Saturday, September 23, 2006


“Lisa Locke: I’m All About The Lyrics.”

Doug Holder


Lisa Locke is a singer/songwriter who is all about listening to the music, but just as importantly the words. Locke, who is also a poet, has a new music CD out “In It For The Drama,” and has been anointed the new head of “The Somerville News Poetry and Reading Series” to be held at Porter Square Books in Porter Square. Locke feels the comparatively staid atmosphere of a bookstore would be a preferable venue to the often noisy bars and coffeehouses. Locke, who plans to move the series in November (first Sunday 3PM), told the News: “The types of people who walk in a bookstore are the kind who will listen closely to the words.” Locke wants to create a family atmosphere, with a decided sense of community.

Locke, who works as a financial aid officer at Lesley University, had wanted to play the guitar for a long time. After graduating from Swarthmore College she joined the Peace Corp, and did a stint in Eastern Russia. Locke said she was inspired by the culture she found there. Her job was to teach English to young people. Many of her students were asked to read poetry and sing songs in English at local venues. This inspired Locke to learn the guitar to help the kids hone their English and songwriting talents.

Since coming back to the States, Locke has performed her own work at clubs in New York, New Jersey and of course Somerville. Locke said: “I came to live in Somerville for the culture. I found myself always coming to events in Somerville. So it was natural that I wanted to move here.”

Locke said her poetic influences include: Sonia Sanchez, and Adrienne Rich. For songwriters she mentioned: Ani DiFrano and local talent Kris Delmhorst.

Locke met the outgoing series head Chiemi, at the Burren Pub music series in Davis Square, and they became fast friends. When she heard that Chiemi was having a baby and would be giving up the Somerville News Series, Locke asked and duly received.

Locke said so often audiences don’t listen to what the poet or songwriter are trying to say. Often, she feels they are trying to say something important…at least for them. Hopefully the new venue will make the crowd lend Locke their ears!

For more information about Lisa Locke go to http://www.lisalocke.net/ For more info about Porter Square Books go to http://portersquarebooks.com

Tuesday, September 19, 2006


Claire Messud: A Somerville Writer Who Loves Her Characters.

by Doug Holder



When I read in that other newspaper “The New York Times,” that Somerville-based writer Claire Messud has a new book out “The Emperor’s Children,” (Knopf) I was like a dog on a meat truck … I was hungry for an interview. Messud’s book made number five on the New York Times hardcover fiction list. I emailed her and she graciously agreed to answer a few questions I threw her way.

“The Emperor’s Children,” is about three Brown University post-grads, and their attempts to make it in New York City. 9/11 hangs ominously in the background, but Messud doesn’t define it as a 9/11 novel. Her most recent and past work has been favorably reviewed in many prominent publications Messud is just one of the many fine writers that live, write and thrive in Somerville’s rich literary soil.



Did it come as a complete surprise that your book would be a lead review in the New York Times Book Review, and in general--that it would get this much attention?

The NY Times Book Review was a great -- & wonderful -- surprise. In the past, I've written novels that have been well reviewed, but somewhere deep inside the newspaper, and I expected nothing different this time. In my wildest dreams, I could not have anticipated the lovely reviews and attention the book has received. I feel very fortunate indeed.

From what I have been reading about your book the characters seem rather self-absorbed. 9/11 is viewed as “How does this affect me?” Do you view your characters sympathetically?

My characters are like family to me -- after all, I've lived with them for years! I've always liked what Chekhov said: "It's not my job to tell you whether horse thieves are bad people. It's my job to tell you what horse thieves are like." I have great sympathy -- even love -- for my characters, who seem to me no better or worse than most people. They're self-absorbed, and limited, and self-indulgent, but they have positive qualities, too. I don't believe in idealizing characters, anymore than I believe in pretending that real people are perfect. None of us is without flaws.

Do you think we have developed a genre of “Post 9/11" fiction?”

Gosh. I don't know what that would mean. I do think that every fiction writer who is writing contemporary fiction has to take our times into consideration, and this means that 9/11 will be lurking there somewhere, however obliquely. Even if you set a novel on a fishing boat in Alaska, at least someone on that boat -- and probably everyone -- will have been changed, however subtly, by the global events of the past years. You can't escape it, unless you write historical fiction, or perhaps science fiction.

How do you like living in Somerville? How is it for a writer? Why did you choose to live here?

We moved here in 2003, from Washington DC, and we love it. It's a vibrant, complex, interesting place -- I love its diversity, and I love our neighborhood. On our block, there are people who were born in their houses and who know Somerville, past and present, intimately; and there are people, like ourselves, who are relative newcomers. Everybody gets along. I love that it's a place in which you know your neighbors, and kids play in the street, and everyone has an interesting story to tell. As a writer, you can't ask for more than that.

And how about advice for our aspiring young writers out there.

A tall order! I think the best advice I can give is to stick with it. If you love to write, you'll find a way to do it. That said, it's important to live life, too: I think it's wrong to think there's only one way to become a writer. You don't have to go to a writing program, and hide away from the wider world, although that can work for some people. If you really want to write, you'll make the time somehow. But it helps to find a community of other writers – whether through a writing group, or by taking classes, or just by finding like-minded people to have coffee or dinner with. Writing can be a lonely business, otherwise.

Will you consider; being in our Somerville News Writers Festival nextyear?
http://somervillenewswritersfestival.com

I'd love to! Thanks for asking!

Doug Holder/Ibbetson Update/Sept. 2006

ARCHIVE OF IBBETSON STREET CONTRIBUTORS

Archive of "Ibbetson Street" Contributors ( 1998 to Present)

ISSUE 1


Deborah Byrne http://this.is/poems/hope/list/usa/deborah.html

Diana Der Hovanessian http://www.soulstirring.org/artist.pl?diana_der-hovanessian&index=1

Ed Galing

Joanne Holdridge

Richard Houff


B.Z. Niditch

Linda Porter

Richard Ray

Sue Sullivan

Cynthia Brackett-Vincent

Lyn Lifshin http://www.lynlifshin.com

Rochelle Hope Mehr

Danielle Ruwe

Mame Willey

Richard Wilhelm

Dianne Robitaille http://authorsden.com/diannerobitaille

Scott Kathan

John Hildebidle

Seth Hamlin

Ralph Hasellman, Jr. http://lucidmoonpoetry.com

Silvia Esposito.





ISSUE 2.


Robert K. Johnson

Joanne Holdridge

B.Z. Niditch

John Hildebidle

Don DiVecchio

Gary Duehr

Richard Wilhelm

James de Crecentis

Kathyrn McGrath

Amy Schrader

Ken Pobo

Michelle Lindholm

NORMAL

R. K. Thompson

Lyn Lifshin

Alice Balest

Doug Holder http://authorsden.com/douglasholder

Richard Houff

Kevin Hicks

Patricia Rourke

Ed Chaberek

Ed Galing

David Madgalene

Edward Lodi






ISSUE 3




Terry England
Jean Monahan http://jeanmonahan.com
Joanne Holdridge
Robert K. Johnson
M.L.Cramer
Jack Powers http://www.stonesouppoets.com
Ed Galing
Chris Bowden
B.Z. Niditch
Givanni Malito
John McKernan
Sue Sullivan
Lisa Fay
John Hildebidle
Lyn Lifshin
Joe Verrili
Vivian Woodhead
K. Carlton Johnson
David Madgalene
Judith Liniado
Theodore Krieger
Laura J. Maliewski
Kathyrn McGrath
Paula Phipps
Linda Haviland Conte
Richard Wilhelm
Linda Porter
A.D.Winans
John Berbich
Rufus Goodwin
Doug Holder
Dianne Robitaille
Michael Zack
Diana K. Rubin






