Ekphrastic Highlight: A Poem by Catherine Arra
"Skater" inspired by its namesake photo by Alex Stolis' from series entitled "My City was Gone"
Skater
My city, a circus of huddled shadows, boarded buildings, stop lights. Car broke down. I’m busted. Need to blow this dead- end familiarity. Let me be a phantom escape artist, an Icarus-Anarchist spinning into sunrise. Another tattoo or streaked hair color can’t make the magic trick.
From the poet: When "Skater" was published, I was again inspired by the movement and possible story in the image. Mostly I loved the shadows and how Alex shoots into the light. Alex and I became acquainted through poetry and art and have become partners, though we presently live on opposite sides of the country.
Catherine Arra lives in the Hudson Valley of upstate New York, where she teaches part-time, and facilitates local writing groups. She is the author of four full-length poetry collections and four chapbooks. Recent work appears in San Pedro River Review, Thimble Literary Magazine, Origami Poems Project, Stone Circle Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, Unbroken, Impspired, and Unleashed Lit. Find her at www.catherinearra.com
Alex Stolis lives in Minneapolis; he has had poems published in numerous journals. Two full length collections Pop. 1280, and John Berryman Died Here were released by Cyberwit and available on Amazon. His work has previously appeared or is forthcoming in Piker’s Press, Jasper's Folly Poetry Journal, Beatnik Cowboy, One Art Poetry, Black Moon Magazine, and Star 82 Review. His chapbook, Postcards from the Knife-Thrower's Wife, was released by Louisiana Literature Press in 2024. http://www.louisianaliterature.org/2024/04/11/new-release-announcement-alex-stolis/ RIP Winston Smith is forthcoming from Allen Buddha Press. He has been nominated multiple times for the Pushcart Prize. He can also be found at https://alexstolis.myportfolio.com/