Bio

Tina Hacker, a four-time Pushcart Prize nominee, was a finalist in New Letters and George F. Wedge competitions and was named Editor's Choice in two literary journals. Her work has appeared in numerous print and online publications such as The Whirlybird Anthology of Kansas City Writers, San Pedro River Review, Glass: A Journal of Poetry, The Fib Review and I-70 Review. Her full-length poetry book, Listening to Night Whistles, was published by Aldrich Press and her chapbook, Cutting It, by The Lives You Touch Publications. In 2016 Tina was honored as a Muse for The Writers Place in Kansas City and, since 1976, has been poetry editor for Veterans' Voices, a national magazine of writing by military veterans.

Lettuce
Wraps
are treacherous.
Each green leaf
in hands adept at folding
swaddle a delivery of ingredients in original blends
so securely, not even a dribble of hoisin escapes onto fingers or clothes.

In my palms, the jade blanket splits open, seeps streams of soy sauce
filled with schools of vegetables onto my lap.
Then I remember my vow.
Keep it simple.
Don't order
this
again.