Friday, October 21, 2016

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.
 

Friday, October 14, 2016

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.



Friday, October 7, 2016

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