The extraordinary Janine Pommy Vega passed away two days ago—a loss for her family and friends and a loss for American poetry. Here are a couple of her poems, the first written in 1996 and the second in 2000, both published in The Green Piano: Christmas at Woodbourne Sodden cardboard mangerat the front gateto Woodbourne Prisonshrouded hills, lone gull’sscreech stop the searchlight Who says we are separatefrom what we love?Ramakrishnawould call that ignoranceSeparate voices, separate troubles, separate cells—connectedness isinseparablefrom the consistencyof grace.Read More