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MB McLatchey Poet Writer Teacher Poetry Workshops Florida M.B. McLatchey is an American poet and writer living, writing, and teaching in Florida. She is Poet Laureate of Florida's Volusia County, Professor of Humanities at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Chancellor for the Florida State Poets Association, Arts & Wellness Ambassador for the Atlantic Center for the Arts, U.S. Ambassador to the HundrED foundation, poetry reader for the Miami-based journal SWWIM, author of six books, and producer of an educational video poetry series. More About Books Poetry IN THE NEWS Jan. 2025 - Poets for Peace . Join M.B., local area poets, and musician Ray McNiece on Thursday January 23 at 7pm for Poetry & Music in Support of the Orphans in Ukraine . The event will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 56 North Halifax Drive, in Ormond Beach. Free admission; donations welcome. For more info, contact Joe Cavanaugh, jcavanaugh1@gmail.com . Jan. 2025 - M.B. is delighted to announce that her Spring semester poem for teacher friends, "Full Disclosure ", has been spotlighted by The Missouri Review as their Poem of the Week . Thank you to editor Kylan Rice . Jan. 2025 - M.B. is happy to announce that her poetry has been included in the recently released book Chameleon Chimera: An Anthology of Florida Poets . Thank you to editor Lenny DellaRocca for celebrating Florida poets this way. Available now on Amazon and other bookstores. Dec. 2024 - M.B. is honored to announce that her poem "For a Dying Child " has won the Rhonda Gail Williford Poetry Prize second place sponsored by International Human Rights Art Movement . Thank you to Founding Executive Director Thomas Block for the focus he brings to social change. Nov. 2024 - We are saddened today, the last day of November, to report that we have lost one of our own. Dr. David B. Axelrod , who has shared the Volusia County Poet Laureate position with M.B. since August of 2015, has passed away. David is the author of 24 books of poetry and has numerous achievements in Florida, New York, and internationally. We will miss his work and good humor. Nov. 2024 - Thank you all for the wonderful turnout of poets, writers, and dear friends at the New Smyrna Beach Library to hear M.B.'s creative writing presentation showcasing National Novel Writing Month . A special thanks as well to McKayla Howard Ely for organizing the event. Well done! Nov. 2024 - The Healing Power of Poetry . A heartfelt thank you to Sonja Jean Craig for her gracious article showcasing M.B.'s talk at the Women's Health and Breast Cancer Care Event last month in Central Florida. The event was hosted by the Atlantic Center for the Arts and AdventHealth and appeared in the November 2024 issue of Of Poets & Poetry . Nov. 2024 - Obrigado!! Thank you!!... for the beautifully crafted translations of M.B.'s poetry into Portuguese by Brazilian-American friend and writer, Kátia B. de Mello Gerlach. Her translations can be found in the current issue of Quiasmo , a Galician-Lusophone journal. "Obrigada Kátia." Nov. 2024 - TBT . Today we throw back to M.B.'s keynote speech at the FSPA annual conference four years ago and to a wildly generous review by Al Rocheleau (then president of FSPA). You can enjoy the speech's celebration of poet Seamus Heaney in this video , adapted from the original keynote. Nov. 2024 - M.B. poems "Ethos, Logos, Pathos ", "Plan B ", and "Is There a Final Exam? " have won First Plac e in the Lazuli Literary Group's Fall 2024 Writing Contest and will appear in Azure next February. Thank you to editor Sakina B. Fakhri for her kind review of the collection. Nov. 2024 - Poetry as a Dream Space - M.B. is conducting poetry workshops at The HUB on Canal in New Smyrna Beach on Wednesdays throughout the month of November. Spots are still available. Sign up soon! Details here. Oct. 2024 - M.B. is honored to announce that her poem "Full Disclosure " will be featured next January in The Missouri Review's Poem of the Week series. Robert Olen Butler calls The Missouri Review "one of the best literary journals in the world.” Thank you to Associate Editor Kylan Rice, PhD. Oct. 2024 - Women's Health and Breast Cancer Care Event. The Atlantic Center for the Arts is partnering with AdventHealth NSB on October 2 for an evening focused on mindfulness and women's health . As guest speaker, M.B. will explore the healing power of creativity. Oct. 2024 - M.B.'s Poem "Invocation Before a Day of Teaching " has been published in the Fall issue of Crab Orchard Review . Southern Illinois University describes its journal as "not just a publication; it's a literary journey that delves into the heart of storytelling." Thank you to editor Allison Joseph. Sep. 2024 - FSPA Annual Conference in October. We're only weeks away from Florida's next annual poetry conference, hosted by the Florida State Poets Association. The conference is located this year on the beautiful St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, October 25 - 27 , 2024 . M.B. and others will be conducting several writing workshops. Register today! Details and full agenda here . Aug. 2024 - Poetry Workshops at The HUB on Canal . M.B. will conduct a series of her Florida Loves Poetry!! ™ workshops on consecutive Wednesdays throughout the month of November at The HUB in New Smyrna Beach. Register soon! Space is limited. Details and sign up here . July 2024 - Upcoming Workshops! M.B. is excited to announce that she will be offering several workshops this Fall. Locations include: The Hub on Canal (November), The Atlantic Center for the Arts (October), the New Smyrna Beach Library (November), and the Florida State Poets Association's Annual Conference (October). June 2024 - Verse Daily has selected M.B.'s poem "Afterlives " for recognition this month! The poem is taken from her latest collection Smiling at the Executioner . Thank you to editor J.P. Dancing Bear. Apr. 2024 - It's National Poetry Month! M.B. will host ACA Poetry Workshops every Wednesday night this month from 4pm to 6pm at the Harris House in New Smyrna Beach. Feb. 2024 - Poetry Night . All lovers of poetry are invited to join M.B. and Orlando area poets on Wednesday evening, Feb. 28, for Central Florida's inaugural Patio Poets event at the beautiful Venue on Lake Lily in Maitland, Florida. M.B. will Guest Poet at 7pm, immediately followed by an Open Mic for all Florida poets until 9pm. Admission is $7. Come help make this new monthly event a huge success and show everyone how much Florida Loves Poetry!!! . Location : 641 Maitland Ave S, Maitland, FL 32751 Jan. 2024 - With over fifty attendees present, The Hub on Canal featured M.B. at this month's Open Mic Poetry Night for a fun night of friends, poetry and wine. Thank you to Pamela and Mary Jane for hosting and to all the wonderful poets that showed up for Open Mic. Jan. 2024 - M.B. is honored to announce that her poem “Pop Quiz " has been published in the Winter 2024 issue of Sky Island Journal . A warm and heartfelt thank you to Editors Jeff and Jason. Dec. 2023 - Purple Ink Press has announced that it will be publishing M.B.'s poem "Rate My Professor: A Rebutta l" in a print version of Chameleon Chimera , an Anthology of South Florida Poets curated by Lenny DellaRocca. Dec. 2023 - Florida Loves Poetry!!! Join M.B. in exploring how writing in poetic forms – chants, odes, haikus, epistolary poems, and more – can unleash your most authentic voices. Beginners to advanced-level poets are invited. Sponsored by Atlantic Center for the Arts. SIGN UP NOW Four sessions: Wednesdays, April 3, 10, 17, 24. 4pm-6pm ACA Harris House: 214 S. Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach Nov. 2023 - BOOK RELEASE!! M.B.'s newest poetry collection, Smiling at the Executioner , has just been released and is available from Kelsay Books as well as your favorite book outlets. See why the editor of Verse Daily says, "These are the kind of poems you hope you can remember to quote when in moments of uncertainty." —J.P. Dancing Bear Nov. 2023 - M.B. and Edite Cunhã are happy to announce that their recent translation of poems by Portuguese poet Maria Teresa Horta has been published in the British journal Cable Street . Edite and M.B. have been collaborating on Portuguese translations since they first met in Lisbon in 2017. Nov. 2023 - " The best poetry workshops in Florida" are underway at The HUB on Canal. Nov. 2023 - M.B.'s poem "Balcony House " has been published in the Fall issue of Tampa Review. Thank you poetry editor Jodi Johnson. Nov. 2023 - Fall Festival of the Arts . Come listen to poetry readings by M.B. and Co-Poet Laureate Dr. David Axelrod along with other local poets on Sunday 11/19/23 at the Chess Park Stage next to the courthouse in downtown Deland. 12noon to 1pm. Oct. 2023 - Reader's Favorite has awarded 5 Stars to M.B.'s newest poetry collection, Smiling at the Executioner . In their words: "Smiling at the Executione r is a great selection for readers who enjoy eloquently written poems within a work of collected thought." Due out later this year from publisher Kelsay Books . Sep. 2023 - M.B. and fellow Regal House author Ginger Pinholster were welcomed to a warm crowd of over fifty attendees to their book readings and book launch at the Barnes & Noble in Tomoka Town Center last week. In attendance was ERAU's president and his wife as well as several deans and students from the university. M.B. shared a passage from Beginners's Mind and some poetry from her upcoming collection, Smiling at the Executione r. A heartfelt thanks to Ginger for organizing such a wonderful event. Sep. 2023 - M.B. is happy to announce that The Banyan Review has published her poetry in their Fall 2023 issue. The poems can be viewed here: "A Drink of Water ," "Synonym for Marriage ", "Morning in Three Movements ". Aug. 2023 - Thank you to The Banyan Review and guest editor Terry Lucas for including some of M.B.'s most recent poetry in their upcoming release next month. Poems included are: "A Drink of Water ," "Synonym for Marriage ", and "Morning in Three Movements ". The Banyan Review is an online, international journal that promotes poetry, art, and the natural world. July 2023 - Poetry Workshops. M.B. is excited to announce that she will be hosting a new series of poetry workshops this Fall at The HUB on Canal . The four workshops will run on consecutive Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6pm starting on October 25, 2023, continuing to November 15. Serious poets and writers of all skill levels are welcome. See why many are calling these the best poetry workshops in Florida . Seating is limited, so sign up soon . Nominal fee required. July 2023 - Upcoming Poetry Reading. M.B. will guest poet the Open Mic Poetry Night series at The HUB on Canal next January 20 at 5pm. For details about the monthly event, contact Mary Jane at 386-214-6409. July 2023 - Thank you to the South Florida Poetry Journa l and to curator Lenny DellaRocca for including M.B. in An Anthology of Florida Poets . Her poem "Rate My Professor: A Rebuttal" has been featured in the collection. June 2023 - Refreshments and Readings - Barnes & Noble, Daytona Beach, Saturday, Sept. 16. M.B. will be joining author Ginger Pinholster to read from their upcoming works. Ginger will be launching her book Snakes of St. Augustine and M.B. will read from her newest collection, Smiling at the Executioner . June 2023 - M.B. is happy to announce that her poem "Balcony House " has been accepted for publication in Tampa Review , Florida’s oldest continuously published literary journal. Thank you to editors Jodi Johnson and Yuly Restrepo Garcés for their strong support of literature and visual arts. May 2023 - The ACA Poetry Workshop Testimonials for 2023 are in and they are lovely! If you have a moment, you can check here to see what the participants had to say. Apr. 2023 - Writing the tops of their heads off!!! A record number of poets and writers came out to Harris House this year to make the ACA Poetry Month series a huge success. Info about the series can be found at Atlantic Center for the Arts . If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. - Emily Dickinson Mar. 2023 - M.B. is excited to announce that Kelsay Books will be publishing her newest book of poetry, Smiling at the Executioner. The release is scheduled for later this year in November. Mar. 2023 - The ACA poetry workshops scheduled for April are sold out. You can send an email to mbmclatchey@gmail.com if you would like to get onto the standby list. Feb. 2023 - It's almost that time of year again! April is poetry month and that means poetry workshops at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach. See why some are calling these the best poetry workshops in Florida. M.B. will host the workshops every Wednesday evening throughout April. Admission is free but space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot soon. You can find out more and register today on ACA's poetry page . Jan. 2023 - M.B.'s poem “Rate My Professor: A Rebuttal" has been published in the 2023 Winter Issue of Sky Island Journal . Thank you to its wonderful editors, Jeff Sommerfeld and Jason Splichal. Jan. 2023 - It is with heavy heart that we notify you that local poet Robert Calabrese has passed away. Highly admired by all who knew him, Bob had a gentle soul, was a dear friend to all, and without question, was a highly gifted poet. Bob and his poetry will be remembered at this month's Open Mic Poetry Night at The Hub on Canal on January 21st. Upcoming Events - 2025 April 2025 - Poetry Month Workshops The Atlantic Center for the Arts will be hosting M.B.'s four-part Florida Loves Poetry workshops during Poetry Month next April. Details coming soon . Florida Loves Poetry !! ™ 2024 - The Healing Power of Poetry Loving Poetry at The HUB on Canal Barnes & Noble 2023 - Book launch and signing Writing the tops of their heads off at Harris House Poetry month 2023 at Atlantic Center for the Arts Events Older News Older News

