Queen Mildred

Few of you remember, I know, but for those of you who do, I rec'd holiday greetings in the form of poems, pictures and a drawing from Mildred Kerr. She is obviously missing Donald, her life partner since they were 5 years old together. Mildred is 91 and still writing and sketching. Charlie Rossiter also sent new year's greeting from Chicago.

Italy ruled last night. I proclaimed my impatience with all things Irish and fortunately Mr. Pavoldi arrived with the Poem of the Evening to trump those silly green sheep and shamrocks. Ron was true to (his much-missed at EOTNP) form, echoing his mother's voice and wisdom during a recession. Comments on cast iron and canaries particularly capturing.

Joyce was back (after a trip to Ireland) and with memories of her grandmother. There was a little quibbling over the use of the word magic. Everyone like her grandfather in his rocking chair. Suggested a title changed.

On Being Irish - that Irish Philomena took us deep into the countryside with every Irish image one could conjure up. They were all quite lovely. Some suggestions were made regarding rearranging lines. Green, green, green. Thanks goodness, Mark was here, but had no Irish poem. I was also poem-less, btw.

Kathy McCabe took our previous comments to heart and came in with a very spare and successful offering called "Aging Faces" about sisters. Suggestions: break into stanzas and drop the last line. Tim's pick of the evening.

Edie, Edie, Edie surprised us all with a serious poem called "The Laying of Hands". We discussed the word "blowzed" and agreed it was one of her best. Dennis was rather subdued, but brought a good poem about the new year which brought us some questioned for which he didn't offer much explanation. Paul took us on a first trip to Vegas with a young gambler who seemed pretty sophisticated to me. How do you spell bettors?

I must tell you now that my new year's resolution was to be a nastier person and I admit I tried my new attitude out on Alan, who took my criticism very graciously and didn't un-invite me to his party, as I feared he might. I said his poem read like a science/weather report rather than a poem. He had one wonderful section about his friend Steve plunging over a hill and hitting the snow like "a third grader on a lunch tray". That was a great section. BTW, it looks like I will not be at the party because Josh and Amy are coming for the weekend and we are celebrating my mother's 89th birthday on Saturday.

I am nominating for my second favorite of the night Tim's "Marijuana Cookie", which was spot on with cadence and humor. His feverish desire for the cookie was wonderfully expressed.

Larry and the philosophers met in the other room. They seem to be going strong and are very enthusiastic. I think he's got a good group going. They are having an extra meeting next Thursday.

Hope you all have a great party at Alan's. It was lovely to see Ron. We meet again on the 22nd.

PS-Dennis just stopped in and in the course of our talk, suggested we have a "5 O'clock Poem" night, where everyone churns out a poem at that time and rushes with it to the group. Could be fun. Also heard that I missed a chatty time at Smitty's after the meeting.