p113

Six poems by John Horváth Jr. He writes:

Every poet knows foundations, the beginnings of things structured, formalized, captured. Poets build on these much as an internal decorator must build around re-existing structures. There is art in hiding the squares, the straight lined beams, the corners where spiders lurk. A poet’s empathy and sympathy render things observed more open to discussion, more human, and more dignified—less captured and unchanging. My technique is to revise a longhand sketch to traditional form/meter (not necessarily English); then, revise to “free” verse/lyric narrative. Thus, I explore. I distance myself from a subject because, as Plato noted, “Poetry endangers the established order of the soul.” Poetry must endanger; so, poets must use care.

• Bekah cathedral
• Foreman Ferenchaza
• Short steelmill life of Steven Seraphim Novanglus
• There must be dreams from which one cannot walk away
• Blue lioness
• Indifference to names