ISSUE 4


H.L.Lindrgen
Sara Murphy
Michael H. Brownstien
Kilian Melloy
Liz Swan
Sue Sullivan
Greg L. Harrington
Joanne Holdridge
Aileen Michaels
Judith Liniado
Vivian Woodhead
John Hildebidle
C.C. Schoenbeck
Cynthia B. Vincent
Robert K. Johnson
Harris Gardner
Collima Charles
Michael Eastabrook
Belding F. Jackson
A.D.Winans
Terry England
Ed Galing
B.Z. Niditch
Richard Houff
Doug Holder
Richard Wilhelm
Dianne Robitaille
Don DiVecchio
Jean Kesulla
Grey Held
Rochelle Hope Mehr
Mary Kugler
Nate Graziano
V. Pe. Filippo





ISSUE 5


Maurice Anderson
B.Z. Niditch
Ruth Schuler
Michael Zack
Ed Galing
Michele S. Lindholm
Robert K. Johnson
Mary Agner
Conrad Geller
Ryan Van Cleave
Lyn Lifshin
Rufus Goodwin
NORMAL
Christopher Bowden
Albert Huffstickler
Alan Catlin
Nancy Means Wright
Joe Verrilli
Richard Wilhelm
Ed Chaberek
Don DiVecchio
Peter Vickers
Gloria Deo Agbasi
Ed Meek
Harris Gardner
Lainie Senechal
John Pirolli
Clem Schoenbeck
Dianne Robitaille
Joanne Holdridge
Cynthia Brackett Vincent
Doug Holder
Sue Sullivan
Linda Porter
Linda Haviland Conte
Jim DeWitt
Dan Scheider
Terry England
Louise Eastman
Judith Liniado






ISSUE 6



David Fedo
Raffie Wolf
A.D.Winans
Clemens Schoenbeck
Ann Dewes
Louise Eastman
Lyn Lifshin
Robert K. Johnson
Joanne Holdridge
Nina Judith Katz
Sue Sullivan
Linda Porter
Ed Galing
Deborah M. Priestly http://outoftheblueartgallery.com
David Madgalene
Albert Huffstickler
Joanathan Duncklee
Joanna Nealon
John Grey
Ed Meek
Rufus Goodwin
Marc Widershien http://marccreate.com
Francis Alix
Doug Holder http://authorsden.com/douglasholder
Linda Haviland Conte
Anee M. Fletcher
Brian Morrisey http://poesy.org
Carol Wasburne
Alan Catlin
Peter Vickers
Joyce Wilson http://poetryporch.com
Harris Gardner http://tapestryofvoices.com
Lainie Senechal
Oliver Cutshaw
Leslie Woolf Hedley
Judith Liniado
Peter Maciocco
Anna Brutet
Margaret Crouse
Rochelle H. Mehr
Sean Reagan
taylor Stoehr
Irene Sedeora
Anne Watson
Christopher Bowden
Don DiVecchio
Michael H. Brownstein
Reizel Polak
Mary Agner







Issue 7




June K. Mazonson
Lorraine E. Roses
Rafael Woolf
Renee Summers
Francis Alix
John C. Knight
Virgil Suarez
Paul Kloppenborg
Dianne Robitaille
Harris Gardner http://tapestryofvoices.com
Pat Callan
Joe Verrilli
Walter Howard
Peter Desmond
Sean Reagan
Marc Widershien http://marccreate.com
Ed Galing
Steve Huntress
Lainie Senechal
Linda Porter
Oliver Cutshaw
Judith Liniado
Buddah
Dana C. Lipp
Richard Wilhelm
Robert K. Johnson
Barbara Daniels
A.D. Winans
Molly K. Sacardo
Deborah M. Priestly
Hugh Fox
Portia Brockway
Dorinda Foley
Sharon Desmaris
Lyn Lifshin
Liz Borges
Rufus Goodwin
Diana der-Hovanessian
Fred Frankel
Doug Holder
Sue Sullivan
Joanne Holdridge
Dorian Brooks





ISSUE 8




ISSUE 9









Christopher Bowden
Sean Reagan
Joanne McFarland
Fred Frankel
Joanne Holdridge
Ed Galing
Rafael Woolf
Dorian Brooks
Linda Lerner
Danna C. Lipp
Richard Wilhelm
Ruth E. Winn
Joanne Lowery
Gaynell Gavin
Doug Holder
Kelly J. White
John Freeman
Dan Green
Rochelle Hope Mehr
Diana Saenz
Lisa LaPoint
Steve Armstrong
Alice moon Silver
Richard Luftig
Lee Clark Zump
Sharon Desmaris
Tom Rich
Rosario Texeira
Linda Haviland Conte
Walter Howard
Lainie Senechal
Robert K. Johnson
Marie Kazalia







ISSUE 10



Alice M. Silver
David Anderson
Richard Fox
Terry England
Patrick McKinnon
Belinda Subraman
Francis Blessington
Donald Axinn
Dave Church
Aldo Tambellini
Amanda Cohen
Hollis Cate
Linda Haviland Conte
Dan Gaynor
Joanne Holdridge
Robert K. Johnson
Christopher Bowden
Ann Taylor
Beatriz Alba Del-Rio
Ann Fletcha
Dennis Rhodes
Matt Scheider
Joe Farley
Patricia Brockway
Dorian Brooks
Marshall Harvey
Robin Merril
Jack Galmitz
Alan Catlin




ISSUE 11


ISSUE 12
ISSUE 13



ISSUE 14

ISSUE 15

Tony Artuso
Lisa Beatman
Patricia Brockway
Dorian Brooks
Philip Burnham, Jr.
Alan Catlin
Linda Haviland Conte
Jack Cooper
Lisa Fay Coutley
Diana Der Hovanessian
Julie Gordon-Dueck
Michael Eastabrook
Ann Murphy Fletcher
Tim Gager http://www.timothygager.com
Ed Galing
Robbie Gamble
Harris Gardner
Benita Glickman
Rufus Goodwin
Gayle Elen Harvey
Doug Holder
Jackleen Holton
Miriam S. Hyman
Amber Johns
Robert K. Johnson
Susan Landon
JC LEE
Richard Levine
Reginald Sinclair Lewis
Ellaraine Lockie
Eileen McClusky
David Musgrove
Steve Myers
Chad Parenteau http://www.freakmachinepress.com
Beverly Peterson
Patricia Rose Pflaumer
Lori Romero
Lainie Senechal
Ruth Margolin Silin
Carolyn Stonewell
Renee Summers
David Surette
Richard Allen Taylor
Marc Widershien
Anna Wilder
Bosley Wilder
Richard Wilhelm
Jill Williams




ISSUE 16





ISSUE 17
Cynthia Zaitzevsky
Linda M. Fischer
Laura Rodley
Ed Galing
Lyn Lifshin
Wendy Drexler
Robbie Gamble
Ellaraine Lockie
Julie Gordon-Duek
Mid Walsh
Richard Allen Taylor
Adrian S. Potter
Natasha Schneider
A. Lester
Laura Rodley
Clay Waters
Llyn Clague
Patricia W. Jones
Harris Gardner
Lainie Senechal
Margaret Turano
Stephen Morse
Robert K. Johnson
Zvi A. Sesling
Carol Hamilton
Lorraine Jeffery
Linda H. Conte
James Kernochan
Beverly Peterson







ISSUE 18




Matthew James Babcock
Jane Eric beardsley
Allegra Blake
Dorian Brooks
Philip E. Burnham, Jr.
Ann Cahart
Alan Catlin
Lylnn Clague
Linda Haviland Conte
Jack Cooper
Dale Cuttingham
Wendy Drexler
Linda M. Fischer
Brent Fisk
Ann Murphy Fletcher
Ed Galing
Lo Galluccio http://logalluccio.com
Harris Gardner
Marc D. Goldfinger
Carolyn Gregory
Eric Greinke
Janine Houlemarde
Michael Keshigian
Vanessa Kittle
Christine Klock-Linn
Lyn Lifshin
Ellaraine Lockie
Andy Marcera
Jennifer Matthews http://www.jennifermatthews.com
Ronald Moran
Gillis Murray
Joanne Nealon
Debroah M. Priestly http://outoftheblueartgallery.com
Allen Rodman
Lainie Senechal
Marian K. Shapiro
Judy Snow
Virginia Thayer
Fred Zydek
Patricia Wellingham Jones
Allen C. West
Richard Wilhelm
A.D. Winans
Doug Worth





