I was awakened
perhaps by animal sounds
outside our cabin
perhaps by the brilliance
of the full moon
lighting up the room.
I lay there listening
to the whispering breaths
of the others sleeping.
Then in the nearby bunk,
My friend turned
And her breathing harshened.
The other sleepers began to stir
Disturbed by the sound,
The noise, of her breathing.
As I touched her, just enough
to break the pattern,
the moon slipped behind a cloud.
She awoke in the dark,
turned and reached out blindly,
laying open her hand for me to take.
I placed my hand in hers
in answer only.
She held it as though
I had asked for companionship—
comfort in the night.
When I lifted away my hand.
she turned back into her dream.
In the morning
She would not remember.
But I had lain awake, listening
to the night quiet sounds
to the soft gentled breathings,
pondering the truth
of that one simple
unconscious gesture:
a reaching out…in the dark
offering…opening
so generous…so trusting
…so vulnerable…
THE GESTURE
I was awakened
perhaps by animal sounds
outside our cabin
perhaps by the brilliance
of the full moon
lighting up the room.
I lay there listening
to the whispering breaths
of the others sleeping.
Then in the nearby bunk,
My friend turned
And her breathing harshened.
The other sleepers began to stir
Disturbed by the sound,
The noise, of her breathing.
As I touched her, just enough
to break the pattern,
the moon slipped behind a cloud.
She awoke in the dark,
turned and reached out blindly,
laying open her hand for me to take.
I placed my hand in hers
in answer only.
She held it as though
I had asked for companionship—
comfort in the night.
When I lifted away my hand.
she turned back into her dream.
In the morning
She would not remember.
But I had lain awake, listening
to the night quiet sounds
to the soft gentled breathings,
pondering the truth
of that one simple
unconscious gesture:
a reaching out…in the dark
offering…opening
so generous…so trusting
…so vulnerable…
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN – Margaret Roxby
“FOR JESSIE” is possibly the author’s attempt to capture the day she, as a child, witnessed the tragedy of the death of a young boy who had been running along the tops of the freight cars (a common game) as the train slowly took on speed through town following a water stop. It is included for July 30, International Day of Friendship. The poem had no title when found.
REFRACTIONS – Robert Roxby
“THE INDIAN’S LAMENT” is included for July 31, World Ranger Day. The author always was fascinated by American Indians. His interest began from living on their native lands along the Ohio River with his coal miner father. This poem appeared in the author’s book, Reflections on a Lifetime.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – Kathleen Roxby
“THE GESTURE” describes a moment on a camping trip the author shared with an old school friend. It is included for July 30, International Day of Friendship.
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:
CHRISTMAS NEAR
Through a night dark
utterly, intensely black
that light will shine.
Always that small
one candle
aglow in the window,
I can see yet
in my mind’s eye.
Will I now
make it home?
This snow, so deep
yet, the candle still
flares bright
in my mind.
It must be there.
I am going home.
Look! A light shines.
Oh, happy day, happy me,
That candle burns.
I’m home, I’m home
And here, it’s Christmas.
DREAM STARRED NIGHT
Dream-starred silver light
Floats leaf shadows on grass sea
O, the summer moon
NOT SEEKING ANY HALLUCINOGENS
Assailed by a brilliance
Painful in its clarity
Ambushed by flavors
And sounds
In a sneak attack
Far, far from their source
Assaulted on all sides
Even by the touch of air
As subtle barometric shifts
Bear down on me
Driven inside to home
To one room, to a space of mind
For relief, a bit of quiet
In a concentration so deep
The world beyond shatters
Unheard, unseen, unfelt
Almost forgotten
Thus pursued from earliest
Childhood I find
It strange in others
That they seek out the extremes
Of awareness and mourn
The loss as their experiments
With hallucinogens
Relinquish them
Into moments, days, years
Of muted, past knowledge.
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN – Margaret Roxby
“DREAM STARRED NIGHT” was untitled when found in the author’s papers. It is included for Hammock Day, July 20.
REFRACTIONS – Robert Roxby
“CHRISTMAS NEAR” is included for July 25, Christmas in July. Cheer Up the Lonely Day. The poem appeared in his book, Reflections on a Lifetime.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – Kathleen Roxby
“NOT SEEKING ANY HALLUCINOGENS” was written when LSD was making headlines promoted by Timothy Leary, among others. It is included for July 24, World Self-Care Day.
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:
HEALING ARTS
From wounds caused by harvesting,
Dust particles in the sunlight shine
When winds stir high the land.
The soothing ointment of rain,
Winter dressings of pure snow
Heal these cuts before spring comes
When life, again, renews earth’s bosom—
Similar in ways to man’s struggles
To reach the goals we need
To fulfill our hearts’ and souls’ desires
Keeping us feeling wholly alive.
FEATHERED DREAM
A shadow falls
on the garden wall
there’s a strum of singing strings
and through the mist of shade and sound
a dove with folded wings
As in a dream
the white bird seems
an old remembered melody
perched there so still
on the garden wall
a strange white feathered song
In shadowed light
a sweet time past
within the heart may fall
Such fragile things
spark memory
a wisp of sound
a haunting song
a feathered dream with folded wings
on a sequestered wall