Shirley's Soliloquies

March 15

Dance video, love those core moves!
Bachelor Brad Womack picks Emily.
Hope they have a Happy Ending!

I love having this time off.
Who knew spring break could feel
this good!

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 14

Happy Birthday, Louis Goldstein,
mentor, friend!
Miss you! You were a positive figure
in Maryland politics, a role model.
You are greatly missed. I so enjoyed
the summer I worked in your office,
cataloguing all your books,
and reading some too! I remember
fondly all the times you came to my schools.
What a star! Thank you
for enriching my life!!

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 13

Wrote two new poems today, including
"All for the Love," my tribute
to Johnny Horton, country music star,
my first love.

Felt so good to sleep in today!!

We turn the clocks tonight!! Hurray!!!
My favorite time of the year begins!!
Jubilation!

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 12

Happy Birthday
to my dear friend, Elaine McCarthy,
who passed away suddenly
in October, 2009.

Elaine, I wrote a poem
about you, called "Wild Girl."
Yesterday, I submitted it to
The Comstock Review.
I hope they publish it!

I miss you, and am grateful for
33 years of friendship, and many
wonderful adventures.
Tell Cooper I said,"Hi."

Love,

Shirley

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 11

Today, a huge earthquake
and tsunami devastate Japan.
Grief is global.
We are all so fragile.

Love to you, dear people of Japan.

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 10

Heavy rain, those clouds
are peeing
all over my universe.

Thank heaven
for my leopard umbrella.

Accessories brighten
the darkest days.

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 9

Today, a new dose of blonde!
Forgive vanity, forget the gray
roots.
I'm addicted to Emidio Vincenzo's Escape!!

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 8

My chiropractor fixes
my subluxations, and
to my body
that's relaxation!

Thanks, Dr. Dorn,
for spine-tingling treatment!

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 7

What I love is
the anticipation of Spring,
knowing there's a bluebird
in my near future.

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 6

A stunning production of "Les Miserables"
at the Hippodrome Theatre. I am so fortunate
to be a volunteer usher, and see shows for free!
This show moves me more than any other.

"Bring Him Home"

(Valjean is standing over Marius at the barricade)

VALJEAN
God on high
Hear my prayer
In my need
You have always been there

He is young
He's afraid
Let him rest
Heaven blessed.
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.

He's like the son I might have known
If God had granted me a son.
The summers die
One by one
How soon they fly
On and on
And I am old
And will be gone.

Bring him peace
Bring him joy
He is young
He is only a boy

You can take
You can give
Let him be
Let him live
If I die, let me die
Let him live
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 5

Poetry group at Lalita's -
a lovely gathering of 11 writers,
coming together to share, workshop,
and revel in our words.
We laughed about "gonads"
and "the uninvited guest."

My Al Pacino poem
is getting better and better!

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 4

Poets and Painters Reading at
The Artists' Gallery in Columbia.
Great Night! Big crowd!
I felt like a celebrity
dazzling with words and a voice:

Not Your Mother’s Clothesline

-after a photograph by John Stier

Don’t give me laundry, give me Costa Rica,

where art billows and bleeds on the line;

Matisse hues riot in the open air.

Brilliant blues, a taste of lime,

an indiscretion of red—

I lose myself in a silken maze.

Butterflies, toucans, erotic petals

sizzle in heat. I succumb to color,

become part of the prism.

Wrap me in a sea-scented scarf. Drench

my senses. No ordinary tourist,

accessories replenish me.

Ban beige, I cry out, as rainbow

fabrics blaze in the tropical sun.

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 3

When you volunteer at WYPR,
they feed you well!
This evening, a silver bag
from Sascha's:
tuna pesto sandwich, gourmet chips,
apple, cupcake, Sprite,
and Baby's Breath!
Oh, and pink tissue paper!
You might call it a "wrap."
Public Radio Rocks!

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 2

Warm spring-like day, I'm feeling
that March rush.
Think I hear tulips
pushing up from the Underworld.

Shirley's Soliloquies

March 1

Concert at Peabody Institute:

Tubas, trombones, trumpets-
enough to make you horny!!