1. 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. His poetry has appeared in The Ekphrastic Review, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, The Galway Review, Bold + Italic, Litbreak, Subterranean Blue Poetry, The Blue Nib, Red Dirt Forum, and elsewhere. His chapbook, “Do Not Forsake Me,” was published in 2017 and is still available at Finishing Line Press and Amazon. His first full-length book of poetry was published last April by Kelsay Press. He’s working on another. He lives in Massachusetts.

Ars Poetica

Avoid writing about poetry.
It irritates pedantic editors.
Avoid using the word “void.”
It doesn’t sing.

Three adjectives in a row
will also throw snooty,
pompous, high-toned
experts into a snit.
Not sure why.

Each stanza must have
the same amount of lines
for critics who majored
in arithmetic,
and count on fingers.

Some readers have seizures
if each line begins with a capital
letter. Or for others, if they don’t.
Takes all kinds.

But never quit writing.
On that they all agree,
as long as you follow their rules.