RIGHTS Today, she twirls in circles in her periwinkle dress, a ribbon in her hair to celebrate this special day. Her teacher will present her with an Honor Roll Award. She’s 10 years old and jubilant. Today a young man pulls the body armor tight around his chest. Pats a vest of many pockets. Grips a long sleek gun. Ignores the wild verbena waving near the classroom door. Its innocent spring blooms will not deter him. He’s trying to remember the instructions having never held a gun before. The salesman said, “For better aim, I recommend you nest the rifle on your shoulder. Place your fingers so. The barrel is the tube that the bullet travels through once the round is fired.” He does as he was told. Gunfire cleaves the peaceful morning. Air once filled with promise crumbles, cracks, snaps, splinters tiny bones, dissolves futures. leaves a child to whisper “please” crouched beneath a table cradling her award reaching for a friend who isn’t breathing any more. Nothing had gotten in his way
New Ashford On my way someplace else I drive through New Ashford Meagerness scribbled in the margins of the Berkshires Pick-ups sprawled on yellowed yards It’s June but roadside signs ‘Think Snow’ Who lives here anyway? Then I think of you those years ago No name comes to mind just the way you strode across the pages of that class Pre- Raphaelite beauty in L. L. Bean talking Gerard Manley Hopkins I so wanted to be you Now I wonder do you live here still Perhaps a poet, academic? Dwelling in the freshness of these aspens A spirit-soaring muse who crowns each day with thought, wisdom, with your gifts The way you always were, even then, complete
Ode to Youth I cannot fathom why you left I was so fond of skin unblemished, belly flat, thick and lustrous hair It’s true, I do prefer pajamas to the filmy secrets of Victoria but we might have talked about it Instead, without a note you stole away one night and left me dreaming pointlessly of Colin Firth I hope you’ll visit me again Perhaps in celebration of my 50th Presenting me with caramel to eat in its entirety and never gain an ounce Inviting me to laugh out loud with perfect teeth and even dance the tango without sucking in my breath. I think I recognized you at the Stop and Shop with HER. Chocolate brownies, peanut brittle, Manchego cheese were nestled like love tokens in the corner of her cart You lifted her on tiptoe for the macaroons I should have known you would forsake me for a tart
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Sue Ellen Lovejoy’s poems have appeared in and received awards from Massachusetts State Poetry Contest, Mississippi Valley Poetry Contest, New Renaissance, New Millennium, Tiger’s Eye, Progenitor, and others.