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ANTHROPOCENE BLESSING: ORANGUTAN

by brittney corrigan

​

 

Person of the forest, you whose skeleton

is shaped for aboreal life, you of the curved fingers and toes, you fist walker, you

with your suspensory hook grip. May

your rufous hair center you like the sun.

May the fruit you hold to your long-calling mouth be a planet from which you suckle. May you cast the orb-rind into the understory and swing your star-flare limbs across

each gap. May the nests you build nightly hammock you away from us, we who flatten your trees for our many oils. In this growing darkness, may your titian bodies

be the only lights that burn.

Brittney Corrigan was raised in Colorado but has called Portland, Oregon her home since 1990. She holds a degree from Reed College, where she is also employed. Brittney’s poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, and she is the author of the collection Navigation (The Habit of Rainy Nights Press) and the chapbook 40 Weeks (Finishing Line Press). Her newest collection, Daughters is forthcoming from Airlie Press in 2021. For more information, visit Brittney’s website: http://brittneycorrigan.com/.

© 2004-2025 All Rights Reserved. American Poetry Journal

The American Poetry Journal (APJ) is back and online only for now! Theresa Senato Edwards has taken over the reins as of April 21, 2025. Unfortunately, Theresa did not get much info on past submissions, except that all submissions were responded to. She queried about the anthology, chapbook, full-length submissions, and any upcoming online issues; but the same response was given to her: that all submissions were responded to. Theresa was not able to obtain access to the old APJ Submittable account either. She requested access but was told that the APJ Submittable account was unavailable. Theresa was not a part of the mess that transpired from 2022 to 2024, approximately. And she is sorry that she doesn't have additional news about much of the past submissions as well as submission fees. She asked for financial statements but was not given any. For now the website has been updated with issue and review archives, and we will go from there. Theresa apologizes that she doesn't have more to share and hopes that all her literary citizenship and fine literary reputation over the years will help APJ move positively forward, despite all the disappointment. Theresa will try her best to regain APJ's transparency, passion, and commitment to poets and poetry.​

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