THE RAVEN REVIEW
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  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Contributors
    • Support Us
  • Submit
  • Current Issue
  • Archive
    • Volume I >
      • Issue I
      • Issue II
      • Issue III
      • Issue IV
    • Volume II >
      • Issue I
      • Issue II
      • Issue III
      • Issue IV
    • Volume III >
      • Issue I
      • Issue II
      • Issue III
      • Issue IV
    • Volume IV >
      • Issue I
      • Issue II
      • Issue III
      • Issue IV
    • Volume V >
      • Issue I
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      • Issue III
      • Issue IV
    • Volume VI >
      • Issue I
      • Issue II
      • Issue III
      • Issue IV

Upright​

by John Zedolik
“May God strike me dead!” he uttered
          during conversation,
but the deity’s might sputtered,
          as he kept his station
At the table, breathing and whole
          a Lear without the rage
as the serene sky would not dole
          out lightning on this stage
That gave the opportunity
          with friends and comfort kissed
to defy with impunity
          ​s/he who did not exist

John Zedolik published his full-length collection, entitled Salient Points and Sharp Angles (WordTech Editions, 2019), and he published his second collection, entitled When the Spirit Moves Me (Wipf & Stock, 2021), which is spiritually themed. In 2023, he published his third collection, Mother Mourning (Wipf & Stock), and in 2024, he published his fourth collection, entitled The Ramifications (Wipf & Stock). He recently published his fifth collection, entitled Lovers’ Progress (Wipf & Stock). All these are available on Amazon.