December leads to a New Year
By Barry Vitcov
It’s that time of the year when I sort and shed. I go through my files, discard what is no longer needed … probably never was!… and sort the remaining papers into tax return categories. I like to get a head start on what I’ll put off for the next few months. It’s also a time for preparing my new journal for its grand opening on New Year’s Day. I’m guessing that these Poetry Corner’s poems may have come from some serious journaling. Musing, becoming, wondering, describing, introspecting all come from putting pen to paper.
It’s also the season of celebration and renewal. If you have a poem for any holiday that celebrates with light, even if not at this time of the year — Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Lantern Festival, Lunar New Year, New Year’s, or any other festivity where light plays a significant role — please, consider submitting to the Poetry Corner. Guidelines for submission are given below.
Haiku
By Jim Flint
Small snowy silos
glisten in the winter sun
where icicles fell
Jim Flint lives in Talent. A retired owner-publisher of community newspapers in Washington state, he and his wife, Karen, moved to Ashland in 2009. He then began writing for local and regional newspapers, which he continues today. His poetry has been published in anthologies, and his haiku have been featured in the Jefferson Journal and Mail Tribune. His book, “Haiku from a Childhood,” went into a second printing.
And Then
By Louise M. Paré (she/her)
And then
And then the rains came
And then the tulips and crocus and hyacinth bulbs were planted
And then the holiday lights were lit as Santa appeared on the Plaza
and children cheered
And then the dark nights lengthened and the damp chill touched my bones
And then I cried for all the dying that is going on
And then I made a fire in the newly cleaned fireplace
and pulled my down comforter around my body
And then I wondered if I died tonight
would I feel that my life had been valuable in ways
that are meaningful to me
And then I decided to rest and sink into the darkness
And then I felt my breathing carry me to a place of
deepening peace
And then I smiled a small wisdom-bearing smile
And then I decided to make this poem into a collage
for fun and play
and a fresh start
Louise M. Paré, Ph.D. Women’s Spirituality, CIIS; M.A. Religious Studies Mundelein
College, Chicago: international women’s spirituality educator and published writer. Over
40 years teaching experience in women’s spirituality, social justice and the arts. Her
matriarchal heritage is Ukrainian. Born and raised on a 6-acre self-sustaining farm 10
miles outside of Grants Pass, Oregon, Louise’s interests in the arts, ritual and social justice
was nurtured in her family. In 1997 she taught workshops at the Cherkasy Women’s
Center and did research in Kyiv, Cherkasy and surrounding villages. Published writer
and poet in women’s spirituality anthologies. Creator of the original “poem fan.”
Muse – A Stone Throw Away
By K.J. Engelund
Muse where can you be?
Between the dark and light
Silver layers of clouds or
Among green stemmed
Reeds in the tree lined pond
Muse watching listening to
Winds of a moment
Wafting slowly through
Passing of time and age
Present in life’s every stage
Clouds of my mind
Part to bright sky blue
Insightful understanding
Muse knew all the while
Self’s willful chrysalis
Fearful shell of outer reserve
Morphs to opening heart
Shaping a new being
Embracing caring
Acceptance admiration love
Timeless gifts of the universe
Ken Engelund and his wife Carol moved to Ashland in 1998 from careers in the California Bay Area. They enjoy keeping up with four generations of a blended family. They have been avid travelers and RVers until COVID. Ken has been active in public service, Habitat for Humanity, Jackson County Health Advisory Committee, Schneider Art Museum and Southern Oregon University committees, as well as the Ashland Public Arts Advisory Committee. According to friends and Ken, Carol is a great cook. Ken is involved with a men’s group, a book club and poetry writing group. Their dog Skout is their joy and leader of the family.
Poetry Submissions Welcomed!
You are invited to submit original work to the Poetry Corner. There are only two restrictions: First, poems need to show a connection to Ashland and/or Southern Oregon. Your interpretation of that connection is fairly loose! Second, poems need to be aligned to the left margin. The publishing platform used by Ashland.news has issues with the creative use of space! There are no length restrictions but try to keep your poems to no more than 30 lines. Be sure to include the title of your poem, your name as you would like it to appear, the city or town in which you reside, and, if you wish, your preferred pronouns.
To submit poems, send to Barry Vitcov at [email protected].
Dec. 16: Corrected submission email address.
