Poetry Update and Poem of the Month for October 2026

 

“Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by reason.” – Novalis

WPL's Poem of the Month used to be posted on the library's Poet's Place webpage. But since the advent of our new website a few weeks ago, Poet's Place, sadly, no longer exists.

But that doesn't mean WPL has stopped supporting poetry and local poets! We love poetry and hope every one of our published poems, most by local poets, speak to you.

Here's our October, 2026, Poem of the Month:

Monstrous Fumbling

By Brian Mosher

 

“…the monstrous fumbling of all life…”

Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel

 

 Noone can know,

in this enigmatic life,

how best to proceed.

 

In our useless striving

for achievement, every

step forward only destroys.

 

Our monstrous fumbling

for connection to others

leaves nothing

 

but bruises and scars,

which should serve

as reminders, but do not.

 

Life has no significance,

death no reality, and

there is nothing beyond.

 

Fate, if She existed,

would laugh until She cried,

drowning us in Her tears.

 

Yet, what choices

have we? What other

path lies open to us?

 

The spark of Life within

us urges, “go on, fumble.”

And we cannot refuse.

 

Brian Mosher resides in Mansfield, Mass. He has self-published 3 books: “One Bad Day Deserves Another” (short stories) and “Moon Shine and Lemon Twists” (poetry), both in 2016; and “The Broken Mosaic” (poetry and prose), in 2021. All available through Amazon.

His poetry chapbook, “Dreams and Other Magic” (2023) is published by Alien Buddha Press. His unpublished short-story manuscript was short-listed for the Unleash Press 2025 Book Prize.

His work has appeared in Blue Villa, Nixes Mate, eMerge, Books and Pieces, Confetti, Rituals, Coneflower Cafe, Written Tales, Esoterica Magazine, Half and One Magazine, and others.

He maintains a writing blog, Phlubbermatic: (www.phlubbermatic.blogspot.com).

If you have a poem you'd like to share with our readers, please email me at mfriedenthal@mywpl.org and we'll get you on our schedule.  Poems must have fewer than 100 lines, and be suitable for all audiences.

Want more poetry? Check out this list of WPL's poetry books published in 2026: 

New Poetry