#stephen furlong

[contremineur]

Because at the end of this, I want to know There’s me but there’s also you.

Stephen Furlong, last line to Most days I long to be an ampersand

from here

[lifeinpoetry]

Confession does not always grant road maps to destinations.

The destinations included the oasis of forgiveness, next to the archipelago of pain and understanding. I had to swim there.

— Stephen Furlong, from “After I Told,” published in Yes, Poetry

[yespoetry]

Listen to Stephen Furlong's Playlist for His Book 'What Loss Taught Me'

Stephen Furlong made a playlist to accompany his collection, What Loss Taught Me, published by Nostrovia Press.

Stephen Furlong received his M.A in English from Southeast Missouri State University. His poetry, book reviews, and interviews have appeared in Yes, Poetry, Glass: A Journal of Poetry, and Pine Hills Review, among others. He currently works at FIVE:2:ONE as a staff reviewer and can be found @StephenJFurlong on Twitter.

[nostroviapress]

2018 Chapbook Contest: Week 6 Review

It's our tremendous joy to announce the 3 winners for our 2018 Chapbook Contest(!):

* Stephen Furlong - What Loss Taught Me * Lydia Havens - I Gave Birth to All the Ghosts Here * Laura Villareal - The Cartography of Sleep

Cheers and much love--we can't wait to share these powerful chaps with you all <3 Presales start in November! Set for December release!

Much love and see you next week! <3 -Christopher

*

We’ll have a new Tavern post each Wednesday, giving an inside look at the N! process, so stay tuned for more updates!

Week 1: Submissions Week 2: Reading Chaps Week 3: Bob’s Done Reading Week 4: Determining Top ~20 Week 5: Featured Finalists!

[yespoetry]

Stephen Furlong: #MeToo Series

After I Told           variation on a theme by Afaa Michael Weaver

After I told, the weight on my shoulders became Wait. Eventually things will work out like they are supposed to.

After I told, I still felt fingerprints when I showered. These days, I lift off fingerprints as ‘evidence of survival.’ 

After I told, I still debated my life, feeling the razor blade eyes, watching me, every step that I took afterwards.

After I told, I had to tell twice. My father was in the family room, watching aimless T.V. until he heard the sound of cries.

After I told, I was called a monster by the first person I told. A girl in my Confirmation class confirming my fears.

After I told, I finally understood the word genuine & the word for leaving without saying good-bye.

After I told, the look on my father’s face was the same as when we buried my Nana, his mother. Defenseless.

After I told, I still couldn’t sleep—afraid that I might see him haunting my nightmares. Silent. Preying over me.

After I told, I tried to write about it. Taking time, mixing with my own blood, the gears and cogs congealed enough.

After I told, I found myself lost in the words I said. Confession does not always grant road maps to destinations. The destinations included the oasis of forgiveness, next to the archipelago of pain and understanding. I had to swim there.

Stephen Furlong is a recent graduate of Southeast Missouri State University located on the Mississippi. His poems, reviews, and interviews have recently appeared in Big Muddy, Glass: A Journal of Poetry, and Pine Hills Review, among others. He also had a poem in A Shadow Map: An Anthology by Survivors of Sexual Assault published by Civil Coping Mechanisms and edited by Joanna C. Valente.  

[chenchenwrites]

Poet Stephen Furlong found me in the book fair with all my collections—chapbooks and the full-length—to sign. such a beautiful surprise. #AWP17