Author’s Notes

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“AND I WAS SEVEN” was originally entitled “Gold Light Valley.” It began as the opening to a short story the author was working on. However, when she shared this opening with her daughter, she was told, “Mom, this is a poem all by itself.” So, here it is divorced from its short story and standing on its own. Though it was inspired by the short story idea, the images and feeling likely reflect the author’s own childhood in the Ohio Valley.

REFRACTIONS –a poem by Robert Roxby

“THE INNOCENTS” is a memoir poem appearing in his collection Reflections on a Lifetime. In his journal, the author notes this is a “1921 first encounter with a girl.” If he is writing about himself, he would have been eight years old. However, the girl calls the boy of the poem “Joe” which could mean this is about the author’s best and life-long friend, Joe Nesbitt.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“State Fair Memory, No. 14” was written as an exercise in a poetry class the author joined to support a teacher friend. The class was given a series of unrelated words (some of which were supplied by the class members) and told to use all or most of them in writing a poem. Among other words included were some of these which appear in the poem: balloon, cinnamon, guts, cotton, pebble, frog, nail, scream. Searching for a title, the author decided that State Fair Memory was not specific enough and the scene described was hardly indicative of the potential of the subject. But if it were the last of a series, perhaps, it would make more sense—hence the tag was added of “No. 14.” It is included this month since many states hold their fairs at this time.