Never quiet, the graves back home,Mom prodding Pop in their bed, “You’re snoring!”Grandma exclaiming to Grandpa for the millionth time,“Smoking that pipe will kill you someday,” and Great-grandpa in Czech-laced exasperation remindingbullheaded Great-grandma to “Talk American!”Ear protection is desirable, given Cousin Benny’sraunchy jokes, Uncle Emmanuel’s swearing aboutsome poker hand dealt him, and garrulousUncle Henry’s bending... Continue Reading →
O haven’t we been something,we Gracies and Joans, Williesand Bobs baring our hearts,entreating all to feel, imagine—our youths crossing the stage,steps by hope kindled, voicesringing, the blush of our lipsunveiling passions within us.Supple, rebellious years—O Otis, O Nina,O Janis, Jimi, and Kurt,didn’t we take our shot at life,love hard, make a difference.Weren’t we always where... Continue Reading →
Like a surgeon wielding a scalpel,she excised potato eyes like tumors,snaked long peels from the mealy flesh—her eyes scarcely glancing at her hands.Potatoes proved her passport to community.She grew and sold them to the grocers,provided them cheesy or dumplingedfor all the functions her church ladies catered,and hosted for holidays family and friends.She spoke as she... Continue Reading →
To see these multitudinous children of the sunfrolicking upon my shaggy yard, their yellow-plumed heads lifting, bobbing, surely summoningthe scurry of nectar-craving bees,brings welcome cheer as they broadcastwholesome news of warmth, soil and water—countering the crusty worries everlooming at day’s gray horizons.Undaunted by the haughty tulips and iris,boldly they lay their seasonal claim,scoffing at arbitrary... Continue Reading →
O haven’t we been something,we Gracies and Joans, Williesand Bobs baring our hearts,entreating all to feel, imagine—our youths crossing the stage,steps by hope kindled, voicesringing, the blush of our lipsunveiling passions within us.Supple, rebellious years—O Otis, O Nina,O Janis, Jimi, and Kurt,didn’t we take our shot at life,love hard, make a difference.Weren’t we always where... Continue Reading →
we cast our lineout and backout and backGramps and Iout and backsun on watersun in eyesGramps and Ibullfrog croaksblackbird trillsout and backbuckets to sit onworms for hooksout and backGramps and Idragonfly damselflyskeeters and beesout and backlittle to sayfish’ll hearhe and Iout and backGramps comes callin’we go fishin’sun always outwater always calmout and backGramps and Iout... Continue Reading →
