Tag: Barbara Eknoian

Two Poems by Barbara Eknoian

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Too Late

Watching the end of the movie,
I think the actor played a touching role.
As the credits roll down the screen,
I’m enjoying the orchestra music
playing, which causes tears
to sneak out of my eyes.
The music triggers thoughts
of my son’s loss, and he too,
had a lot of disappointment in life.

It was just before he left us that we had
an honest conversation. He shared
for the first time that he believed
his school problems began when
we moved him across country twice
at eight and ten years old.

I’m left with regret realizing
that I was part of his problem.
My eyes spot the words, The End.
I nod knowing that now it is too late.

*

A Visit

I wake up talking with my husband,
I look to my left, and his side
of the bed is empty.
I think he’s getting ready
to go to work
Then I realize it’s just a dream,
and has happened several times.

Listening to a podcast, a medium,
who hears from the dead explains,
that it is a sign from your loved one
he is still aware of you.
It’s a reassurance that he’s there.
My dreams disappear into
my night time world,
but I know I’ve been visited.

*

Barbara Eknoian’s work has appeared in Pearl, Chiron Review, and Silver Birch Press’s anthologies. She was twice-nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her latest poetry book is available at Amazon along with her novels. She is a veteran of Donna Hilbert’s poetry workshop.

Speaking in Tongues by Barbara Eknoian

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Speaking in Tongues

Every Tuesday night for two years a small group of us
meet in the basement of the priest’s rectory.
It seems as though we’re undercover
as most of the traditional church doesn’t join us.

We learn how to be Charismatic Catholics
and read the Bible faithfully
not just the catechism book, and to believe
in spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues
and being slain in the spirit.
Several of my friends begin to speak in tongues.
I worry that somehow I’m not worthy of this gift.

One afternoon, I sit on my bed with my tape recorder
since I have begun to utter strange syllables,
and I want to know if I actually received this gift,
or is it just my imagination?
I speak into the recorder to see how it sounds,
and it jams, so I shut it off.
Oh ye of little faith, if it’s meant to happen it will.

Later, at my son’s birthday party all the little cousins
go upstairs and find my recorder.
I’m unaware until they join us at the table.
I feel my face redden, when my niece announces,
We heard some lady speaking in another language.

*

Barbara Eknoian work has appeared in Pearl, Chiron Review, Cadence Collective, Redshift and Silver Birch Press’s anthologies. Her newest poetry book More Jerkumstances, New and Selected Poems, was recently published by Moon Tide Press. She lives in La Mirada, CA with daughter, grandson, two dogs, and two cats (one mild and the other full of mischief). There is never a dull moment.

Gone by Barbara Eknoian

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Gone

The flowers are disappearing now
that it’s fall. Soon my property
will be covered with leaves, gone
will be the cheery yellow flowers.

My two grandsons have returned
to their home in Tennessee.
It was a short visit, but a happy one.
I make their beds until next time.

My oldest grandson has scheduled
his wedding for next autumn;
he has been here since he’s eleven.
The time will fly, and he’ll be gone.

I fell in June and broke my hip.
I’m alone most of the time. I’m learning
to walk again, but my phone stopped
ringing with invitations to go anywhere.

Hopefully, in time family and friends
will return, except for my son,
who I lost without warning.
He can’t return like the flowers.

*

Barbara Eknoian’s work has appeared in Pearl, Cadence Collective, Redshift, and Your Daily Poem. Recently, her New & Selected Poems, More Jerkustances, has been published by Editor Eric Morago. She lives in La Mirada, CA, with her daughter, grandson, two dogs, and two cats (one is mild and the other is full of mischief). There’s never a dull moment at her house.

Two Poems by Barbara Eknoian

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Gift

He sits on the edge
of the couch
hoping his niece
will like the gift
purchased
at the thrift store.
She smiles,
makes a fuss
over the watercolors
in tarnished frames,
showing houses
on a street strewn
with orange leaves.
At the bottom
of the Christmas tree,
she props the prints up
to rest against gifts
bought with Visa
and Mastercard,
and the lovely shades
of autumn outshine
the tinsel and lights.

*

Sentimental

In a lucid moment,
I wonder why I keep
the black steamer trunk
in the corner of my room
crammed with letters
from girl scout camp
and high school friends,
who have forgotten me
like an old sneaker
hanging from a wire,
along with every letter
from former neighbors,
who meant a lot to me.
I revere the correspondence
as though they’re prayers,
but realize I’m too sentimental
valuing the friendships
for more than what they were.
I contemplate a huge bonfire
and see the letters burning up,
yet I need to hold on to them
like artifacts in a museum
to prove that I was here,
and we were once.

*

Barbara Eknoian’s work has appeared in Pearl, Chiron Review, Cadence Collective, Redshift, and Silver Birch Press’s anthologies. Her recent collection of short stories published by Amazon is Romance is Not Too Far From Here. She lives in La Mirada, CA with daughter, grandson, one cat and a kitten. The kitten is full of mischief and keeps the whole family on their toes.

A Normal Holiday Night by Barbara Eknoian

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A Normal Holiday Night

We get potato chips, dip, soda,
and cookies to make it festive
for my grandsons to stay up
tomorrow night to watch the giant ball
drop for New Year’s Eve.

Tonight after making them supper,
my son, Darren is playing ping pong
on my kitchen island with the boys.
It’s a normal casual night for them.
Later, I join them to watch a movie on TV,
which is unusual for me.
Before I head for bed,
my son asks for an allergy pill.

I’m awakened early by my daughter.
She says, Mom, You need to take this xanax;
something bad happened.
I ask, Is it Aunt Linda?
No, she says, it’s Darren.
Just three words and I’m in instant terror.
I know I’ve just lost my son.

*

Barbara Eknoian’s work has appeared in Chiron Review, Pearl, YDP, Silver Birch anthologies, and Cadence Collective. She writes novels and short stories about the area where she grew up. Her poetry book is Why I Miss New Jersey. She’s never lost her Jersey accent.