Patchwork Prose and Verse
Lowcountry Serenity
beneath
the moss-cloaked oaks
in the calming peace
of a misty
South Carolina Lowcountry morning
husband slumbering
dogs rolled up tight, snoozing
fresh coffee steaming, swirling
blanketed silence
reminding me
that we are
among the few
who know
this:
there is
no Black Friday deal
worth more
than
serenity
A Covid Thanksmas
remember those
traditional
Thanksgiving Day ways
that started a week ahead
with cleaning the house
and thawing the turkey
three days in advance
and getting up at 6 AM
to bake casseroles
and ice desserts
and set the table
with wedding gift China
and chill the wine
and polish the silver
and buff the crystal
and arrange the
fake fall leaf centerpiece
to impress?
remember the days of aprons
because we wore
our good clothes
to the formal dinner table
where the masses
of family members
from different sides
feeling awkward
with each other
sat up straight
with napkins
in laps
for the high noon
scripted prayer?
and someone
always got stuck
next to that “one”
but nobody could
relax and
forget a few manners
because of
etiquette-spectations?
Covid’s
twisted the turkey
this year
and we can
hate the sickness
but be thankful
for some changes
we drove our
CDC-defined household
down south
and parked it
in the backyard
and overslept
with the dogs
between us
it’s Thanksmas
and there are
no rigid rules
we’re combining the holidays
and extending the visit
we’ll get up
brush our teeth and hair
wear jeans
and flip-flops
and eat
when we’re hungry
at whatever time
we pick
we’ll play cornhole
and Scrabble
and Pie Face
and cards
and drink coffee
and talk
we’ll watch
Christmas movies
and offer our own
silent prayers
of thanks
throughout the day
thanking God
for those we love
and include the kids
in saying
the big blessing
and take naps
we’ll use paper plates
and Solo cups
at picnic tables outside
and share scraps
with the five dogs
even a sibling burping contest
isn’t out of the question
we’ll start a fire
and roast marshmallows
and make s’mores
and drink hot chocolate
and watch kids
open presents
play scientist
have a tea party
with a princess
and set up
a new nativity
we’ll look at old photos
and tell stories
and laugh
even unbuttoning our jeans
after too much pie
is not out of the question
a pandemic
has
its holiday blessings
Getting Ready: Prepping for Thanksmas 2020
making plans
checking lists
shopping for toys
crafting a menu
wrapping presents
(cornhole included)
playing Christmas music
feeling festive
doing laundry
sharing recipes
ordering Clicklist
cooking ahead
sampling the fudge
testing the smoke alarm programming the TV
grooming the dogs
adjusting harnesses
gathering games
packing the camper
coordinating clothes
mounting the hitch
loading picnic tables
folding tablecloths
sharpening the carving knife
sprucing up the table tree
nogging the Evan Williams
nipping the peppermint schnapps
labeling foil pans
counting utensils
stocking the pantry
sheeting beds
fluffing towels
mixing hot Russian tea
chopping pecans
measuring ingredients
thinking through details
anticipating merriment
withdrawing Christmas cash
choosing audiobooks
fueling up
voting for paper plates
looking forward to the fun
praying for a safe trip
sedating schnoodles
setting Waze
buckling up
Dead Worm Haiku
one groomed Schnoodle and
one groomed Schnauzer both seeking
dead worms to roll on
Spirit
the day
after Halloween
the world
lit up for Christmas
Facebook directed,
“we’re all
fast forwarding
to the Christmas spirit
for 2020”
we watch, wondering
why we’d want
to speed up a season
as if Covid will drop
like the ball
in Times Square
at midnight
New Year’s Eve
we watch, wondering
if November 1
will become
the new
black shopping day
wondering
if the spirit
can be manufactured
by lights,
music
trees
gifts
food
because togetherness
has new Covid rules
about who belongs
in a household
and who doesn’t
we watch, wondering
whether some believe
faith
hope
joy
peace
love
can be plugged
and unplugged
like tree lights
we watch, wondering
why all the rush
when miracles
happen all around us
every day
we wait, praying
for His return
Oh, what a Christmas
of togetherness
THAT will be!
Blue Kazoo
A Blue Kazoo Pantoum
a kazoo?!?!
weightless blue musical flute
seized from your suitcase at luggage inspection
on a family Christmas trip to New York City
weightless plastic toy
just who were you? the Pied Piper?