ISSUE 19

















ISSUE 20


A.K. Allin
Barbara Bialick
Sue Budin
Patrick Carrington
Linda Haviland Conte
Jack Cooper
Dale Cottingham
Chris Crittenden
Michael Estabrook
Linda M. Fischer
Ed Galing
Lo Galluccio
Harris Gardner
Danielle Legros Georges
Patricai Giragosian
Marc D. Goldfinger
Holly Guran
Holly Guran
Sarah Hannah
Coleen T. Houlihan
Robert K. Johnson
Michael Kesigian
Jean Keskulla
Phyliss Knisley
Jane K. Kretchmann
David Lewitzky
Lyn Lifshin
Ellaraine Lockie
Gloria Mindock
Joanna Nealon
Shari O'Brien
Erica Pederson
Katie Philips
Charles P. Ries
Janice Riggs
Bill Roberts
Laura Rodley
Allen Rodman
Carole Garibaldi Rogers
Ruth Sabath Rosenthal
Lainie Senechal
Zvi A Sesling
Jeanine Stevens
Dorothy Stone
Paul Kareem Tawyar
Lorraine A. Vail
Afaa Michael Weaver
Richard Wilhelm







IBBETSON 21




CONTENTS


TUNDRA......................................................................................................................... 1
Anne Brudevold

CUP O’ JOE..................................................................................................................... 2
Diana Cole

MORNING GLORIES................................................................................................... 3
Diana Cole

THE OCEAN HAS FORGOTTEN ............................................................................... 4
Fredrick Zydek

POPE’S RED VIOLIN.................................................................................................... 5
Dianne Robitaille

THE NEARNESS OF YOU............................................................................................ 5
Lorissa Byely

EVENING STUDY.......................................................................................................... 6
Doug Bolling

SUPERMAN.................................................................................................................... 7
A.D. Winans

WINTER BEHIND A WINDOW OF BROKEN GLASS............................................ 8
Lo Galluccio

AFTER THE BLIZZARD............................................................................................... 8
Llyn Clague

THE KENYON REVIEW............................................................................................... 9
Llyn Clague

ELEGY TO MY SUMMER WRITING SPOT........................................................... 10
Krista Klanderman

BENCH.......................................................................................................................... 11
Lorraine Loiselle

SMOOTH AND SWEET.............................................................................................. 11
Michael Estabrook


AT THE WAR MUSEUM............................................................................................ 12
John Grey

HOW OUR DEAD COME BACK TO US.................................................................. 13
Dorian Brooks

TAPS.............................................................................................................................. 13
Ron Pearson

HUES OF THE HEART................................................................................................ 14
Ellaraine Lockie

BACKWARDS BASICS............................................................................................... 15
Ellaraine Lockie

HOW TO KNOW A PRAIRIE POEM........................................................................ 16
Ellaraine Lockie

NO GLUE ON THEIR SHOE...................................................................................... 17
Sandy Carpenter

FREE SPIRITS.............................................................................................................. 18
Dan Sklar

THE CORSET............................................................................................................... 19
Nicole DiCello

KING’S CHAPEL BURYING GROUND .................................................................. 20
Marc Widershien

THE CAMELLIA BUILDING..................................................................................... 21
Greg Gregory

GETTING SOBER AGAIN.......................................................................................... 21
Robert L. Penick

THINGS OF CONSEQUENCE, CERTAINTY, AND SIMILARITY....................... 22
John T. Trigonis

CLOSE THOSE GODDAMN DOORS! AN AFTERNOON WITH LOUISA SOLANO.......................................................................................... 23
Doug Holder

SUN DAY....................................................................................................................... 26
Russell Rowland

LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER................................................................................... 27
Patricia Brodie

THE POWDERER........................................................................................................ 28
Carol Hamilton

IN THE MOTEL........................................................................................................... 28
Carol Hamilton

LAND RUN, 1889......................................................................................................... 29
Carol Hamilton

city poem........................................................................................................................ 30
Tim Gager

SUNSET IN BOSTON.................................................................................................. 30
Helen Bar-Lev

JACOB’S DREAM....................................................................................................... 31
Harris Gardner

hungry spring................................................................................................................. 32
Thomas Feeny

SWARM........................................................................................................................ 32
Karla M. Huston

FISHING….................................................................................................................... 33
Karla M. Huston

MIRROR IMAGES...................................................................................................... 34
Alan Catlin

VISIBLE........................................................................................................................ 34
Ann McGovern

WITH APOLOGIES TO DONNE................................................................................ 35
May R. Kinsolving

THE PITCHER’S WIFE............................................................................................... 36
Josh Humphrey

LOWERED EXPECTATIONS IN THE LOWER 48................................................. 37
Jared Smith


LUNCH WITH THE VULTURES............................................................................... 37
Lorraine A. Vail

NORTH OF NORWAY................................................................................................ 38
Greg Tuleja

THE LUXURY OF DISTANCE................................................................................... 38
Melanie Houle

STAGE 4........................................................................................................................ 39
Cathy Porter

THREE STRONG LEGS.............................................................................................. 39
Cathy Porter

SILVER QUEEN........................................................................................................... 40
Lainie Senechal

MISTY NIGHT FOREST............................................................................................. 40
Chris Crittenden

SPARROW.................................................................................................................... 41
Bert Stern

NANTUCKET MORNING.......................................................................................... 41
Ilene Starger

SOMETIMEBOY.......................................................................................................... 42
Edward J. Carvalho

PISTACHIOS................................................................................................................ 43
Abbott Ikeler

THE CORNER GUY..................................................................................................... 44
Deborah M. Priestly

POOLSIDE.................................................................................................................... 44
Ed Galing

THE EVENING WINDS.............................................................................................. 45
Paul Kareem Tayyar

CLUB FORSYTHIA...................................................................................................... 45
Linda Haviland Conte

Writers’ Bios.................................................................................................................. 46










ISSUE 22 Nov. 2007

CONTENTS

A SEA OF CANDLES 1
Marc D. Goldfinger

MIGRAINES 2
Michael Keshigian

MORNING TREK 3
Michael Keshigian

HEALING 4
Michael Keshigian

SUSTENANCE 5
Dennis Rhodes

MOMENTS 5
Stephanie Hiteshew

AWAY AT WORK 6
Ray Greenblatt

WINTER’S ONSET 7
Anne Tom

A MOUTHFUL 8
Jane K. Kretschmann

OF WINGS AND PENS 8
Brad Bennett

IF I COULD GIVE YOU ANYTHING 9
Patricia L. Hamilton

GRIEF 10
Patricia L. Hamilton

RHAPSODY IN BLUE 11
Patricia L. Hamilton

TWILIGHT 11
Thade Correa

PASSING—ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY 12
Leia C. Davies Richardson
OF TIME AND DREAMS 13
Ulys H. Yates

