of you might find a little too familiar for comfort. All I can say is: Same. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Coming at you from the earliest parts of the 21st century comes this poem of the time the clouds hung low in the skies over my place of business and the Good Year Blimp waddles past on its way from one sporting event to another. As I say in the episode, it's one of my oldest poems that has stood the test of time - meaning I feel comfortable sharing it on the podcast and am not too terribly embarrassed by its continued existence in the world. Thus we have, "The Sighting." You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

A few weeks back, my wife and I went on a hike with some dear friends of ours that we had not seen since the first pandemic restrictions went into place. Given that we're still working our way back to safe and I was at the time unvaccinated, we chose to get together outdoors and enjoy the Spring weather with a hike. And so this week's poem "Spring Hike" was born. "Spring Hike" is straight from my Instagram account, where I post photos for which I write accompanying poems. If Insta isn't your thing, I cross-post all of my entries to my Facebook page, my Twitter account, and my Tumblr. If you'd like to check out the inspiring photo and read the poem for yourself, here's a link: https://lefthandrob.tumblr.com/post/647675638621339648/amongst-the-trees-i-pause-to-wheeze-elevation   While I'm sure "Spring Hike" will appear in my next poetry book (coming 2022? Does that move you to know that? let me know), I like it enough that I couldn't wait until then to share it with you in print or the podcast, and so here it is. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Here I am again, updating on a Sunday. I did tell y'all that it would be every week-ish. Still my apologies for the delay, consistency is key to growing an audience, and while you're but a handful of faithful listeners (thank you!!) at present, maybe some day I'll explode. Who knows? It just takes one Buzzfeed article, right? But you want to know about this week's episode. "Triple Check and CYA" was written to cheer up a friend several years back, after they experienced a quintessential Corporate American Issue, and maybe even just a Corporate issue? The seed of the thing was the need to "CYA," or "Cover Your A**" when you are undertaking a potentially corporate-politically risky action. I guess the current parlance would be to say "make sure you have the receipts." Thus from that conversation was this poem born. It's certainly a performative piece. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Poetry covers such a broad range of the human experience that I wouldn't expect all of you who listen to the podcast to share this experience, but I'll be willing to wager that there's at least a partial overlap between listeners of this and people who have or will attend music recitals, or more broadly: intimate acoustic music performances. "Accompanist" was born out of this experience. My specific memory is a bit fuzzy, but given the context of the poem, I'm fairly certain it was a guitar recital that prompted this brief ode to live musicians. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

About 10 years ago or so I decided to try the whole giving up something for Lent concept. I went easy, I thought, I swapped out coffee for tea. As someone who's prone to headaches, it was a bit of a roll of the dice, but I found some good caffeinated tea that I could fit the bill. For the record, to know me is to know the deep abiding joy that coffee brings me - not just the caffeine, but the flavor. So now you know the about me. Anyway, when Easter finally arrived, I was back on the good stuff and was then moved to write this poem, and since this week's episode is super late thanks to the roadwork going on outside my house on the days when I would normally record and upload an episode, it's Easter! So please enjoy my Easter poem - if you're of a Christian Faith, Happy Easter! For everyone else, Happy Sunday, and to everyone, sorry this was so late! You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

"Hubris and Roller Skates" is my ode to Physics, of which I am a fan (still rooting for that FTL workaround that's sure to come any day!), but alas only have a very basic grasp. Like, I get vector math and grasp the concepts, but I'm not up to the math. Respect and love to all the physicists out there, you make Space Exploration and all this amazing technology possible! You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Sad, wistful, metaphorical even. "The Growing Season" is a poem I wrote while going through some things many years ago, and now I'm sharing it with you! Well, to be fair, it's been available in my book "Blue." for a while, so. It was also featured as a spoken-word piece a local college dance company used in a recital, but I can't find the video to share with you! If this rings a bell for you, share a link in the comments! You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

After last week's dramatic reading, I've chosen something a bit more dialed back, though philosophical in nature. I also promise that I wasn't high when I wrote this week's poems -- this is how my brain naturally works, if you haven't figured that out for yourself by now. "Pistachios and Life" and "A Response to Pistachios and Life" punch above their weight and while it's well-trodden philosophical ground, I think it's also a universal experience we've all shared in one way or another. Right? You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Things get a little personal this week with "Fracture." I get low-grade headaches fairly often (yaayyyyy) but rarely, a full-blown migraine comes on. Less so now that I've learned to avoid certain triggers, but the experience inspired this poem. Also, Trigger Warning: If you're a migraine sufferer, listen with caution. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

