She is sad.
What should we do?
Why take her out, of course,
Oh, yes. We should all send invitations out
To gather her friends about.
We should take her out
To someplace where there’s a crowd.
But that makes it all so public.
My son locks himself away when he is sad
And refuses to speak to anyone.
But she will want to talk it out, you see,
For she is like a bird that flies from flower to flower,
Leaving a life dusting of pollen behind,
As it tips the night’s dew into the flower’s center.
Are you sure?
I do know what I am talking about.
But shouldn’t we let her know
That it’s all right to laugh again, and
That there is still loving and kindness?
Of course we should. We must help her
To find many, many ears to listen—
Even strangers will do…
Not with people who cannot know…oh, no.
Of course we should.
And when our ears grow weary,
We should take her out
To where the bright lights are
And sunshine and a crowd.
Oh, I see now. When she is sad,
We should take her out
To where there is a crowd.
#girlfriendsday
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby
“MY NAME IS AUGUST” was found among the author’s papers and may have been the result of a writing challenge at her local chapter of Chapparel Poets.
REFRACTIONS – poetry by Robert Roxby
“SIS,” could be written about any of the author’s four sisters, but as it was written late in the author’s life is probably about the youngest, Dorothy (Dot) who was the last to die. This poem is included in his collection Reflections on a Lifetime. It is included this week for August 7, National Sisters Day.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby
“SPELLING LIFE”is included this week for August 9, National Book Lovers Day. The poem expresses the author’s view of the value of the written word.
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:
SPLINTERS FOR AUGUST 2024
MY SURPRISE FAMILY
I walk across the land
Greeting one and all as we meet
As cousins, nephews or siblings,
Not by blood but by mutual choice:
Sharing dreams and common goals
With someone of a mutual love.
Sometimes, they have faces—
Pink, brown, sunburned, pallid, smooth.
Body shapes come thin, thick, tall, short,
Also in some strange combinations.
Oh, Cousins, Nephews, Brothers, Sisters,
May I never lose my humility in you.
#uninternationaldayoffriendship
FOR JUDY WHO WANTED TO GO HOME
Behind the scenes she pleaded…
I’m tired, so tired.
I want to go home
Someplace, someplace to rest.
I want someone,
Just someone
Somewhere to care.
Dear lost Judy.
I hope you made it
“where birds fly
over the rainbow”
Into that other far-away sky.
WHEN SHE IS SAD
She is sad.
What should we do?
Why take her out, of course,
Oh, yes. We should all send invitations out
To gather her friends about.
We should take her out
To someplace where there’s a crowd.
But that makes it all so public.
My son locks himself away when he is sad
And refuses to speak to anyone.
But she will want to talk it out, you see,
For she is like a bird that flies from flower to flower,
Leaving a life dusting of pollen behind,
As it tips the night’s dew into the flower’s center.
Are you sure?
I do know what I am talking about.
But shouldn’t we let her know
That it’s all right to laugh again, and
That there is still loving and kindness?
Of course we should. We must help her
To find many, many ears to listen—
Even strangers will do…
Not with people who cannot know…oh, no.
Of course we should.
And when our ears grow weary,
We should take her out
To where the bright lights are
And sunshine and a crowd.
Oh, I see now. When she is sad,
We should take her out
To where there is a crowd.
#girlfriendsday
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry of Margaret Roxby
“FOR JUDY WHO WANTED TO GO HOME” was found in the poet’s papers. It is included for July 31, UN International Day Of Friendship. The poem was written on the back of flyer for California Repertory Company’s production of Judy written by Howard Burman and produced at CSULB in 1992.
REFRACTIONS—the poetry of Robert Roxby
“MY SURPRISE FAMILY,” expresses the author’s strong love of his country and for humanity in general. It is included this week for July 31, UN International Day Of Friendship.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“WHEN SHE IS SAD,” is an imagined conversation, but based on something similar she once overheard when visiting a house in mourning. It is included this week for August 1, Girlfriends 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:
SUMMER STROLL
As the firelight burns low, I hear them—
Their harmonicas humming, soft voices
Singing of long lost loves,
Or newfound in a flame red glow.
As I walk by the old stone church,
Their hymns of praise roll out
Like thunder on the hills at night.
Far distant, a sound like jewels sparkling:
Voices that grow slowly higher as I walk.
Glorious tenors, baritones caress
As sopranos and mezzos strike the harp
At the concert hall. I cry out loud—
Oh, America! Your hosts awake the Earth
When you sing of your past, your future,
But most of all when you sing
Out of sheer pleasure in the music.
CARLOTA OF BELGIUM AND MEXICO
She dreamed; Carlota dreamed
In the garden, she dreamed
Of the far-off world she had known
Not long ago
A world, her native world
The old, established world
Where kings she knew and queens she knew
Still lived and reigned.