About Anna Maria Hong
A two-time National Poetry Series finalist and Pushcart Prize nominee, Anna Maria Hong has published poems in many journals including Fence, Black Clock, Cue, Fairy Tale Review, Puerto del Sol, Cranky Literary Journal, and Crab Orchard Review. Her writings about literature and visual art appear in publications such as American Book Review, The Stranger, Poets & Writers, ARCADE, poetryfoundation.org, and The International Examiner. The founder and producer of Trapdoor 62, she has performed and lectured at venues including the Microsoft Art Gallery, Theater Schmeater, the Experience Music Project, Bumbershoot, Burning Word, and the Seattle City Council.
Nominated by McLeod Residence and The Robot Co-op
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McLeod Residence is a new gallery, community space and lounge in Belltown with an emphasis on technology, interactive art and collaborations. McLeod Residence opened in January of 2007 and hosts new exhibitions every two months. We also offer a membership that allows our patrons to become part of the McLeod Family. Our lounge is currently open to members and for private events Thursday through Saturday. Some of our past events have included book release parties, haiku parties, poetry readings, fashion shows, dance performances, one-night art installations, and the occasional musical act.
THREE POLAR BEARS
by Anna Maria Hong
When I was one and twenty-nine, the world
was round and flat as glass, and you were a lad
of sun and sun. The earth was buoyed and girled
in gold and smacked of mint and honey. Bad
angels ate their wings, which of course were made
of marzipan. The lips of dolphins smiled
at me. The lips of snakes bit the sea and bid
adieu to briny lovers who rank and filed
the bottom of that deep blue deep. Now you
are twenty-nine and one, which we all know
makes forty-eight, like the U.S. without
Alaska and Canada. It's grand to be so
Continental like hair that won't stay blue.
Or a priest, a rabbi, and a squirrel buying the next round.