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Joe Steadman: Class of 2014 Creative Writing Awards contestant

Joe Steadman poem photo

Joe Steadman

To honor the University’s Class of 2014 Creative Writing Awards, the Library is publishing contestants’ poems or prose excerpts on Falvey’s blog. The Library also has created posters for the contestants’ poems or prose excerpts, which will be displayed throughout the library’s first floor.

This year the contest includes both poetry and prose (in previous years it was “the Senior-Class-Poet Contest”). The Department of English will announce the Class of 2014 Creative Writing Awards winners later this month.

“Wild Onions and Golden Arms”
by
Joe Steadman

Drank the venom,
Spat dry its gold.
Cues up on the wall,
Eyes down to the night,
The up-down hours fell on us all.

Embraced sidewalks,
Each step its grace.
Human buildings idled,
Some stumbled the street,
Our lives we paused to stalk.

Our moon hovered,
City stars hid.
The dull buzz glowed,
Street lights and bar signs,
“24 hours, Polish to go.”

We breathed salt and beer,
Whispered gros mots and fear,
When we grew up in Chicago.

Joe Steadman, a Class of 2014 Creative Writing Awards contestant, says “‘Wild Onions and Golden Arms’ is a painting of many nights I spent with Chicago, my friends from Chicago, and late night Chicago fare. I tried to make a pretty picture with words to show how each detail contributes to the action of the night, and how a young man’s wandering mind is very much part of that action.”

Joe Steadman is a French and political science major from Chicago, Illinois. He enjoys going to baseball games, reading Chicago authors and grilling with his friends in Ardmore.

Like this poem? Come to the Open Mic Poetry Reading, Wed., April 23, 12 – 1 p.m. and you may get to hear this author read his poems. You’re also welcome to share your own. 


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Last Modified: April 9, 2014

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