It's a couple of mouths-full of titles for this week's episode, which I'm offering as a tribute to NASA and the JPL for all their hard work in getting another rover onto the surface of Mars. Well done all! "Retinal Pressure..." is as much a poem about longing for Spring after tiring of Winter as it is about Mars, if not more so. "Adherence..." is a celebration of the landing, pure and simple. My office got mighty dusty when I saw the cheer rise up from the control room last week, again I say well done all! You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

As promised, this week it's the later version of the same draft that I forgot to remove from my list of draft poems. It's in many ways the same poem, and maybe in my next book I'll blend the two together and make some sort of super poem from them. Anyway, it's a nice little bit of verse and I'm happy to have shared it with you. I'll close on this by quoting John Mulaney: "Well that's the same joke twice!" You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

This doesn't happen often, but occasionally I'll pull together a draft of a poem and then rework it into its final form, even publish it in a book, but keep the original draft filed away. And then I later discover that draft after the first poem is already out there in the world. And then I rework the draft again and publish it in another book. So far, this has only happened with one poem, of which I am reading the first iteration to you this week, "Prayer for the Eternal Wanderer," from "Blue." Thematically it shares a space with episode 004's poem "In the Far and Bitter End," but comes at the sentiment from a different angle, the remove of the person who stayed behind and seeks to divine the motives of our protagonist of the waves. Next week I'll read the latter version of that poem. It is an exercise for you, dear listener, to determine whether or not I should have left well enough alone.  Ah, quick programming note: the mic was a little hot this week, I'll fix it next week, promise. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

It's currently over 50 degrees (F) outside my office where I sit as I type this, but we've just come out of something of a cold, windy spell. You know, Winter. Some winters back, when I lived in a very old house with an old furnace plugged into an even older chimney, the gas meter reader came out of my basement with some bad and dare I say life-threatening news - there was a big build up of carbon monoxide around the furnace. And I thought the sleepiness I felt every evening as I sat in front of the TV just a thin covering of aging floorboards away from said furnace was from having to get under a blanket in the drafty old house. Nope. What happened next was ... well, that's why you're here this week! Enjoy "Clean Sweep," and stay warm and safely cozy, friends. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.  

Coffee. It's what has been keeping me warm since the weather took a sharp downward turn vis a vis the mercury this January. As such, I offer for you 2 caffeinated poems from my first book of poetry that touch on or directly address the beverage itself. "Existential Angst & Espresso" sprang from an empty chalkboard meant to tell us who was pulling our shots and adding our sugary flavored syrups that day. "Coffee: Good for the Soul" is a brief ode to the beverage itself - not the last I have written! No, much like snow, it would seem, I have more to say about my favorite warm bean water. In closing, I'll say that coffee in various forms has touched my life over the years, as I'm sure it has for many of you. But this is a discussion for another time - and perhaps a poem of it's own. For now, You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.  

After the last few up and down weeks that we have had here in the States, I wanted to offer up a poem written after one of the most peaceful moments of my adult life - surf fishing at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I've only done it once, and I'd do it again give the opportunity (and the loan of some gear!) It was a gorgeous summer day and just being there was - well, listen to the podcast. "The Lure" covers those events. Along for the ride is "Cool Breeze," a shorter poem that I think pairs well with "The Lure." You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.  

After last week's foray into corporate pride-swallowing, I'm coming at you with a much more bucolic work, "Ode to MD 67." This one is straight from the heart and a little rough around the edges. For a couple of years I spent a lot of time on that old state road, and to the future it ultimately delivered me into.  A little meta-commentary, I've updated the podcast's closing to be a bit more streamlined. I know everyone always listens to the end to hear that end theme, so this will hopefully get you there a little quicker while I still conduct the business of the podcast. Speaking of business, I'll reiterate what I say there: if you visit https://LeftHandRob.net, you'll see along the right hand column of the home page all of my books, and for your reference my poetry books. Own the words you've heard me speak! While the podcast IS a labor of love for me, grabbing a copy of those books (they make great gifts, y'all) would be an amazing help to support this production. Okay, sales pitch over. Let's wrap this up the usual way. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Welcome to Season 2! New Year, same podcast. Hopefully that's a comfort to you, especially after the attempted insurrection that happened earlier this week in DC. Coincidentally, this week's poem is titled "Yes Man," and it came from an actual experience I had at work, long long ago. It's not happy, nor absurd, in fact it's a little sad and it's a poem I wrote to process the feelings that burrowed themselves deep into my chest when the event occurred. All these years later they are just echoes now, and the disappointment in my voice is directed firmly at those in power who refuse to act as they should and sadness at those who are led down a path toward madness. Given what comes below in every one of these posts, you should be able to figure out about whom I am speaking. I'll see about picking something a bit more bucolic or absurd for next week's episode, until then... You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