TO RAMIDA 13
Abby E. Murray

HERE SITS CAT 14
Abby E. Murray

THE FORGOTTEN 15
Alan Holder

GOLDFISH 16
Deborah C. Strozier

SWEAT 17
J. Melissa Blankenship

STORM 18
Bernadette McBride

CORNUCOPIA 19
Carolyn Gregory

VIRTUAL REALITY AT THE AQUARIUM 20
Carolyn Gregory

GRACE NOTES 21
Carolyn Gregory

a strawberry big as a beating heart 21
Barbara Bialick

INTERVIEW WITH SARAH HANNAH 22
Doug Holder

ECLIPSE 23
Sarah Hannah

OWL 26
Cammy Thomas

WHITE LIGHT 27
Arlene L. Mandell

WELL-GROUNDED 28
Janice Riggs
PROVERBIAL MIND 28
Janice Riggs

BOY……… 28
Eleanor Goodman

STEADY ON COURSE 30
Ed Galing

“SPOON” 30
Leanna N. Stead

QUIET MUSING 31
Alison Cimino

SUNDAY 32
Alison Cimino

THE RECENT DEAD 32
Jean Keskulla

GREEN MAN’S JUNE SUBURBAN SONG…... 33
Marcia L. Hurlow

YOU KNOW HIS FAVORITE COLOR 34
Marcia L. Hurlow

STAGGERING 34
Shari O’Brien

THE FALLEN 34
Shari O’Brien

BAREBACK 36
I. Gillis Murray

JAM SESSION 37
I. Gillis Murray

DECEMBER 31ST IN BOSTON 37
Sarah Tuttle

METAMORPHOSIS 38
Erica Pederson

FALSE EYELASHES 38
Laura Rodley
SOIREE 39
Laura Rodley

DIVING 39
Laura Rodley

WHEN SPRING MELTS THE GROUND 40
Lyn Lifshin

CHIHUAHUA COAHILA 40
Lyn Lifshin

JEANNE MARIE PLOUFFE 41
Lyn Lifshin

LEAVING 41
Linda M. Fischer

JEAN: IN MEMORIAM 42
Linda M. Fischer

PASSAGES 43
Linda M. Fischer

SOCIAL SMOKE 44
Jade Sylvan

DUST AND LIGHT 44
Matt Friesen

BREAKING OUT 45
Joanna Nealon

I ATE MY MOTHER’S HAIR 45
Ruth Sabath Rosenthal

RIDING PAST THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
& SEEING THE STEPS 45
Ruth Sabath Rosenthal

FOR SARAH 45
Ruth Sabath Rosenthal

Writers’ Bios 46








ISSUE 23 JUNE 2008





CONTENTS


CLEANING OUT THE CLOSET 1
John P. Kristofco

GROWING VEGETABLES 2
Dara Barnat

SPIDER WEB ON THE WINDOW 2
Chris Crittenden

THE WIND AND THE MOON 3
Beth Lowell

DOG DREAM 3 4
Beth Lowell

SOLSTICE 5
Beth Lowell

SPITTLE BUG 5
Joyce Wilson

USES FOR WOOD 6
Joyce Wilson

WITH MY MOTHER AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON:
FRANKLIN PARK, BOSTON, BY MAURICE PRENDERGAST.……… 7
Joyce Wilson

WINTER 8
Donna Bechar

BUTTON UP SHIRT 8
Kassandra Strickland

SNAIL 8
Michael Estabrook

I WISH TO TELL YOU 9
Patricia Wellingham-Jones

HER SILENCE 9
Timothy Gager

FIGURING IT OUT 10
Dorothy Stone

A VISION ON NEWBURY STREET 10
Zvi A. Sesling

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER 11
Ellaraine Lockie


ACCOUNTABLE 12
Ellaraine Lockie

THE COST OF SOAP 13
Ellaraine Lockie

SKETCH # 6 14
Lainie Senechal

THIS SPRING 14
Joanna Nealon

BLUE JAY 14
Pamela Annas

SKETCH # 9 14
Lainie Senechal

REDUX 15
Mark Wisniewski

THE VISITOR 15
Elizabeth Leonard

BEYOND REACH 16
Martin Willitts, Jr.

BERTHE MORISOT 17
Martin Willitts, Jr.

1950 18
Robert K. Johnson

NO CONTEST 18
Robert K. Johnson

UNTITLED 18
A.D. Winans

SMALL CHAPTERS 19
Judith Ann Levison

COFFEE 19
Ellen Steinbaum

THE FIRST INCLINATION AT N.Y.U. 20
Linda Haviland Conte

SECOND COMING 20
Paul Kareem Tayyar

AT THE END OF JUNE 21
Paul Kareem Tayyar


THE SHORE AND THE CHILD 21
Paul Kareem Tayyar

INTERVIEW WITH POET MARK DOTY: A POET WHO GOES FROM
“FIRE TO FIRE”……… 22
Doug Holder

AT THE GYM 24
Mark Doty

TWO RIVERS 24
Richard Wilhelm

WHAT WE MEAN BY BARCELONA 25
Tino Villanueva

A RAINY MORNING 26
Gouri Datta

THE FIRST TIME 26
James de Crescentis

HOW IS HE? 27
Gayle Roby

AMBER IN WIND 27
Gayle Roby

AN OLD COUPLE…... 27
Susan Rosenberg

FOR BANCHA DA, WHO DISAPPEARED 28
Dibakar Barau

Last night, I rode the dark dream trolley 28
Dorothea Grossman

MY FATHER AT EIGHTY 29
Dale Cottingham

ON SECOND THOUGHT 29
Lois Beebe Hayna

THE BLESSING 30
Barbara Leff

GETTING STONED IN PIONEER CEMETERY BULLDOZED FOR
WESTGATE SHOPPING MALL 31
Fernand Roqueplan

BAGHDAD SOUNDS 32
Connemara Wadsworth

BEFORE THE REVOLUTION, BEFORE THE WAR 33
Connemara Wadsworth
BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENER 34
Edward Sanders

