Writer. Educator. Artist.
A Favorite Song-arlene s bice
There are too many
in a long life truly lived,
to choose only one
when each has its own
memory, treasured
impossible to write new
while listening to the old
that keeps pulling me back
into the past, to re-live
with tenderness.
Edgar Allan Poe & Me-arlene s bice (with more apologies)
It was many and many a year ago,
in an ancient village of Wales
That a man there lived whom you may know
and I knew as well as thee
And this man he lived with no other thought
Than to read and write along with me.
I was a child and he was a child,
In that ancient village town
But we loved with a love that was more than love—
I and this man of my dreams;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
we read and we wrote, this man and me.
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of this man and the time we spent;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of my loved one so close to me;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my eternal love, a love that never died,
In his sepulchre there in that town,
In his tomb where he lays in that town.
After the Rain -arlene s bice
with the earth washed clean
dirt and debris sent away
time to begin anew
peppermint refreshed air
scents released as I walk
a solo wooded path
leaves still dripping
softly reminding me
the storm has spent
peace uncovered.
The Tree-arlene s bice
In my walk in the wood
It calls to me
The tree
Tilted, inelegant
Its wounds showing
Survived, yet again
A beauty of its own,
Waking from winter’s rest
Buds bursting
Leaves filling out
In dark greens and light
Dressing its bones
With a spring outfit
Birds nesting
Offering a symphony
A hug is appropriate.
Clarence & What If? -arlene s bice
While you waited at the front door
With your heart on your sleeve, in love
Mom held you in place, listening
As I went out the back door
Coward that I was, unexperienced
In matters of the heart at 13
My deepest apologies to you
Never having seen you since
Though you came to visit again
When I was gone away,
But received news, you matured
Handsome in your military uniform
I hope you enjoyed a wonderful life
So sorry for my poor behavior
yet cannot help
Wondering What if?
People & Books- arlene s bice
People, like books, came into my life
Some to stay, some to leave early
A few people caused heartaches
Most were full of love and joy
They all touched me deeply
Taught me many lessons
Lead me to places
I needed to go
Blessings
To me.
Summer is Coming
Shakespeare wrote about a summer’s day
He made it romantically sound
Like you could enjoy it any way
When sunshine did abound
But summer, to me, at least
Means sulky, way-too-hot weather
To suffer through a heated feast
While walking through the heather
So shall I enjoy the summer season
Afternoons that are too, too hot
Give me some rhyme or reason
To suffer too much sunshine, or not
I choose to stay inside the house
Air conditioned and fully doused.
And Then Dessert -arlene s bice
Mom’s cooking
filled our house with love
crystal stemware, cut glass
the good silver, candelabra lit
guests at table, gift box chocolates
fancy, decorated cakes, cookies piled
pies depending on the season, yet always
Lemon Meringue Pie like no other, ever
filled with a lemon curd, meringue tips
browned until they weeped a wee bit
served on Grandmother’s Daniels’
delicate dishes from 1910.
Shoes
First ones, white, polished nightly
great for balance, learning to walk
Mary Janes, shiny, black patent leather
Keds’ sneakers for kids, wore ‘em out
black n’ white saddle shoes with red soles
bought only at Fischers’ in Trenton NJ
high heels with an ankle strap, sexy, sexy
sensible shoes for carrying babies safely
boots for leaving & riding a Honda motorcycle
comfortable shoes for working, standing
Skechers for comfort in traveling, exploring
Birkenstock sandals daily, never polished.
Ten Things i am Thankful For ~ arlene s bice
express our love, show we care
stay connected, are close to my heart
feeding me an eduation, new ideas
exchange ideas and thoughts
to toast, congratulate, and commiserate
in touch when i am alone, never lonely
brings great memories, creates new ones
protection from the elements in the rain
creating smiles for all who notic
* memories, to know i have lived, loved, lost, found
take me away yet keep me grounded.