She was blind In those long gone days of easy before I grew hard into my boots I would watch her stare as she creaked and hummed in the old country rocking chair at the warmth of the early morning sun Sometimes her index finger slowly moved across her lips like a metronome as we […]
Poetry Corner: James Garrett “Two Hearts”
Glancing from preparing dinner she says, “I love you.” He says, “I love you. You’re my everything.” “You’re mine,” she replies. Hot flames of passion. Warm embers of love. Time, time, time. Changing, yet so the same. Golly, she was a cute kid. She’s cute still. The photo on the wall, Is of a younger […]
Poetry Corner: Sandra Anfang “Patching Holes”
I kneel at the edge of my partner’s longing a tub of Fix-all in one hand a spatula in the other. I move along the stairwell feeling for fissures in the drywall as a doctor palpates flesh, a squirrel searches out holes to ply with acorns. It’s easy to fill a lover’s vacuoles to spread […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Under My Desk
4th grade me, beneath my desk My teacher made me do it Parents never told me why But deep inside I knew it Time passed by, no bombs were launched And everything seemed fine Shelters built beneath backyards Got filled with vintage wine I wonder what the damage is Remaining in my brain Waiting for […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Readers Write…
Readers Write… Readers of this column since 2008 have been entertained or informed about backyard squirrels, house cats, “Saving the Lido,” growing up in 1950s Walnut Creek suburbia, corporate life and post-corporate life, “Toilets 101”, songwriting, and how many poems I’ve long ago lost track of. So…I’m more than game to hear their Bucket Lists, […]
Love is back: Annual love poetry contest returns for 14th year
It’s February, and love is in the air. Come Feb. 19, it will also be in poetic verse and rhythm at the Benicia Historical Museum for the annual Benicia Love Poetry Contest. The Love Poetry Contest was founded by Benicia’s first Poet Laureate Joel Fallon in 2004, before the city had a poet laureate program. […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: Pun-zi Scheme
Visionary venturists Appear from time to time With innovations loved by all That change the paradigm E-lec-tric-it-y and such Air flight, assembly lines Telegraphs and televisions Come from these great minds I’ve had some good ideas And I think that I that I could help Create a business model That would get 5 stars on […]
Poetry Corner: James Garrett “Reunion”
They came from the past in singles and pairs. Each brought their lives, and curious stares. Some traveled far over land and sea, Each curious to see what had come to be. Some had stayed so close to home, Others, by choice or chance, did roam. Now all brought together one more time, Some playing […]
Poetry Corner: James Garrett “Honor”
Honor, Duty, Country. A line borrowed from another. A tattooed line, On the arm of a Brother. Without Honor there is nothing. Without Honor we are dead. Where ice-cream is eaten, Or the blood runs red. To be there. To carry your load. To hack it. To pay debts owed. Pain is temporary. Honor is […]
Poetry Corner: Johanna Ely “How to Build a Wall”
At first, there is only me, but then I grab the hand of the young Mexican boy who walks his tiny chihuahua past my house at the same time every day, and he in turn shyly takes the hand of the middle-aged Chinese woman who does the alterations at the dry cleaners, who quietly holds […]