A Paradelle by Judy Janoo

Judy Janoo

 

 

 

 

 

"We write serious poetry in our meetings together,

and sometimes we play. This poem was in response to Billy Collins form: the Paradelle."

 

If Only  
                 (a Paradelle)

 

If only

If only I had a ring

if only I had a ring

to prove your love for me

to prove your love for me

a ring to prove I had your love

if for me only.

If nature’s green is gold

if nature’s green is gold

wrap us in jewelweed

wrap us in jewelweed

wrap us in nature’s jewelweed

if green is gold

and if islands of stars

and if islands of stars

bear their souls over us

bear their souls over us

bear over us,

if souls of islands and stars

bear to souls of jewelweed

and wrap stars over us

prove your love for nature’s islands

for only me.

If only green were in

if only I had a gold ring.

 

Another poem from Carole

Our take-away prompt was to write about a room where we had felt safe.  (It was from the novel HomeSafe; the leading character is a writer who gives this as an assignment to a writing group she has begun to lead.)  Carole Perron brought this back to us.  We all liked it, of course.


THE LIBRARY MEETING ROOM                              

Carole sits at far end of table on the left.

The library meeting room
Filled with tables and chairs
                          like a classroom
I enter for the first meeting
With some anxiety -- What is expected?
And greet friends and neighbors

We introduce ourselves
And Adrien & Sylvia welcome us
And lay out the guidelines for our group.
Whatever we write is acceptable
No disclaimers, please,
Only positive suggestions made
Then given a topic -- we write.

After about 30 minutes we share
If we wish -- not required.
Many positive reactions and encouragement
Some laughter, maybe even some tears

But mostly I'm left with a feeling of success.

poems for autumn by Elaine Wright and Carole Perron

Carole Perron and Elaine Wright as they were leaving
the library this last Wednesday after our session.

Autumn Bliss

I love autumn.

I love the earthy smells, 

the crispness in the air, 

and the beauty of the hills 

as shades of green give way to

reds, yellows, and golds.

I love the smells of

the final cut of hay and of cut firewood.

I love biting into a fresh picked

apple, and the fragrance of spiced cider.

I love walking on a country road,

beneath a fluttering canopy of color,

kicking up the fallen leaves

like I did as a child.

I love the crunching of those

dry leaves as they crumble 

beneath my feet, their collective

beauty becoming a colorful

blanket covering the gravel road.

I love autumn.

I wish it lasted longer.

Elaine Wright

                    
This wonderful season

Leaves turning from green to red
speckled, gold, orange,bright.
Turning the page from summer to fall.
Turning over a "new leaf",beginning anew.
Turning fruit juice into wine
Turning vegetables into soup
Turning a piece of wood into a spindle
Turning your back on a failure
Turning toward the future
Turning and looking at the scenery
Turning a piece of fabric into a blouse
Turning a skein of yarn into a hat or a pair of mittens.
Turning a chore into a pleasure
Turning drudgery into an accomplished goal
Turning sadness into gladness
Turning and welcoming a new day, always looking forward.


Carole Perron