VQR Online

Nearly a quarter century has passed since Gunnar Myrdal produced the book, “An American Dilemma,” which to this day more than any other writing helps us to understand the revolution in race relations of our time. Of course Myrdal’s central...

The tall Fijian spears a giant turtle
And hurls him down upon the foaming breakers;

My theme is one of revolution, inspired not merely by the vast changes that have so radically altered the condition of man within our lifetime or by the recent phenomenon of militant intellectuals engaged in revolt on all of the continents...

First the prisoner and his interrogation. Of my final mission into their territory, more later. Beyond our village the highway crosses a narrow bridge of concrete, and then in a gorge of stone goes north. 

The 2015 VQR Writers’ Conference takes place August 12–16 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Designed for serious writers at all stages of their careers, the conference also includes panels and readings that are open to the public—featuring...

I’m in a phone booth in Saratoga Springs.
The water tastes awful, but very helpful.
You aren’t answering, whatever I’m asking.

The first wife floats in memory calmly
who formerly was storm-tossed, who gave
at the edges a whitewash to those rocks

of myself, begging your pardon, as a young man,
quick to draw arms, quick
to take a fence for daggers toward my
heart, 

I give the black pit dream’s head,
not fearing to hit bottom, to the water
I offer my head like a stone,