Introducing the poetry of Phyllis Carito at North of Oxford Literary Journal

Editor's Note: Today's poetry is from the international literary journal North of Oxford. More information about the journal is below. Perhaps you'll subscribe to receive bi-weekly emails.

Finding Poetry at Cosmos Restaurant

~ Phyllis Carito

Alone in the bright bathroom I confronted Whitman,

well in free verse reflecting in the 21st Century

make-up mirror — Will I be

soon unaccountable, tired and sick,

rising and gliding off by myself

to find the perfect silence of stars?

.

Will Keats come to remind me

when I have fears that I may cease to be…

till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink?

.

Tell me, as the night grows long, do I present

Too demure Browning’s

most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

Too bold Millay’s:

Oh, oh, you will be sorry for that word!

Give back my books and take my kiss instead.

.

Whitman, wise father answered:

Each must sing myself.

And what I assume you shall assume,

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

.

I returned to the conjured party of poets

circled at a small corner table, four strangers

knowing only the common love of Emily —

Calling for Wild Nights – Wild Nights!

Wild Nights should be Our luxury!

Phyllis's poem is brought to you by the publishers of The Fox Chase Review , (2008-2015), North of Oxford, founded in July 2016, as a review/commentary/essay journal,  is an international literary journal.

Our Name? We reside north of the Oxford Circle @ Roosevelt Boulevard in the Northeast section of the City of Philadelphia. Submissions are always open. North of Oxford publishes poetry, book reviews, commentary and essays. North of Oxford has regular contributors of book reviews but is open to new voices. The journal publishes twice a month, reviews are published on the 1st of each month and poetry is published on the 15th of each month.

North of Oxford was founded in July 2016 as a review/commentary/essay journal. 

Scroll the North of Oxford journal at this link:

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/

Individual Poets

Two Poems by Jacob Kobina Ayiah Mensah

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/two-poems-by-jacob-kobina-ayiah-mensah/

Three Poems by Harry Edgar Palacio

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/three-poems-by-harry-edgar-palacio/

Three Poems by Phyllis Carito

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/three-poems-by-phyllis-carito/

Two Poems by Carl Kaucher

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/two-poems-by-carl-kaucher-3/

The Jones Man by William Heath

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/the-jones-man-by-william-heath/

Amelia Ruth Parker, I Believed You by Margaret Campbell

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/amelia-ruth-parker-i-believed-you-by-margaret-campbell/

On Transcendence by Joan E. Bauer

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/on-transcendence-by-joan-e-bauer/

Contributing Editors:

Diane Sahms, a native Philadelphia poet, is author of eight poetry collections, most recently Blues, Prayers & Pagan Chants (Alien Buddha Press 2024) and a chapbook, Luna the Lesser Light (Moonstone Press, 2023). Published in North American Review, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sequestrum Journal of Literature & Arts, Chiron Review, The Pennsylvania Journal, Brushfire Literature & Arts Journal, and The Northern Virginia Review, among others. Diane served as Poetry Editor of The Fox Chase Review (2009-2015), and is now the Poetry Editor at North of Oxford, an online literary journal. She is a former high school English teacher, and Acquisition Specialist. More can be found about Diane at her: http://www.dianesahms-guarnieri.com/

g emil reutter, Book Review Editor/ Site Manager at North of Oxford, is a writer of poems and stories and on occasion literary criticism. Born in Bristol, Pa. and raised in Levittown he has lived most of his adult life in Philadelphia, Pa. A Former railroad cop, steelworker, and tea blender. Twenty collections of his poetry and fiction have been published, most recently On the Other Side of Goodbye by Alien Buddha Press. He published The Fox Chase Review (2008-2015). He can be found at https://gereutter.wordpress.com/about/

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