Poets Salon: Melting Together

POETS SALON

– 2/27/19

Hosted by Kathabela Wilson

Suddenly she left. She did not intend to. ‘Being She’ was hard at work, and hard at play. For decades she had created her own private carnival. She shared with him. They traveled the world. Was it 116 countries? ‘Where She Has Been’ She tasted the best of each let them soak into her poems. She toasted and drank little cups of poet’s red wine, in celebration, right to the end at each of our meetings. She peeked out from a flowery hat that matched my own.

even when
our cup is full thin ice melts
into life itself

~ Kathabela

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By Marilyn Ashbaugh

Marilyn Ashbaugh

The steady drip of icicles reminds me of the melting together and letting go that precedes spring blooms. Each drop surrenders its form to melt and merge together into rivulets absorbed by a thirsty earth with its many hidden roots. Leaves of hydrangea and oak have already let go of summer color to provide contrast with winter’s white. Now comes the final release. The leaves melt together into compost, providing nourishment for the emerging spring blooms.

drip drip drip
the metronome
of spring

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faded blooms
the beauty
of letting go

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Photo by Marilyn Ashbaugh

Ashoka Weerakkody

reentry
and the rocketeer holds breath
melting nosecone

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(Photo by Marilyn Ashbaugh)

Jeanne Ellin

I cannot weep seep gulping gushing into rock
which has held reaching roots in barren stasis
cannot trust fear unclenched boundaries flow
will barely dampen leaving me empty, husk-life.

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Flooding from an unusual February (Photo – Marilyn Ashbaugh)

Shermaz Wadia

exiled…
whipping batter
they fold
joy and laughter
into their grief and tears

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How those flags
By Gillena Cox

Gillena Cox

days of carnival –
revelers peel to barely
shimmer and beads

her expectations
home for Carnival –
sorrel in the fridge

how those flags danced
when the wind
came out to play

sometimes
balloons leave the party
to frolic

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the taste of freedom
like the colours of
feathers

high flying dreams
and wishes

soaring in possibilities

Melting together (Photo – Marilyn Ashbaugh)

Melting Together: Quotes and Credits

Kathabela (Kath Abela Wilson), Pasadena: “I dedicate this Poets Salon to Elva LauterElva Lauter, a Pasadena Poet dear to all of us, who left our world February 12, 2019. She attended our meetings every Thursday at Storrier Stearns. Her two books, Being She and Where She Has Been, are available from Finishing Line Press. Her titles are quoted in my introduction. This Salon includes poetry of all the ways life melts us together, in sadness and in joy.

Marilyn Ashbaugh, Edwardsburg, MI, is a poet and nature photographer who lives near the shore of Lake Michigan and the Southern Florida Atlantic coast. Her sensitive writing above captures the whole cycle of transformation, melting of life to life, and yet the always anticipated coming of Spring.

Ashoka Weerakkody, Shri Lanka: “The haiku I attempt above is based on pages of a book titled “Lost in Space” I had read some years ago, a factual novel after the Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed in a burn-out at re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere after completing its mission in orbit in 2001. The events that took place just before the disaster are not known as the radio link to ground usually breaks during fiery reentry due to static noise. I visualize the scene. that fateful morning over Texas with people down below watching in awe and tears.” Ashoka, author of the adventure novel Lion’s Mouth Crossing is a freelance editor of a journal of Japan trained alumni who contribute articles on travel, culture and technology specially related to their experiences in Japan.

Jeanne Ellin, Bristol: “A woman exploring creativity in old age pushing against disability and isolation. That is also the genesis of the poem. If you weep alone when will you stop? Yet this is one moment of many, most of which are enriched by gratitude and simple joys.”

Shermaz Wadia, Pune, India: “Reading and writing poems has been one of the means to embark on an inward journey… Words can bring peace, hope and light into dark corners. Her poems have been published in many e-journals and anthologies. She has published her own book of poems “Whispers of the Soul” and two volumes of Tapestry Poetry – A Fusion of Two Minds with her poetry partner Avril Meallem. Putting the right admixture of joys and sorrows into the batter of life, with the apt amount of non-attachment will give us a most nutritious cake.

Gillena Cox, Trinadad: ‘Carnival comes like recess in the middle of schoolwork, when we run out of the class room in a mad giddy rush to play. In T&T we say ‘we play mas’ meaning we take to the streets in costumed bands. Big, Small and Medium sized in our thousands. Carnival is our festival to Sun and Fun, it is a great leveler. You can find a president, prime minister, custodian, grandmother, teacher, shopkeeper all playing mas in the same band.” Born in Februay, 1950, Gillena lives in Trinidad, one of the twin islands of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. She’s a retired Library Assistant, mother, and grandmother. She has published 6 books through Authorhouse. “I love my online connections in poetry groups and I blog herehere and here“.

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♣ We welcome and encourage your response, especially in the form of a short poem, by leaving a comment below.