Flapper Press Poetry Café: The Poems of Hiram Larew

By Annie Newcomer:

Flapper Press Poetry Café continues to feature the work of poets from around the world.

Today, we feature the poems and projects of Hiram Larew.

Hiram Larew's poems have appeared recently in journals such as Contemporary American Voices, Poetry South, and Honest Ulsterman and have been nominated for several Pushcart prizes.

We reached out to Hiram to ask him about his influences and inspirations.

AN: How and when did you come to Poetry?

HL: Poetry has been my favorite teacher. Why? Because of its power to change words into skies.

AN: What do you hope people will take away from your poems?

HL: I'm always looking for a poem with wings.

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Below, Hiram shares some information on several of the projects he is involved with:

The Poetry X Hunger Initiative:

The Poetry X Hunger initiative is bringing poets from around the world to the anti-hunger cause. I've led a number of workshops, college classes, and the like in discussions about poetry that speaks back to hunger.

Voices of Woodlawn:

Voices of Woodlawn is a poetry homage to the mostly unknown enslaved people at historic Woodlawn Plantation in Virginia. I invited three African American poets to join me for a day at Woodlawn, and some of the resulting poems, combined with harmonica music, have been presented multiple times over the last several months.

The Poetry Poster Project

Now completed, this project, as supported by a local arts and humanities council, featured poems by five African American poets and one American Indian poet as framed artwork. The Project was displayed widely: in museums, office buildings, galleries, cafés, houses of worship, wineries, and the like. Its final showing was at the Maryland House of Delegates.

You can find Hiram Larew on Facebook @Hiram Larew, Poet and at PoetryxHunger.com.

Any Moment Of

O for smooth and flow

and bending towards

O for over vines and dripping bright

like eyes that whistle through

O for lights and hearts

their turning so

to more and more

O for smooth or near

on winds of where

O for any moments of

all silence said

then ever on

O for thus until

and then

for every shining breath

Ferment

What if fruit got left out too long

for love of course but better?

And what if beans were put down in jars as

children grab swings

but tart as well

and lids at last?

Or what if summers all walked back in time

like sour milk perhaps for years and years

to froth?

And what if joy

turned into this and more --

as worlds of fresh

were made to change

And open crocks brewed such grins

for peering in?

What if worlds were swirled around

inside

With stirs as much as every spoon can do

at wonders soon to be?

Magic

The stars in your chest—

the sounds of their glow

their flash blink wings

their touch top skies.

These leaps towards light—

these grateful urging holy stars

in your chest and now in your throat.

Their voices of beams

even into your heart and beyond.

Their blaze—

each star that starts in your chest

and spins out from there.

Spins you as nothing else can

as magic comes true

with your chances so inside and out.

With each and every star

so over the moon.

(This poem first appeared in Orbis.)

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FlapperPress launches the Flapper Press Poetry Café.

Presenting a wide range of poetry with a mission to promote a love and understanding of poetry for all. We welcome submissions for compelling poetry and look forward to publishing and supporting your creative endeavors. Submissions may also be considered for the Pushcart Prize.

Submission Guidelines:

1. Share at least three (3) poems

2. Include a short bio of 50–100 words, written in the third person.

(Plus any website and links.)

3. Share a brief backstory on each submitted poem

4. Submit an Author's photo and any images you want to include with the poems

5. Send all submissions and questions to: info@flapperpress.com