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.

 

 

 

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

“HAIKU AT MIDNIGHT” is included this week for April 8, Day of Silence. The poem was found among the author’s papers and may have been written around the same time as “Rear View” (see this site March 2022), or simply at a time of exploring the haiku form which fascinated this author. She researched the form delving into how the Japanese language, unlike English, has spoken sounds that act in effect as punctuation (indicate a pause, for example.)

REFRACTIONS—the poetry of Robert Roxby

“WALK INTO THE WILD WITH ME” first appeared in the author’s collected poems, Reflections on a Life. In his poetry journal, he noted that the scene described in the poem is from 1933 in a “small special valley near Wheeling [West Virginia].” The poem is included this week for April 6, National Walking Day.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“MY NAME,” is the result of a poetry workshop exercise  which challenged the poets to create a poem about their names. This selection seemed appropriate for this week’s National Name Yourself Day, April 9.

 

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.