Murphy Writing of Stockton University Presents This entry is part of Getaway Reads, an e-mail series curated by Kendal Nicole Lambert that features the writing of the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway faculty. The Need for Character by Richard K. Weems Until this morning, my story was the same as any other yokel leaning on the brass rail at 9 a.m. Until this morning, there was no reason to tell my story to anyone but the tenderer of the booze and every-goddamn-one else like me: hiding in the dark in broad daylight, feeling safe with those who ... Read More...
Getaway Reads: Between People by Diana Goetsch
Murphy Writing of Stockton University Presents This entry is part of Getaway Reads, an e-mail series curated by Kendal Lambert that features the writing of the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway faculty. Between People by Diana Goetsch In a very real sense, all of us are transitioning. My life broke down two years ago at age 50, though it was broken all along. I seemed to be a well-functioning man named Douglas Goetsch: a teacher who’d taught at Stuyvesant High School and various universities, a poet with award-winning collections, a ... Read More...
Getaway Reads: The Sea Crest by Jeff Bens
Murphy Writing of Stockton University Presents This entry is part of Getaway Reads, an e-mail series curated by Kendal Lambert that features the writing of the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway faculty. The Sea Crest by Jeff Bens I’d moved to Atlantic City to take care of my father. My sister Daphne had called from Tampa Bay to say that his number was up. “What are we going to do?” she asked me, like we talked all the time, like we was a thing. “How bad?” “He wouldn’t say.” I didn’t have anywhere else to go. Jillian had ... Read More...
Getaway Reads: Two Poems by BJ Ward
Murphy Writing of Stockton University Presents This entry is part of Getaway Reads, an e-mail series curated by Kendal Lambert that features the writing of the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway faculty. Cuckoldom by BJ Ward Such conundrums of English. I blame my ex-wife. She rearranged my dictionary, or re- taught an old story: in this book, if you look for alimony, it follows acrimony (nothing between). However, contrition still borders contrivance (if it can be seen). Untruth in her troth sallowed the language, sullied a ... Read More...
Getaway Reads: Two Poems by Thomas Lux
Murphy Writing of Stockton University Presents This entry is part of Getaway Reads, an e-mail series curated by Kendal Lambert that features the writing of the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway faculty. Backyard Swing Set by Thomas Lux Splayed, swayback, cheap pipe playground: a swing, a slide, some rings maybe—we love our babies and a tire hanging from a branch won't do. For one summer it shines—red, the chains of silver, and beside it the blue plastic pool. First winter out it goes to rust. I love America's backyards, seen from ... Read More...