Diane Sahms

Title: —of a swinging pendulum, five poems

Poem 1. S | S p I r I t

Poems 2. The word QUERER cross stitched (X) into a woman’s heart

Poem 3. O | of a garden plot: to throw an axe

Poem 4. JOKERS WILD | Joker 1

Poem 5. JOKERS WILD | Joker 2

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‍ Diane Sahms, a native Philadelphian, is the author of nine poetry collections, latest —of an octopus: an archite|x|tural awareness of words, Carbonation Press, 2026. Awarded first place in Judith Stark’s Poetry Contest and Partisan Press’s Working People’s Poetry Contest, she is the recipient of AEVentures Foundation’s Poetry Grant. Published in North American Review, Northern Virginia Review, Brushfire, Valley Voices, Sequestrum, Chiron Review,The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania Literary Journal, The New Verse News, Ranger Magazine, Amsterdam Review and elsewhere, with poems forthcoming from Abstract Magazine: Contemporary Expressions. Poetry Editor at North of Oxford, she has worked as a Contract Specialist for the government and as a high school English teacher. https://dianesahmsguarnieri.wordpress.com & http://www.dianesahms-guarnieri.co