Epics and Lullabies
For the Pulp Literature Issue 45 poetry round-up, please enjoy these poems steeped in myth by Dan MacIsaac and DA Cooper.
Find their opening stanzas below.
Pholoe
Seizing me from
my craggy island,
Aeneas tore me
like a lush fig.
My body scented
his bed until
he was seduced
by the mad queen.
Dan MacIsaac is a poet from Metchosin, BC. Recently, his poetry has appeared in literary journals such as Event, Juniper, Stand, and Canadian Literature. Brick Books published his poetry collection, Cries from the Ark. His work was shortlisted for the Walrus Poetry Prize, The Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest, and the CBC Short Story Prize. Dan’s historical short story, ‘Crossroads’, was featured in Pulp Literature Issue 32, Autumn 2021. His website is www.danmacisaac.com.
Ragnabeðtími: Bedtime of the Gods
The little Æsir children rally all
Valhalla to the final valorous battle.
They stand against the ancient, fearsome giants
with boldness, fighting bravely, yet they know
their struggle is in vain; defeat assured—
their fates have been foretold, bedtime has come.
The great wolf’s howls chill wise Alltoddler’s heart.
Despite his dread, brave Odin fights, resists
with valor, leads his warriors to the fray.
He charges forth yet knows that all is lost.
With massive, monstrous paws, vast Flossrir grabs
the little godling’s face and cleans his teeth.
DA Cooper is a poet from Texas. His work has recently appeared in Autumn Sky Poetry DAILY, Dialogue Journal, Light, Lighten Up Online, New Verse Review, The Road Not Taken, and Witcraft, among others. He enjoys translating dialect poetry from Italy, watching The Office, and looking at trees.
To continue reading these poems, pick up a copy of Issue 45, Winter 2025!
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