Special Poem From Laura-The Poetry Swap

Poetry Friday, already past the twelfth day of Christmas, moving into cold January.  You can warm yourselves with all things poetic at No Water River, hosted so beautifully by Renee LaTulippe who is celebrating her one year blogging anniversary.  Congratulations Renee, and thanks for hosting.  

           In this past month I moved, as so many of you know.  With the move and the holidays, I  have opened many, many boxes, some in order to survive daily life, and some gifts from various wonderful family and friends.  The very first box received at my new home was from Laura Shovan, of Author Amok, my poetry swap partner.  In it were the sweetest things: some to eat and a hand knit (mostly red-favorite color) pair of fingerless gloves/arm warmers.  They are beautiful, as is the postcard poem that also was included.  My particular card is #1 in a project Laura has started, leading up to her birthday.  I am honored that I received the #1 poem in what I imagine that could be a wonderful book.  In the link, Laura shared the poem, but I'm going to share it again, with photos of the card.  Poems are meant to be shared, often!  


 Laura's poem, with her permission:

Postcard, 1908

Maurice, Maurice --

thirty-one beauties call your name.

Their megaphone hats echo

from Bertha in Berks, Colorado

to you, Morris Bauscher,

in Lenhartsville, PA.

Maurice, how tempting, the shape

of a girl’s lips as she speaks

this version of your name.

Surely, Bertha in Berks intoned,

“Morris, Maurice” as she licked

this one cent stamp. I hear her,

though I’m crouched in an antique shop

a century past your cancellation date.

And the card! 

         Since I've been cleaning out, I've found many old postcards that belonged to my husband's family, several generations ago. I've sent Laura some, shared with others, and because of Laura's project, I am becoming more interested, too.  They are often so beautiful, more than marketing tools, pieces of US history.  One other thing I've connected with the postcards is that since my son, daughter-in-law and grandson (11) moved two years ago, I have written a postcard to my grandson every week.  In addition to face-to-face visits, trips and phone calls, it gives me a chance to keep saying how much I love him, and keep the relationship going even long distance.  
         Thanks to Tabatha Yeatts of The Opposite of Indifference who created this wonderful poem swapping-summer and holiday.  I have a poem gift from her too, but that will wait for next week.