July, 2018: JKZ’s poem, “Listen to the Deer Tick Sing,” has been published online by “American Life in Poetry,” a site curated by Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate from 2004-2006. This is a persona poem (i.e., written in the first person, but from the point of view of an individual other than the author). The page also includes commentary on the poem by Ted Kooser. Here’s the link: Deer Tick
July, 2018: In December, 2017, JKZ’s poem, “Fog on the 180 (Kings Canyon)” won the Edwin Markham Prize for Poetry from Reed Magazine. Here’s the link to the Contest Winners page, which includes commentary on “Fog” by the contest’s judge, Ellen Bass: Reed And here’s a link directly to the poem itself: “Fog”
Ellen Bass’s commentary on “Fog”:
“James K. Zimmerman’s “Fog on the 180 (Kings Canyon)” is a haunting poem. Its language, with its repetitions and paradoxes, skillfully evokes the fog and captures the experience of seeing trees emerge from the mist. This well-chosen diction, along with the music of the lines, creates a feeling of mystery that matches its theme. From its intriguing opening stanza (to begin with/there is nothing there/to begin with), I was carried along effortlessly, again matching the travel in the poem. It was a pleasure to choose “Fog on the 180 (Kings Canyon)” as the winner of this year’s Reed Magazine Edwin Markham Poetry Award.”
July, 2018: Four of JKZ’s poems are published online by Adelaide Magazine. All of them are “travel” poems, one of which is a persona poem. Here’s the link: Adelaide
November, 2017: Four poems are published in The Worcester Review — Vol. XXXVIII, #1&2. one of the poems, “Watching the Film About Robert Bly,” can be read here: Bly. Copies can be purchased on the journal’s website. And here’s the link to the journal’s home page: The Worcester Review
September, 2017: More poems on Bibliotekos, including one about hate crimes and the harassment and murder of people of color in this country, and another about the genocide of the Rohingya people in Myanmar. The link: Poems of Witness
12/18/16 — Two more poems have been published on Bibliotekos, including Donald Trump’s own personal rap song. You can read them here: More Protest Series
11/27/16 — Four poems and one short prose piece have been published on Bibliotekos as part of their “Protest Series” — a group of writings addressing current sociocultural and political issues in the US. Here’s the link: Bibliotekos Protest Series
11/1/16 — The Poetry Foundation, one of the premier organizations for poetry & poets, has posted “The Emptiness of Thought” — from “Little Miracles” — on its website as the Poem-of-the-Day. You can read the poem here: Poetry Foundation profile
7/15/16 — Three poems have been posted in the online anthology at eco-poetry.org , edited by Daniela Gioseffi. Eco-poetry.org is a compendium of poems about Earth and the environment by current, modern, and classical poets. Thanks to Ms. Gioseffi for making a wonderful and significant contribution to the voice for climate change and support of our ailing mother Gaia. Look under “Table of Contents” on the site for a list of the poets represented, or you can go directly to the three JKZ poems here: eco-poetry.org 3 poems
5/14/16 — “Family Cookout”, the title poem of the book “Family Cookout” — winner of the Jessie Bryce Niles Chapbook Competition from The Comstock Review — has been posted as a featured poem in the May issue of Winning Writers. Here’s the link: Winning Writers
4/18/16 — A video of the reading at St. Francis College on 3-16-16 is now posted on YouTube: Reading at St. Francis College 3-16-16
4/1/16 — Thanks to Vallum for selecting the poem, “Epiphany”, as their poem of the week on 2/29/16. You can read it — or listen to JKZ reading it aloud — Vallum.
2/23/16 — A review of “Little Miracles” has been posted on the website of Editions Bibliotekos, written by Gregory Tague, professor at St. Francis College. Please read it here.
1/25/16 — If you prefer ordering on Amazon rather than directly from the publisher, “Little Miracles” is now available here. You can also order directly from the publisher — more to their benefit — here.
12/23/15 — James K. Zimmerman’s book of poetry, “Family Cookout”, has won the Jessie Bryce Niles Chapbook Award from The Comstock Review.
Check out the “Poetry” page for links to other poems and readings posted online.
