Michele Karas

Arboricide Song

A man with an axe called to his accomplices
from beneath the flow of night’s dark tap;
a bird screamed, a lyrebird. It flew into a tree,
up to where … Read more

Saunasphere

It’s so hot, your brain sounds the alarm—
orders your body to pump water
from interior reserves,
hydrants in the blood, muscles, kidneys,
and brain itself—through dilated vessels
to the … Read more

Vibrant face of depression

Dead Poets Society (1989 film): Public Domain

Another flick, a spark
once more awakened the past
Illustrating memories
are alive and always last

I recall your visage with
its veins, … Read more

Life Is Like Moon

For Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran

Life is Jina
Jina is Mahsa —

the full circle of light
witness to struggle

Say her name—

The … Read more

Morocco 2023

The Khamsas fall in Moroccan halls
As spirits fly away and mourners pray
Marrakech feels God’s fearful fist
Atlas quakes,
Riads break,
And solace cries
beneath rubble slides
Where missing … Read more

Remembering the Day

Howard Stern was on the radio then, obscenity
for everyone – or was it just reality
in language we could understand? Until a plane

broke through the punchline
to a … Read more

The Old Banyan Tree

Scorched, but still standing
the media said of the massive tree
in the heart of Lahaina after fires
blazed through Maui so swiftly, the sea
offered the best chance of … Read more

Precious Gemstones

  • by

Precious stones held a symphony
In the darkness of the sky.
Music played all around.
Gemstones cut by God above,
Impressive to the naked eye.
The stars glittered for all. … Read more

Climate Change

Jogging uphill
during the first week
of Spring I pick a scene
for you:

native frangipani,
nasturtiums, no, freesias
out of verge-grass thick
with honey;

bees worry
fireweed left behind… Read more

World Cup Winner (noun)

“The worst injury is feeling you don’t belong so much
to you —”
– Claudia Rankine, Citizen: An American Lyric

Lift trophy, receive:
kiss. Synonym for power
lorded over women’s … Read more

Aloha I Ka Hamau

Ka’u mau keiki
Holo! Holo!
Holo i ke kai!
Aia ma luna ou ka hanu o ka deragona,
Ua hoʻolapalapa kona huhū i kou mau ʻāina kapu.
Holo! Holo!
Holo … Read more

Finding The Way Somewhere

There is someone we could ask but they left
Early this morning to beat traffic. We heard gears
Groaning, classifying what type of sound and evidence
To expect as the … Read more

Compass

for Scott Joplin

NPR says MTV

was a 1981 arrival
the August moon

waxing under Leo

Rap has acquired
ragtime immunity

Born in the same
barrack, bordello

no don’t think … Read more