poetry
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An Interview with Vince Gotera
From City College of San Francisco graduate to Poet Laureate of Iowa, Forum contributor and native San Franciscan Vince Gotera talks about his poetic influences: war, the Haight Ashbury, his Filipino heritage, sea dragons, and “the city.”
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Spring 25 Visiting Writers Series
Mark your calendars for some readings in our Visiting Writers Series! We have a robust schedule of visiting writers this semester and will be updating this post! Join us for our first reading in our spring Visiting Writers Series! Professor Xochiquetzal Candelaria will host poet Joseph Lease for an online reading! Wednesday, March 5, 2025,…
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Forum & Me: How I Got Involved
Following the release of its Spring 2024 issue, Forum is proud to share this special blog post by long-time contributor to the magazine (and former CCSF student and teacher) Gloria Keeley, who talks about how her relationship with Forum began.
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University and College Poetry Prizes with the Academy Of American Poets!
ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE POETRY PRIZES Established in 1955, the University and College Poetry Prize program began with ten schools. Today, the Academy of American Poets sponsors over two hundred annual poetry prizes at colleges and universities across the U.S, and has awarded cash prizes to nearly ten thousand student poets since…
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magic spell
You will need–A preying mantis rescued from a lawnmower–Five ants rescued from a kitchen wherethe balabosta was going to crush them.–A wrapped piece of grocery cakeHostessor my new favorite that comes from Mexicowhite cake covered in chocolate with somespots of red jelly Gansito–Your favorite pair of colored socks–Your favorite pair of comfortable worn-out socks–A book…
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sifted bones
Crimson bleedson her clean pink jumper,blooming,like Poppies in October,the Plath poemwhich has nothing to do with poppies,the wounded woman’sheart a watercolor seeping. Fresh ruby dropsjust as we were ready to go home,declaring a reminderthat everything is not normal, everythingis not as it should be, but the portals are openthe veins are still alert,dripping,as the nurse…
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This Morning
I went for taro, custard, and red bean buns. Shrieks above from an argument broke my somnolence; a gull defended the cross it perched on from a circling raven’s assault. The vanquished raven landed and sulked. Do I call it augury, score a win for yang, or remember Jeffers, who wrote, “it is bitter earnestness…
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“my new friend”
“my new friend” don’t follow me like thatwith your sleazy saunterand those toned (bone-d) twigswobbling wedgesdollbaby dresshippie handbagand impossibly long locksthe color of crows (screaming murder!)the color of cats, those black island cats, following me all overstaring me down with eyes the color of citrine don’t look at me like thatholding your ground as i…
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Dialectic
The absence of Desire is sometimes Called peace. See flowers. Smell them. See birds. Hear them. Imagine their absence. Who can deny life’s desire for more life? The absence of desire is sometimes called peace, But perhaps only by those too weary To witness spring. Jason Szdlik‘s poem This Morning…
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Shy
Accessible Word Version_ Shy_Kayla_Wilton Shy by Kayla Wilton I received my English degree with a Spanish minor from CSU Stanislaus in Spring 2019, and I will complete my creative writing certificate at CCSF in Spring 2020. Writing is my passion, but I also dabble in drawing, painting, photography, and performance. My work has appeared…
Forum Literary Magazine 