three poems

by Darren C. Demaree

with an empathy so fatal #58 i just want to hold the waterline to teach my children the waterline because they can swim & they can teach others to swim the drowning has to be a choice or this whole ocean is just a monster   with an empathy so fatal #59 my son applauds the fireman not because he can stand amidst the flames without fear but because he climbs trees to save cats   with an empathy so fatal #60 the obvious glory is death delayed by simple acts made by open hands that touch lightly i wish there was more gentle glory — Darren C. Demaree is the author of eight poetry collections, most recently “Two Towns Over”, which was selected the winner of the Louise Bogan Award from Trio House Press.  He is the recipient of a 2018 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, and the Nancy Dew Taylor Award from Emrys Journal.  He is the Managing Editor of the Best of the Net Anthology and Ovenbird Poetry.  He is currently living in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and children.
Artwork by: Dani “King” Heriyanto Dani “King” Heriyanto is an artist from Indonesia. A graduate from the Indonesian Institute of Art, Dani has exhibited his work widely, most recently at the Singapore ArtStage and the Jakarta Art Bazart. Link Instagram: @dani_king__heriyanto