WHEN YOU CAME 36
Joyce Meyers

DAYDREAM 36
Joyce Meyers

APPLES 37
Joyce Meyers

SEEDS 37
Joyce Meyers

MONARCH 38
Dorian Brooks

passages 38
Joy Harold Helsing

INQUIRIES FOR ANGELS 39
Harris Gardner

BELIEF 40
Harris Gardner

NOTHING TRUE 40
Chris Volkay

NOW AND THEN YOU MISS 41
Harris Gardner

THE GOOD LIFE 42
Carol Hamilton

CAPTURING THE IMAGE 42
Diane Lockward

IN THEIR HABITAT 43
Carol Hamilton

THE SEVENTH DAY 44
Llyn Clague

ANTONIO SALIERI 45
Llyn Clague

JUST BECAUSE 45
Ed Galing

Writers’ Bios 46



ISSUE 24


CONTENTS


THE TRAIN TO BATH 1
Donna L. Emerson

VISITATION 2
Thade Correa

AGAIN 2
Thade Correa

JUDY 2
Jo Barbara Taylor

THE REDEMPTION OF THINKING 4
Joanna Nealon

ANOTHER ASS-BACKWARDS MAKEOVER 5
Sally Molini

MEETING THE SELF-PORTRAITS 5
Sally Molini

BURNING BUSH 6
J. Stiles Askew

THE BITTER SEED.……… 7
J. Stiles Askew

THE SEDUCTION 8
Gary Metras

ABANDON 8
Ron Houchin

NOVEMBER IN NEW ENGLAND 8
Ed Meek

A FARMER’S LESSON 9
Alice Pettway

ANNIVERSARY 9
Alice Pettway


REPRIEVE 10
Lyn Lifshin

CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN DARKNESS 10
Lyn Lifshin

THE YOUNG GIRL DREAMS OF ESCAPE 11
Lyn Lifshin

WARSCAPES 12
Stephen Malin

LATE VISITOR 13
Linda Haviland Conte

ACCEPTANCE 14
Tracy Strauss

RUSSIANS ON THE RIVER 14
Lawrence Kessenich

TOWN DINER 14
Wendy Drexler

WHEN OUR GUESTS HAVE GONE 14
Bernadette McBride

FANDANGO 15
Milton Bloch

A FIGHT WITH THE CELL PHONE AND THE CELL PHONE LOST 15
Mike Amado

JAZZ FACE 16
Michael Keshigian

NEPTUNE AVENUE 17
Patrick Carrington

WHAT IS A FAILED POET? SOMERVILLE-AREA POETS RESPOND! 18
Doug Holder

INTENDED 18
Laura Rodley


WONDER 18
Laura Rodley

KING 19
Laura Rodley

RAUS! RAUS! 19
Ruth Sabath Rosenthal

I REMEMBER THE ZINNIAS 20
Ruth Sabath Rosenthal

NEW YORK STYLE HUNGARIAN STEW 20
Ruth Sabath Rosenthal

EX-HUSBAND’S JOURNALS 21
Tricia Barker

WRECKAGE 21
Kathryn Jacobs

SUMMER 37
Lainie Senechal

ADVICE COLUMN……… 22
Kathryn Jacobs

THE HOURS 24
Lo Galluccio

BECAUSE YOU ASKED 24
Ed Galing

HIS 25
Susan Tepper

MOZART’S FUNERAL 26
Jene Erick Beardsley

KNELL FOR THE COMMON MAN 26
Jene Erick Beardsley

SPELL # 105 27
Hari Bhajan Khalsa


THE ANATOMY OF DYING 27
Linda M. Fischer

STELLA PASTRY…... 27
Lorraine A. Vail

RAGE RED 28
Lorraine A. Vail

LAKE WALK 28
Lorraine A. Vail

MESSAGE FOR THE BEES 29
Harris Gardner

MASTER CLASS 29
Krikor N. Der Hohannesian

DRIVING IN FOG 30
Patricia L. Hamilton

UNSOLVED 31
Patricia L. Hamilton

INCANDESCENCE 32
Patricia L. Hamilton

SKYLIGHT RUNWAY 33
Linda Larson

“OLD MONEY WANTED” 34
Mignon Ariel King

A FIELD OF BOYS IN CAMBRIDGE 36
Mary Buchinger

CARGO 36
Jack Cooper

GAME BOARD 37
Jack Cooper

CONFIDANT 37
Jack Cooper

WRITERS’ BIOS 38





IBBETSON 25 JUNE 2009

SOLDIER’S LIFE...................................................................................................................... 1

Julia Carlson



GIRL’S SCHOOL...................................................................................................................... 2

Patricia Callan



AUTUMN................................................................................................................................... 2

Joyce Meyers


NIGHT CRAWLERS................................................................................................................. 3

Patricia Callan


A FISH TALE............................................................................................................................ 3

Patricia Callan


BLUESHIFT............................................................................................................................... 4

Nicole DiCello



NOT YET................................................................................................................................... 4

Diana Der-Hovanessian



STARTING OVER..................................................................................................................... 5

Judith Barisonzi



THE CALENDAR SAYS JUNE 15............................................................................................. 5

Judith Barisonzi



BIPOLAR.………...................................................................................................................... 6

Ellaraine Lockie



FALLOUT.................................................................................................................................. 7

Ellaraine Lockie



ON AVOIDING STENDHAL SYNDROME............................................................................... 8

Ellaraine Lockie



HEAVENWARD........................................................................................................................ 9
Rich Heller



HEARTWOOD........................................................................................................................... 9
Rich Heller



WATCH..................................................................................................................................... 9
Rich Heller



OLGA REPORTS ON MY LIFE AND DEATH........................................................................ 10

Greg Moglia



BOOKSTORE CRUSH............................................................................................................. 11
Greg Moglia



REGENERATION.................................................................................................................... 12

Carol Hamilton



LOVE DUET............................................................................................................................ 12

Dale Cottingham



I PAUSE TO CONTEMPLATE GROWING A MUSTACHE.................................................... 13
Michael Pontacoloni



WHILE WAITING FOR THE T............................................................................................... 13
Michael Pontacoloni



COURT STREET, SAN BERNARDINO................................................................................... 14
Marine Robert Warden



DANTE..................................................................................................................................... 14
Marine Robert Warden



RICH TASTE OF ADULTHOOD............................................................................................. 15
William Hart


FISH IN THE SEA.................................................................................................................... 15
Miguel Miro-Quesada



TOFU PUDDING..................................................................................................................... 16

Tunney Lee



OUT MY WINDOW – LATE WINTER..................................................................................... 17

Tunney Lee



AT THE SACKLER MUSEUM THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING................................... 17
Tunney Lee



SALEM LAMENT.................................................................................................................... 18
Richard Davignon



MR. TOAD’S WILD RIDE....................................................................................................... 18
Richard Davignon



MRS. BROOKS....................................................................................................................... 19

Richard Davignon



STEAM BATH......................................................................................................................... 19

Ed Galing



CASSANDRA........................................................................................................................... 20

Phillip Corwin



THE AMERICAN CEMETERY AT NETTUNO........................................................................ 21

Phillip Corwin



VEIL ……................................................................................................................................ 22

Phillip Corwin



OGUNQUIT IN OCTOBER..................................................................................................... 22

Lainie Senechal



DON’T BET ON THIS HORSE................................................................................................ 23

Harris Gardner



I GAVE RICHARD YATES A CALL ONE DAY...................................................................... 24

Doug Holder



OLD FRIENDS…..................................................................................................................... 25

Rena Navon



CAN, CAN’T,........................................................................................................................... 26

Peter Layton



ON A CLIFF............................................................................................................................ 26

Peter Layton



HOLD...................................................................................................................................... 26

Peter Layton



FINALLY................................................................................................................................. 27

Hugh Fox



ALWAYS................................................................................................................................. 27

Hugh Fox



GESANGVOLL/SONGFULL................................................................................................... 27

Hugh Fox



NORM VISITS HIS AUTISTIC DAUGHTER.......................................................................... 28

Tony Artuso



LOSSES AND GAINS: APRIL 1862......................................................................................... 29

Tony Artuso



COFFEE DOG CAFÉ…............................................................................................................ 30

Arlene L. Mandell



MERCY.................................................................................................................................... 30
Arlene L. Mandell



THE PLEASURE OF BIRDS.................................................................................................... 31

Michael Keshigian



LAST STORM.......................................................................................................................... 31
Arlene L. Mandell



MARY WELDON..................................................................................................................... 32

Mira Coleman



SUCH FORTUNE..................................................................................................................... 33

Linda Haviland Conte



THE WOOL MAN.................................................................................................................... 34

Mira Coleman



FISHERMAN’S COVE............................................................................................................. 35

Tim Suermondt



ORSON WELLES.................................................................................................................... 36
Paul Kareem Tayyar



TOLERABLE........................................................................................................................... 36

Michael Estabrook



TO PATTI................................................................................................................................ 36

Michael Estabrook



YOU HAVE TO FIND THE LIGHT......................................................................................... 37
Jeff Fleming



MID-AUGUST, HOTEL POOL................................................................................................ 37
Jeff Fleming



MOKELUMNE HILL.............................................................................................................. 37

Jeff Fleming



ORALS.................................................................................................................................... 38

Lyn Lifshin



WILMA.................................................................................................................................... 39

Sam Cornish



ALL NIGHT THE NIGHT HAS BEEN..................................................................................... 39

Lyn Lifshin



THE CAR ACCIDENT............................................................................................................. 40

Todd Philip Richardson



BREAD.................................................................................................................................... 41
Todd Philip Richardson



THERE IS A GHOST............................................................................................................... 41

Todd Philip Richardson



AUTUMN LOVE...................................................................................................................... 42

Jackie Ascrizzi



THE BLINDING EFFECT OF TOO MUCH IRONY................................................................ 42
Jackie Ascrizzi



SO WHAT................................................................................................................................ 43
Ruth Holzer



O HEALING GO DEEP........................................................................................................... 43

Elizabeth Kirschner



PLEASE USE SOME, BUT NOT ALL THE FOLLOWING CLICHÉS..................................... 44
Timothy Gager



THE SMELL OF REAL POETRY............................................................................................ 44

Steve Glines



WRITERS’ BIOS...................................................................................................................... 45




IBBETSON 26 Nov. 2010







CONTENTS




MARILYN MONROE’S TOASTER..................................................................................... 1

Lorraine A. Vail



THE THROAT SINGER OF TUVA...................................................................................... 2

Sheila Mullen Twyman



JERUSALEM ROAD.............................................................................................................. 3

Mary Rice


SAP MOON............................................................................................................................. 4

Gayle Roby


LEAVES OPEN MOON......................................................................................................... 4

Gayle Roby


STRAWBERRY MOON......................................................................................................... 5

Gayle Roby



THUNDER MOON................................................................................................................. 6

Gayle Roby



GREEN CORN MOON.......................................................................................................... 6

Gayle Roby



FRUIT MOON......................................................................................................................... 7

Gayle Roby



LOVE POEM FOR MARC.………....................................................................................... 8

Francine Marie Tolf



I LOOKED BACK................................................................................................................... 9

