Connections

 

Sunset Valentine's Day 2022

—Photo by Ann Wehrman

—Poetry by Ann Wehrman 

and Michael H. Brownstein

SUNSET VALENTINE’S DAY
—Ann Wehrman, Sacramento, CA

leafless, black lace trees
cup roseate sunset
like Venus’s décolletage—

at the bus stop, watching the sun’s
slow, deep goodnight kiss, I melt

tents at the homeless camp up the street
wait to zip their door flaps
in silent appreciation of sky’s drama

we share the heavens, the night
one love

 

 

 

Clementine
—Nancy20 from Pixabay.com

 

PRODIGAL
—Ann Wehrman

the most delicious fragrance
whole wheat, molasses, and honey
ginger, fresh-grated and dried
baked to perfection, sliced, wrapped
carried on the bus to my student assistant job
an offering to share, to make new friends

no one ate it; the day grew long
by 5:00 PM only R. remained
magpie, older, a lifelong learner (like me)
stubbornly following his own timeline

the others made fun of him
he could be a bore and even creepy--a dark horse
yet he’d played with or sat in with
jazz and rock greats for decades
now, in his 70s, he was writing an opera
his love of music equaled that of
the virtuosos and preppies at school—
in the end, who is to judge?

R. was living without a kitchen at that time
sleeping on a friend’s sofa
he scooped up the gingerbread
wolfed down one piece, complemented me
agreed to take the rest of it with him

 

 

 

planet-lonely-spark
—Jordan Singh from Pixabay.com

 

 

SADNESS
—Ann Wehrman
 
people come and go
lovers, family disappear
disappoint, die
 
jobs--are just jobs
break my back, underpaid
rinse it off
in a hot shower
stand under the water
do not think
 
always running
nothing, no one remains
must be partly my fault
 
midnight, alone
throw the covers back
cry without tears
 
need a meaningful connection
get up, splash cold water in my eyes
sit at my window in the moonlight
 
at least I can connect with my breath
inhale, exhale
let go

_____________________

Today’s LittleNip:

We all are so deeply interconnected; we have no option but to love all. Be kind and do good for anyone and that will be reflected. The ripples of the kind heart are the highest blessings of the Universe.

―Amit Ray, Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style

_____________________

Many thanks to Ann Wehrman for today’s beautiful offerings! And here’s a poem for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) today; our thanks to Michael Brownstein over in Missouri for this and for, well, reminding us:

U.S. MASTER SGT. RODDIE EDMONDS
—Michael H. Brownstein, Jefferson City, MO

The day the commandant of the Nazi POW camp called us outside,
he came to our commanding officer and told him to separate the Jews from the others.
Our Christian leader said in a voice steadfast and perfect so we could hear:
We are all Jews here. Everyone step forward.
The Commandant put a gun to his head and demanded: Separate the Jews.
He answered: Sorry, we are all Jews here. See? My men stand with me.
The Nazi threatened to blow his head away if he didn’t do as he said.
I am a Jew. Jews are not afraid of death. Jews are not cowards.
The only cowards present today are those who obey orders without thought or restraint.
The Nazi’s face bubbled over, his lips quivered, his eyes lost control of their sightline.
Then he placed his sidearm in his holster much too hard, turned and told his soldiers:
Get into your vehicles. We are abandoning this camp. Let the Jews starve.

It’s been many years now, I still remember how I stood for something moral and great.
Many times I met with frustration, conflict and life-threatening circumstances.
I would recall his words. Jews are not afraid of death. Jews are not cowards.
A great peace would fall over me. I knew he had said the only truth I needed to learn.

_____________________

—Medusa (thanks again, Ann and Michael!)

Lots going on in area poetry today and tonight; check out the new UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS link at this top of this column!

 

 

 

 —Public Domain Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For upcoming poetry events in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
in the links at the top of this page.

Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.

Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!