This morning I am thinking about a friend I use to know, when I lived in a different town. I’ll call her “N”. N has brain damage caused by an accident and a stroke. I do not know how or when she got it; I never asked. N has a speech tick, which means sheContinueContinue reading “Little Words”
Category Archives: Madrona Grove
Dive
Walking along the pier, right at the elbow that bends up towards Fairhaven, I notice a shy heron walking deliberately among the pilings. It’s twin legs and long neck hide the bird as it rests near the jagged grey-brown grain of whole trees, de-barked and weathered. Only when the heron gracefully kissed the water forContinueContinue reading “Dive”
Dream: The Petals
It all started with a bouquet of flowers. Left on the circle table in the center of my new apartment positioned gracefully in a heavy crystal vase, a hand-me-down from my mother. Multi-colored assorted. They brightened the room and matched my shower curtain, and the bedspreads. The second Monday morning, in my new apartment, theContinueContinue reading “Dream: The Petals”
Maggie the Ghost
Have you ever worked with a ghost? One summer, I worked on a Washington island as a housekeeper at a large inn that is playfully haunted by “Maggie”. My encounters with the ghost were so gentle, she is an inspiration for my book scheduled to be released 2015. The Inn wasn’t very old. You’d expect aContinueContinue reading “Maggie the Ghost”
Guest Poet: Denise duMaurier
SnowdropA daystar opened in my row of dead leaves pallid from the wind a golden center ready for the slug that finds it blind and eats it whole. Feet that feel no miracles will stomp on it thinking it a weed in the way of clearing fallen bark and broken twigs that quit the tree.ContinueContinue reading “Guest Poet: Denise duMaurier”
Poem: Handcraft
I hide my hand from my lover Dripping in apple’s wine The season is now morning The harvest hangs on the vine I shall pick the fruit Forgotten by my lover I shall reap the award Of the farmers labor Dance across the leaf That shines with dew Hop along the river A trail weContinueContinue reading “Poem: Handcraft”
Poem: Am I lovely? Of course!
A poem by Vera Pavlova (translated by Steven Seymour) Am I lovely? Of course! Breathlessly I taste the subtle compliment of a handmade caress. Chop me into tiny bits, caress and tame my soul, that godly swallow you love to no end. *** Vera wrote, “poetry is like earthworms, thought is like cud, and understandingContinueContinue reading “Poem: Am I lovely? Of course!”
Poem: Ink Stained Hands
Read me the paper Uncle Loud enough to hear in the kitchen Touch it for me, turn those pages Aunties and I are cooking the dinner hands must be kept clean. But in your place by the fire the beige recliner squeaks on the back-beat of your rocking, toes slide in and out of slippersContinueContinue reading “Poem: Ink Stained Hands”
Philomena / What Are You?
Just last week I went to see the movie “Philomena” at the Pickford Film Center. Here is what the Internet Movie Data Base writes for the movie’s summary: “When former journalist Martin Sixsmith is dismissed from the Labour Party in disgrace, he is at a loss as to what do. That changes when a youngContinueContinue reading “Philomena / What Are You?”
Poem: Tongue in Ink
The best poems are not written in ink but by the tongue Spoken into the air never finding paper Touched by the mist of breath against your neck Said in the dark rooms where lovers meet Not at all recorded nor syllables numbered But art form just the same Once activated and released the wordsContinueContinue reading “Poem: Tongue in Ink”
shannon p. laws 