I am served
an ill meal on cracked
blue/white marbled
earthenware
I stab infected bison
thrust it thru my teeth
with a pitchfork
that pierces my palate
I dab my quivering lips
ever so daintily
with a steel wool
dinner napkin
I tongue
a broken glass
of Chablis
turning sanguine
I taste the bitter grapes
my goblet’s lips sip me
and I too,
am bitter
—
Elijah Pringle III is a Philadelphia-born multidisciplinary artist whose work spans radio, television, stage, and film. Deeply connected to spoken word traditions, he brings a rich background as a dancer, choreographer, actor, director, and vocalist. Formerly a host of “Who Do You Love?”, a talk show on PhillyCAM, he currently serves as an advisor for Moonstone Arts Center. His poetry has been featured in various anthologies including Black Fire―This Time (Aquarius Press/Willow Books, 2024) and Moonstone Arts Center’s 25th Poetry Ink Anthology (Moonstone Press, 2021), as well as Compagnia de’ Colombari’s touring hybrid project Whitman on Walls! (WoW!) where local poets and musicians respond to Walt Whitman’s work. Elijah draws inspiration from his failures and credits his true education to five generations of teachers, whose wisdom continues to shape his voice and vision.
