Category: childhood
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Wobbly
Wooden top on their kitchen floor, you try to convince yourself it’s okay to end this wobbly ride. Mom stands in the doorway asks if this is the best you can do; Dad gets up from the breakfast table Stands over you, demands you get your ass off his floor and get something done. Overwhelmed…
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pressed cider
Mom had a friend from church who had a friend who had a cousin who sold fresh pressed cider in gallon jars at the end of his lane along the river road; she would buy a jug or two for cold evenings for a hot drink while watching Lawrence Welk. One weekend, she sent me…
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Tercet in Black
A decade or so ago I met three high school students young black girls ready to burst I shared the stage, heard them read, become what I am not Removed from seeding pots, they went to college; roots need room to grow I catch glimpses on social media, they don’t need another unasked for opinion…
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Jack’s Giant
Jack dreamed the reason He no longer had nightmares of giants Is he had become an adult and adults are giants to young children He didn’t want to inhabit children’s dreams as a giant So he dreamed of becoming A child, again, but….. His dream morphed into a nightmare Because every little boy (If they…
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Sunny spot
Hot summer days I sit barefoot in the shade Cool fall days I wear long sleeves and shoes Seek the sunny spot In the yard to sip coffee and think of home Of sock hats thermal underwear, gloves and warm coats Of shoveling snow On winter mornings before school Of throwing snow balls At yellow…
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voices
long delayed project finished sit back, sip ginger tea admire my Dad’s voice barks what the hell took you so long my Mom’s voice counters you could have done better trying to become an adult but voices won’t let me 11-17-20
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happy/sad
I remember the morning breakfast at my parents’ table Dad in his chair by the window Mom making coffee, frying eggs, bustling, always bustling. He said, I wanted to tell you first; in that split second, I thought the worst, cancer or some other kind of slow dying. I left the Republican Party; they’ve lost…
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Blue shark
Today, the city comes to haul away leaves you piled in the street. Before you sip coffee you grab your rake to consolidate piles Last night’s rain spread along the street. A car stops, a happy voice sings, Hi, Mr. Al. His mother says he wanted me to see his new shark. He waves it…
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morning reverie
In the half-light I read While mom argues with herself She says you have daylight Don’t waste electricity Then says I will hurt my eyes Reading in bad light Mom made up her truisms To fit her need to correct Soon it will be full daylight And she will go back inside 11-2-20
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chilly day
a chilly day an old Idea past its prime we gained an hour don’t waste it rain washes air and trees and the sidewalk that leads to and from our door 11-1-20
My husband's poetry 