John Degen is a poet and novelist who currently is trying to work himself out of his day job so he can write more poems and novels. He occasionally talks about copyright. He first contributed to the magazine in 1997. Last updated fall, 2022.
- Magic Fingers Fall, 2022 / No. 50
- Smelt Summer, 2022 / No. 49
- To You, Who Gave Me Directions in Greenwich Village Summer, 2018 / No. 41
- Big Muddy Lightning Storm Winter, 2013–2014 / No. 31
- To the Beautiful Men in Soho, with Whom I Rode the Elevator Christmas, 2007 / No. 19
- Walking Up the Trebovir Road, Thinking You Might Not Be Pregnant Christmas, 2006 / No. 17
- The Uninvited Guest Christmas, 2005 / No. 15
- In Manhattan One Evening with the Reverend Al Sharpton Christmas, 2003 / No. 11
- Bicycles Summer, 2002 / No. 8
- Morning on the Spadina Car Fall, 2001 / No. 6
- Smelt Online, January 3, 2001
- Spring Christmas, 2000 / No. 4
- River Christmas, 1998 / No. 2
- Property Lines Christmas, 1997 / No. 1