Harris Gardner



WHO WORE THE GLOVES?............................................................................................ 10

Laura Rodley



WHAT YOU’VE MISSED.................................................................................................... 11
Laura Rodley



THE YEAR I LEARNED TO LOVE YELLOW................................................................. 11
Laura Rodley



MILEAGE.............................................................................................................................. 12
Patricia Brodie



THE STORIES I CHOSE, THE STORIES I LOST........................................................... 13

Kelley Jean White



ELMWOOD AVENUE......................................................................................................... 13
Carol Matos



FALSE START...................................................................................................................... 14

Sandy Green



WHAT HAPPENS TO BUSY PEOPLE.............................................................................. 15

Sandy Green



GOOD WORKS.................................................................................................................... 16
Elizabeth Swados



AUTOMAT, PEEP-O-RAM, A TOKEN TRIO OF SYLLABLES.................................... 17
John Flynn



TIMEPIECE.......................................................................................................................... 18
Christine Ann Cuccio



Sorry....................................................................................................................................... 18

Janet Butler

WALKING THE MISSION ON A HOT SUNDAY AFTERNOON.................................. 19
A.D. Winans



*.............................................................................................................................................. 19

Simon Perchik

FRED MARCHANT: A HAPPY PERSON, A TURBULENT POET................................ 20

Doug Holder



PICKNEY STREET............................................................................................................... 23

Fred Marchant



LOOKING SOUTH.............................................................................................................. 23
Roger Kessel



TELL ME ABOUT MIDDLE AGE..................................................................................... 24
Kim Triedman



IMPROVISATION................................................................................................................ 25
Kim Triedman



ECLIPSE................................................................................................................................ 26

Dorian Brooks



SCATTERINGS.................................................................................................................... 27

Linda Haviland Conte



SOLITUDE OF MIST........................................................................................................... 27

Lainie Senechal



BACK ALLEYS..................................................................................................................... 28

Zvi A. Sesling



PRAYERS.............................................................................................................................. 28

Ed Galing



BUBBA, STUB, ROBBIE & WEENIE……........................................................................ 29

Bridgit Brown



STRAIGHT UP...................................................................................................................... 30

Richard W. Moyer



CHOICES.............................................................................................................................. 30

Don Alfieri



With watercolor stars on our muddied feet we.................................................................... 30

John T. Trigonis



THE VISITOR.….................................................................................................................. 31

Gene McCormick



AT NUTLEY POND.............................................................................................................. 32

Lyn Lifshin



THE PLAYER....................................................................................................................... 32

Lin Lifshin



FORECAST........................................................................................................................... 33

Jeff Saperstein



DECEMBER.......................................................................................................................... 33

Patricia L. Hamilton



BRIDE’S MAGAZINE.......................................................................................................... 34

Russell Rowland



USES OF TIME..................................................................................................................... 35

Russell Rowland



FLING.................................................................................................................................... 36

Naomi Ruth Lowinsky



YOUR PROBLEM................................................................................................................ 37

Naomi Ruth Lowinsky



RAIN ON CRUM CREEK…................................................................................................ 38

Linda M. Fischer



SURVIVOR............................................................................................................................ 39
Linda M. Fischer



BEING SICK.......................................................................................................................... 39

Carol Hamilton



FISH COVE........................................................................................................................... 40
Michael Keshigian



A LACK OF RAIN................................................................................................................ 41

Michael Keshigian



Joe’s horse ran in the second................................................................................................ 42

Melissa Shook



THEN GONE......................................................................................................................... 42

Llyn Clague



BLUE IRIS............................................................................................................................. 43

Mary M. Sesso



A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND MEDITATION.......................................................... 44
Robert K. Johnson



WRITERS’ BIOS.................................................................................................................. 45




ISSUE 27 June, 2010




CONTENTS



BENNY GOODMAN 1
Ed Galing

JULY FOURTH 2
Susan Lloyd McGarry

CHILDREN OF THE SUN 3
Paul Kareem Tayyar

SMALL VISITORS 3
Ginny Sullivan

SKETCH # 37 4
Lainie Senechal

STRAWBERRIES 4
Laura Rodley

AFTER HAYING 5
Sheila Nickerson

THE GARDENER, IN OCTOBER 5
Sheila Nickerson

ON THE ROAD TO AMHERST 6
JoAnne Preiser

THIRTEEN WAYS OF LOOKING AT A MOVIE 7
JoAnne Preiser

THAT SUMMER.……… 8
Karla Huston

HAIR DRESSERS IN HELL 9
Karla Huston

SMUGGLER STOPPED AT THE EGYPT/GAZA BORDER
WEARING A GIRDLE OF LIVE CROCODILES 9
Jean Monahan


SILENT AS THE DAWN 10
Michael Estabrook

WHAT IT IS 11
Margaret Young

How could I learn what to pass on to you 11
C.L. Oxley

DEAR WORLD YOU ARE COURTED TO DEATH 12
Lo Galluccio

VANISHING POINT 13
Harris Gardner

“ON BEAUTY’S BUM” 13
Philip E. Burnham, Jr.

THE MAD GIRL WANTS TO SING “GOT ALONG WITHOUT YOU
BEFORE I MET YOU” 14
Lyn Lifshin

TOO EARLY FOR THIS 14
Lyn Lifshin

THE SPIDERS ARE SLEEPING 15
Kate Chadbourne

KITCHEN SPIDER 16
Cheryl B. Perreault

WATERBURY 18
William Gilson

SWEATER ON THE BEACH 20
Miriam Levine

RELEASE 21
Miriam Levine

HATCHES 21
Jay Matthews



APPARITIONS 22
Joyce Meyers

IF ONLY 23
Joyce Meyers

TO SEE TREES DIE 23
Joyce Meyers

SESTINA WRITTEN IN THE LIBRARY 24
Barbara Bialick

TURTLE SHAPED BOX 25
Ashley Trace

FROM THE BACK WARD TO THE BLACKBOARD: FROM MCLEAN HOSPITAL
TO THE COLLEGE CLASSROOM 26
Doug Holder

LOUIS XVI’S LAST THOUGHT 30
Zvi A. Sesling

THE LOVE AFFAIR 31
George Wallace

SMOKE IN THE WIND 31
Fredrick Zydek

CATCH 32
Ken Seide

REVEILLE 33
Linda M. Fischer

ON THE DOCK 34
Linda Haviland Conte

TOMATOES 34
Mary Rice

THE PERFECT WORLD OF ALUMNI MAGAZINES 35
Dan Sklar

SILENT GREEK. 35
Richard W. Moyer
HALLOWEEN/COTTAGE 36
David Giannini

MASSACHUSETTS AUTUMN 37
David Giannini

PASSION.… 37
Sanghi Ehrlich

POLE BARN 38
Dale Cottingham

WALTZ IN A ROOFLESS CHAPEL 39
Ray Greenblatt

HOSPICE……. 39
Keith Tornheim

BOMBARDIER 40
Dorian Brooks

GEORGIA 41
Kirk Etherton

WAR AND PEACE ON THE PRAIRIE 42
Ellaraine Lockie

HOME OF THE BRAVE 43
Ellaraine Lockie

RED CEDAR SWAMP 44
Anne Cope Wallace

WRITERS’ BIOS 45






IBBETSON STREET 28 * This is the first issue under the affilation with Endicott College at Beverly, Mass. Nov., 2010


NOT ADVENT 1
Ginny Sullivan

GEOGRAPHY 2
Joanne DeSimone Reynolds

CITY OF NIGHT 2
Zvi Sesling

ANTEROS A GO GO 3
John A. Trause

CAN’T MISS IT 3
Harris Gardner

PAINTING YOUR MALE SKIN 4
Deborah M. Priestly

TO BE UNDERSTOOD.……… 4
Coleen T. Houlihan

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES 5
Lorraine A. Vail

PHYLACTERIES 5
Ed Galing

room for love 6
Irene Koronas

WHAT BERT SAID 6
Joanna Nealon

YOUR HEART IS LIKE A SMALL BROWN STONE 7
Varsha Kukafka

SATURDAY SOCK HOP, 1959 8
Pamela Annas

MUSIC THROUGH THE GREY DAY 8
Martha Boss
ARMENIA’S MINISTRY OF CULTURE COMPLAINS 9
Diana Der Hovanessian

