Joseph Ross is the author of three books of poetry: Ache (Sibling Rivalry Press, 2017), Gospel of Dust (Main Street Rag Publishing, 2013) and Meeting Bone Man (Main Street Rag Publishing, 2012). His poems appear in many publications including, The Los Angeles Times, Poet Lore, Xavier Review, The Southern Quarterly and Drumvoices Revue. He has received multiple Pushcart Prize nominations and won the 2012 Pratt Library / Little Patuxent Review Poetry Prize. In 2014-15, he served as the 23rd Poet-in-Residence for the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society in Howard County, Maryland. His poem, “If Mamie Till Was the Mother of God” won the 2012 Pratt Library/Little Patuxent Review Poetry Prize. He teaches English and Creative Writing at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. and writes regularly at his website.
Hammering on Rocks
By Joseph RossAdded: Wednesday, July 9, 2014 / From "Gospel of Dust" (Main Street Rag, 2013). Used with permission.Hammering on rocks
can break the hammerer's backwhen stooped
under the weight of identitycards the color of scorn.
But somehow you knewthat the earth's breath
drew in and outwith the same rhythm
as your own.Somehow you also knew
the rocks you crackedinto two decades' dust
were watering the countrywho sat silently in your cell,
more a prisoner than you.