NEW POETRY as of 2/26/13

WHERE HOPE FINDS ME and WALTZ OF WORDS inspired by assigned poem titles.

BITTER WINTER written to the form of a "luc bac" and inspired by Dick Francis (a favorite author) and Ralph Waite's death. 

WHERE HOPE FINDS ME

My parents bartered choices for a girl.

Should she be Bonnie Blue to Scarlett born?

Or should she sing and dance with Mickey Mouse,

A Billie Jean, Annette—no, wait. Darlene

My name reveals my age with no more clues.

For middle name, eternal values loomed

Perhaps choose Faith, for mountains rise to climb

Long-suff’ring Charity presides o’er all

Make Hope her name, where faith and love cross roads,

Her map to surety written in her name.

BITTER WINTER

Bitter February

Within, strands of mem’ry dangle

Frayed cords touch and tangle

Plus and minus wrangle to shock

Dreams, words, and friends may mock

Pounding soul against rock to break

Chips fall away and ache.

Love called my heart awake, then left

Ugly truth caused the theft.

Hope hides and I’m bereft, tears shed

And now Ralph Waite is dead.

A WALTZ OF WORDS

2/22/14

Dining tables assigned, the same four practice day after day

With Wanda, our dance takes no form

Here, she opens an eye. Yesterday, she said “no,” outraged.

The food choice brings her voice out of hibernation.

Today, her spoon scoops all bites into her mouth

Tomorrow her hand will fall into the plate, painting it as green as peas

For Peggy, we tap dance to bring words to life.

I say, “The fish tastes good today.”

Virginia starts her favorite song. I don’t like fish. My father. . .”

I interrupt, unwilling to dance to the same song.

Peggy touches my sleeve. “What are you talking about?

“The fish,” I say.

“I don’t know anything about fish.” She brings a flaky bite to her mouth.

Virginia and I dance on. . .we know

humor . . .pain . . .love. . .loneliness

For a magical moment, we mesh,

Our words floating above the table in a perfect three-step.