TO GRANDFATHER ELK 10
Li Min Mo

IN THE K-MART LOT 10
Lawrence Kessenich

THE INCIDENCE OF WATER 11
T. Michael Sullivan

RED SHIFT 11
Daniel Tobin

TREE… 12
Linda M. Fischer

PRAYER 13
Linda M. Fischer

MONTCOAL WEST VIRGINIA 14
Julia Carlson

DISAPPEARING 14
Ruth C. Chad

MERIWETHER LEWIS 15
Michael Todd Steffen

RUSH HOUR 15
X.J. Kennedy

PATCHES 16
Miriam Levine

HITCHCOCK’S CIRCLES 17
Lyn Lifshin

LEARNING WITH WHISKEY 18
Sam Cornish

AGAIN 18
Robert K. Johnson

LOST CELLO 19
Victor Howes

GOATS 19
Bert Stern

THE POET TO HER MUSE 20
Patricia L. Hamilton

IMAGINING SPRING 21
Patricia L. Hamilton

HERALDS 21
Mary Rice

MARGE PIERCY: TO BE OF USE 22
Mary Rice

WHERE DREAMS COME FROM 23
Marge Piercy

A FAREWELL TO HOES AND HOSES 24
Marge Piercy

A WEIGHTY PANTOUM 24
Marge Piercy

COME FLY WITHOUT ME 25
Marge Piercy

A DREAM THAT WILL COME TRUE 25
Marge Piercy

ADORN 26
Rene Schwiesow

RETREAT 26
Robert Riche

BIRCHES IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD 27
Philip E. Burnham, Jr.

WORDS THAT BLEED 28
A.D. Winans

MOTIVE 28
Gloria Mindock

OPEN STUDIO: LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS 29
Kathleen Spivack

GLASS DOOR KNOB.… 29
Llyn Clague

AGAINST ALL ODDS 30
Tino Villanueva

WALDEN 31
Kirk Etherton

RELUMING LIGHT……. 32
Laura Rodley

“Love never says, ‘This is the last.’” 32
Lainie Senechal

THE SEAL BEATITUDES 33
Laura Rodley

RIPE AT HARVEST 34
Ellaraine Lockie

LATE OCTOBER 35
Isabella K. Nebel

THE NEXT BETTER PLACE 35
Timothy Gager

REVELATION 36
Fred Marchant

ILLUMINATIONS 37
Ben Mazer

SHEPHERD’S CLOAK 38
Saint Rosner

BOULDER DREAMS 39
Nathaniel Mayes

THE TILT OF THE EARTH 39
Anne Drury

TROLLOPE INVENTED THE POST BOX 40
Carol Hamilton

“THE MARBLE INLET” 40
Carol Hamilton

BOWLS OF DUST 41
Molly Lynn Watt

CHOCOLATE 41
January Gill O’Neill

HERMIT’S BOWLFUL 42
Thomas O’Leary

AMERICAN DREAMING, CIRCA 1946 43
Krikor N. Der Hohannesian

GANGS OF LEAVES 43
Barbara Bialick

WALKING INTO IT, WINTER SOLSTICE 44
Tamlin Neville

WRITERS’ BIOS 45




IBBETSON STREET 29


CONTENTS



RESURRECTION................................................................................................................... 1

Celia Gilbert



INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE OPTIMIST.............................................................................. 2
Celia Gilbert



WHAT EDEN WAS LIKE...................................................................................................... 3

Celia Gilbert



MEMORIAL DAY................................................................................................................... 3

Celia Gilbert



HIC JACET............................................................................................................................. 4

Melissa Green



AT THE SEASHORE............................................................................................................. 5

Melissa Green



WHEN THE TWO PRESIDENTS KISSED.………............................................................. 6

Dennis Rhodes



POND GONE DRY................................................................................................................. 6

Dale Cottingham



THE IMPRESSIONISTS INDOORS..................................................................................... 7

Jennifer Barber



FREE ENTERPRISE.............................................................................................................. 8

Abigail Bottome


PENGUIN ICEPLEX, SOUTH POINTE............................................................................... 9

Margaret Young


VOODOO DONUTS............................................................................................................. 10

Wendy Drexler


SENDAI SISTER CITY......................................................................................................... 10

Gayle Roby


THE UNBUILT PRAIRIE.................................................................................................... 11

Wendy Drexler





TRAVEL PLANS.................................................................................................................. 11

Pia Taavila



HONEYSUCKLE.................................................................................................................. 12

Jon Mathewson



AFTERGLOW....................................................................................................................... 14

Lainie Senechal



OCTOBER............................................................................................................................. 14

Lainie Senechal


untitled.................................................................................................................................... 14

Jane Stuart



WEISS WEIN......................................................................................................................... 15

A.H. Block


THE EXPAT TAKES A HIKE….......................................................................................... 15

Jennifer Saunders


POETRY, MASKS AND TRUTH........................................................................................ 16

Mary Rice



WHO?.................................................................................................................................... 18
Harris Gardner

WRITER IN RESIDENCE.................................................................................................... 19

Lawrence Kessenich



NEW YORK IN GENERAL................................................................................................. 20
Ed Galing


SWEET DIXIELAND, EARLY SIXTIES............................................................................ 20
Linda Larson


A SHORT, RECENT HISTORY OF THE JEWS IN NORTH AMERICA...................... 21

Adrienne Drobnies



LONG ENOUGH.................................................................................................................. 22

Richard Hoffman


OF TIME AND THE BEAUTY CONTEST........................................................................ 23

Dan Sklar





DIABOLI FILIA.................................................................................................................... 23

James K. Webb


CHEATING THE DEER...................................................................................................... 24

Linda M. Fischer



SNOWDROPS....................................................................................................................... 25

Linda M. Fischer



INSIDE OUT.......................................................................................................................... 26

Judith Askew



RIDING THE LOCAL.......................................................................................................... 26

Ray Greenblatt



FACING THE DEAD............................................................................................................ 27

JoAnne Preiser



SIGHT SEER......................................................................................................................... 27

Chad Parenteau



AFTER READING MICHAEL MACK............................................................................... 28

Barbara Helfgott Hyett



SUNDAYS AT THE HOME................................................................................................. 29

Marissa Dubin



ANGLE OF REPOSE........................................................................................................... 30

Ellaraine Lockie



AN AMERICAN HAIBUN.................................................................................................... 31
Ellaraine Lockie

BOOK REVIEW—WHERE I LIVE: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS, 1990-2010,
by MAXINE KUMIN............................................................................................................. 32

Katie Clarke



DRIVING HOME FROM ITHACA
AFTER LEAVING MY DAUGHTER AT COLLEGE...................................................... 34
Joan I. Siegel



MIDSUMMER BIKE RIDE.................................................................................................. 34

Carol Hamilton



EFFABLE............................................................................................................................... 35

Kelley Jean White

A DAY BETWEEN SEASONS............................................................................................. 35

David Chorlton

THE TORTOISESHELL CAT............................................................................................ 36

Joyce Wilson



POISONOUS FRUIT............................................................................................................ 37

Joyce Wilson



SEASONS LOST................................................................................................................... 37

Anthony James



“A NOVEL READER” by VINCENT VAN GOGH.......................................................... 38

Deborah H. Doolittle



BRAVO!.…............................................................................................................................ 38

Joan Dugas



MIDNIGHT AT THE DISCO BOWLING ALLEY............................................................ 39

Deborah H. Doolittle



BARN..................................................................................................................................... 40

Dorian Brooks



RELATIVITY........................................................................................................................ 40

Hillary Bartholomew



I ABOMINATE……….......................................................................................................... 41

Llyn Clague



MY WIFE’S LAUGH............................................................................................................ 41

Llyn Clague



MORE HAIR......................................................................................................................... 42

