You know how it happens. When you think of a certain person, say your mom for example, there are memories that surface that are particular to her. In the case of my mom, I think of the way she used to rub her back on the door jamb after a long day at her desk […]

New poem on TPA Quarterly

How to write camouflaged poems of dissent was the topic of a recent workshop I attended with Editor, Laurence Musgrove of Texas Poetry Assignment Quarterly. I chose to use what he calls an “environmental shell” as my camouflage so that the poem reads at first like a nature poem. But, read metaphorically, is indeed a […]

Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for Poetry: pockets!

Celebrating National Poetry Month 2026 fws offers its inaugural poetry contest, the Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for Poetry! Deadline: August 1, 2026. Judge Rod Carlos Rodriguez, renowned San Antonio poet and Assistant Professor in the Writing Program at the University of Texas, San Antonio, will award three prizes for the best poems on the theme […]

Interview with photographer Esther van Overbeek

You may recognize this image as the cover image of my newest collection of poetry, book of common breath. Isn’t it simply stunning? I am indebted to Netherlands photographer Esther van Overbeek who agreed to let me use the image. Thank you, Esther!!!!! Another of her images graces the cover of purifying wind (out of […]

book of common breath, d. ellis phelps

My newest collection of poems is out! Thanks to Kelsay Books for their continued support, as this is the third collection of mine they have published. They are a dream with which to work, always producing a beautiful book. I highly recommend Karen and her team to you. I am indebted also, to Esther Van […]

Writer’s Idea Box: the object as subject

Writer’s Idea Box: Winter Rhymes

I keep telling myself, “It’s February. It’s February.” I have to do this because today, here in South Texas, it’s eighty-five degrees. Yep. That’s crazy! And, a week or so ago, the winter storm “Fern” brought us SNOW! And ICE! About a quarter of an inch and the whole state shut down. Wow. Talk about […]

Writer’s Idea Box: story building

winter solstice, d. ellis phelps

winter solstice blessed be the darkness hoveringunder this black moonlet demons wakelet chaos comelet chaos comeinto the womb of these wee hours—the reckoning oneswhen thoughts devour& life itself is a candle spent:lit burnt dissolvingthat turns the heavy scent of what has beeninto the hint of what’s to come —a faint perfume—the rising sunand then shall […]

new work on Texas Poetry Assignment

Here we are Feeding Texas by writing poems. Many thanks to Editor, Laurence Musgrove, for choosing my poem, some nameless god, for the Dec. 7th issue of the TPA Quarterly. As I will, one day at a time and by the grace of god, celebrate forty-six years of sobriety on Jan. 23, 2026, the timing […]

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