The Bloomfield Poetry Circle
By M. Renee Taylor

‘Twas supposed to be just a one shot deal.

Share my tribute poem, and away I’d steal.

But two dozen disparate folk,

Quietly attended the words of not one but two poems I spoke.

Unaccustomed to public speaking,

I felt safe revealing my feelings in their caretaking.

Their eyes reacted to my verbal images,

Affirming heads nodded at phrases placed to advantage.

Then they charmed me with their emotions and imagination,

Tossing their poems’ honest words and phrases with abandon.

A rare safe haven for an extraordinary everyday population,

Whose courage rises to the needs of a poetic avocation.

They’ve already had a good effect on me,

For another poem from my mind is suddenly set free!

2-22-13

(posted 2/27/13)

The Enchanted Garden

by M. Renee Taylor

By day she tends the enchanted garden,

As his spirit hovers near,

And once again her heart knows peace and love,

Instead of weariness or tears.

Wind and sun upon her face,

Working in the rhythm of this place,

She creates this prayerful space,

A bridge for eternity to trace.

To heal herself and honor his life,

She inspires rich colors in stately roses to bloom,

And plans even more, hoping there's room,

Far from the outside world's strife.

Birds and butterflies and bees gently pass her by.

Neighbors, that life with her do share this precious home,

That love has built, where time stands still,

From which she gains her strength and so shall ne’re long roam.

As she nightly passes out her garden gate,

His lamppost's warm glow,

Falls softly on the roses below,

A beacon and a symbol of their time together, a memento.

11-20-09

(posted 1/25/13)

Hungry to Hear

Fill me with the image
of my strong and sturdy father,
wrap me in the deep tones 
of your stories, swaddle me
in recollections, the fragments
of your life.  Piece me together.
I am hungry for your stories.
Let them grow golden-winged
in me.

- Kathryn Kelly
(a Riverwood poet featured in our series January 17, 2013)

(posted 12/14/12)

from EXPLORING OTHER PERSONA

by Nancee Cheffet

I love the cozy feeling as the night we two

mellow with the later hours.

I feel open, caring, nicely in tune

with another human being.

But in other times, perhaps more rare ones,

I have opportunity to enjoy exploration

of the many other facets of my persona.

The lover of other than my favorite humans,

sprinkled here and there...

The swinger who writes some of her best verses,

while good jazz bounces off the familiar walls.

(posted 8/28/12)