Lyn Lifshin



THE PEARLS........................................................................................................................ 43

Lyn Lifshin



THE BUDDHAS OF BAMIYAN.......................................................................................... 44

Joseph Ross



A MOMENT WITH BUDDAH............................................................................................. 44

A.D. Winans



WRITERS’ BIOS.................................................................................................................. 45






IBBETSON 30


CONTENTS

TOWN PARK, LATE AUTUMN.................................................................................................1

Ted Kooser

GINNY, WITH THE SMALLEST WAIST ................................................................................2

Lyn Lifshin

HOME FOR LUNCH ....................................................................................................................2

Joanne DeSimone Reynolds

TAKING ISSUE WITH MARCELINO ......................................................................................3

Ellaraine Lockie

SKYLIGHT ....................................................................................................................................4

Ellen Kirvin Dudis

I SEE ALLEN’S DEAD FACE FLASH ON TV AT NOON

IN A PHOENIX BUS STATION ..................................................................................................5

Branton Shearer

WHAT I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU………..........................................................................6

Susan Waters

DEAR READER ............................................................................................................................6

Lorraine A. Vail

NEW HIRE ORIENTATION .......................................................................................................7

Patricia Hamilton

LAMB’S EAR.................................................................................................................................8

Cynthia Duda

FIBONACCI FLOWERS..............................................................................................................8

Deborah Leipziger

RIGHT TRIANGLE ......................................................................................................................9

Richard Luftig

A POET’S TIME AND PLACE .................................................................................................10

Jared Smith

HAUNTED....................................................................................................................................11

Deborah Finkelstein

EXPRESSIONS ............................................................................................................................11

Mary Rice

ATTACK OF OPPORTUNITY .................................................................................................12

Kevin Brown

UPBEAT .......................................................................................................................................13

Richard Swanson

LOST AND FOUND AT THE CHECK-OUT COUNTER .....................................................14

Harris Gardner

BELIEVE IN THEM AND THEY WILL COME ....................................................................14

Carol Hamilton

AMISH COUNTRY........................................................................................................................15

Joyce Wilson

POEM FOR ALEXSEY DAYEN ...............................................................................................16

A.D. Winans

SHELVES OF WAR: THE READING ROOM OF THE CORK CITY LIBRARY ............17

Philip E. Burnham, Jr.

A COLD EXCHANGE ................................................................................................................17

Joanna Nealon

IN RUMBULA FOREST ............................................................................................................18

Freddy Frankel

FINAL MATTER.........................................................................................................................19

Molly Lynn Watt

NOCHE DE LOS MUERTOS, SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE..............................................20

Andrew H. Oerke

PATIENCE ...................................................................................................................................21

Joyce Meyers

I THINK NOW OF TASSO’S OAK ..........................................................................................21

John J. Trause

FROST@MIDNIGHT .................................................................................................................22

Victor Howes

WALT, WITH ONLY YOU IN MIND ......................................................................................22

Ruth Sabath Rosenthal

WHAT BOOMERS WANT ........................................................................................................23

Barbara Bialick

HUGH FOX: WAY, WAY OFF ON HIS FINAL ROAD ........................................................24

Doug Holder

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS .......................................................................................26

Ellaraine Lockie

FALLING IN LOVE WITH ROMA..........................................................................................28

Lawrence Kessenich

BEDROOM FRESCO, FROM A VILLA UNEARTHED NEAR POMPEII ........................28

Jean Monahan

THE SOUND OF IT ....................................................................................................................29

Karla Huston

THE SOUND OF ANGELS ........................................................................................................29

Ruth C. Chad

BLACK ANGEL ..........................................................................................................................30

Diana Der-Hovanessian

AN ESTUARY..............................................................................................................................30

Marilène Phipps-Kettlewell

ODE TO PUERTO MOSQUITO BIOLUMINESCENT BAY ...............................................31

Meg Campbell

SEA COLOR ................................................................................................................................32

Gloria Mindock

MORNING MIST ........................................................................................................................32

Kathleen Spivack

WAITING FOR MY SON...........................................................................................................33

Ed Galing

SELF-STORAGE.........................................................................................................................34

Charles Sabukewicz

MUG’S PROPHECY ...................................................................................................................35

Tomas O’Leary

TOMATOES IN SEPTEMBER .................................................................................................36

Joyce Wilson

NOVEMBER ................................................................................................................................36

Joyce Meyers

SWEET SEASON: RETURN TO THE NILE ..........................................................................37

Laura Bernard

CAMERA OSCURA....................................................................................................................37

Laura Bernard

EASY .............................................................................................................................................38

Joyce Meyers

FAITH IS A FISH BOWL ..........................................................................................................38

Jean Monahan

BLACK WIDOW ON A DOOR HINGE…...............................................................................39

Mike Amado

XYLEM & PHLOEM..................................................................................................................40

E.P. Fisher

WILL YOU ...................................................................................................................................41

Donna Bechar

EASY AS FALLING OFF A LOG .............................................................................................41

Bert Stern

CREATION………. .....................................................................................................................42

Bonny Barry Sanders

ACCOUTREMENTS ..................................................................................................................43

Kim Triedman

FIELD CANVAS..........................................................................................................................43

Joan Kimball

BRISTLECONE PINES ..............................................................................................................44

Ruth Gooley

THESE HANDS ...........................................................................................................................44

Krikor Der Hohannesian

INVOKING GANESHA..............................................................................................................45

Rene Schwiesow

SILVER BLOSSOMS..................................................................................................................45

Lainie Senechal

FROM STARS..............................................................................................................................46




IBBETSON 32




Bob Brooks
Philip E. Burnham, Jr.
Helen Marie Casey
Dennis Daly
Diana Der-Hovanessian
Jesse Mavro Diamond
David R. DiSarro
Elizabeth Doran
Cynthia Duda
Deborah Finkelstein
Linda M. Fischer
Peter Fulton
Timothy Gager
Ed Galing
Harris Gardner
Carol Hamilton
Elizabeth Hanson
Adria Holmes
Robert K. Johnson
Christine Kennedy
X.J. Kennedy   
Lawrence Kessenich
Joan Alice Wood Kimball 
Irene Koronas
John P. Kristofco
Miriam Levine
Lyn Lifshin
Ellaraine Lockie
Ben Mazer
Sandy McCord
Joyce Meyers
Jean Monahan 
Ruth O'Callaghan
Mark Pawlak
Simon Perchik
Emily Pineau
Joanne DeSimone Reynolds
Amelia Wilbur Riggs
Charles Sabukewicz
Lainie Senechal,
Judith Skillman
Wendell Smith
Bert Stern
Geeta Tewari
Teisha Twomey
Marty Walsh
Chris Warner
Afaa Michael Weaver
Sheryl White
Tom Yuill


IBBETSON 33


Molly Bennett

Louise Berliner

Barbara Bialick

Jessie Brown

Michael Brosnan

Michael Casey

Ruth C. Chad

Llyn Clague

Louisa Clerici

Diana Der-Hovanessian

Cornelius Eady

James Eret

Rhina P. Espaillat

Timothy Gager

Ed Galing

Brendan Galvin

Harris Gardner


Marc D. Goldfinger

Cleo Griffith

Mary E. Hampton

Bill Harney

Barbara Helfgott Hyett

Richard Hoffman





Robert K. Johnson



George Kalogeris

K. T. Landon

Kathleen Tibbetts

Lyn Lifshin

Marie-Elizabeth Mali

Stephen Malin


Jennifer Matthews

Michael Gillan Maxwell

Julianne Palumbo

Marilene Phipps-Kettlewell [

Marge Piercy

Denise Provost

Jason L. Roberts

Gayle Roby

Lainie Senechal

Steven Sher

Jared Smith

Wendell Smith

Laurie Soriano

Kathleen Spivack

Michael Todd Steffen

Paul Kareem Tayyar

Keith Tornheim

John T. Trigonis

Teisha Twomey

Jean Valentine

Molly Lynn Watt

Zvi A. Sesling
ISSUE 38