Edited by Phillip Levine. Submit up to three poems to Chronogram at a time. Send via snail or e-mail. Poetica. PO Box 459. New Paltz, NY 12561. E-mail: poetry@chronogram.com. Subject: Poetica.

The poem, "Punch Buggy Blue" contains language of adult content which may offend some.
We printed it because, based on merit, it belongs.  - Phillip Levine

...

Click and flash all you want.
We await the day
when bombs will fall on our city again,
crumbling these, our perfect, cold contours
into a warm plaster
where after some time
new flowers can grow.

- W. J. Internicola

He's lost playing
spaceman/fireman/pilot
leaping back to give me
periodic progress reports.
"The fire's out, sir!"
and "Lucky" (his stuffed dog)

I'm trying to resist
the comfortable urge
to order another burger
as I mull over finances
until the boy cries,
"I'm scared."

I ask, "At what?"
but don't care
It's time we both
got out of here.

- Michael Neal Morris

Her heavy makeup
And dyed blonde tresses
Only hide what a face
Her mess is.

- Greg Schwartz