Jane Blanchard
Vittoria Colonna
Marchioness of Pescara, 1492-1547
This noble woman was devoted to
A husband who did not return the favor.
In widowhood, she still paid love its due
By writing sonnets others came to savor.
Although denied permission to become
A nun, she often stayed in convents and
Became acquainted with reformers from
Within and far beyond her native land.
Poor health stopped short her pilgrimage to Old
Jerusalem, but she kept hoping for
The New. Yes, privileges were manifold,
Yet circumscriptions may have numbered more.
She willed most of her wealth to charity:
Her brother took it for his progeny.
Nonetheless
After Emily
I have concerns — for good or ill —
About my lifetime’s work —
Which waits — for others to distill —
The essence of each quirk —
Some passages suggest — the fact —
I like to be unknown —
But meanings — always inexact —
Are often overblown —
Such language is — a mere device —
A kind of humble brag —
So I can come across — as nice —
Yet not effect a gag —
Though I endeavor — to control —
My own poetic voice —
I do anticipate — death’s toll —
On permanence of choice —
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This issue of Mezzo Cammin is dedicated to its Founder and Managing Editor for 15 years, Dr. Kim Bridgford (1959-2020). [Photo: Marion Ettinger].
The 2020 Poetry by the Sea conference was canceled due to COVID-19. The next conference is planned for May 25-28 2021.
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| MaryAnn Miller: And now we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, everything I’ve done seems small compared to the suffering happening in our country. Artists have been jammed up by these hard, hard times, unable to work, unable to think or write. Part of the creative life is getting used to fallow periods, expecting them to happen after I have given everything to a project, and the empty time when it’s over. After a terrifying period of fallowness, deeper than I had ever experienced, finally, I had a response to the unbearable sadness. We who remain live through these sad times and say our goodbyes so unwillingly. To those we know, like Kim Bridgford, to those we don’t know, like the millions of Covid-19 patients. I remain terribly sad, but I continue to work.
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