John Brehm | The Sun Magazine

John Brehm

John Brehm lives in Portland, Oregon. His newest book of poetry, Dharma Talk, will be published in September 2023, which is a long time from now. He’s trying to be — or at least to appear to be — patient.

— From December 2022
Poetry

Timely Question

How can time / be / rushing / by

December 2022
Poetry

Dudley Ball

The red hair and freckles, puffy cheeks / and constant perspiration amplified / his otherness. No one spoke to him. / But why do I see his face so clearly now, / the fear and loneliness in his eyes? / The faces of all the others I’ve forgotten.

August 2022
Poetry

Selected Poems

from “Wanting Not Wanting” | I wish I didn’t / want things / to be other / than they are

June 2020
Poetry

The Empty Chair

Waiting for the poetry reading / to get started, I turn around / to apologize to the man / sitting diagonally behind me / for blocking his view.

May 2016
Poetry

Intrigue In The Trees

Often I wonder: / Is the earth trying to get / rid of us, shake us off, / drown us, scorch us / to nothingness?

April 2016
Poetry

Cold Spell

Fourth day / of snow / freezing rain / huge / avalanches / of wind

May 2014
Poetry

No Day At The Beach

It’s no day at the beach / being me, I said. / It’s no walk / in the park. / I can see that, / she said.

August 2013
Poetry

Newborn, Brovetto Farm

Just under the dairy / farm’s hayloft, / a four-day-old calf, / big, soft, earth- / colored eyes, / looked exhausted, / slightly affronted

May 2011
What Do You Think? We love getting letters to the editor for our Correspondence section.
Has something we published moved you? Fired you up? Did we miss the mark?
Send A Letter