two poems

Updated: Oct 16, 2023

by Ken Holland

Fortune Favors the Forgetful

And so, dear, dear friends

We’ve embarked upon an age that bears

The most beautiful words. Words such as

Senescence and desuetude.

And we leave behind those that are ugly and awkward,

Or sharp upon the tongue. Words like acuity and

Pulchritude.

Such are our blessings, dear friends. All that is sweet in the senility

Of soft sibilance, and mornings imbued with misted memories of

Misty murmurings.

Sifting

In my left hand you’ve placed

All you cannot fathom

In my right, the questions you no longer

Wish to carry


 
And in the rift that lies between

Each of my fingers

I feel the loss of you

Softly sifting through


Ken Holland has had work widely published in such journals as Rattle, Tulane Review, Southwest Review, and Tar River with poetry currently/forthcoming in Kestrel, California Quarterly, Midwest Quarterly, The Alembic and Innisfree Poetry Journal. He was awarded first place in the 2022 New Ohio Review poetry contest, judged by Kim Addonizio, and was a finalist in the 2022 Lascaux Prize in Poetry. His book-length manuscript, Summer of the Gods, was a semi-finalist in the 2022 Able Muse book competition as well as Word Work’s 2022 Washington Prize. He’s been nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize. More by visiting his website: www.kenhollandpoet.com