Poetry

I was at the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factoryin Vermont. I saw a small boy about to losethe scoop atop his cone; he was holding ittipped. I caught the scoop as it fell, pressedit hard into his cone, straightened the cone,and sent him on his way. His parents neversaw how a major catastrophe was […]

As kids, my sibs and I spent many summer weeks on a small nearby lake. One day, alone in the rowboat and lying across the prow, looking down into the shallow water,  I saw a sight I have never forgotten: an inky  mask that was moving! Startled, I peered closer. The mask was made up […]

Ron Dougan writes of a tripdown Turtle Creek; “Perhapsthe high point of my grandkids’visit was a canoe trip down TurtleCreek from the Shopiere Dam to Colley Road. The banks enclosedus, we were in another world. Turtles,Carp, Little Green Heron, Great BlueHeron, Kingfishers, Cedar Wax Wings,and Ducks galore – a wilderness areaat our door!” 2026 Jacqueline Jackson

As one who viewed the world by candlelight Seeing all objects dimly wrapped in shade, Their changing with a feeble flickering made By unexpected gusts of winds at night As if a veil were lifted from his sight Sees suddenly the mighty sun arrayed In blinding beauty; awed yet unafraid Goes forth to claim the […]

“At the risk of establishing a precedent,I take my pen in hand! About detasseling,we are letting out most of the boys but keeping on 7 or 8. They are older this year,high school seniors. The corn has come outall at once and we are getting it detasseled cheaper and better than usual. There is nothing new of course, […]

Radio introduction to Jackie’s writing show for kids: My co-teacher and friend said he long thought “Tizzathee” was the name of our country, for he sang My country Tizzathee in school. “Today let’s write on Tis of Thee, what it really means to you.” Linus says in Charlie Brown “I love mankind, it’s people I […]

I was an only child for a year during the War.Big sisters in college, brother out west for hishealth. I went to a farm auction with my dad;the farmer had died, and the wife was sellingeverything. “Do you want a horse?” my dadasked. “Sure!” I replied. So, my dad paid $100,and put me in the […]

My dad joins the Turtle Township 4H when he is ten; he chooses Corn Club as his specialty. Grampa gives him a bit of land across the crick. Ron has to plant the corn and tend it as it grows. He hoes by hand and moves along the rows on his knees, pulling suckers and […]

We celebrated July 4th on a woodsy farm, ourentertainment was the farm next door. Every time they sent up fireworks, there would bea dazzling display, a monstrous bang, amoment of silence, and then, from the nearbypasture, a chorus of low “moos” Did any ofyou ever have a Fourth like that? 2026 Jacqueline Jackson

In our move-about early marriagewe went for low- or no- rent spots.One year we lived over a tavernwhose jukebox blasted till 1am.We solved that problem byputting the kids in our bedroomwhile we took theirs cantileveredover the outside. Come spring wemoved to a free cottage in Vermont.While I was cleaning one little girllay on a bed […]

What is it like to be 98, tra la?I have all of my bits and most of my witsexcept those that are gone that I might try to hailif I could but glimpse a vanishing tailAre you a turn-pager? If so, I will wagerYou’ve not reached this stanza. I’ll stop while I can-za! 2026 Jacqueline […]