Passing Praise by Nancy Schatz Alton Right now the quiet is beloved, the coffee warm. The mess is all still life: shoes, Sawzall, empty bags and a hairbrush. There’s nothing to make sense of, my world is well enough: the last few years of hardship have leveled off & turned into good news that’s not […]
Category: Poetry
Our Song
Our Song by Nancy Schatz Alton Your blossom into speech is slow. Your smile covers every inch of my skin. You reach for my hand as we walk. How long it took to meet someone who I felt no need to give words to. You’ve taught me silence, how it’s enough to hold our wishes […]
Flip Book
Flip-book, Memory Edition by Nancy Schatz Alton I am leaning across the fence. You are backing away. You stitch tank tops. I stitch longing while remembering need: Your need for me gathered in a flip book baby-toddler-preschooler —stop— stop freeze. I am leaning across the fence. You wear stripes, like me. Your hair, long & […]
Skin
I collect heat and retreat. The dog rests on the wooden floor, fur thick and dirty from the smell and roll. Hair and skin cells dot air and surfaces. My wound remakes itself into pink skin. I hear someone call out mom. I reply. Outside noises make me wonder if the call out was mine. […]
Advice
Advice by Nancy Schatz Alton “In fact it takes a long time to realize/ your suffering is of very little consequence/ to anyone but you.” –Melissa Stein, from “Seven Minutes in Heaven.” When the suffering comes the entire house sleeps Or it feels like that But the noises tell you otherwise The rain drips from […]
Want
Want* by Nancy Schatz Alton The older I get the more I want to see the eagle’s wingspan opening after he snatches the vole. The more I want to clearly see my place in things. If I’m going to die let me know the ground took every piece of me and made something useful […]
Here Comes The Sun
Here Comes The Sun by Nancy Schatz Alton I coast in on the voices of my children How they sing together at dinnertime Doesn’t that sound glorious? It’s warm like the sun. If I wake up the rays reach me with joy & leave my storyline alone. I catch up: I really hear the […]
Now
Now By Nancy Schatz Alton I’m on the edge of something. Its curves lead to my flaws, the messes I’ve made, the ruptures followed by repair. I’m dancing to Prince. My youngest returns all notes with her perfect pitch We’re weaving a story out of song. One of my oldest friends hands […]
Arrived.
Arrived. I’m empty-handed & full plate-cleared & almost satiated. I stare—open-mouthed—at babies & mamas while nodding at the woman with the teary-eyed teen. My amazement never ends, my how-did-I-get-here verbalized, my seething annoyance at too-much-science homework handed down—generation by generation. I want more-more-more! just like my baby who tore pieces from me: which I no […]
The Nest
I want to be in the choir. In step with the people who are snapping their fingers, stomping their feet, slapping their legs. Harmonizing. I am out of step but fully ready to immerse myself in joy. To say I belong even if I’m out of tune and still learning the song. *** I grab […]