(C)2021 Noreen Braman
Fear Springs
fear springs from loss of certainty
imagination overwhelming logic
unless the monster is real
stalking prey randomly
Retreating into darkness
lying in wait.
(C)2021 Noreen Braman
The uniformed Marine, the lace enrobed bride,
pledged love in a somber Lenten church
knowing deployment was calling
for an undeclared war.
The shadow of second widowhood
fleetingly on their minds,
taking joy in the celebratory moments,
watching a toddler dressed in crinolines
center stage on the dance floor
ecstatically declaring “now I have a daddy!”
©2021 Noreen Braman
Four Day Verse
Thursday
Still working on birthday poem lines
Falling asleep in front of the TV
Waiting for the double shift to end
No peaceful sleep until he is home.
Friday
A strawberry margarita and brownie with ice cream,
rare dinner out with the
overtime working love of my life,
required undivided attention.
Saturday
Spring opening of the farm stand beckons
with fruit and flowers and tomatoes
but first a list of household chores
and a night of Ray Bradbury.
Sunday
Glorious Sunday! Freedom all day!
just deal with the ants, hang up some plants,
dodge the chilly raindrops, indulge in Sunday dinner,
gaze at 4 blank sheets of paper.
Will think about that Monday.
©2021 Noreen Braman
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Birthday Greetings
Second birthday in pandemic,
88 cases and 3 deaths this week,
reminder that my double shots
weren’t party drinks,
but sobering reminders that
the older we get,
the more precious are the celebrations,
adapted to the twists and turns,
changes of plans,
and universal obstacles,
testing resilience, and connection to others,
Showing the lifesaving worth of a simple yearly greeting.
Thank you all for being part of my support system,
as hopefully, I am part of yours.
©2021 Noreen Braman
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The Silent Spring Revisited
In a neighborhood without regimented landscaping
old growth trees spread at will
and reward the lack of human intervention
by housing song birds seldom heard
along the manicured streets.
Refugees in the treetops
fleeing construction of another gated community
more warehousing of consumer goods
and asphalt-bordered rows of retail.
Listen now to their songs before
They become nothing but echoes.
©2021 Noreen Braman
April 4, 2021
A tisket, a tasket,
too busy with the basket
and eggs and cake and roasted beast...er
for anything profound this Easter.
April 5, 2021
Well, Well, Well
Well-read books create well-read readers
except a new book read by a well-read reader
can become a well-read book after time.
Assuming a well-read reader first has to read well,
bored kids whining about “nothing to do”
might just be told, “Well, read!”
meaning even a well-read book
might not be well read
by even kids that read well.
and that doesn’t create well-read readers,
or even readers who read well.
And this doesn’t even address
picking between
a well-written book
or a book written well,
which only deepens this well-known dilemma.
©2021 Noreen Braman
Third Generation
The legacy of widowhood hung heavy
two generations of fatherless children
taking on inherited grief
and ghosts embedded in the shadows
whose whispers can only be silenced
by self induced oblivion
swearing to break the cycle of chaos
she tells him he is lucky
that he got out alive.
©2021 Noreen Braman
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Digital Dueling
Look what I found,
Here, (insert link) and here, (insert link) and here, (insert link).
It totally contradicts what you told me,
Here, (insert email) and here, (insert email) and here, (insert email).
Do you know there are actually photos,
Here, (insert .jpg) and here, (insert .jpg) and here, (insert jpg)?
So why are you debating me,
Here, (insert tweet) and here, (insert tweet) and here, (insert tweet).
I thought we were supposed to be friends,
Here, (insert Facebook post) here, (insert Instagram feed) and here, (insert Messenger chat).
©2021 Noreen Braman
