top of page
  • Black Twitter Icon
  • Black Facebook Icon
  • Screen%2520Shot%25202020-05-08%2520at%25

4th Poetry Challenge Winner #3

April 27, 2020

Challenge Words:
Yellow, Inconceivable, Mesmerize, Plumage, Leap, Soul, Betray, Mellifluous

Patrick T. Reardon, who has been nominated three times for a Pushcart Prize, is the author of eight books, including the poetry collection Requiem for David and Faith Stripped to Its Essence, a literary-religious analysis of Shusaku Endo's novel Silence. His poetry has appeared in Silver Birch Press, San Antonio Review, Ariel Chart, Cold Noon, Eclectica, Esthetic Apostle, Ground Fresh Thursday, Literary Orphans, Rhino, Spank the Carp, Main Street Rag, Down in the Dirt, Picaroon, Time for Singing, The Write Launch, Hey I’m Alive, Meat for Tea, Tipton Poetry Journal, UCity Review, Under a Warm Green Linden and The Write City.
Reardon, who worked as a Chicago Tribune reporter for 32 years, has published essays and book reviews widely in such publications as the Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain’s Chicago Business, National Catholic Reporter and U.S. Catholic. His novella Babe was short-listed by Stewart O’Nan for the annual Faulkner-Wisdom Contest. His Pump Don't Work blog can be found at http://www.patricktreardon.com/blog/.

LouiseMoisesPhoto_edited.jpg

Patrick T. Reardon

Chicago, IL

Winning Entry

Blare

Blare, bray:
Announce three temptations to fear:

Sour of yellow soul.
Jubilation of plumage.
Leap to betray.

Blare, bray:
Behold the inconceivable:

The streets of America empty.

Blare, bray:
Record the desert crossing:

Hand box flows mellifluous alkali water.
Golden hair mesmerizes.
McMuffin in the morning, dust at dusk.

Blare, bray:
Yearn for the land of promise:

Light candle.
Burn incense.
Close distance.


bottom of page