Something Essential to Ponder

Last Thursday I missed the poetry reading event during the noon hour at the campus. My class finishes half-past twelve and then I had a student stay--just to talk. When I got back to the library building, I leaned in at the entrance and could see the poet speaking at the podium. All poets--students or faculty--had been invited to read their poetry. I kind of wanted to, but never felt the strong nudge. I'm really not a poet I tell myself, even though I have written a dozen or more poems.

Yesterday at the beach, I found a treasure--a used book--for $3.50. It even includes a DVD of the poet's performance of words. Never heard of her before, Minton Sparks. She's not only a poet, she's a storyteller. One sentence on the back of her book claims, "The thirty pieces collected here veer from heartbreak to hilarity and back again, as Sparks shares her memories of growing up in small-town Tennessee."

I'm intoxicated by words. This book is my newest bottle. I'm sure you'd like a sip. You can wet your whistle here at her website.


Oh, and here's my poem that I didn't read at last week's poetry event:


Morning Musings

Downstairs, chairs are robed like royalty. Large
Colorful cotton towels cling loosely to white plastic
Skeltons, dried in formation, remnants of a gala
Gathering of wet grandchildren.

This morning the house seems huge. The
Rooms swell with emptiness. The refrigerator
Purrs a monotonous monologue; it's the only
voice in this house.

Outside, the pool water now still and growing
Stagnant, without one wet footprint decorating the
Cement. Every floaty toy deflated. Lizards run
Unafraid along the garden bricks.

Inside, I descend carpeted steps and
wander the length of polished tile looking
For a trace of my legacy of three. The only place
I find life -- feel their supple skin, see their youthful smiles, hear
Their Juvenile jargon -- is in the melody that
Plays as I sit amongst their towels.

~~ Rosie, aka Carol


Good night from Southern California
(yes we enjoyed a lovely Mexican dinner for Cinco de Mayo!).

Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol