Spring had arrived at long last
But where were all its brightly colored flames?
The hills were freshly turned to green.
No flowers yet adorned our meadows here.
Perhaps the desert would be more awake.
Up the mountain road, through the pass,
Or to the upper desert parts of our land.
Still, no fresh lovely flowers crossed the sands,
Where would we find this glow of Spring?
Now through the pass to a lower valley
And breaking out into a bright sunny day,
We saw them in such a stunning array.
It seemed as if someone had flown about
And dappled the entire hillside in colors.
Blue and yellow, purple and green abounded.
Here and there a touch of cerise and gold
Creating such a pattern of glowing beauty
Our car seemed to stop by itself
As if it, too, was so impressed, it had to look.
Never had our Spring so gloriously begun.
My memory of this is as fresh today
As though it were yesterday not two years ago.
DEJA VU
There was the soundless plunge
of the round midnight ember
splitting cloud-carved marble:
the swift quicksilver moment
that sparked a taper
in the some-remembered realm
There was the splintering
of shattered crystal fever
on the obdurate dark:
the glimpse of startled lightning
igniting white-hot necromancy
into fleeting light
that fore-felt the step half-taken
fore-caught the thought half-spoken
fore-knew the door half-open
But it was the whispered word
the tender kiss of strength
molten flame unleashed
that flashed a flood lamp
upon long-known forgotten lands
and time cold rekindled
EXERCISE IN FLUMMERY
Four roads to see
For we three
And nine stops to make till I return
Nine times I will read this poem to you
Then, this cake inscribed, you will eat
Start now!!
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“DEJA VU” explores this concept which always fascinated the author. It was published in the anthology Heart’s Secrets, Best New Love Poems in 1967 by Young Publications and again in 1972 in The Spring Anthology by Mitre Press. The poem was once subtitled For have I not always loved you?” It is included this week for March 29, National Smoke And Mirrors Day.
REFRACTIONS—a by Robert Roxby
“EXERCISE IN FLUMMERY” is included this week for March 29, National Smoke And Mirrors Day. The poem was found in the author’s journal. Note: “flummery” means nonsense and may have originated in Wales. This origin becomes interesting as there was a significant influx of Welsh in the mid-nineteenth century when the author’s own parents arrived from England. Many of the Welsh found work in coal mines as did the author’s family. Could this be how this word found its way into the author’s vocabulary?
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“REMEMBERING CRAYONS” is included this week for National Crayon Day, March 31. It is a recent poem inspired by re-reading her poem, “Burnt Sienna” (see this site August 2022) and by learning there is a day dedicated to the crayon.
SPLINTERS FOR MARCH 2023
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:
HELLO, SPRING
Hello again, Spring
Each day flickers
Between rain and sun
Rich with promise
Each day brings a melody
Of memory and dreams
POETS
We dream!
We fly!
On wings of
song
We ride the
sky.
SPRING FLING
Spring had arrived at long last
But where were all its brightly colored flames?
The hills were freshly turned to green.
No flowers yet adorned our meadows here.
Perhaps the desert would be more awake.
Up the mountain road, through the pass,
Or to the upper desert parts of our land.
Still, no fresh lovely flowers crossed the sands,
Where would we find this glow of Spring?
Now through the pass to a lower valley
And breaking out into a bright sunny day,
We saw them in such a stunning array.
It seemed as if someone had flown about
And dappled the entire hillside in colors.
Blue and yellow, purple and green abounded.
Here and there a touch of cerise and gold
Creating such a pattern of glowing beauty
Our car seemed to stop by itself
As if it, too, was so impressed, it had to look.
Never had our Spring so gloriously begun.
My memory of this is as fresh today
As though it were yesterday not two years ago.
AUTHOR NOTES
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“POETS” is included this week for World Poetry Day, March 21. The poem was found among the author’s papers.
REFRACTIONS—a by Robert Roxby
“SPRING FLING” is included this week for the Spring Equinox, March 20. It was inspired by a trip the author took in 1997 “to the desert to see the desert flowers.” The poem was found in the author’s journal.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“HELLO, SPRING” is included this week for the Spring Equinox, March 20.
SPLINTERS FOR MARCH 2023