Selected Poems of Maria Teresa Horta Translated by: M.B. McLatchey and Edite Cunhã Forthcoming in Inventory , 2020 Prev 12 Next FROM LIBERTY TO LIBERTY Beauty by beauty poetry is made, stone by stone of light, image after image, in search of a rebellious language, to crush the loneliness and surrender. Barb, thorn, and wood, but also jubilation and rejoicing. Nothing impossible to our imagination, in poems restless and brilliant where the panther runs along verses and dreams. Disobedience by disobedience poetry is made. Wing and winged flight, until it becomes a rose of greater scintillation, to name creativity, the foundation of writing, in search of suicide comets and constellations in the work of the poem. Sirius and Cassiopeia. Oh, our language constructed with the rigors of unique words, uprising and insurrection. Enchantment by enchantment poetry is made. Navigation of verses to bring down frontiers rejecting blind obedience, and prohibitions, at times of darkenings and deceptions. To refuse principles of imposed acceptance and ruins, from which the dictators watch us, the wolves of cruelty, the censors and the concealed inquisitors, of the Apocalypse. Rebellion by rebellion poetry is made. Fighting darkness and dagger of insidiousness, tricks, handcuffs. With song, with odes and hymns of rebellious verse, armed with our poet’s words, sunset and sunrise. Fiery flight and contempt. Body by body poetry is made, in its unfathomable work of syllables and images, metaphors and rhymes, tumultuous and untiring heart, to fight the dark voices at the head of the bed. Grain and grape of clarity to save us, because poetry redeems but does not appease. Because poetry saves, but does not tranquilize. Dream by dream poetry is made, from utopia to utopia, equality to equality, by laying the poem on the table, on the bedsheet, on the knee, on the stubborn skin of the wrist. Our biggest weapon of liberty by and large. DE LIBERDADE EM LIBERDADE Beleza a beleza constrói-se a poesia, pedra a pedra de luz, imagem a imagem, na busca da linguagem indócil, a quebrar a solidão e a entrega. Farpa, espinho e lenho, mas também júbilo e regozijo. Nada é impossível ao nosso imaginário, em poemas inquietos e fulgentes por onde a pantera corre ao longo de versos e sonhos. Desobediência a desobediência constrói-se a poesia. Asa e voo voado, até se tornar rosa de cintilação maior, a nomearmos a criatividade, a fundação das escritas, em busca dos cometas suicidas e das constelações, no labor do poema. Sirius e Cassiopeia. Oh, a nossa língua construída com os rigores das palavras únicas, sublevadas e insurrectas. Deslumbramento a deslumbramento constrói-se a poesia. Navegação de versos a derrubar frontei- ras, negando-se às obediências cegas e às interdições, aos tempos de assombramentos e obscurantismos. A recusar princípios de aceite imposto e ruínas, de onde nos espreitam os ditadores, os lobos da crueldade, os censores e os inquisidores embuçados, do Apocalipse. Insubmissão a insubmissão constrói-se a poesia. A combater a escuridade e o punhal da insídia, as mordaças, as algemas. Com o canto, com as odes e os hinos de versos revoltosos, armados com as nossas palavras de poeta, poente e alva. Voo ardente e desacato. Corpo a corpo constrói-se a poesia, no seu insondável trabalho de sílabas e imagens, metáforas e rimas, coração tumultuado e incansável, a combater as vozes obscuras, à cabeceira da lonjura. Grão e bago de claridade de nos salvar, porque a poesia redime mas não apazigua. Porque a poesia salva, mas não aquieta. Sonho a sonho constrói-se a poesia, de utopia em utopia, de igualdade em igualdade, a deitar-se o poema na mesa, no lençol, no joelho, na pele ensimesmada do pulso. Nossa arma maior de liberdade em liberdade. Poem celebrating World Poetry Day 2013, done by the Directorate of the SPA. and set out on 21 March of that year in the Belém Cultural Center by initiative of the then president. Vasco Graça Moura . Copyright © 2019 M. B. McLatchey & Edite Cunha, with permission. All rights reserved. Forthcoming in Inventory , Princeton University, 2020 Poema comemorativo do Dia Mundial da Poesia de 2013, feito a coiwitc da Direcção da SPA. e exposto em 21 de Março desse ano no Centro Cultural de Belém por iniciativa do então presidente. Vasco Graça Moura Copyright © 2017 Maria Teresa Horta, from her collection Poesis. Dom Quixote Publisher, Lisbon. Back to List

