Tag Archives: National Poetry Month

Taps, Elementary School That flag meant business.It would flap like an eagle.It would freeze into metalstrangle the pole.Five, ten, twenty times my heightand climbing.I didn’t know whether the pole was a nail or a screw.I didn’t know whether the rope … Continue reading →

My Life in Coffee Cups Chrissy’s —white with green lettering, coffee shop In Maine, to celebrate my birthday. Casablanca—cream with black lettering, from a boutique hotel in NYC. Starbuck’s mug from my daughter, white on white, the leaf’s vein in … Continue reading →

To preserve formatting, this poem has been saved as  a PDF. Please click on the link below to access it. Birdsong, On Zoom (a haiku) Copyright 2023 Marian Shapiro Marian Kaplun Shapiro is a psychologist and author of five books … Continue reading →

Winter into Spring Landscape washed in cold cold waterthree days past spring.  Trees stripped of leaves,of names, are still gray.  Scentless, stiff daffodils brave the northeast wind.Magnolia petals scatter. Clusters of purple deadnettle   sprout over grass and glass alike.Beside them … Continue reading →

Take the Day and Sculpt Long-Stemmed, Iron Roses into Apology Do not let his anchored body bend,let it rise from the wrought ironshe turns through the night,let her tiny, grief-stricken hands take the stirring pastand twist it until metal flowers … Continue reading →

The Pie Not Baked Fear crowds the pantry. Cans of pureed pumpkinhold on. White and brown sugar stand in crisp bags.Spice bottles’ mouths stay sealed. Graham cracker crustcryosurvives elsewhere, but must defrostwhen pecans near an endtime stamped in ink.Wood shelves … Continue reading →

Please Accept My Donation for Ken I want to thank you for dazzling heaving deserts praising love,for extravagant birds and clowns.Please forgive the calamitous leaping over sand, the shouts of fire,the startling rings. I didn’t know.Afternoons hasten. That’s why I … Continue reading →

Liberation (with a cat name from Bob Mortimer) Don’t call me queen. Don’t put me on coins.Don’t lick my stamp. I’ll sleep on the couch. Dawn, when I leave, I’ll take the blue car.I’ll take the cat, Babs Moonwater. I’ll … Continue reading →

THE RIGHT NOUNS ARE JUST OUT OF REACH Perched on a fallen oak,she notes the lichen like a green aurahovering between the rows of knobson the bark’s rough braille. We are dust. We are spores.The ruffle of turkey tail fungion … Continue reading →

Jeweled Reflections Precious jewels sparkling diamondsSunlight shining over earth, over life.Genuine, precious stone, radiant brilliance star bright.Reflections pure goodness over all beautiful ladies admire.Jeweled beauty sparkles over all gorgeous ladies adore.Steadfast endurance brings complete comfort consistent care. Glorious, mighty strength, … Continue reading →