GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“NIGHT SONG” was found among the author’s papers.
REFRACTIONS—a poem by Robert Roxby
“A VALENTINE” first appeared in his anthology, Reflections on a Lifetime. His daughter was five at the time of this poem.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“YES” was inspired by a a challenge from a fellow poet and a poem of the same title which the author once read in an oral interpretation textbook.
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“WHERE EVERY ROOM WAITS EMPTY” was written befodre the advent of cell phones. It first published in New Earth Review. It is included this week for Send a Card to a Friend Day, February 7.
REFRACTIONS—a poem by Robert Roxby
“A WINTER DAY” first appeared in his anthology, Reflections on a Lifetime. This is a new revision.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“GEOLOGY LESSON” is included this week for February 12, Darwin Day. The author’s favorite science is Geology, but this is poem is an improvisation with the gaia hypothesis in mind.
GLASS RAIN – a poem by Margaret Roxby
“RECUERDO” was written for the Lakewood, California’s Pan-American Festival’s annual poetry contest in Lakewood, California. It is included in honor of February 2, the date of the end of the war between the United States and Mexico.
REFRACTIONS—by Kathleen Roxby
“THE ORIGINAL CHOCOLATE MELT’ was written in response to a poetry workshop prompt about memories of the food of childhood. It is included for January 31 which is Hot Chocolate Day.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—a poem by Kathleen Roxby
“LIGHT A TORCH” is included in honor Rosa Parks Day, February 4.
GLASS RAIN – a poem by Margaret Roxby
“THE HEART MUST WAIT,” a poem of mourning written after the death of the author’s mother was first published in CHANNELS, 1982
REFRACTIONS—by Kathleen Roxby
“UNLEASHED HATREDS” first appeared in his collected poems, Reflections on a Lifetime. It is included as a companion for the poem by Kathleen Roxby.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—a poem by Kathleen Roxby
“ON SEEING SHOAH” is included because Jan 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
ANOTHER SPECTRUM—an essay by Kathleen Roxby
“SIDNEY POITIER AND THE TRAIN MEN,” was written within days of Poitier’s acceptance of the Oscar mentioned (2001).
GLASS RAIN – a poem by Margaret Roxby
“A CONVERSATION WITH GERTRUDE STEIN” was written in response to the author’s reading a book by Stein. In a comment to her poetry friends, Margaret wrote: During a time when I was “into” reading everything of Gertrude Stein’s, I was fascinated by a story (the repetitive lines, by the way, so rhythmic and musical) in which the main character really concentrated on Tuesday. Fascinating. Can’t recall the title just now, but the story gave me this reaction which I share with you now. The character in the story never expressed it, not like this; it was just part of her nature. This writing here is just my own imaginative reaction to that.
REFRACTIONS—by Robert Roxby
“TUESDAY” first appeared in the author’s collected poems, Reflections on a Lifetime. It is included as a companion to Margaret Roxby’s poem.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—a poem by Kathleen Roxby
“AT THE GUGGENHEIM MODERN ART RETROSPECTIVE: LAUGHTER” first appeared in ART/LIFE, Vol.25 No.7. It is included because January 22 is National Museum Selfie Day.
GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby
“OF TIME’S WITCHERY” has been newly edited using notes from the author.
KALEIDOSCOPE—a series by Kathleen Roxby
“AGE AND LANGUAGE” continues the author’s series on the oddities of the English language. Sources consulted: www.etymonline.com and www.merriam-webster.com.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby
“THE NEW CHIC” was written in 2020 when her state’s COVID19 home isolation order had been eased and she saw the young girl of the poem arriving at a local mall.
GLASS RAIN – a poem by Margaret Roxby
“REVERIE AT TWILIGHT” is a poem of old age and is included because the first week of January is a time for life reflections. The form of the poem was suggested at a workshop at her local poetry group.
REFRACTIONS—by Robert Roxby
“WINTER SOLILOQUY” first appeared in the author’s collected poems, Reflections on a Lifeime.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—a poem by Kathleen Roxby
“ONCE” was first published in POETRY FORUM, 1975. The poem was presented to Ray Bradbury at an event where he was speaking. During his talk he referred to “a young poet” and briefly met the eyes the poem’s author sitting in the audience giving her the impression he meant her. He later sent her a hand-written thank you note for her poem which she still has.
GLASS RAIN – Poetry of Margaret Roxby
“HANDS OF THE OLD” was found among the author’s papers. It was inspired by her aging mother who “wrote” messages with her fingers on the arm of her wheelchair during a period when she suffered dementia lasting just over a month following a hospital stay for the flu and a broken hip. It is included this week as we contemplate time passing and the ending of another year.
REFRACTIONS – A poem by Robert Roxby
“THE PINOCLE GAME” describes a recurring event in the author’s family home during the 1920’s and 1930’s. It is included this week in honor of National Card Playing Day (December 27). The poem was first printed in the author’s collected poems, Reflections on a Lifetime.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—a poem by Kathleen Roxby
“TWO DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS 2020” was written during the first year of restrictions due to the COVID pandemic.
ANOTHER SPECTRUM SPECIAL
“This Is Bigamy,” was originally published in Southland Magazine, the Sunday magazine supplement of the Long Beach Press Telegram.
GLASS RAIN – Margaret Roxby
“AWAKENING” describes a scene familiar to the author who lived for 30 years in West Virginia where snowy Christmases were frequent.
REFRACTIONS—a poem by Robert Roxby
“RED BRICK HOUSE” first appeared in the author’s collected poems, Reflections on a Lifetime.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—works by Kathleen Roxby
“HE WASN’T THERE” recalls a memory from when the poet was four years old and awake in the night of Christmas. The poet penned this short memory when inspired by Rod Stewart to write something new for family and friends each Christmas.
GLASS RAIN – a poem by Margaret Roxby
“STRANGERS IN A FAR LAND” was found among the author’s papers. It is included this week for Celebrate Immigrants Day, DEC 18.
REFRACTIONS—a poem by Kathleen Roxby
“HOT CEREAL ON A COLD DAY” is a recent poem which the author wrote after hearing its story from a family friend, an immigrant who arrived after the close of WWII. It is included this week for Celebrate Immigrants Day, DEC 18.
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—a work by Kathleen Roxby
“HE CAME IN A STARSHIP” had two inspirations, Rod Stewart and Ursula Le Guin. The author read that the musician wrote something new each Christmas for his friends and family. Kathleen decided to copy this idea and create a series of readings for the season. After reading a book in which the author Ursula Le Guin created a language for her characters, Kathleen borrowed this idea for this short reading.