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.
Thank you for sharing Laura Shovan's poem. How interesting, not sure if I could have written a poem about Maurice. I enjoyed seeing the postcard. Will you be sharing the poem Tabatha sent to you too? I'm working on my Valentine poem already. the Summer and Christmas swaps were so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI hope your grandson is saving your postcards--wouldn't that make a great scrapbook when he is older?
I've got a scrapbook of old postcards my mother saved when she was in high school and another from the summer of her first year of teaching. They are treasures to me.
Yes, I will share Tabatha's too, Joy. It was such a wonderful surprise to receive during the holidays. I am told that my grandson has saved every card, & I'm glad I am doing it for him. I miss him a lot. How great that you have those special cards from your mother. I have a few from mine, but generally mixed through the years. Thanks!
DeleteThanks for sharing your postcard poem. Such fun! What a great idea to send postcards to your young grandson! I'm sure he treasures them and you. Hope you are settling in to 2013 nicely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret. Things are going well, although still some things pending, like an estate sale at my old house, etc. Busy, busy, but all good.
DeleteThank you for sharing the poem, Linda. I'm so glad you enjoyed the gifts. How lucky your grandson is -- a postcard a week, what a great tradition. The postcards have been a fun way to communicate with friends and family, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Laura. I thought it was quite wonderful to receive. Yes, a postcard in the mail is still fun to get, & really I should write more. I am looking forward to your poems this month.
DeleteLove Laura's postcard project. What a neat postcard and poem. You're right -- these are wonderful bits of American history. I'm sure Morris is up there smiling this week to be so remembered. :)
ReplyDeleteLove your idea of sending a postcard to your grandson each week. Think I'll start doing that with my niece and nephew :).
Thanks Jama. I bet your niece & nephew would love hearing from you!
DeleteWhat a delight to be part of such a community that values the lyrical beauty of words, the breath of life that poetry brings, the friendships forged across the miles through postcards and love packed through letters and kisses blown to the wind. So beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Myra. Pretty wonderful, I agree!
DeleteBeautiful poem and fabulous idea! And what a lucky grandson you have! Postcards are such a special way to keep in touch - especially with a poem included. =)
ReplyDeleteI think it might be fun to use postcards for poem in your pocket day. Laura talks about Pocket Poems in her post today which made me think about it. Thank you!
DeleteLove this one - and glad it's appearing here, too. What a terrific project, and I was happy to share mine from Laura today as well.
ReplyDeleteHope you are getting all settled, Linda!
Busy evening, but I'm excited to come over to see your poem from Laura, too, Robyn. Yes, somewhat settled. Now the next step is an estate sale, then the house sale. Still some to do, but the new home is wonderful!
DeleteLinda, that postcard and poem are fabulous (and there really are 31 beauties; I counted them!). Glad your box adventures are yielding happy moments.
ReplyDeleteViolet N.
Thank you Violet. I imagine there will be more surprises coming, if ever I find the time! Laura's project is terrific, isn't it?
DeleteI've got a box of old postcards downstairs that are calling to me...they want to be made into something or somehow be able to go back out into the world...
ReplyDeleteAmazing that so many have been saved. I hope you find a good project, Mary Lee!
DeleteThis whole postcard idea is so inspiring!
ReplyDeleteIt is, isn't it? There are so many paths to explore with them. Laura should be proud that she started us all in the interest. Did you see how many said they had some they had saved from some relative or other? Fun! Thanks, Ruth.
DeleteHow marvelous this interconnecting of poets and postcards! And how lucky I feel to be able to enjoy the fruits of all this creativity.
ReplyDeleteHi Tara, much creativity here for sure. Hope your days are going well at school!
DeleteMy mom and I were just talking about the lost art of postcards the other day. My children have a few but I remember saving many. Now to find them?? Love this project and the inspiration it is creating.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Betsy. I hope you find your cards. Most seem to have some, or at least good memories of them.
DeleteThanks for sharing the beautiful postcard and poem, Linda. And I commend you for sending regular postcards to your grandson. I'm guessing few 11-year-olds today even know what a postcard is.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Nice to have you come by, Carmela, Laura's birthday project has inspired a great conversation, hasn't it? I love writing to my grandson & believe he likes it too. When we go on vacation together, we work on postcards together!
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