Jane Blanchard
Storage
What good is any heirloom locked
inside a special closet?
How valuable is something stashed
away in safe-deposit?
Why own a treasure only to
be scared that you will lose it?
Is anything worth keeping if
you never dare to use it?
Relic
The antique cup had shattered when it fell.
With pieces found and glued together, it
Appeared almost unbroken. Rather well
It sat upon a saucer looking bit
By bit intact. Few lines were visible
Except though close inspection. Still, no tea
Was poured into this prized receptacle.
Who knew if it would hold sufficiently?
The precious gift remained unused. Around
It other fragile vessels daily served
All their intended purposes, proved sound
Or were discarded, owner not unnerved.
Just once before had form meant far too much;
She knew that little ever came from such.
Premises
After an argument I listen hard
to noises in our common house—the ticking
of clocks, the humming of fans, the creaking of floors,
the rumbling of pipes, the ringing of phones, the groaning
of springs, the clacking or clinking of keys, the droning
of television, the drumming of laundry, the clicking
of locks, the tumbling of ice, the squeaking of doors—
all louder once a morning has been marred.
Hours may pass as I interpret sound
by sound—source, frequency, duration. Some
attention goes to silences, which pound
and pound, but not to show where each comes from.
Throughout, peace can be found in knowing you
are also wondering when words are due.
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| AUTHOR BIO |
| A native Virginian, Jane Blanchard lives and writes in Georgia. Her poetry has appeared previously in Mezzo Cammin and recently in Amsterdam Quarterly, The Asses of Parnassus, Light, Lighten Up Online, Snakeskin, and Southern Women's Review. Her first collection, Unloosed, and her second, Tides & Currents, are both available from Kelsay Books. |
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| POETRY CONTRIBUTORS |
 Jane Blanchard
Lesley Clinton
Maryann Corbett
Barbara Lydecker Crane
Barbara Crooker
Midge Goldberg (Featured Poet)
Grace Marie Grafton
Jaimee Hills
Kathryn Hinds
Kathryn Jacobs
Jean L. Kreiling
Charlotte Mandel
Jennifer Davis Michael
Angela Alaimo O'Donnell
Leslie Schultz
Elizabeth Spencer Spragins
Marilyn Taylor
Cara Valle
Doris Watts
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The most recent addition to The Mezzo Cammin Women Poets Timeline is Etel Adnan by Joyce Wilson.
Save the date: A Celebration of the Timeline reaching 75 essays. Lincoln Center, Fordham University (Sponsored by Fordham's Curran Center) Friday, October 20th, 7 p.m.
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