My husband's poetry

Category: childhood

  • happy/sad

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    by

    cfblack
    in , , , ,

    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…

  • Blue shark

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    by

    cfblack
    in , , ,

    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…

  • morning reverie

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    by

    cfblack
    in , , ,

    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

  • chilly day

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    by

    cfblack
    in , , ,

    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

  • stick pins

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    by

    cfblack
    in , ,

    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,…

  • for want of a piece of hose

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    by

    cfblack
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    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…

  • Fire Bright, James’ Delight

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    by

    cfblack
    in , , ,

    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…

  • Pendulum

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    by

    cfblack
    in , , , ,

    Child in a swing higher, push me higher daddy complies Joyful squeals at top of arc When it seems she might fly out gravity pulls her back 10-17-20

  • Strange

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    by

    cfblack
    in , ,

    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

  • Window sill tomatoes

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    by

    cfblack
    in , ,

    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