“Some Words for the Week”

When I wake the fire’s out

and I check my email

on my phone

while still in bed

before I brave barefoot

the ice of the floor

there I see people I once knew

in the poetry magazines

thin smiles of success

and acclaim

writing nothing poems

and getting rave reviews

and fellowships abroad

but I’m out of wood inside

so I put on the coveralls

and my chained up boots

tromp to the woodshed

load up my wagon with wood

pause in the freezing wind

to pull an inch long splinter

from the center of my palm

it’s before nine a.m.

and I’m already bleeding

and the other poets

are doing so well for

themselves

and I’ve still got my morning

fire

to start

Alexander Shalom Joseph is a writer from Gilpin County. He has two published books and one more forthcoming in the Fall of 2022. For more information and to subscribe to Alexander’s Newsletter go to alexandershalomjoseph.com