GLASS RAIN—the poetry of Margaret Roxby

“THE HOSTILE PLANET” is included this month for United Nations World Habitat Day, October 2. The poem was found among the author’s unfinished writings, but expresses her often spoken opinion that we live on a hostile planet.

REFRACTIONS—the poetry of Robert Roxby

“GETTING OLD” is included this week in honor of October 1, UN International  Day of Older Persons. The poem was found in the author’s poetry journal.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“THE SOFTNESS OF ANGER” is included this week in honor of October 3, National Boyfriend’s Day. The author wrote this poem about a moment when a young man, hopeful suitor, harangued her for putting herself in danger of getting injured. Never before had she felt unthreatened when anger was directed at her, thus this poem. The poem appears in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4.

GLASS RAIN—the poetry of Margaret Roxby

“APOLOGIES TO WILLIAM WORDSWORTH,” is included this month which is the ninth month of the year (see reference in the poem). The title suggests the author was inspired by the title poet when choosing the form of this piece. It was written for and sent originally to the parents of “Trevor.”

REFRACTIONS—the poetry of Robert Roxby

“LIBERAL: HIP, HIP, HOORAY!” is included this week in honor of September 15, UN International Day of Democracy. The poem was found in the author’s poetry journal.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“IN THE AWAITING PLACE” is included this week in honor of September 21, UN International Day of Peace. The poem represents one attempt of the author to describe her experience of the world as an introvert.

GLASS RAIN—the poetry of Margaret Roxby

“BLACK SEPTEMBER,” expresses the author’s reaction to a tragedy that occurred in September 1972. The events began on September 7 when eight Palestinian militants affiliated with Black September—a militant offshoot of the Palestinian group Fatah—scaled a fence surrounding the Olympic Village in Munich kidnapping and murdering eleven Israeli athletes. Israel then carried out a covert assassination campaign, Operation Wrath of God, of vengeanance.

REFRACTIONS –the poetry of Robert Roxby

“A COMMON LOON” expresses once again the author’s love of nature. The poem is included week in honor of September 4, National Wildlife Day. This poem first appeared in his collection, Reflections of a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“DYLAN OF LONDON AND LLAREGGUB,” is included this week in honor of September 6, National Read a Book Day. As is obvious, the subject poet Dylan Thomas has long been a favorite of Kathleen’s, especially his Under Milkwood.

GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby

“CROSSING THE LAKE,” was found among the author’s papers with this note: “when in the Sierras at a mountain retreat, a pause to reflect….” The author and her husband often traveled into mountainous and forested areas which he liked to share with her, places that reminded him of his West Virginia youth. The poet did not considered this poem finalized, and the page on which it was typed included an excerpt: “gun-metal promise of morning,” which she had apparently cut, but not fully abandoned. There is also an unexplained reference to Ohio—perhaps the scene brought back memories of her early years living on the Ohio River?

REFRACTIONS – poetry by Robert Roxby

“A LIFE AHEAD,” is one stanza of a two stanza poem bearing this title. The second stanza will appear at a later date on this website. This stanza in appears for August 18, World Never Give Up Day. The complete poem is included in his collection Reflections on a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby

“FOR WE WERE YOUNG TOGETHER” is a poem inspired by observing the interaction between residents in the old age facilities the author visited as a volunteer and also during the last months of her grandmother’s life. It is included this week for August 21, National Senior Citizen’s Day.

GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby

“MY NAME IS AUGUST” was found among the author’s papers and may have been the result of a writing challenge at her local chapter of Chapparel Poets.

REFRACTIONS – poetry by Robert Roxby

“SIS,” could be written about any of the author’s four sisters, but as it was written late in the author’s life is probably about the youngest, Dorothy (Dot) who was the last to die.  This poem is included in his collection Reflections on a Lifetime. It is included this week for August 7, National Sisters Day.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby

“SPELLING LIFE”is included this week for August 9, National Book Lovers Day. The poem expresses the author’s view of the value of the written word.