"Black Jelly Beans" and "Holes" Published

These 2 springtime poems, as well as an abbreviated version of "Pops of Red," appear in Your Country Neighbor, April 2018. 

Black Jelly Beans
by Janet Sobczyk ©️2018

No black jelly beans.
And by the day after Easter, no chocolate.

Grocery shopping
colorful Easter display
bag of black jelly beans.

Pick it up
sorrowful smile
clutching memories.

Used to buy these
only for Mom
no one else liked them.

Now she’s gone
still tempted to buy them
set the bag down.

Slowly walk away
Easter’s not the same
without black jelly beans.

Holes

by Janet Sobczyk ©️2016

It’s hard to enjoy

tromping through

fresh fallen snow

on a brisk winter’s day

when there’s a hole in your boot.

It’s impossible to enjoy

the pitter patter of raindrops

or the melting snows

of springtime

when there’s a hole in your roof.

It’s difficult to enjoy

the journey to

a long-planned vacation

or family reunion

when there’s a hole in your tire.

It’s bittersweet to enjoy

daily blessings

joyful happenings

and tender moments

when there’s a hole in your heart.

"A Silent Retreat in Winter" Published

This was published in the March 2018 issue of Your Country Neighbor,

a rural Nebraska newspaper that I enjoy reading. Check it out online!

Peaceful reading room at St. Benedict Retreat Center in Schuyler, NE

A Silent Retreat in Winter 

by Janet Sobczyk, 2018

“An oasis of silence”

pamphlets proclaim 

nestled into a Nebraska plain 

quiet beckons 

I answer the call 

to a weekend of introspection.

Brick walls secure amid 

brown native grasses 

whispering secrets into the wind 

tell of burdens unloaded 

by troubled humans seeking 

rest, and answers.

Martin houses stand empty 

trees shiver naked 

evergreens form an honor guard 

flagpole ropes clap a rhythm 

an azure sky longs for 

the return of birds.

Inside, silence reigns 

voices turn to lowest volume 

carpeting hushes footsteps 

windows encourage day dreaming 

artwork begs a long look 

chapel awaits with magnetic pull.

At meals, utensils clink 

self-consciously against plates 

conversation in the kitchen 

intrudes through opening door 

ears perk at the sudden sound 

napkins dab satisfied mouths.

People arise 

smiling their goodbyes 

walk wordlessly to solitary nooks 

or meander pathways 

around a half-frozen pond 

created for reflection.

Time tells me to leave 

but heart wants to stay 

reading, writing, praying, listening 

heals the stress 

clears the head 

sends me on my way.

I wrote this while attending the January 2018 women’s silent guided retreat at St. Benedictine Retreat Center in Schuyler, Nebraska. The photo is a sunny, quiet spot where I enjoyed writing.

Pops of Red

During January and February, I yearn for spring, which seems so far away. The flower show at the Cathedral remedied my blues this weekend. I especially enjoyed the accents of red florals and berries, placed in stark contrast to the white lily and hydrangeas in this photo.

Gradually other pops of red entered my thoughts, and a list of couplets resulted. Some are commonplace and others fanciful.  My mind’s eye revels in the reds!

Can you think of more?

Pops of Red

By Janet Sobczyk, 2018©

Like a magnet, my eye is drawn to a pop of red,

regardless of emotion, that’s where it’s led. 

A male cardinal

on a snow-blanketed branch

A Flexible Flyer sled

at the crest of a hill

A first-to-show tulip

in a spring flowerbed

A poppy umbrella

on a gray rainy day

A freshly-painted barn

in acres of green

A cluster of bright balloons

in an azure sky

A spray of fragrant roses

on a polished casket

A potted geranium

on a wooden porch

A maroon door

on a white house

A meandering ladybug

on an open window sill

A cherished Valentine

on a crowded nightstand

A queen of hearts

in a handful of spades

A splash of burgundy

on a lace tablecloth

A Jonathan apple

in a basket of bananas

A red M&M

in a bowl of peanuts

A long-stemmed cherry

on a hot fudge sundae

A wedge of watermelon

on a flimsy paper plate

A garnish of berries

on sliced angel food

A splotch of ketchup

on a satin blouse

A set of manicured nails

around a steaming mug

A deep coral lipstick

on winter-paled skin.

A crimson wool coat

in a crowded church

An auburn ponytail

in a group of blondes

A single red carnation

on a black lapel

A ruby pendant

on a strand of pearls

A pair of scarlet stilettos

below a skinny black dress

A candy apple Corvette

in a row of silver sedans

"Natural Order" a poem in five parts

                                 

This NE Writers Guild anthology was released in late December. I feel honored to have been included in it.

The  four-page poem, "Natural Order," is about my five children. 

Birth order and it's impact on personalities is the basis for the subtitles of the five parts. The "natural" part of it refers to things found in nature (a dandelion, a fawn, a cheetah, a dolphin, and a caterpillar) that are metaphors for each of my unique children. 

The book is available on Amazon.

"A Writer's Nightmare"

I was surprised and pleased to hear another poem of mine has been published in Fine Lines. This time it's in the Winter 2017 issue.  

This poem is literally a bad dream I had, then woke up, and wrote it into a poem. It's about losing the words to express oneself. 

See this book on Amazon

Christmas Present

Tanner on left and Lacey on right.

We re-enacted our 2014 Christmas couple photo. 

The obvious change is two different black and tan dogs, Tanner and Lacey, who joined our family a year ago. Our house has become a retirement home for senior dogs it seems. 

Other changes, I had forgotten until comparing the two photos: 

different couches, artwork, and TV. 

But we haven't changed a bit. Haha!  

For a peek at our 2014 photo "Christmas Past":

https://momsmusingsblog.blogspot.com/2017/12/christmas-past.html

Christmas Past

Sophie on left and Lulu on right.

This is our first Christmas without Lulu, the cockapoo.

Sophie, a schnauzer-terrier mix, has been gone several years.

I love this photo of them sitting with us in their furry winter coats.

 These two certainly left paw prints on our hearts!

Look ahead to "Christmas Present" at:

https://momsmusingsblog.blogspot.com/2017/12/christmas-present.html