Being in a Solitary Frame of Mind

There’s an atmospheric river 
hovering over Northern
 
California. There will be 
massive flooding,

loss of early crops.
 
Who cares about starvation 
with a strong man at the helm?

So what if a kid’s stomach 
touches his backbone,

hunger’s designed by poor choices.

What’s carried by the world 
is not cared for by the world.

Just ask floods whose sole aim 
is destruction,

or better yet, ask a dictator 
who secretly cowers

in his bathroom, 
fearful of his reflection.






Dianna Henning taught through California Poets in the Schools, won several California Arts Council grants. Publications, in part: Power of the Feminine Vol. II; The Tule Review; California Quarterly; That’s a Pretty Thing to Call It: Poetry & prose by artists teaching in carceral institutions, New Village Press, 2023; Voices; WORDPEACE; That’s a Pretty Thing to Call It: Nomination by The Adirondack Review for a Pushcart and a 2024 nomination by Blue Heron Review for a Pushcart. Fourth book Camaraderie of the Marvelous, Kelsay Books 2021.