Author Archives: Chris Vera

John H. Reid of the Tom Howard Poetry Contest recently described three qualities of successful poems to poets entering contests: “1. An unusual, intriguing or striking title. 2. An attention-grabbing opening line. 3. A powerful closing line. It also helps to send in a number of varied entries. I recently read eight sonnets sent inContinue reading “Poetry Contest Advice”

The Time of Monsters By Christopher Vera While we waste days pounding sand, the night terrors dig their ghoul’s nails into our backs, chew handfuls of our burning flesh. HesaidshesaidIsaidtheysaid! None of this matters. In a dark cave under the world they still hatch.

“The honest poet cares less for the concerns of today’s critics than for the admiration of tomorrow’s.”