2004 tsunami zoom to The Big Apple
a simple kazoo- not illegal drugs or weapons
who were you now? the Pied Piper?
were you to groove and kazoo through the streets?
a kazoo – neither bong nor bazooka
booming voice scarring sweet souls, ruining memories
were you to flitter and flute-toot through the streets?
a kazoo – looted from your suitcase
other too-heavy baggage ruled the truth of the doom
a kazoo?!?!
Home from the Rodeo
September 1993
you were four
your baby sister
wasn’t a week old yet
you left with your dad
and older sister
for a rodeo
at Midway Farms
2 miles away
down the highway
down a long stretch
of dirt road
but halfway through my “nap when the baby naps,”
I got a phone call
from a subdivision neighbor
“Mrs. Meyer,
we found your son
on Highway 46”
I panicked!
then he added
“he got lost….
a lady saw him running alone
on 46
and tried
to pick him up
but he wouldn’t get
in her car
so she’s riding
alongside him
until he makes it home
safely”
alive, not dead
tears of relief
deep breath
that may have been
the day
you became a runner
you were well-oriented
you were cautious
you were determined
you still are
you made it home on your own terms that day
with an angel
in tow
The river property sale closes today at 10 am
Ode to Sapelo River
your marsh and river
at dawn and dusk
ever-changing palette
of brilliant hues,
whose back we scratched
on novice skis,
whose arm we tickled
casting lines, nets
whose oaks
huddled family gatherings
and
sheltered peaceful togetherness
you picked up
the dinner check:
deviled crab,
steamed shrimp,
fried fish
and lulled us
in a dock hammock
as we listened
for playful dinnertime dolphins
your trees and river breezes
brought cleaner air
to clear
the lungs
the mind
your heart our refuge
from demands
and deadlines
well done, friend!
now you’re ready
to
fully embrace
and care
for a new family
who’ll take
your empty shell
and
breathe new life
into you
you have so much more
to give
and you’re long overdue
for a makeover
and
the laughter of family
flooding your veins
we’ll never forget
the joy you brought us!
so long, old friend!
the memories live on….
Choices
Today’s list writing was inspired by a poetry group member to live intentionally – to make good choices and think about the blessings and consequences of choices. I chose a quote from a book I love – Simple Abundance.
“Your life at this exact moment is a result of choices you made once upon a time – 30 minutes or 30 years ago…..wrong choices should never be confused with bad choices.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach
5 of the Good Choices I Made Yesterday
Good choices drive a more meaningful life. A car doesn’t choose a driver. A driver chooses a car.
Today’s prompt was to churn up moments from the past about healing. This one’s a Pantoum for my 27 year old daughter Ansley, who jokingly recalls the day her mama abandoned her in the bookstore. Thank God we can joke through all the “coulda been.”
Abandoned
it was all a scary mistake
abandoning her at Barnes & Noble
she asked to go to the van as I checked out
she said she was sleepy
abandoning her was my fault
I told her to stay on the sidewalk
(we’d parked on the curb) but she was sleepy
she was supposed to stay on the sidewalk to the
van parked straight out front
I said, “stay on the sidewalk” because the van was
ten safe feet from the door
but she followed my only directions
she was supposed to go to the van
but as I drove away she stayed on the sidewalk
she did what I asked – but never made it to the van
she wanted to go nap in the van on the third seat
but as I drove away she stayed on the sidewalk
it was all a scary mistake
I had a meltdown when I realized I’d left her
I’d stopped for milk and bread at Food Lion
I called to wake her but her siblings said,
“she’s not here”
she wasn’t there – I’d left her on the sidewalk
I’d stopped for groceries 20 minutes away
I called the bookstore: “yes ma’am, she’s here”
I’d left her on the sidewalk
her pre-K teacher worked evenings at the bookstore
“yes ma’am, she’s safe in the children’s section”
TOTAL MOM FAILURE! would DFACS take her?
Miss Maury was reading her a story
my meltdown shifted from panic to gratefulness
I’d failed her – but she’d known exactly what to do
I’d called out to wake my four year old who wasn’t
there
panic turned to peace when I got back to her
I’d unknowingly abandoned her and we’re still
healing 23 years later
Common Threads 