GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

The poem, “DANCE OF UNICORN,” appears this week for April 29, International Dance Day. Those familiar with the author’s work will know she had a special fondness for the subject of unicorns. Since we are honoring dance, it may be interesting to know she encouraged her own daughter in dance classes.

REFRACTIONS—poetry by Robert Roxby

“ALL ABOUT MAY” presents once again the author is his exhuberance triggered by nature and strengthened by thoughts of love. This group of poems first appeared in the author’s collection, Reflections on a Lifetime, 2000.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

This selection  appears for April 27, Sense of Smell Day. This piece originally appeared as one of three poems under the title, “Haikus At the Window” in her chapbook, Chameleon Woman, released 2000. The inspiring view (for all three poems) appeared in the window facing her desk at work. She wrote all three of the poems while sitting there.

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“SOMEWHERE” appears this week for April 17, International Haiku Poetry Day. The author shared this in 1992 with her “Round Robin” poetry friends who shared and commented on poetry they exchanged by mail. On her original she wrote the following:

“This is a little poem which I wrote many years ago, but I thought it might be appropriate since we have lost one of our “robins”—I am sure she has seen those blossoms.

Speaking of syllable count as I have in comments, this haiku or senreyu or whatever, the last line has just 4 syllables. Someone once suggested changing it to “blossoms are waiting”—but that says something entirely different, so I never changed it. and I’m glad.”

REFRACTIONS—poetry by Robert Roxby

“THE MINERS” is included this week for That Sucks Day, April 14. The scenes in this poem were a daily vision in the poet’s childhood. The 1930s Depression had hit his area by the time he graduated high school (the only one in his family to do so), and so his family talked him into a job as a coal miner. Even having seen and felt what he reveals in this poem, he spent the day in that particular hole. But when he emerged, he declared he would never again enter a mine to work, even though jobs were so scarce during the Depression. This poem first appeared in the author’s collection, Reflections on a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“EASTER” is a piece the author intended as a sort of Easter Card verse to share with family when her grandmother was still living.

 

 

 

GLASS RAIN—poetry by Margaret Roxby

“THE SHOW OF MONTHS” was found among the poet’s papers. It was perhaps sparked when the poet searched for a topic relevant to April, the National Poetry Month.

REFRACTIONS—an essay by Kathleen Roxby

“THOUGH WE MUST PART,” is included this week for April 2, National Reconciliation Day. The poem was found in the author’s notebook.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“WITH THE POET’S VOICE” is subtitled “A Tribute to Anna Akhmatova” which identifies the poet the author has chosen to highlight. The story is true and the author learned of it when watching a documentary of the poet’s life. Kathleen was familiar with Akhmatova’s poetry which Margaret Roxby introduced to her. Anna was considered an enemy of the USSR under Stalin for her poetry which she was forbidden to write. Because of her fame (she had been nominated for the Nobel), she was not arrested, but her son was imprisoned.-Anna did not stop writing, but exported her poems by excerpts as short as a line or two with international travelers who came to visit her. This story obviously inspired Kathleen.

 

 

#AnnaAkmatova

#nationalpoetrymonth

GLASS RAIN—poetry by Margaret Roxby

“A SHOWER OF IRIDESCENCE” was found among the poet’s papers and did not have a title. Another poem (possibly written at the same time) by the author, “The Uncontained,” appeared on this website in April of 2021. That version was missing the following lines:

A crystal rainbow evolves

Dissolves, tone-sundered

Glass rain falls

The second poem originally appeared in the author’s self-published collection, Glass Rain, Golden Rain.

REFRACTIONS—an essay by Robert Roxby

“RIVER OF LIFE” is included this week for March  20 World Storytelling Day. The poem originally appeared in the author’s collection, Reflections on a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“THE ATTACK OF WORDS” is included this week for March  20 World Storytelling Day. The author evidently is sharing her reaction as a audience or reader to the work of another apparently gifted and powerful storyteller.

 

#worldstorytellingday

GLASS RAIN—poetry by Margaret Roxby

“DANGERS OF GLORY” has been edited for this release. The poem was never finalized by the author.

REFRACTIONS—an poem by Robert Roxby

“TITLE-LESS” is so-titled because the author did not name this piece which was found in his notebook. It is included this week for March 8, National Proofreading Day.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“PING PONG POEM” is included this week for March 8, National Proofreading Day. The author seeks to help the non-writer envision what the act of composing a poem is like providing a more universal experience, the game board. Whether she succeeded or not only the reader can tell.

#nationalproofreadingday