GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

The poem “SONG OF HEALING LIGHT,” is included this week for May 27, Memorial Day. The poem was published in 1990 a part of her chapbook, Glass Rain, Golden Rain.

REFRACTIONS—a poem by Robert Roxby

“ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER” is included this week for June 1, World International Childrens Day. The poem is included in his anthology, Reflections of a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“THE CHILD OF HUNGRY EYES” is included this week for June 1, World International Childrens Day. When the author worked as a teacher in an inner-city school, this child was in one of her classes. The school had a policy that teachers should visit the homes of some of their students if not all. The author visited this child’s home and met his bed-ridden mother, saw the small bookcase she proudly pointed to which contained a set of lawbooks rescued from the wreckage of a construction demolition site. The history of the males associated with his family came to her from the school’s administration.

GLASS RAIN—the poetry by Margaret Roxby

The poem “END OF SELF-PITY,” is included as May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The poet wrote this when suffering from depression at age sixteen. A student of Latin, and great reader of both Greek and Roman classics, she refers to the lemures in Roman religion, wicked and fearsome spectres of the dead. Appearing in grotesque and terrifying forms, they were said to haunt their living relatives and cause them injury. To propitiate these ghosts and keep them from the household, ritual observances called Lemuria were held yearly on May 9, 11, and 13.

REFRACTIONS—a poem by Robert Roxby

“AWAKE, IT’S SPRING” is included this week for May 14, United Nations World Migratory Birds Day. The author recorded in his poetry notebook that this is a “Memory of a Spring day in hills of WV of 1929.” The poem was included in his anthology, Reflections of a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS—the poetry of Kathleen Roxby

“COUSIN CARL” is included this week for May 16, United Nations International Day Of Living Together In Peace. The author is describing her impressions of her mother’s paternal uncle as she remembered him when she was still a child and he still young, perhaps a teenager yet. He did later grow out of many of his earlier questionable traits, perhaps all—the author did not know at the time of writing this piece.

GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby

“FLOWER ARRANGEMENT IN PINK PLASTIC” was found among the poet’s papers. It is included this first week ironically for May 3, National Garden Meditation Day.

REFRACTIONS – poetry by Robert Roxby

“LADY ON THE ISLAND” is included this week for National Loyalty Day, May 1. It is interesting to know the poet’s grandparents, father and some siblings immigrated from England while the statue was still under construction in France. This poem is included in Robert’s collection Reflections on a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby

“MERLIN AND THE UNDINE,” describes the author’s experience listening to a fellow poet named Merlin who wrote about the mythological creature. It is included this week for April 28, Great Poetry Reading Day.

GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby

“MACCHU PICHU,” the place and people, fascinated the author.* She wrote this week’s poem in response to a challenge to use form as opposed to free verse and also for the local Pan American Festival yearly poetry competition. The following are her notes about the form she used. Pattern: rhymed (ababb) cinquain following Shelley’s “To a Skylark.” 4 lines, 3 poetic feet each; 1 line, 6 poetic feet (last two lines were one in original version).

*See also https://www.singularprism.com/2023/09/25/pageant-of-gold/

REFRACTIONS – a poem by Robert Roxby

“THE MOCHE HUMBLED” was a submission to the local Pan American Festival poetry contest. The poem appears in the author’s collection Reflections on a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby

“ISSA IN THREE SHORT POEMS,” is the author’s attempt to capture how reading the poetry of Issa impacted her life at a vulnerable time.

GLASS RAIN – poetry by Margaret Roxby

“A POET’S PRAYER” was found among the poet’s papers. It is included this first week for April named National Poetry Month.

REFRACTIONS – poetry by Robert Roxby

“A POET” was written by the author late in his life when his wife invited him to accompany her to a meeting of her fellow poets. He had never considered himself a poet. This poem is included in his collection Reflections on a Lifetime.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – poetry by Kathleen Roxby

“A PEN TO DANCE,” was written while the author was attending poetry workshops at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference one summer. The original title, “When the Pen Won’t Dance,” expressed the poet’s feeling on the day. However, for this release, the poem is renamed.