GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby
“SAIL POEM EXPERIMENTS,” are exactly what the title implies, the author’s attempt to compose a poem in the shape of a sail. This exercise was likely in response to a prompt at a meeting of her local chapter of Round Robin poets. Poet’s comments: The “sail” form, very interesting. I did not understand, at first, that every space counted for one count and even punctuation. Then on her first effort: lines 4,6,7,9, 10 each one apace too much, I realize. And about the second she said: line 6 has a space and counts one too many.
REFRACTIONS – poetry by Robert Roxby
“WARM BREAD” describes a true moment in the poet’s love life. The poem also appears in his collection Reflections on a Lifetime.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby
“ONLY PETTY THEFT,” describes an incident which happened to the author while a student in college. The amount stolen was equal to her enrollment fee for the coming semester, forty dollars (tuition for the institution at the time was subsidized by the State of California). Her purse was eventually found, minus the tuition. Backstory: this was not the first time her purse/money had gone missing. She had a long history going back to elementary school, a fact which added to her distress at having to admit to once more losing the money her parents had provided.
MERLIN & THE UNDINE
Drenched in the liquid
Of your voiced poetry
I am transported
Battling in a waterfall
Of mellifluous words
Transformed
I am become Undine
Paddling playfully
Atop curl of wave as the melody crests.
Flirting with caresses
While the words
Pool
And slide away
As the poetry like a river
Claims the hills as a right of way.
I am Undine
Swimming deep
Where light is unknown
Where ears are more precious
Than eyes ever were,
With words
As my only guide
Drenched in the liquid
Of your voiced poetry
I am become Undine
Adrift in a dream
Where the words and I are one.
#greatpoetryreading
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby
“FLOWER ARRANGEMENT IN PINK PLASTIC” was found among the poet’s papers. It is included this first week ironically for May 3, National Garden Meditation Day.
REFRACTIONS – poetry by Robert Roxby
“LADY ON THE ISLAND” is included this week for National Loyalty Day, May 1. It is interesting to know the poet’s grandparents, father and some siblings immigrated from England while the statue was still under construction in France. This poem is included in Robert’s collection Reflections on a Lifetime.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby
“MERLIN AND THE UNDINE,” describes the author’s experience listening to a fellow poet named Merlin who wrote about the mythological creature. It is included this week for April 28, Great Poetry Reading 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:
SPLINTERS FOR APRIL 2024
WARM BREAD
“You smell just like warm bread,” I said.
And she seemed hurt by my thought.
Of course, she hadn’t known my mother,
And how my love of her
Was defined by my love of fresh bread
Which my mom allowed me to eat
While it was still oven-warm.
Whenever she handed me that bread
I was wrapped in her love.
How do I explain to this woman
That I felt so wrapped in her love
That she smelled to me of warm bread?
#senseofsmell
SAIL POEM EXPERIMENTS
I
do
ask
“stay!”
for it
is cold,
dear one,
yearning
alone here
without you
I
so far
from
loved
ones at
holiday
meditate
in memory
find peace
I
do
set wild
fancy
adrift
when in
December
red roses
bloom fire
#poetrymonth
#poeminyourpocket
ONLY PETTY THEFT
Wallet
Empty
Shock
Police
Forms
(my name,
how do I spell my name?)
Voice
Friend
Spelling
(oh, yes, that’s it)
Return
Faces
Concern
I speak
“My parents will help,
I guess.”
Backs–
In parented care,
My shock judged
Unnecessary, fake.
I stand alone.
But one knows—
His eyes watch
As I survey
The room full of
Friends
The room where my purse
Had been.
My eyes meet his
See reflected there
The knowing:
No parents
Can replace
No forms record
The loss of trust.
#tellastory
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby
“SAIL POEM EXPERIMENTS,” are exactly what the title implies, the author’s attempt to compose a poem in the shape of a sail. This exercise was likely in response to a prompt at a meeting of her local chapter of Round Robin poets. Poet’s comments: The “sail” form, very interesting. I did not understand, at first, that every space counted for one count and even punctuation. Then on her first effort: lines 4,6,7,9, 10 each one apace too much, I realize. And about the second she said: line 6 has a space and counts one too many.
REFRACTIONS – poetry by Robert Roxby
“WARM BREAD” describes a true moment in the poet’s love life. The poem also appears in his collection Reflections on a Lifetime.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby
“ONLY PETTY THEFT,” describes an incident which happened to the author while a student in college. The amount stolen was equal to her enrollment fee for the coming semester, forty dollars (tuition for the institution at the time was subsidized by the State of California). Her purse was eventually found, minus the tuition. Backstory: this was not the first time her purse/money had gone missing. She had a long history going back to elementary school, a fact which added to her distress at having to admit to once more losing the money her parents had provided.
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 APRIL 2024