RJ Clarken has been published in Writers Digest, Möbius, AsininePoetry, USA Today Online, Sol Magazine and Trellis Magazine, among others.
For the past five years, she was Editor of Goldfinch, the literary journal of WomenWhoWrite, a NJ not-for-profit women’s writing collective,.
RJ is the author of two books: Mugging for the Camera, a quirky, humorous collection of poetry, and Penny Wishes, a book of middle grade fiction.
Randi’s WEB WEDNESDAY INTERVIEW 9/28/2011
You can find some of her work on her blog: Lightverse – just for fun!
© All postings and intellectual materials on this page are property of RJ Clarken.
POETIC BLOOMINGS 
Entertaining the Angel
If metaphor/were sufficient,
if every dream were a tattoo,
a few of the remaining cherubim
[would] burn twelve red lanterns
and dragons [would be] drawn in azure ink.
I don’t know somehow it seems sufficient…
Title from Renee Ashley. Content: Lois Marie Harrod – The Mist, Grace Cavalieri – Blue-Green Spirit, Stephen Dobyns – The Gardener, Yusef Komunyakaa – Ambush, Elinor Wylie – The Puritan’s Ballad, A. R. Ammons – Gravelly Run
Poquessing Creek
The sun sets on Poquessing Creek.
I watch it shimmer, but don’t speak
because words can’t describe
this sight of wonder so unique:
primordial, with deep mystique
and such a zen-like vibe.
I am Blue
The color which I most desire
is frequently called blue sapphire.
But any shade of blue will do.
I ♥.♥.♥ the color blue.
Celeste, cerulean and slate
or denim, perse and royal? Great!
There’s teal, smalt, cobalt…navy’d hue…
I ♥.♥.♥ the color blue.
Give me peacock (pavonated)
even sky (so understated!)
lapis, beryl and aqua too.
I ♥.♥.♥ the color blue.
The color which I most desire?
I ♥.♥.♥ the color blue.
Quidquid
“Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur.” (Anything said in Latin sounds profound). ~Anon
If you speak Latin, you’ll sound smart,
like Einstein, Plato and Descartes.
But even more, most will not know
what you have said. Just goes to show
that but a few words, known by heart,
proves you speak Latin. You sound smart!
Thus when you postulate, ‘quidquid,”
just say it once. Then say, ‘ibid.”
Or then say, “Bibo ergo sum,”
Some ‘Python’ fans will know, by gum,
your toasts to Latin are so smart!
So, “ergo,” now, here’s THE best part…
To “carpe diem” (seize the day)
use Latin. You’ll be “illiant-bray”
and so profound, You’ll stand apart:
if you speak Latin, you’ll sound smart.