river – Cajun Mutt Press

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 07/24/23

July 24, 2023July 24, 2023 James D. Casey IV

Memories Past
(Hillbilly Daddy)

I settle into my thoughts
zigzagging between tears
my fathers’ grave—
Tippecanoe River
Indiana 1982.
Over now,
a hillbilly country
like the flow
catfish memories
raccoons in trees
coon dogs tracking
on the river bank,
the hunt.
Snapping turtles
in the boat
offline—
river flakes
to ice—
now covered
thick snow.

Michael Lee Johnson lived ten years in Canada during the Vietnam era. Today he is a poet in the greater Chicagoland area, IL. He has 284 YouTube poetry videos. Michael Lee Johnson is an internationally published poet in 44 countries, a song lyricist, has several published poetry books, has been nominated for 6 Pushcart Prize awards, and 6 Best of the Net nominations. He is editor-in-chief of 3 poetry anthologies, all available on Amazon, and has several poetry books and chapbooks. He has over 453 published poems. Michael is the administrator of 6 Facebook Poetry groups. Member Illinois State Poetry Society: http://www.illinoispoets.org/.

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 07/19/23

July 20, 2023 James D. Casey IV

There’s No Bridge Over the Styx

I’ve burned many, many bridges in my life,
perfectly sound constructs that never
did anyone any harm.

I drenched them in four-star,
tossed a lighter over my shoulder, movie-style
and strode off without a backwards glance.

If there is a hell, a fiery one, not just other people,
I think mine will be to relive every last immolation,
ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

Likely they’ll provide a bucket: “Here,
for your tears, to douse the flames or
build ash castles afterwards. Your call.”

Jim Murdoch has been writing poetry for fifty years and has graced the pages of many now-defunct magazines and a few, like Ink, Sweat and Tears, The Lake and Eclectica, that are still hanging on in there. For ten years he ran the literary blog The Truth About Lies but now lives quietly in Scotland with his wife and (increasingly) next-door’s cat. He has published two books of poetry, a short story collection, and four novels.

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 06/02/21

June 2, 2021 James D. Casey IV

Basking in innocence & flight

Deep breath, ringing of bell 3 times
It resonates against my chest

Lightning juts out every where
The air is magnetic
Time ripples

I’m 5 again
Toes in the Ohio river

I can hear the wings
Of a blue heron over
The water

Deep breath, each time
In 3 the enormous bird
Flapping its wings
Then gliding

Time stills for a moment
And im back on couch
Basking in innocence
& flight

Merritt Waldon, 47 years old from southern Indiana. Poetry is his life. His first book, Oracles from a Strange Fire was released at midnight on Dec 25 2020, and coauthored with Ron Whitehead. Published by Cajun Mutt Press.