Category: childhood
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stick pins
I stood in the bathroom this morning, smelled an open bottle of medicinal alcohol Images of fruit jars, alcohol soaked cotton swabs, vomiting insects choking on guts Grade school bug collection I never brought mine home to hang on bedroom wall Smell death lingering in flesh I daydreamed butterflies unable to land feed on nectar,…
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for want of a piece of hose
Years ago, I’d ride a stolen bike across campus to the grounds shed, rake leaves in large piles for a truck to gather and carry away, sit in class, leaf mold and debris on jeans and boots, compete with the leisure class for grades, laugh at sorority girls who’d pull at short skirts if I…
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Fire Bright, James’ Delight
Excited three year old Mommy, it’s a dream Hands out towards warm Chases a glowing spark Shock of bare skin landing Cowers behind chair Mommy, kisses fear away Excited dance around fire Time to leave, time for bed Marshmallows, mommy Next time, James, next time Holds tight her hand Bye, bye, Mr. Al Mommy, it’s…
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Strange
Strange how I write in daylight about last night Conjure dreams of swimming while seated in a chair Imagine flying with my feet anchored to ground Remember days of our youth walking alone 10-14-20
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Window sill tomatoes
Before autumn killed the last tomatoes on the vine mom would gather in the not-quite-ripe and green set them on her kitchen window sill. She would rotate them everyday until they were ripe enough to eat, but some rebelled against her best intentions, bruised and rotted in the sun and stained the painted sill. 10-13-20
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Mother’s knit doilies
She used to knit doilies for living room end tables, to place under lamps and African violets, protecting wood finish or place upon arms and backs of chairs, keeping furniture fabric free of oil from skin and hair. Her mother did the same with well worn sticks, twirling stitches, replicating forms over and over. I…
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on the day after the anniversary of the 1000-year flood
sitting in the chill he wears a jacket over his shirt sweat pants, socks with shoes believes he wears bare essentials but under it all a naked chest, flaccid penis bare feet that wish to run like the wind beneath and above the he of him, treads memories flooding streets outside his door toddler in…
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a walk at dusk
yellow rose western sky in the East Aegean blue long shadow walk I heard the day before an old friend’s wife transitioned her name was Rose blue sky morning transitions to rain 9-28-20 (for my childhood friend, Chuck Shannon)
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for Duane
What ever happened to the boy in school With pop bottle lens Who couldn’t play like other boys at recess Who didn’t stand and fight Or wrestle his tormentors; I was a tormentor I didn’t know at the time I was, but I was gifted at making cutting remarks Disguised as humor to make Classmates…
My husband's poetry 