Tag: Marjorie Maddox

UFOs in May by Marjorie Maddox

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UFOs in May

May in Maine and either snow, mist,
or dandelion wisps hover above the lake,

shadow-follow a breeze chilly enough to pretend
March, phantom ice crackling below or maybe just

a loon rising, rising. But this is May in Maine,
and it could be swarms of no-see-‘ems gathering

for group think, hanging about a phantom Lakeshore Bar
relocated thirty feet above ripples not going anywhere

in this mid-season pause between hike and hunker down.
And this is May in Maine and it could be winter or summer,

the suddenly present sun tricking you once again
to head out into her best pretend weather of Welcome

to Beauty, to air you can hear with your whole body,
shores that recede into rugged, a month of black flies

beginning to migrate to your neck and ankles,
but not there yet; weeks of whether to keep wearing

the long sleeves and flannel or lounge in bright rays
with nothing but a foolish tourist T-shirt and Deep Woods

spray to save you. And it is May in Maine and you are so
deliriously content that you wave both hello and goodbye

to the snow, mist, or dandelion wisps out all morning
migrating above the lake as you walk out now to the deck

to greet them, welcome them no matter what
or in what form they are. As do they for you.

*

English Professor at Commonwealth University, Marjorie Maddox has published 14 collections of poetry (most recently Begin with a Question [paracletepress.com] and the ekphrastic collections Heart Speaks, Is Spoken For [shantiarts.co] and In the Museum of My Daughter’s Mind + the prose collection What She Was Saying [amazon.com]; children’s books; an anthology on PA. www.marjoriemaddox.com [marjoriemaddox.com]

Praise Poem for the Ordinary by Marjorie Maddox

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Praise Poem for the Ordinary

For the pebble, the worm, the clothesline,
the warm bread, the simple turn of head
that says, “I hear you,” the burr that lets go
on its own, the bluebird that returns to perch
where the dogwood’s blossoms glow, the dim
light outside, the bright light within, the low
hum of hope when the unseen grows deep
in the hole you’ve dug in dry dirt
on an ordinary afternoon
just this side of Eden’s
repeated hallelujahs.

*

English Professor at Commonwealth University, Marjorie Maddox has published 14 collections of poetry (most recently Begin with a Question and the ekphrastic collections Heart Speaks, Is Spoken For and In the Museum of My Daughter’s Mind) + the prose collection What She Was Saying; children’s books; an anthology on PA. www.marjoriemaddox.com

Two Poems by Marjorie Maddox

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Marvel Comics artists make Anthony Smith, 5, an honorary Avenger
                                            -CNN, Updated February 26, 2013

Better than any honorary Ph.D,
this degree comes complete

with scrolled poster, anti-stigmatism kit,
and a real-time visit from Iron Man,

who, both Marvel-protected
and metal-enhanced,

bam-slams bullies far beyond
Daredevil’s “Know No Fear” blindness,

Xavier’s speedy wheelchair,
The Thing’s Mirror-averse face,

and even the Titanium Titan’s own heart’s
fragile disabilities.

O Anthony of the Blue Ear,
your strong heart opens ours

to hearing the human
we’ve tried redrawing

too many times in the dark
of our own image.

With your five-year-old glee,
we, too, might heed

Lee’s credo of responsibility.
as we don ordinary clothes for our

pale frame of graphic reality
splashed now with Living Color

by the otherworldly Flash
of your super, but-still-prone-

to-cavities, little-boy grin.

*

To a Penny from an Oncoming Train

Copper damsel in distress,
circle of the single cent,
abandoned and lonely,
who sacrificed you,
fastened you to the shine of my rails
with gum or spit?

You are a small
gleam in my dimmed headlights,
a swirl in my steam,
a spot to be swatted,
ironed out with my iron and steel.

Disguised as Lincoln,
you are no president
and cannot flee underground
until afterwards,
in a boy’s pocket, you lay flat,
hidden, a survivor,
amidst lint, and marbles,
and three kicking tree toads.

*

Professor of English at Lock Haven University, Marjorie Maddox has published 13 collections of poetry—most recently Begin with a Question (Paraclete, International Book Award Winner) and Heart Speaks, Is Spoken For (Shanti Arts), an ekphrastic collaboration with photographer Karen Elias—the short story collection What She Was Saying (Fomite); 4 children’s and YA books. In the Museum of My Daughter’s Mind, based on her daughter’s paintings (www.hafer.work) is forthcoming in 2023 (Shanti Arts). www.marjoriemaddox.com

Fly a Kite Day by Marjorie Maddox

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Fly a Kite Day
        -June 15, 2022

In the wind is the curl of her grandma’s gray, is the twirl
of her mother’s spin, is the sway of the willow’s green
while, no longer tethered, the girl swings into a sky
papered with kites. See how the bright diamonds—
both flimsy and strong—dip into dreams she shares
with them: women she knew only as passing breeze.
Still, she rises on their breath, hovers on their stories.
It is the same air. And she is not the hand or the string,
but, with them, a kaleidoscope of kites, high in the sky
                                                                                                   and soaring.

*

Professor of English at Lock Haven University, Marjorie Maddox has published 13 collections of poetry— including Transplant, Transport, Transubstantiation, Begin with a Question (Paraclete 2022), and the ekphrastic collaboration with Karen Elias Heart Speaks, Is Spoken For (Shanti Arts 2022)—the story collection What She Was Saying (Fomite), four children’s/YA books. In the Museum of My Daughter’s Mind, based on her daughter’s paintings, is forthcoming in 2023 (Shanti Arts). Please see www.marjoriemaddox.com.

The Gray Rabbit by Marjorie Maddox

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The Gray Rabbit

has made a hammock of the ground:
stretched out, lazy, in the patch of brown
where nothing grows. He knows
the meaning of relax, shows
the world he can’t be bothered
with worry. When one bright cardinal
trills “birdie, birdie, birdie,”
the rabbit isn’t alarmed
at all. He stretches further,
his fur body flat against the earth.
The dull backyard flames full
of comfort and color.

*

Professor of English at Lock Haven University, Marjorie Maddox has published 13 collections of poetry— including Transplant, Transport, Transubstantiation, Begin with a Question (Paraclete 2022), and the ekphrastic collaboration with Karen Elias Heart Speaks, Is Spoken For (Shanti Arts 2022)—the story collection What She Was Saying (Fomite), four children’s/YA books. In the Museum of My Daughter’s Mind, based on her daughter’s paintings, is forthcoming in 2023 (Shanti Arts). Please see www.marjoriemaddox.com

Two Poems by Marjorie Maddox

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Nursery Rhyme

“Quiet,” says the word
that slips from sealed lips.

And “Wait,” warns the wound
still bruising at the hip.

“Not now,” think the arms
when tightened in his grip.

“Shh-shush,” mouths the wife
as she protects the crib.

“Run,” urge the others
when his words become whip.

“Don’t look,” cry the eyes;
he orders her to strip.

“Go now!” prompt the rhymes
that count the times she “trips.”

“Quiet,” says the word
that slips from sealed lips.

“Too late,” mouth the dead
that can’t protect the crib.

 

Aunt Sylvia Gives Fashion Advice

“Yes, dear, of course, even how to dress
is an art to be perfected. It’s simple
to get distracted, not keep the closet door open
to the possibilities that consecutive days
offer. To avoid unnecessary waste,
always dress in transition.  First, a suit

for Sunday, royal blue or black that suits
the occasion, but never forget to dress
with you in mind, your likes and such. Don’t waste
time on colors you detest. Now add a simple
buttoned-up shirt (beige will do), then go to church. Monday,
substitute a dark vest over the open

neckline, plus a scarf full of flowers that open
up towards your face. This combination suits
any workday situation. Tuesday,
drape the scarf across that little black dress—
bring pearls for the evening, elegant and simple
for a late dinner. Why waste

precious time traveling home?  Your waist
will look stunning, dear; just open
your dainty mouth and chew those simply
delicious morsels. (A tip: avoid dry-clean only suits,
silk shirts, and any dress
that won’t take spots). For Wednesday,

add a sports jacket. Keep it on for Thursday
with a blouse, skirt, that dazzling buckle at your waist,
which you can wear again next day with a dress
and later add a shiny vest to stay open
to a drink or two after work with the most eligible Suits.
Once you get the hang of it, it’s quite simple,

Sweetie, to be stylish and save money, so simple
to be smashing, which brings us to Saturday,
your big finale, but what will suit
the occasion? We could keep your waist
trim-looking with that vest, leggings, an open
collar for lunch at Louie’s, or we could dress

you up, Love, with a daring dress so simply
you, men will drop open their mouths all day.
Come, we’ve no time to waste. It’s Sunday; here’s a suit.”

 

 

Professor of English at Lock Haven University, Marjorie Maddox has published 11 collections of poetry—including Transplant, Transport, Transubstantiation—the short story collection What She Was Saying; 4 children’s/YA books—including Inside Out: Poems on Writing and Reading Poems with Insider Exercises & I’m Feeling Blue, Too!—Common Wealth: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania (PSU Press), and Presence (assistant editor). www.marjoriemaddox.com