Captions by James B. Nicola

Captions

James B. Nicola

Since all my shots could never really show
the subtlety of Scotland’s gloaming light,
but only, like a postcard, show a sight
or face of some place I would have you go
or meet, I put my camera down to write
and tried to convey what I’d have you know
through prose and poems. And kept doing so
till faced with sights I knew I could not cite:

The sunset after rain… A still’s rainbow…
Loch Duich—oh especially at night,
rippling reflected star flecks… So in spite
of ardent words I’d started, I took pho-
tos after all to show you now, although
the feelings in the faces aren’t quite right.


About the Author

James B. Nicola’s poems have appeared in the AntiochSouthwest Review, Atlanta Review, Rattle, and seven times in Lowestoft Chronicle. His four poetry collections are Manhattan Plaza (2014), Stage to Page (2016), Wind in the Cave (2017), and Out of Nothing: Poems of Art and Artists (2018). James’s nonfiction book, Playing the Audience, won a Choice award. His poetry has received a Dana Literary Award, two Willow Review awards, a People’s Choice award from Storyteller, and six Pushcart Prize nominations (from Lowestoft Chronicle, Ovunque Siamo, Shot Glass Journal, Parody, and twice from Trinacria) for which he feels both stunned and grateful. sites.google.com/site/jamesbnicola.