11 Comments
User's avatar
Sam Sweitzer's avatar

Love the opening image. Inspiring work Josh!

Josh Datko's avatar

Thanks, Sam!

Rea de Miranda's avatar

The Angel of Death roaming earth. This is a forceful rendition, Josh.

Josh Datko's avatar

Poetry perhaps keeps him at bay, or invites him in, I am not sure sometimes. But I am hoping for the first one.

Stephanie M. Vargo's avatar

This is so powerful. The images are stunning. It is emotionally jarring with an undercurrent of despair.

Josh Datko's avatar

Thanks Stephanie. I made also a short plug for your poems this week today on Poetry on Tape. I am not sure the time reference, so I will summarize it for you. But we talking about Canada's medical-aid-in-dying policy and in the chat the topic came up about caring for elders. So in this context, I was mentioning your poem and your reaction about ageism. I was a bit overcome with the war poetry this week but I just wanted you to know I saw that poem and reaction and it has stuck with me.

Stephanie M. Vargo's avatar

Thanks Josh. I feel very strongly about that. It is a part of many of our lives that we don't want to look at.

Kim Nelson's avatar

This phrase is fantastic, Josh:

A murder of missiles flies

past crooning crows on dead wood.

In a time when artists are called upon to witness and record, you're penning relevant, important viewpoints. Keep going!

Josh Datko's avatar

Thank you, Kim! Very much appreciate that.

Gerald J. Woolf's avatar

A murder of missiles - Love it

3rd stanza hits hard

Josh Datko's avatar

Thanks, Gerald.