These Stunted Jersey Pines

By Norma Paul

Poetry encompassing family, neighbors and neighborhood areas, seasons of the year and seasons of the heart. Feelings about life, the world around us, and our reactions to them are explored

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rustik Haws LLC
• Release date: Apr 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781952617362

Norma Paul

The author has experienced all realms of love, and can share those memories and events with her audience.

Book preview

Acknowledgment

For Dick, my one true love, who supported my many at- tempts at becoming a woman, who made me strong, who made me laugh, who taught me how to open myself to sensuality and joy.

For Karen, Gus, Valerie, Laurie, Jo-Eva, Joyce, Brett who have taught me how to be a mother through all its wins and losses.

For Ronnie, Susan, Tom, Ray, Barry, Bob for giving your love to my loves.

For Anada, Jennifer, Stefanie, Catherine, Leandra, Meredie, Erika, Brian, Richard, Harry, Kia, Jil, Emma, Joel, Ethan for all your giving ways.

A Cold Morning

for September

The day began before the sky paled-a

cold morning for September.

Stars stood waiting for light to

obliterate their presence.

Distant planes droned among them

a reminder that life sings

above these stunted Jersey pines.

The quiet morning held

comforting moments of

close-quartered rhythm

established eons ago

during intermission.

Dancing together was never as

free-flowing, as breath-taking

as those early tentative steps

around our buzz of conversation.

This morning––each morning-began

again with that astonishing recognition.

Daily Paper

We always had the local newspaper

in our house when

I was a kid.

I’d be sent to the comer to pick up

the Buffalo Evening News-Blue Star

edition-three cents.

I’d read the headlines

walking back. I felt

a child of privilege in spite of

cardboard insoles

my father had shaped into

my year-old black oxfords

while he was home in between

his ship’s drydock and the next call