There seems to be a quiet sense of strength
In the simple statement: “I am an American.”
It says so very much yet is so simple.
It implies pride, confidence, strength,
Joyous humanity, humility. Yes! Even humility.
A humble recognition of who we all are.
The bravery of rushing next door to help put out a fire,
Of soothing a child’s fear of the darkness of night,
Offering to and helping a neighbor in sudden trouble
Even when we don’t know them that well.
How often have we taken in the unfortunate ones?
I know what it says on the Statue of Liberty; I also
Know who my closest neighbors are and where
Their ancestors lived. After all, they are friends.
We sometimes play together, pray together,
Even eat together at the same table.
What is it that makes me so proud of America?
America is not just a country, a way of living,
It’s a mystic coming together of living souls
That blends all the goodness, intelligence,
Simplicities and strengths and the dreams
Of a multitude of ancient families into
One mighty, great and glorious family.
AS IN A DREAM
I saw a bird with injured wing
ride home: a slow and troubled flight
of feathered heart
I marveled that so sweetly brave
the damaged bird could rise again
to tree-life height
while my faint heart with wounded wings
lay pained and still
Then came upon the solemn air
a vibrant trill
as though the homeward bird had sent
its song to me
that I might find a haven, too,
my own high tree
A HEALING
Dust particles reflect sunlight
As the wind stirs the earth
From mounds left by harvesters.
Winter drops a dressing of snow,
A soothing ointment of rain
To heal the land before Spring comes
When life will renew Earth’s bosom green.
Similar somewhat to the struggles
We undergo to reach the goals we seek
That fulfill the hearts and souls
And make us feel wholly alive.
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“AS IN A DREAM” was found in the poet’s papers along with a note to her Round Robin poet friends:
Syllable Sonnet of 14 lines with syllable count:
Can have rhyme, random rhyme or no rhyme. Suggest lines 12 and 14 do rhyme for song effect.
REFRACTIONS— by Robert Roxby
“A HEALING” was found in the author’s journal. According to the author, the poem depicts a sandstorm.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“THE GIRL AND THE TREE” was chosen to accompany “A Healing.” This poem was inspired by a photograph.
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 JULY 2023
MOMENTS THAT MATTER
Brief moments
Separate from all others
Lessons learned from mistakes.
Where understanding
Bursts into being from light
Filtering through
Trembling leaves in a wood,
Revealing a path at last.
That pause when a choice is demanded
But not welcome or easy.
A moment of joy—
That brief dance free of the weight
Of duty and survival
Shimmers like glitter in the sky
Of a snow globe,
Catching the light,
Twirling briefly as it drifts
Down to disappear
Into the flatness that hides
That wonder until
The globe is shaken once more.
WHAT WAITS THERE?
What is it that waits there
there in the shadows of the wings?
Silently, patiently, waiting the cue,
the time to creep, or stride,
upon the stage of my play
I go on, guided by the words and music
of my dreams, my time upon the stage
but again and again, my mind and heart,
(the eyes of my searching)
peer into the shadows of the wings
wondering, marveling,
What is it that waits there?
I AM AN AMERICAN
There seems to be a quiet sense of strength
In the simple statement: “I am an American.”
It says so very much yet is so simple.
It implies pride, confidence, strength,
Joyous humanity, humility. Yes! Even humility.
A humble recognition of who we all are.
The bravery of rushing next door to help put out a fire,
Of soothing a child’s fear of the darkness of night,
Offering to and helping a neighbor in sudden trouble
Even when we don’t know them that well.
How often have we taken in the unfortunate ones?
I know what it says on the Statue of Liberty; I also
Know who my closest neighbors are and where
Their ancestors lived. After all, they are friends.
We sometimes play together, pray together,
Even eat together at the same table.
What is it that makes me so proud of America?
America is not just a country, a way of living,
It’s a mystic coming together of living souls
That blends all the goodness, intelligence,
Simplicities and strengths and the dreams
Of a multitude of ancient families into
One mighty, great and glorious family.
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“WHAT WAITS THERE?” was found in the poet’s papers along with a note to her Round Robin poet friends: the word “dreams” was originally “drama,” but I made a typo and decided to leave the word “dreams.”
REFRACTIONS— by Robert Roxby
“I AM AN AMERICAN” is included this week for July 4, Independence Day. The poem was found in the poet’s journal.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“MOMENTS THAT MATTER” was chosen this week as it seemed to be a blend of the thoughts expressed in the other two poems appearing.
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: