It is one hour and fifteen minutes until my birthday and I am announcing I love you to whomever is listening. In the kitchen I’m hugging my son who wasn’t there the day I was born but who loves that I gave him life and am still present- these written words turning autumn leaves into […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Grey”
Once I thought I understood the color grey and all its nuances- a wet, foggy blur of rain on glass, a single, clear tear on the cheek, a dull winter sky before snowfall. Now I inhale it- breathe the ashes that rise up from charred squares of land where houses once stood, from drifting, swirling […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Roses and Stars”
What a surprise to see roses bloom in October! Peeking out from the high hedge, they are a breath of pale pink, the color of this morning sky. Garbage trucks rumble in the alley and the tired moon has gone home. She has left behind a trail of fallen stars- those scarlet leaves scattered in […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Two Moons”
Looking out the kitchen window, I see the autumn moon setting large and full over western hills. It is 6am and still dark, except for one streetlight in front of the house- how it glows and pretends to be another moon. Johanna Ely is Benicia’s poet laureate.
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Serendipity”
We didn’t plan to leave town- thought the clouds might burn off in time, but then decided to drive south towards the band of light above the mountain. We drove as far as we could in thirty minutes, until we saw patches of blue sky and parked the car in a shopping center lot, in […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Summer Twilight”
Sit quietly at the water’s edge, under the delicate calligraphy of black branches. Listen for the tiniest ripple of still water- let it soothe your heart. Notice how a pale blue-gray sky sweetens to dusky apricot on the horizon, how it softens the distant bridge, the sleepy hills. Watch the gulls careen and swoop, fly […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “July”
In this month darkness comes late leaves glisten for hours in waning light breezes calm the heat a fan purrs in the room while cats sleep belly up miniature moons dance on a wall then disappear the roses in the vase swell and unfold petals curl then drop too soon the peaches too soft the […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “On High School Graduation Day”
You chatter and preen in your seat like a radiant bluebird- your graduation gown puffed out like a sail that has finally caught the wind. You have blossomed into a wide-eyed sunflower- tenderly watering your roots with your own tears. And now, all these days lie ahead of you my lovely one- all these glorious, […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “To the One Who Balances Rocks (at the Benicia Marina)”
Thank you for the rock sculptures that stand peacefully along this water’s edge. You, who have mastered the art of balance, who work alone before dawn- thank you for your fingers that are as patient as a lover’s, how you find the slipping into- the jagged point into crevice, the curve into hollow- one asymmetrical […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Wake-Up Call”
At 7:30 am a wake-up call- No son asking for a ride to work, no grandson needing a ride to school. Instead, a calm, taped voice… Listen carefully- (remembered words) emergency refinery Industrial Park evacuate. Then, the siren. No, it’s not the practice one we all ignore, wrong time, wrong day. We listen to its […]