In this house even the bathroom’s a place of no peace. * I huddle there Sundays enthroned with whatever they’ve left of the paper. * Off the door, the great blitz: rubber balls, little fists, soles of bare feet. * Unamused, still perusing, I sit there refusing to vacate my sanctum. * Blitz your bare [...]

The way I walk these days the tips of my soles and the edge of my heels wear out too fast for a man with children. * So I tell Rocco, cobbler nonpareil, “Tack on four steel cleats, two in front, two in back” * so I can walk home between two full shopping bags [...]

Dearest Readers, June has begun and with it comes Summer! I’m looking forward to water balloons, sprinklers, and trips to the water park. Of course, with Ladybug due at the beginning of July, I’m not sure how many outings we’ll actually manage, but we have a nice front yard perfect for getting-wet games. Even with [...]

When it’s break time the girls all walk together, cigarette-protector cases clasped between their index * tapers and their thumbs. On each girl’s fingers glow iridescent lacquers. When break time nears, * they peek at each other, twinkle, giggle, nod. When break time comes, a bell rings and the girls rise * like Lazarus. High [...]

Brother Al, in his hood, is out in his field making love to his bees. From my room I can see him move through his hives the way people should move among people. The bees give him gold and the gold turns orange in the jars that he sells in a room near the door [...]

Dearest Readers, Another month has passed, and as always, I’m wondering where the time went. For those of you affected by the recent storms, know that I am praying for you, and I’m sure my other readers are as well. We were in the area of many of the storms but luckily only received wind, [...]

The first time a man meets her, his lids flicker, an appropriate reaction. * The first time a woman meets her, her eyes pop out and coil on her forehead, another appropriate reaction. * Who can blame either? Today, who buys the canard about the true, the good, the beautiful * in theory or in [...]

Through the nursery glass Carlos Montero peeks at Consuela, his twelfth, in the arms of a nurse. * Pink as a peony with brilliant black hair, Consuela is raw, bawling. * The nurse takes Consuela away to be washed as Carlos digs deep in his denims, * locks elbows, gleams, turns to me. I feel [...]

Dearest Readers, Is Spring really on the way? Is anyone wishing for more snow? I really shouldn’t complain. We’ve not been buried like some parts of the country, but I am loving this warmer weather. So are my kids. We have needed some sunshine to run around in. I hope all of you are receiving [...]

As we roar over and by the oaks are as still as the pond they surround * Only the swans on the pond are moving * Then from an oak a buckshot of crow cawing and leaving ____________________ Donal Mahoney has had poems published in a variety of print and online publications, including The Wisconsin Review, The [...]