Monthly Archives: August 2020

 A poem, to honor America’s heroes, the men in the military

Poem printed in the Southside Messanger on  May 29, 2018

A 22 page poem about America’s wars and the men who left home to fight them.

the blue pitcher

arlene s bice

beads, bangles & bubbles are pretty

the words just right can be witty

a pitcher of blue glass caught my eye

to sit on my table alongside the pie  

not enough to look good, but be useful

empty it is worthless, so it will be juiceful.

Leaving at 17 to Get Married

arlene s bice

I leave behind my girlish bedroom,

all pink and burgundy,

but no frilliness,                      never was a frilly girl.

I take with me the memory of a little girl \

sleeping/hiding behind a big Panda Bear.

I leave behind the bed of my youth,

where I dreamed my dreams,

crying out in the night,            because it was scary.

I take with me memories of measles, medicine,

junket and a small green plastic radio.

I leave behind my boudoir chair,

maple bones sticking out,

here and there,                                    a great reading chair.

I take with me the memory of re-dressing it

with wine-colored cotton stripes.

I leave behind my closet full,

out-grown styles worn,

in high school,                         wool plaids/tight sweaters.

I take with me the memory of pretty, silver,

feathered mules, impossible to walk in.

I leave behind my bureau,

the mirror adorned with cards,

and dried corsages,                 from high school dances.

I take with me the memory of the gym,

transformed by magic of fairy dust.

I leave behind the windows,

curtains of merlot matching,

the painted floor,                    round rug kept my feet warm.

I take with me the sound of the tree rustling

against screen, my personal weatherman.

I leave behind walls of pink,

once covered with pictures,

of movie stars,                         some were even signed to me.

I take with me memories of Friday nights

with the girls, looking for the boys.

Good-bye little room, you held me in comfort

as I grew, in the first book of the trilogy,

now it is time for the second book.

Over Tea – terri st cloud -2008

A joy to re-read this chapbook that I carried with me many

tmes while sitting in waiting rooms for for appts. Because her

poems are short, I doodled and created my own sketches

around her words.

Ten Things of Thankfulness

1. The flight of steps in the town park so I cannot forget the ability to walk upstairs.
2. For small gifts of a long time ago that keeps loved ones close while they are gone from me..
3. The Sealey Chapbook Challenge of reading a chapbook a day for August. It has brought me back to re-reading good poems that have slept quietly on my bookshelf.
4. For Zoom which is easy to use and allows me to see others in our meetings.
5. For the caution many businesses are taking to help keep us safe as we shop and conduct business.
6. For my lawn gentleman who does a fabulous job and allows me to take off a time or two of cutting my grass.
7. Those who forgive me for being a day late in my Friday TTOT.
8. For those who share recipes to try that are new to me.
9. For the opinions of others to keep me from knowing all the answers.
10. For others who continue to go forward, not allowing this pandemic to defeat them.