GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“THE AWAKENING” is included this week for National Daylight Appreciation Day, June 21. However, Margaret wrote this in response to joining a poetry workshop group with younger women (including her daughter). This occurred at a time when the author was doubting her ability to continue writing, but being with these younger creative women awoke her muse once more. This is the true subject of this poem.

REFRACTIONS—the poetry of Robert Roxby

“WE WERE FREE, PART TWO” is included this week for West Virginia Day and also for National Selfie Day as this selection is like a series of selfies in words.. The poem was found in the author’s poetry journal. Note: part one of this selection appeared in May: https://www.singularprism.com/2023/05/08/we-were-free-part-one/

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“PINK,” is one of a series of poems the author wrote on the subject of color for her collection titled “Singular Prism” which gave its title to this website. It is included this week for National Pink Day, June 23.

GLASS RAIN—poetry by Margaret Roxby

“SPELLBOUND” first appeared in The Swordsman Review in 1967. It is included this week for National Old Maids Day, June 4.

REFRACTIONS—a poem by Robert Roxby

“LILLIE MAY” is included this week National Old Maids Day, June 4. The poem was found in the author’s poetry journal.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“SPLIT FRIENDSHIP,” was originally titled “polarized vision.” This poem reflects the poet’s attempt to describe the fact that her mother was both her best friend and her mother, a complicated relationship to navigate. It is included this week for National Best Friends Day, June 8.

 

 

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“A TALE OF TWO SUNS,” was inspired by two people the author knew. It is interesting to note that the poet’s daughter wrote a similarly themed poem based on Rolvaag’s Giants in the Earth, which the two women discussed. It is not known if the discussion influenced the production of this poem which was found among the poet’s papers.

REFRACTIONS—an poem by Robert Roxby

With the poem,“MONSTER,” the poem returns us to a memory from his childhood in in Acmetonia, Pennsylvania 1923. While this one was found in the author’s journal, another, “Spring Swim,” was published in his collection Reflections on a Lifetime and appeared on this site in May of 2022.

 

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“A SPECIAL TEA” describes an experience of the author and is included this week for May 23, International Tea Day.

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“HAIKU FOR A.F.W.” is included this week for Teacher’s Day, May 8. Alice Frances Wright was the author’s writing teacher and her good friend for many years. Note of interest: Mrs. Wright was Arthur Miller’s high school teacher. She also founded and facilitated an annual authors’ festival which ran for many years in Long Beach, California which attracted many well-known writers like Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Mary Stewart, Adela Rogers St. Johns.

REFRACTIONS—the poetry of Robert Roxby

“WE WERE FREE, Part One” is the first stanza of a longer poem about the author’s life after high school during the Great Depression of the 1930’s when he worked for the Civil Conservation Corps and made life-long friends.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“DRUMS IN THE NIGHT” is included this week for National Twilight Zone Day, May 11. The poem was suggested by an image of the wall described. The wall featured later in one of the poet’s dreams and it is the dream which suggested the mood of the poem.

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“THE DESERTION,” a poem about two poets (Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes) is included for the conclusion of National Poetry Month. The author read both poets, their work and their biographies before writing this poem.

REFRACTIONS—the poetry of Robert Roxby

“TO MY LOVE” was undoubtedly addressed to the poet’s wife, perhaps for their 50^th wedding anniversary. It was found in the poet’s journal and included this week for April 23, Lover’s Day.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“Poetry Reading at the Bookstore: Sneak Attack,” was inspired by one evening at the poetry reading in a local bookstore. Observing the non-participants browsing the shelves, perhaps turning their heads upon hearing a certain word of the spoken poetry, she conceived of the idea of poetry as sly, sneaking up on the unsuspecting like perhaps an intriguing aroma that lures the receivers away from their pursuits. It is included this week for April 28, National Great Poetry Reading Day.