Poem by Darren Demaree

Franklin Hiram King Dies, Communism Comes to China

It all went
backwards again

after the Chinese
revolted against

their opiate lords,
right after Hiram

died one chapter
short of his opus,

& since the Chinese
like everyone else

had no enthusiasm
after an opium dynasty

they decided to rely
on the ultimate

burden-sharing. It
was a good, panic move,

but with Hiram done
extolling the virtues

of their working force,
America was left

to assume the whole
country was hungover,

or with the Russians.
It was better

Backwards, the first
time, with Hiram.

Darren Demaree’s poems have appeared, or are scheduled to appear in numerous magazines/journals, including the South Dakota Review, Meridian, New Letters, Diagram, and the Colorado Review. He is the author of five poetry collections, most recently The Nineteen Steps Between Us (2016, After the Pause Press). I am the Managing Editor of the Best of the Net Anthology and Ovenbird Poetry.

Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of Poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.