Alec Solomita’s fiction has appeared in the Southwest Review, The Mississippi Review, Southword Journal, and The Drum (audio), among other publications. He was shortlisted by the Bridport Prize and Southword Journal and named a finalist by the Noctua Review. His poetry has appeared (or is forthcoming) in The Ekphrastic Review, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, The Galway Review, Bold + Italic, The Blue Nib, Red Dirt Forum, and elsewhere. His chapbook, “Do Not Forsake Me,” was published in 2017 and is still available on Amazon. He lives in Massachusetts, USA.

Normandy

The poppies in the backyard
opened all at once overnight
as if they sensed the moment
in their sturdy green fuses
and knew well their role
of mementos mori of veterans
from Omaha Beach to now.

Tinted photos of landing craft
filled with boys in threaded helmets
clutching carbines and pictures
of the girl back home
couldn’t look less like
the bold poppy: pale, sweet
faces reminiscent of sprays
of white leaf-nesting wildflowers.