New Poems Up!

I'm trying to keep the Atlantic Ocean as near me as possible here in the new issue of Daphne Magazine.   Thank you to the editors for accepting two of my poems!

The Squannacook

I have a poem here in the new journal Rockvale Review, a gorgeous journal to read cover to cover.  Spend some time reading all the delicious poems in there!

My poem, "Do Not Resuscitate," was the contest runner-up and is up now at the Hospital Drive website.  This poem pretty much wrote itself, as what happens in the poem happened almost exactly in real life.

Math Woes

You can read all about my math woes in this new poem here at Whale Road Review.  And read all the other fabulous poems!

New Poems

I have two poems up--one about my ovaries--yay!!--and one about a rather feminist Cinderella, at Rag Queen Review.  Be sure to check out the fabulous poems by Alessandra Bava and Sarah Nichols.

The Indianapolis Review

I've got a poem in the brand spanking new journal The Indianapolis Review.  It's a gorgeous journal with fabulous artwork, a conversation with Adrian Matejka, and other poems by really fantastic poets.  One really nice thing that happened:  someone happened to really like my line "peonies that could fill bras" and drew an amazing and beautiful rendition of that image and shared it with me on Facebook!  How cool is that?!?

Crab Creek Review Finalist!

I'm very excited to share that my poem, "Self-Portrait as Seven Deadly Sins," is a finalist in the poetry contest at Crab Creek Review!  Diane Seuss was the contest judge and wrote very nice things about my poem as well as the winner and other finalist that you can read here.  I absolutely adore this journal and am so pleased to be part of it.  You should get a subscription to the magazine so you can read the wonderful work they publish. 

My "Self-Portrait as Tide Pool" is up at a very new journal, The Curve.  I'm super excited to be the first featured poet!  Hope you enjoy. 

God Comes Over

I have three new poems up at Calamus Journal and you can read how God comes over to clean my house here.

The Johnson Girls

My new chapbook, The Johnson Girls, is now available for purchasing.  The poem that's available to read has its last line chopped off, unfortunately.  So you should buy the chapbook to find out how it's suppose to read!!!

Did I mention my maiden name was Johnson?  And that my sisters and I drove a white Monte Carlo everywhere?  You should read these poems.  :)

Donika Kelly's Poem for April 1st

Love Poem:  Chimera


I thought myself lion and serpent. Thought
myself body enough for two, for we.
Found comfort in never being lonely.

What burst from my back, from my bones, what lived
along the ridge from crown to crown, from mane
to forked tongue beneath the skin. What clamor

we made in birthing. What hiss and rumble
at the splitting, at the horns and beard,
at the glottal bleat. What bridges our back.

What strong neck, what bright eye. What menagerie
are we. What we've made of ourselves.


from Bestiary.  Donika Kelly