"Opening Night"

New York at Night - Vivienne Gucwa

Opening Night

South of Midtown
weathered pavers slow my step,
street lamps shroud my shoulders

as I of scripts long since shelved,
resurrect, reminisce; recall mentors' advice,
Mother's biased praise, Father's proud gaze.

Embrace tonight's afterglow
as a new beginning to be handled with care -
the applause, excitement, standing ovation.

Hopefully remain convinced critic's reviews
won't matter.

by Margaret Bednar, January 9, 2014

This is for The Mag #201 and also will be linked with Friday Flash 55 after 8pm.  My son is in his Jr. year of college as a drama major.  I know he has his heart set on New York…    The poem isn't quite what I wanted it to be - I will probably come back at a later date and flesh it out a bit more… but for now, 55 words is all I have time for.  Go visit both links - the talent is amazing.

"Winter Beach"

Winter Beach

It's refreshing, this January beach
whose secrets still wash ashore,
offer my girls smoothed stones,
wave tossed shells, an odd feather or two.

Our cheeks flush from biting wind,
waves laughingly avoided -
not embraced as in June.

Yet this winter rush offers
a lingering sharpness of which
sun drenched days can't compete -

kind of like the difference between
chocolate chip mint ice cream
and rainbow sherbet:
one caters to the sweet tooth,
the other cleanses the palate.

With necks scarf-wrapped,
hands pocketed, we hurry along
the trackless sand, take the stairs
two by two to the boardwalk,

glance upwards as pelicans
glide single file against the soothing sky,
become our evening prayer.

by Margaret Bednar, January 6, 2014

Two of my girls and I visited the coast of Wilmington, NC this past weekend.  Windy, gusty, chilly and so fun!  This is linked with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Open Link Monday.   Also linked with dVerse Poets Pub - Open Link Night #127.