Shall I say I love you?
With every meal we ever ate
Included was just a pinch of love.
Each cake or pie was flavored
With a drop or two of caring.
When you placed your arms about me
The world would seem so good.
Could something this marvelous happen
To someone as plain as I?
All these years, my soul was filled
So much with the love you gave.
It sometimes seems about impossible
That this love of yours came to me
As such an unselfish act of faith.
THE WIND UPON THE DOOR
Forever signs
That I believe
God made sure
In our lifetime
That I’d be yours
And you’d be mine
Your letter came today
At long last
In the heat of fiery noon
I held it close
Far into the night
Where it grows cold
In spite of the moonlight
A remembered
River-rhythm of light
My heart waits
Alone
In the shadows
While wind beats
Its wild bird wings
Upon a locked door.
The wild bird
Beats against my door
The shining wings a shadow
Become a singing sound:
Dark music
Spilling remembered
Night rhythms
#Nationalsendacardtoafriendday
A GIFT OF WORDS
Each day I search for a gift of words to share—for Elena, a family friend inherited from my mother. Elena, aging toward one hundred, loves books of all kinds, but especially poetry.
Each morning, for she and I are both morning people, I call to share a poem with her. At least, I try. Sometimes all I have is an interesting quote from a book. Elena is eager for these short, but elegant words, though she always hopes to hear a poem I have written or one of my mother’s.
After I read to her, we share what the words have conjured for each of us. These conversations often wander into her past as a survivor in the Europe of WW2, or her years as a teacher of needle art, or the time she was an older student at UC Berkley in northern California.
These meanderings have often found their way into my poetry, which is her gift of words to me, shared in return.
#worldreadaloudday
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“THE WIND UPON THE DOOR” is included this week for National Send A Card To A Friend Day, February 7. The poem was found among the poet’s papers.
REFRACTIONS—a poem by Kathleen Roxby
“A GIFT OF WORDS,” is included this week for February 7, World Read Aloud Day. This piece is a response to a writing group prompt: Consider how words are gifts. How have you gifted words to yourself or someone else lately?
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“LIKE THE WORDS IN A POEM” is included this week for World Read Aloud Day, February 7.
#nationalsendacardtoafriend
#worldreadaloudday
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 FEBRUARY 2024
WATCH OUT
I can be a shadow
When I want to be
Barely noticed in a crowded room
But otherwise
You better watch out
‘Cause you won’t know what’s coming
And you won’t know when
So you better watch out
Yes, you better watch out
‘Cause I’m more than you think
And I’ve got real power
So, you better watch out
Yes, you better watch out
Don’t get lazy
Don’t trust the shadows
Listen to my warning
You better watch out
Oh, I can be a shadow
When I want to be
Barely noticed in a crowded room
But otherwise,
You better watch
Yeah, you better watch out
You better watch out
You better watch out
You better watch
(whispered) out.
#CurmudgeonsDay
#January29
A GIFT OF FLOWERS
Lingering sweet spice scent—
How beautiful the roses glowed
While we content were homeward bent.
The car hummed easy on the road.
How beautiful the roses glowed
Reminding us of joy-filled hours.
The car hummed easy on the road.
We shared a gift: Bright Rose Flowers
Reminding us of joy-filled hours
While we content were homeward bent;
Red roses rained aroma showers:
Lingering sweet spice scent.
A GIFT OF LOVE
Shall I say I love you?
With every meal we ever ate
Included was just a pinch of love.
Each cake or pie was flavored
With a drop or two of caring.
When you placed your arms about me
The world would seem so good.
Could something this marvelous happen
To someone as plain as I?
All these years, my soul was filled
So much with the love you gave.
It sometimes seems about impossible
That this love of yours came to me
As such an unselfish act of faith.
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“A GIFT OF FLOWERS,” found among the poet’s papers, was published around 1990 in Medley, a collection produced by her daughter for distribution among the author’s friends.
REFRACTIONS—a memory from Robert Roxby
“GIFT OF LOVE,” is included this week as an antidote for Curmudgeon Day, January 29. Though the author left a note on this poem reading “For a friend’s gift to her mother in hospital,” it is just as likely the author used the love of his own mother when writing this selection.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“WATCH OUT” is included this month for January 29, Curmudgeons Day. The author began this in jest, but poems tend to run away with their authors. This one did just that.
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: