Ithaca College

 "At the Veterans Hospital," a sonnet written by Writing professor Katharyn Howd Machan, received Honorable Mention in the Littoral Press Poetry Broadside Competition. The poem arose from her years of performing belly dance each autumn in Syracuse for damaged soldiers as part of an event provided by Ithaca's Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter.

                       At the Veterans Hospital

                        In Aphrodite’s deep and fullest hue

                        I dance again the halls of Ares’ breath

                        and touch the shadows, celebrating who

                        instead of what within these walls of death.

                        My ankles offer golden bells that sing

                        of light and wonder, as my hands reach out

                        rich rhythm-echo of bright zills that ring

                        the names of Love, close whisper to far shout.

                        How is it War can use a man like stone

                        to crush another, smiling proud and bold,

                        then drop him cracked and breaking, left alone

                        to crumble into dust as he grows old?

                        Again I whirl, my hot pink veil held high

                        to every trembling smile, each waking eye.

                                                           --Katharyn Howd Machan