Most Read Poets of 2018 at North of Oxford

The following list consists of the 15 most read poets as of December 2018 determined by readership at North of Oxford.

A Poem by Kristina Krumova

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/11/15/a-poem-by-kristina-krumova/

3 Poems by Byron Beynon

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/10/14/3-poems-by-byron-beynon/

2 Poems by Lilah Clay

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/08/15/2-poems-by-lilah-clay/

Voices by Linda Stevenson

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/06/15/voices-by-linda-stevenson/

Uncle by Michael A. Griffith

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/10/14/uncle-by-michael-a-griffith/

In the Mirror by Byron Beynon

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/02/15/in-the-mirror-by-byron-beynon/

Winter Tune-up by Charles Rammelkamp

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/07/15/winter-tune-up-by-charles-rammelkamp/

Lectures on Poetry by M.V. Montgomery

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/07/15/lectures-on-poetry-by-m-v-montgomery/

One day, her hands became birds by Arlyn LaBelle

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/03/15/one-day-her-hands-became-birds-by-arlyn-labelle/

Temple of Jupiter by Jeffrey Cyphers Wright

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/09/14/temple-of-jupiter-by-jefferey-cyphers-wright/

Bait by Daniel Casey

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/03/15/bait-by-daniel-casey/

2 Poems by Edward L. Canavan

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/2-poems-by-edward-l-canavan/

2 Poems by John D Robinson

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/2-poems-by-john-d-robinson/

2 Poems by Carl Kaucher

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/05/15/2-poems-by-carl-kaucher/

Leave by Tony Walton

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/leave-by-tony-walton/

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Winter Tune-up by Charles Rammelkamp

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Winter Tune-up

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Coming  up from the basement,

I recognize the doo-doo-do-do-doooo opening bar

of “Strangers in the Night,” whistled

in an absent-minded birdcall.

by the guy from the fuel company,

here to tune up the furnace for the winter.

.

Doo-doo-do-do-doooo.

As far as he goes.  Over and over.

A blast from the furnace

when he jacks up the thermostat.

Doo-doo-do-do-doooo,

up and under like a pre-dawn cricket song.

.

Exchanging glances floats through my brain

in a Sinatra voice. Something something

What were the chances?

.

A pop song from half a century ago.

Always heard it was about a gay tryst,

but it seemed to me

it could just as easily be a man and a woman.

 .

Gary, the furnace guy,

looks to be in is early thirties,

young enough to be my son.

Odd, I think, he’s whistling that song.

.

Two lonely people, we were

doo-doo-do-do-dooo.

.

After an hour, Gary trudges up the steps,

lugging his toolbox and equipment.

“Okay, replaced the oil filter,

installed a new nozzle,

did basic maintenance on the boiler system.

You’re good to go. Sign here and here.”

.

Our fingers touch when he hands me the pen.

A spark of static electricity.

“Whoa!” Gary apologizes.

“Must be from working on the boiler.”

We exchange a glance.

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Charles Rammelkamp is Prose Editor for BrickHouse Books in Baltimore, where he lives and Reviews Editor for Adirondack Review. His most recent books include American Zeitgeist(Apprentice House) and a chapbook, Jack Tar’s Lady Parts ( Main Street Rag Press). Another poetry chapbook, Me and Sal Paradise, is forthcoming from FutureCycle Press.