I hope you enjoy this little essay that was selected by a dear friend or me to read as part of an afternoon of music and poetry at my home town library a few years back. "Tiny Dog Infestations" is yet another absurd look into the fact that when people have a tiny dog they somehow always have more than just the one. There's also some historical context in there as well. It's all as true as you want it to be. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

The audio this week is a little more  ... intimate sounding that it usually is. I used a different setup, but hey, keeps things interesting for your ears! The poem this week is "Mental Sorbet," which I describe the genesis of said phrase in the poem itself. It's a quick one and something a little weird for you as we head into a weird holiday season when I hit publish on this episode. For those of you downloading and listening in 2020 (or likely too far into 2021), I hope you're safe and secure and that this episode provides a few moments of pleasantly odd distraction from whatever troubles you. Unless it's a certain scene in a certain movie, in which case, sorry about that. You know the drill: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Folks -- at this point, I think I can even say Friends -- I have a problem. Whenever snow starts falling out of the sky, my brain slips into a poetic mood and unbidden it begins to crank out verses about the stuff. My poetry books are littered with snow poems. So obviously when the first proper snowfall of the winter happened here where I am, I leafed through said books and found a poem on the subject to read for you. And so we have this week's episode "On the Meaning of a Single Snowflake." Of course, it's somewhat ironic given that it refers to those first snowflakes that fall and give us no clue (weather forecasts need not apply) as to whether we're in for several inches and a bit of shoveling or just some flurries that sublimate away before you can say "one horse open sleigh." You know the drill by now: I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

If you're a regular listener of the podcast, you may have thought that I was finally cashing in on the "or so" part of when I originally told you that this podcast would publish "every week *or so*." Fear not, friend, for I have a fresh episode for you right here. If you're finding this episode at some point in the future - Hi! How's the future? Do we have flying cars yet?  This week, a poem based on a photo I discovered online, I think it was likely a writing prompt, and if so prompt it did! The photo was of a young girl standing before an elephant playing a violin (the girl was playing the violin, not the elephant. This would have been a much different poem if that had been the case). "I Played for the Queen of All Elephants" is a poem I had thought was done, but when I chose to record it this week and did my pre-record read through I found that the story just trails off. It was all set up and no payoff. So I added a few more stanzas to finish the tale. Hopefully you can't tell where the original bit ends and the new bit begins, unless you have your copy of "Blue." in front of you. You do own a copy of "Blue.," don't you? If not, you can find the link to it on the "Buy my Books" page on my blog (https://lefthandrob.net , if you're not already there). "I Played..." is a bit of fantasy, tangentially appropriate in this season of dreams, but not Holiday-themed in any way, unless you consider peace, harmony, and music Holiday themes. I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

Well, y'all seem to like it when I dig into the absurdity archive, so I pulled out one of my favorites from one of the weirder corners of my brain. I mean, it's been out in the world for about 8 years now, but it's probably new to you. That's right, this week it's "Avocado (dis)Information". See if you can spot the chemistry pun. I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

This episode drops on American Thanksgiving, and as I'm in a thankful mood I chose "Thanks to English Teachers" for this week's poem, inspired by both those who taught me and my wife, who is herself an amazing and talented English teacher. For them, for her, I am thankful! I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

I had originally meant to read this poem last week, but as I said then the events of the weekend had moved me to write some new poems, and they were very much of the moment. Hopefully they hold up over time as much as this one has - in my opinion. You may or may not have been paying attention to the back and forth of the 2012 election back when it was happening, but I was, and a slice of that moment worked its way into that poem, dreamt up on a morning's commute, back when I spent so many hours to and from work. This week, it's "Capital Improvement." I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

I had originally planned to program one of my more politically-minded poems that I had already published in one of my collections (Blue.), but over the weekend I was moved by current events to share a pair of poems on my Instagram story. If you follow me there, you've likely already read them. If not, hey, I'm on Instagram, posting photos that I write brief poems about (LeftHandRob). So this week you get another two-for: "Victory," a piece celebrating the win for President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris and "Quiz Show Guru," an elegy for Alex Trebek. I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.

We're well into the Fall season here on the East Coast, and as I was searching for this week's poem, I happened on this piece, which I wrote while on a visit to Los Angeles a few years back. Think of it as something of an elegy for both deciduous trees and man's hubris. I want to hear what you think of the podcast, whether it's a specific poem or the format, or whatever's on your mind! Leave a review or a comment in your podcast app, or catch me on Twitter @Lefthandrob. After listening to the podcast (or while listening), visit one of these sites and donate for the cause, because All Black Lives Matter and my fellow white (and cis) people we need to get in the game: Donate to Black Lives Matter Donate to the Souther Poverty Law Center Donate to the Equal Justice Initiative Transgender Law Center The poems will continue to flow, but so must the Justice.