Night after night I dream about the mystery, call it unnamed into my heart, let it fall like rain behind my eyelids. I wake up dripping with sweat but remember nothing. The mystery is there like certain poems I never quite understand or the feeling of anxiety, my breath held in, instead of released. It […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “The Butterfly”
This morning the rain is coming, the sky is the grey of a dove’s breast, and the old rosebush quivers in the breeze. It has seen many winters and for weeks, has sprouted rose hip berries, persimmon colored, announcing autumn. Yet, this very second it calls my attention, for alighted on one stem three white […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Preparing for winter”
In late October the afternoon sun settles close to the horizon, but still warms the skin. A clear blue sky holds no premonition of what must come next. Only the light weakens, gives us a subtle warning, while shadows grow into long fingers that reach out and touch the circadian self, affirm our uneasiness that […]
Poetry Corner: Peter Bray “After the election…”
After the election, I grieved like a puppy that had lost its tail, heard the acceptance and concession speeches and went on my way to see a customer, scheduled new work and then headed to Nation’s for breakfast. Good luck, World and America, your new boy thinks Global Warming is a hoax, his majority colleagues […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “How to Celebrate my Life (El Dia de los Muertos)”
The first year after I die, celebrate my life on my birthday. (El Dia de los Muertos) Set up an altar in the living room, under the Rivera painting of the woman embracing the white calla lilies. Put everything on that heavy carved wooden table next to the window. Light a church candle with […]
Deadline for 2017 Benicia Love Poetry Contest announced
It’s time to submit that special love poem to the 2017 Benicia Love Poetry Contest! But why should I submit?! 1. This year, the prize money has been doubled! The first place winner will be awarded $100. 2. If you are one of the winners, your poem will be published in the next Benicia First […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Autumn Red”
In the trees all over town dozens of scarlet handkerchiefs wave farewell- that blazing autumn red how it flutters then drifts down into the beaks of migrating birds the nests of busy squirrels a color even brighter than the hummingbird’s flaming head or the shade of lipstick that I wore that fine October day when […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “View from the Benicia Depot”
Standing on the wooden platform of this old fashioned train depot, I remember how I once waited impatiently for trains to take me away, waited in stations as long as football stadiums, New York, Paris, Tokyo, waited eagerly to travel on trains whose wheels clicked and clacked to the edge of a new world. Now […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “Never Wear Glasses”
(Dedicated to Joel Fallon) You told me to always make eye contact with my audience, to blow up the print of my poems to a font size of 14. Never wear glasses, you advised, or drink water while you read. No distractions, you said. You told me I wrote good poetry, but that the word […]
Poetry Corner: “Hope is the Thing with Feathers (Dedicated to Joel Fallon)” by Johanna Ely
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops-at all” -Emily Dickinson If such a tiny bird, perhaps left for dead, or suffering from an injured wing, its feathers matted and torn, finds refuge in your broken heart, then reach inside yourself and […]