Index Previous Next Winner of the 1974 Emerson College Original Poetry Award On Rewinding I have been told that by wish and will I fell from His sheep- wool pocket into one dame's arms; and that was birth. I have been told that angels bowl; heaven opens up when the tenth pin rolls. I have been told of cloud-grazing mares— and twice it has rained cats and dogs. I have been told that Saint Peter saw a vision. I have been told that truth may be measured by the shade of one's tongue or the length of one's nose—and twice I have doubted my countenance. I have been told when 'neath the cornered quilt that the sand- man would alight and wave his sack of sleeping dust over my last Hail Mary. I have been told that woman is infamy; man sin. And I am the issue of both. I have been told to accept His rites and wrath. Yet, I have heard over grace and gossip. from bible and book, of womb-wrenching pain, of breached and blue-born, of original sin; and that was birth. I have heard of atmospheric pressure and tropical cyclones; and that was Hurricane Ann. I have heard that fishermen like their wine and all have visions. I have heard that the truth made Socrates stutter. I have heard that some men never sleep. I have heard that opposites attract (and gather ye rosebuds while ye may) I have heard that doubt is the stepping stone to knowledge, and knowledge is the end of man. I have heard too little of too much. And still as green as County Cork, I have but fingered man's seven selves. . Copyright © 2017 M. B. McLatchey. All rights reserved. Published in the Spring 1975 issue of The Emerson Review . M.B., Weymouth North High School, Massachusetts, October, 1974 Contest judge - Charles Simic.

Selected Poems of Maria Teresa Horta Translated by: M.B. McLatchey and Edite Cunhã Published in Alchemy , 2020 Prev 16 Next THE CONDITION OF THE VERSES I am of the condition of the verses with eagerness rescued I have a pact with the angels I recognize the trace of light I want the rigor of words I sing the flame of poetry in the most bitter extravagance I write the excess with the pain of the blaze in the desire to be the splendor And if in each poem I invent flight with my poetic voice I choose lava DA CONDIÇÃO DOS VERSOS Sou da condição dos versos com avidez resgatada Tenho um trato com os anjos conheço o traço da luz quero o rigor das palavras Canto a chama da poesia na desmesura mais amarga Escrevo o excesso com a pena do fulgor no desejo de ser o esplendor E se em cada poema invento o voo com a minha voz poética eu escolho a lava Copyright © 2019 M. B. McLatchey & Edite Cunha, with permission. All rights reserved. Published in Alchemy , Issue 17, Summer 2020 Copyright © 2017 Maria Teresa Horta, from her collection Poesis . Dom Quixote Publisher, Lisbon. Back to List

VERSES

Index Previous Next Urban Helicon It starts like this: the clamps around my wrists. The little Saturn ring around my head, the wooden chair, the arms still warm, though dead; then the electric thrill, the arch, the twist. The expiation just before the twist, the quick reform of madam in her bed, the spasm, the welcome-wagon for something newly-wed; or the ambulance, the sirens, the sudden lisp. It makes me so serene. It ties me to a rock and sends me swimming. It causes quite a scene to feel the wood and stone become a dock; to hear the pastoral in stillness singing. . Copyright © 1982 M. B. McLatchey. All rights reserved. Published in Cold Mountain Review , Spring 2016. Listen to the author's audio version on Cold Mountain Review's website .

