MUSIC FOR THE SOUL

It is said that music has charms

That can soothe the most savage beast—

The music that was played in last night’s concert

Was so exquisitely beautiful to me

That I drifted off into the air above my chair,

And was still there as that last note

Slowly trailed away into the jeweled night.

The total silence shocked open my eyes

And I found myself on the edge of my chair

With not one sign of having ever left the seat.

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SINKING OF THE FIRE

Does some great giant telescope

From a sometime place

Search, search, search

 

Through the infinity of night

Does He sail his perfect seas

Mark the smallest shortest route

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THE BEGINNING

Dawnlight whispering

touched my silent eyes

teaching the lesson simple

to understand—

See the world

with equal eyes

See clear and true

the pain and the joy

Hold each with gentle hands

Wake glad

of the challenge in each day:

of the chance

Not to die, but to live

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AUTHOR NOTES

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“SINKING OF THE FIRE” is the title the author left on what was still an unfinished poem. These lines, however, seem capable of standing alone even if they are not clearly related to the title. The author also left a scrap “The puny torch?” to tease the reader.

REFRACTIONS –the poetry of Robert Roxby

“MUSIC FOR THE SOUL” first appeared in his book Reflections on a Lifetime, 2000. It is included for August 27, National Just Because Day.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“THE BEGINNING”is included for August 27, National Just Because Day. It is another poem that came about because of her struggle with depression.

 

 

 

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Readers who write in response to one of the prompts listed each month in Splintered Glass, may see their work presented here on the last week of that month. Though poems are preferred, short prose work will also be considered for publication.

Guidelines for submission:

  1. List Splintered Glass prompt which inspired the work in the text of your email.
  2. Submit material to be published as Microsoft Word document. Submission should not be longer than one page. Editing will not be provided, please be careful.
  3. Include two brief sentences about the author. Example: Michael Whozits is the author of A Book and The Curl, a blog. He is a retired pilot and avid surfer.
  4. Submission must arrive no later than the 3rd Wednesday of the month in which the Splintered Glass prompt appeared. Only one reader’s submission will be selected for any given month.
  5. Send submission to karoxby@gmail.com.

 

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SPLINTERS FOR AUGUST 2025

  1. Robert Roxby writes about a stay in the hospital. Have you experienced something similar? Put your memories, attitude regarding this in poem or prose.
  2. National Just Because Day occurs this month. What is your take on what this means?
  3. Happiness Happens Day pops up this month. Describe an experience (or more) that illustrates the truth of this thought.

 

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JOY OF LOVE

I have felt the loneliness of the heart.

It can only be calmed by the presence of love.

Yet she has left me so long ago, that now

I can only hope to some day rejoin her

To walk again across these lovely hills

And feel again the superb joy of loving her.

There is no joy quite like that of love.

Unselfish love that knows no end or boundaries.

We had that once and its memory is with me.

I shall take it with me when I leave here

Perhaps, someone may come across this love

And enjoy it for another life of happiness.

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WE WATCHED THE TIRED SUN GO DOWN

We watched the tired sun go down

Grey night strikes across the sky

Where melted the golden butter sun

 

Just now beyond the forest green rim

Of hills they crouch—

The light beams of departed day

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FAMILIAR STREETS

I know these streets

Their names

Which run east-west,

Which stretch north-south

Which of them intersect,

Which die as a dead end

 

Yet I feel lost

Where are the parks

I knew and played in

So long ago?

And the buildings—

They are no longer

Familiar, full of memories

 

I know these streets

Yet I am a stranger

In the town of my birth

And I wander lonely

Searching for what

Now lives only in memory

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AUTHOR NOTES

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“WE WATCHED THE TIRED SUN” is a piece found among the author’s papers with a note “failed poem.”  It had no title.

REFRACTIONS–the poetry of Robert Roxby

“JOY OF LOVE” was written after the death of his wife in her memory. It was found in his notebook. It is included for August 18, National Couple’s Day.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“FAMILIAR STREETS”is included for August 21, National Senior Citizens Day. It was inspired by a return visit to her childhood home.

 

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