A Poetry Sporadical of Repeating Forms
A Poetry Sporadical of Repeating Forms
Mom’s finger pressed against her lip says
I shouldn’t tell Dad
about hand-me-down clothes my uncle brings.
Her flick of wrist dismisses me to go and play.
I shouldn’t tell Dad
her fingers linger on my uncle’s arm,
her flick of wrist dismisses me to go and play.
I’ve started chewing on my nails again.
Her fingers linger on my uncle’s arm.
Tangerine—the polish on Mom’s perfect nails.
I’ve started chewing on my nails again.
Dad doesn’t need to know.
Tangerine—the polish on Mom’s perfect nails.
Her finger pressed against her lip says
Dad doesn’t need to know
about hand-me-down clothes my uncle brings.
Joan Wiese Johannes, of Port Edwards, Wisconsin, has published poetry in numerous journals, including Rattle, Moving Out, Rhino, English Journal, and Verse Wisconsin. She has three chapbooks, the most recent being Sensible Shoes, published by the Alabama State Poetry Society as the winner of the 2009 Morris Memorial Chapbook contest. She also won the Mississippi Valley regional poetry contest sponsored by the Midwest Poetry Society in 2011 and the Triad and Trophy poem contests sponsored by The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. She has taught workshops for EarthWonders and in schools, and often includes her original compositions for Native American flute in her readings. Along with her poet husband Jeffrey, she co-edited the 2012 Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar.