Writer. Educator. Artist.
Songs and Junk Drawers-arlene s bice
Singing in the rain
What a glorious feeling
Makes me happy again
Splashin’ in puddles
No more muddles
Just scootin’ along
An old phone book
No longer needed
A plastic hook
Once it was used
Come here and look
My lost notes are fused.
write a poem in the form of a “to-do list of an unusual person or character.
Jane Austen’s To Do List
by arlene s bice
time to write a letter
to sister Cassandra
place it in my reticule
along with my wee book (2”)
tiny mirror, change pocket,
handkerchief, and snuffbox;
send it through the Royal Mail
go to the apothecary for Mamma
take Queen cake to our ill neighbor
pick some violets from the meadow
visit the circulating library for a book
to read to the family after evening meal.
write a poem in monologue by someone who is dead, remembered from my childhood.
Mr. Servillo by arlene s bice
I was the vegetable & fruit man
pomodoro, peperone, melanzana, l’asparago
carota, spinaci, fungo, zucchina, carciofo
I grew most, carried to your door every week
fresh in season displayed in my open wagon
painted green, red wheels, colors of Italia
clop, clop, clop, down tarred streets of Trenton
drawn by my faithful horse, last one standing
cars and trucks slowed down, drove around me
lots of room in those days, sharing the roads
I was the last one rambling “verdure! frutta! qui!”
I always loved to travel.
Be it far and wide.
From the early age of five.
Until the present year.
I loved going away.
And it made coming home more dear.
The shadorma is a six-line, 26-syllable poem (or a stanza – the syllable count by line is 3/5/3/3a/7/5.
Sunrise
Good Morning
He mumbled to me
Good morning
Good morning
Smiling I mumbled again
So begins a day.
Go to a book you love. Find a short line that strikes you. Make that line the title of your poem. Write a poem inspired by the line. Then, after you’ve finished, change the title completely.
Angry people are not always wise.
–– Pride and Prejudice.
For Darcy & Elizabeth
arlene s bice
Are they ever
an angry person has never
the cool, collective
words that are selective
that calms the abused
from words mis-used
better to leave the thoughts unsaid
let it rest, make peace or you’ll never wed.
Write a new poem that has the shape of the original; in which every line starts with the first letter of the corresponding line in the original poem.
Annabel Lee = After Love- arlene s bice
In time gone by, over the years
It happened with you by my side
Truly as i remember, i wept those bitter, salty, tears
Be it now or forever for me to hide
Always will i remember the love we closely shared
The love never faded though you have died.
The end of a century in darkened attendance
One of joy, sorrow, drama, love & romance
Dancing with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
Swinging on a lamppost singing in the rain
With Gene Kelly getting soaked through
Saturating us with pure, gleeful emotion
Rebel with a Cause, Giant, Picnic and Ben-Hur
Living life through the creation of someone else
Excitement promised outside
Designed luxury of affluence within
Gone forever?
Maybe a rebirth will renew.
My Roads Not Taken (c)
arlene s bice
Choices to make, choices to make
Everything sold, leaving New Jersey
Where to go, where to go
Offers from Colorado, mountains call to me
Invitation to Kentucky, book shop to run
Friends in New York State & Maine
A Georgia peach said c’mon down
New Hampshire, Live Free or Die
Seeking, seeking, seeking
The voice came through, finally
The cards spoke clearly
The direction waiting for me
Lake, forest, rolling fields
North Carolina it would be
A visit was love at first sight!
Lots of life lived in 11 years
Now a home in Virginia,
I go where I’m sent
Happily with no regrets
Of the Roads not Taken.