Poetry Catalog

We honor great poets. We honor great poetry.

Michael H. Brownstein

About Michael H. Brownstein

Michael H. Brownstein's latest volumes of poetry, A Slipknot to Somewhere Else (2018) and How Do We Create Love (2019) were both published by Cholla Needles Press. In addition, he has appeared in Last Stanza, Café Review, American Letters and Commentary, Skidrow Penthouse, Xavier Review, Hotel Amerika, Meridian Anthology of Contemporary Poetry, The Pacific Review, Poetrysuperhighway.com and others. He has nine poetry chapbooks including A Period of Trees (Snark Press, 2004), Firestorm: A Rendering of Torah (Camel Saloon Press, 2012), The Possibility of Sky and Hell: From My Suicide Book (White Knuckle Press, 2013) and The Katy Trail, Mid-Missouri, 100 Degrees Outside and Other Poems (Kind of Hurricane Press, 2013). He is the editor of First Poems from Viet Nam (2011).

Macreme, By: Michael H. Brownstein

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I cannot get a grip on this--race replacement theory, genocide, violent intolerance.Nor can I find an endpoint--words and prayer; poetry, maybe; a mural, perhaps. --Ahhhhh!— I grab a long piece of eighteen-gauge waxed cord,a few yards of blackened jute, half dozen pieces of hemp,a nice sized piece of bright red feltand begin the art of knot making,one small circle … [Read more...] about Macreme, By: Michael H. Brownstein

A Definition Of Marriage, By: Michael H. Brownstein

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My wife, we share the same shape,taste the smell of what is to come. Sometimes our feet collect shoelaces,other times sweat between toes. Why have you written the wheezingon the bottom of your knees? A tattoo comes unhinged ridingmy forearm to the neck of your back. Under our shade tree, spoiled fruit dropsand a stranger nearby marches off to … [Read more...] about A Definition Of Marriage, By: Michael H. Brownstein

A Tear in the Chain Link Fence, By: Michael H. Brownstein

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Todaywe trip over an airplane,swim the canal to Honolulu,follow the maven over the hill,and join the monstrosity into the glade. In Montserrat,a hurricane sharks across the clouds,its volcano vomiting darkness,and we watch from our veranda,goats and sheep running for cover. Everywherea mermaid of color silver streaksacross the swamplands filling spacebetween cypress and … [Read more...] about A Tear in the Chain Link Fence, By: Michael H. Brownstein

Origin Story of the Nubians of the River Trail, By: Michael H. Brownstein

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When money was newand Ray was young,the world went crazy. Everything we wanted to tryfilled itself with glitter and crystal.This became the way of soldiers. Our people gathered food,found a way to developand Ray grew into a warrior,his mouth a wide cave,his teeth sharp and careful. We changed our moneyto the currency of love,created weapons with words,Ray mated with … [Read more...] about Origin Story of the Nubians of the River Trail, By: Michael H. Brownstein