Ice-Skating Lessons  by Nancy Schatz Alton One of the twelve truths I can explain is how her bangs* wouldn’t feather the right way her hairs always fell back to rest in a straight line above brown glasses. Her feather-light tresses fell straight down her glasses made a gateway for her ears that always listened for […]

Lines of poems live in my head— If I must remember everything— this will stand for grief— the moment of change is the only poem— yet I woke this morning thinking of memories that do not change: the ice rink, the swings, the monkey bars, the climbing trees, the playground ponies, your backyard house, the […]

I keep going back to how doing the dishes makes me feel warm, alive, full of purpose & moving forward, my placement: correct. Give me the colon: exact directions to save me from worry A dirty kitchen to clean, one task after another until I forget destiny.   Warm, alive, full of purpose & moving […]

I can’t get enough of endings last phone calls & letters friends I’ll never converse with again fixed places in my memory’s strong box newness never interferes until white invites me in expected snow, her scenery soft green boughs shift with the weight of her water a plane’s engine churns overhead my husband says, “Oh […]

Want Is Loud*  by Nancy Schatz Alton “It’s good to want. It builds character.” Ben Bauermeister I’ve come here from want—the blue stone pulsing in bright yellow light. I’ve come here from hills that I now call slopes, from anger and love, fear & sweetness, from every emotion you can name, and I’ve come here […]

I want to be the slight hill in my parent’s backyard whispering, “sit.” Then: “Lay down.” Tip your head back. Sea clouds of other worlds drifting by. Fall up into the dying stars. Sink into the stratosphere The moon’s rays cut the grass. The big dipper as real as cheddar cheese cut in squares above […]