Award Winning Poetry - 2006 Muriel Craft Bailey Award - Finalist Odalisque Early light, the chill of souls leaving. You draw up the sheet to cover us; the soft of musk, the body's heat from an air pocket, nudged and wayward. The scent of fading bleach. I give you the curl of my back, a nonevent. Yet, all of it art. Ingres and Ingres' Odalisque who drapes a velvet curtain's jeweled sash across her calf; whose hips turn in a wash of Turkish hues. A French settee or this bed: staging we need to fuel our natural lives. To feel the body lift to the extension of a kiss. The temporal shift in calling souls home -- stomach, thighs -- like this. A quickening in canvas or stone: my open mouth and your inarticulate moan. Copyright © 2006 M. B. McLatchey. All rights reserved. Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award Finalist. Published in The Comstock Review , Fall/Winter 2006. Previous Next

GREED

DELIRIUMS

Selected Poems of Maria Teresa Horta Translated by: M.B. McLatchey and Edite Cunhã Published in SWWIM , 2020 Prev 17 Next VERSES They’re the verses the twilight they’re the days they’re the seas the saliva the open hand in the back-light at noon they’re the abyssal gestures, the uncertain pain They’re the verbs the secrets the alchemy they’re the sweet lips and their excess the impulses of the gesture where rose up the contour of the body most perverse They’re the voices singular the melodies they’re the rigors of the forms most diverse inventing themselves simply because they prevented an anxious possession so uncertain They’re the syllables intact the utopias the clumsy the past the nightmare dreamt during the dawn the sweat drenching my hair They’re the doubts, possibly the night in the labor of unfettered writing everything that is tactile and internal entwines itself in the thread of dawn Sometimes an even more thirsty gesture surges and then the flight, the stroke of a knife to the voracious side of reflection when love has nothing more to say VERSOS São os versos os crepúsculos são os dias são os mares a saliva a mão aberta na luz de bruços ao meio-dia são os gestos abissais, a dor incerta São os verbos os segredos a alquimia são os doces lábios e o seu excesso os impulsos do gesto onde se erguia o contorno do corpo mais perverso São as vozes singulares as melodias são os rigores das formas mais diversas a inventarem-se só porque impediam uma ansiosa posse tão incerta São as sílabas intactas as utopias o torpe o passado o pesadelo sonhado durante a alvorada o suor alagando o meu cabelo São as dúvidas, possivelmente a noite no labor da escrita desatada tudo aquilo que é táctil e por dentro se enovela no fio da madrugada Por vezes surge ainda um gesto mais sedento e em seguida o voo, o golpe de uma faca no lado voraz do pensamento quando o amor não quer dizer mais nada Copyright © 2019 M. B. McLatchey & Edite Cunha, with permission. All rights reserved. Published in SWWIM (Supporting Women Writers in Miami), Septmber 2020. Copyright © 2017 Maria Teresa Horta, from her collection Poesis . Dom Quixote Publisher, Lisbon. Back to List

Selected Poems of Maria Teresa Horta Translated by: M.B. McLatchey and Edite Cunhã Published in Springhouse , Fall 2019 Prev 5 Next FROM THE BEGINNING At first I wrote in brief mutterings and the halting service of a wing unaccustomed to the flight of words Then I found my footing in the very depths of myself in the courage of the verses where one reaps raptures from the body of the writing Next I began to haunt verbs and to reinvent metaphors the syntax of passion the icons of time the doubts, the dilemmas In writing poems AB INITIO Primeiro escrevi com breves murmurações e lentos cuidados de asa desabituada do voo das palavras Depois ganhei pé na fundura de mim mesma na ousadia dos versos onde se colhem os êxtases no corpo da escrita Em seguida comecei a assombrar os verbos e a reinventar metáforas a sintaxe de fogo os ícones do tempo as dúvidas, os dilemas Escrevendo poemas Copyright © 2019 M. B. McLatchey & Edite Cunha, with permission. All rights reserved. Published in Springhouse , Fall 2019. Copyright © 2017 Maria Teresa Horta, from her collection Poesis . Dom Quixote Publisher, Lisbon. Back to List

Index Previous Next 2008 Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award - Special Merit The Rescue People use the word 'closure.' It's not about closure, it's more about justice. ― John Walsh, father to Adam Walsh. Today in the news: Miraculous Rescue An uncle drags a shark to shore to save his near-dead nephew. A bull of a shark, the arm that it tore from the boy when he waved for help fueled the beast's palate; its tail in the uncle's grip, a blur of blood claret and kelp; the husks from his palms, a grim and edible kale. I want a shark that I can wrestle and make it spit you out. To make it yearn for its strength, to thrash about as I nestle its nose in my grip. I want to turn you loose from a palpable place: a well, a shed, a jaw. I want the monster to face me and beg for the law. . Copyright © 2007 M. B. McLatchey. All rights reserved. Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award - Special Merit. Published in The Comstock Review , January 2008.