The poet Gary Young was the judge for the 2013 Morton Marcus Poetry Prize, and my short prose poem, POLISHING THE MOON SWORD, took the 2nd Place Prize. You can read the poem on the phren-Z On-Line Literary Magazine's Fall 2013 Edition at:
Many thanks to Gary Young for judging, to Danusha Lameris for her fine winning poem, and to Jory Post for organizing the event and hosting such a fine reading at the Capitola Book Cafe in Santa Cruz, California!
Polishing the Moon Sword
On the eve of a decisive battle, Zhang Liang climbs Mount Ji Ming, plays songs of the enemy soldiers’ distant homeland. The soldiers become so nostalgic that most of them wander off, one by one, into night. I see him still, in the Japanese print, purple robe flowing on cliff’s edge, carved flute pressed to wet lips, unused sword quiet in the golden scabbard hanging from hip. His enigmatic heart, happy for one less battle under the fierce moon.
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