Poets Salon: Happy Endings

POETS SALON

– 10/30/19

Hosted by Kath Abela Wilson

We need happy endings and a good laugh. When all else fails, try this. A real dream I will never forget to use… A mystery house, but not of the pleasant kind. Full of evil people, hard at work, contriving, experimenting, a buzz of nervous energy and difficulties swarm in every corridor. Suddenly, a roar in the driveway shakes the house with dread and anticipation. Every room is emptied, quickly by an efficient crew. Everything is carried out– people and their tools, into a huge truck. I watch as it pulls away.

big bold letters
on the side of the van:
bad dream moving company

~ Kath Abela

Ο Ο Ο

“… and then he kissed her”
Acrylic on board painting by Janet Olenik

Vessislava Savova

old legend
my daughter asks me
where the happy end is
a tramp feeds
two stray dogs

Little Mermaid cartoon–
my six-year-old students
do not like the original

twinkling stars
I make up another
fairytale

dragonfly
the grown up girl still
believes in fairies

Ο Ο Ο

Frog Prince Woodwork Puzzle by Peter Larsen

Peter Larsen

a grateful kiss

to a helpful talking
frog

wondering how
a prince
might taste

Ο

tender kiss
wakening princess
pats princely cheek
sliding back
into her dream

Ο

Goldilocks decides
Papa Bear
is just right

Rapuzel Explains

I don’t let down my hair
for princes any more—
if they even manage to climb up
they’re too exhausted to be any fun.

I favor robust farm lads
with good singing voices
cooperative natures
and lots of stamina.

But if a prince should call
carrying a lemon meringue pie
or fresh cinnamon rolls
I’d haul him up myself.

Ο Ο Ο

When Goldilocks said “this house is just right” Acrylic painting on board by Janet Olenik

Josie Hibbing

a dream about a bird
with a broken wing–
I wake up
in the warmth
of your arms

here in my heart
endlessly blooming
the dandelion
you used to wear
in your hair

all the places
where I have been…
always in my heart
this map that leads
to you

the stars could not
be hidden anymore
this moment
I unlock the universe
within me

how many aches
this heart can bear?
today
I emptied a bottle
to let the sunshine in

Ο

Still Life in Blue, acrylic painting on board by Janet Olenik

Happy Endings: Quotes and Credits

Vessislava Savova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. She has published four books: one collection of short stories, two novelettes, a play and a children’s book and has published in many Bulgarian and international anthologies. Her awarded and honorable mentioned writings and visual arts have been published in international magazines in twelve languages. She’s an editor of five books in Bulgarian and one in English language. Four books of Bulgarian authors have been translated into English by her, two of which have been published by Hammer&Anvil Publishing House in the USA.

Peter Larsen dropped out of graduate study in playwriting and promptly got drafted into the Army Signal Corps. Safely out of danger, he became a teacher, then a wood sculptor, then a graphic artist, and now he dabbles in poetry. Notice that Peter Larsen’s first poem is a “cherita” a little six-line poetic story form. His recent cherita are published in recent issues of the cherita journal. One of his early wood sculptures, a colorful wooden puzzle, is included in todays Salon.

Josie Hibbing is a mother of 8. She loves raising her family and she has a passion in writing haiku and tanka poetry. She lives in Iowa, USA with her family.

A Note on the Artist:
Janet Olenik is a Los Angeles artist who has worked closely with Poets on Site, in Pasadena, for many years. Her artwork will be on display now through Christmas at the Flintridge Bookstore coffeehouse. Now retired, she taught studio arts for many years at Glendale Community College.

Ο

Wynkin Byynkin and Nod, acrylic painting on board by Janet Olenik

♣ A note from Kath Abela

> Many local poets will be attending Moonday at Flintridge Bookstore on Nov 17, 2019:
The 4:00 pm reading will be an ideal time to come early, have coffee or tea and snacks and view Janet’s work. The Reading will feature Cynthia Anderson and Cindy Rinne. Cindy is a longtime participant in Poets on Site and is published in Stone Lantern, Poets on Site in the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, 2018, in in the Poets Salon. (Read Kath Abela’s interview with Cindy).

> Upcoming themes Submissions:
Themes in progress are ‘Mirrors’, “A New Page’, ‘Starting Over’. (You may also suggest your own theme.) Send short poems, haiku, senryu, tanka, cherita haibun, tanka prose, short prose poems, etc. Send a bio with reference to the theme, photos or artwork of your own or friend. (No attachments except photos.) Send links to book or websites etc. We can feature your work again after five months. Multiple submissions can be saved to appear later.

> Send to Kath Abela by Facebook message or poetsonsite[at]gmail.com.

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