Category: Poetry

Self. Deception. / Dick Westheimer

Published on by Editorial Staff


It’s a rare moment when a finicky reader comes across a villanelle that is not only flawlessly constructed (no small feat!), but that also presents a sensitive self-examination to which virtually anyone might relate. These successes are insightfully sustained through the poet’s use of precise metaphors, well-handled allusions (notably to Marianne Moore), alongside a few unexpected, startling details, for instance, “my heart’s hardened to the mice and the beetles”. Also noteworthy is the wonderful, self-effacing tone maintained throughout. – Marilyn L. Taylor.

A Portrait of Narcissus With His Phone

Published on by Editorial Staff


Countless “portraits” of Narcissus have appeared in western art and literature over the centuries, but to my knowledge few, if any, have portrayed the young god as he poses for the ultimate selfie. This poem is also a gracefully constructed Petrarchan sonnet, well-realized both metrically and by virtue of the meticulous word choices. Finally—and rather surprisingly, the poem’s overall tone lands somewhere between formal eloquence and unpretentious clarity.