carol smallwood

Each Spring

Each spring I say I’ll taste it day by day
and not be surprised by summer’s end
when sand castles are no longer play.
Each spring I say I’ll taste it day by day–
it’s not like I want it served up on a tray,
or say it never happened-or pretend.
Each spring I say I’ll taste it day by day
and not be surprised by summer’s end.

(originally appeared in Third Wednesday, Spring 2011)

…

Tea Bubbles

Once the lid’s off you see bubbles align
On the Wendy’s cup like Braille,
The hot water dots shape no evident design

I lift the styrofoam cup like mulled wine
Or in adoration of the Holy Grail–
Once the lid’s off you see bubbles align

Copernicus didn’t change how the sunshines
Even when his theory wasn’t thought a tale:
The hot water dots shape no evident design

I pull apart the tea bag looking for a sign
But the string-joined bag leaves no trail,
The hot water dots shape no evident design

The bubbles pop after their water climb
Or seek the inside edges hugging rails
While the tea darkens with time

Raising my cup I toast customers in line
Hoping their quests do not fail;
Once the lid’s off you see bubbles align,
The hot water dots shape no evident design.

(originally appeared in Linq, December 2011)

…

Carol Smallwood co-edited Women on Poetry: Writing, Revising, Publishing and Teaching (McFarland, 2012) on the list of “Best Books for Writers” by Poets & Writers Magazine; Women Writing on Family: Tips on Writing, Teaching and Publishing (Key Publishing House, 2012); Compartments: Poems on Nature, Femininity, and Other Realms (Anaphora Literary Press, 2011) received a Pushcart nomination. Carol has founded, supports humane societies.