 the Murky World” is online at National Public Radio’s http://www.npr.org.
Anne Sexton (1928-1974) explored the meaning of “Courage” in later years, evoking a series of concrete experiences and visual images. The final verse:
When you face old age and its natural conclusion
Your courage will still be shown in the little ways,
Each spring will be a sword you’ll sharpen,
Those you love will live in a fever of love.
And you’ll bargain with the calendar
And at the last moment
When death opens the back door
You’ll put on your carpet slippers
And stride out.
Eighty-five year old, retired language teacher and Berkeley resident Lenore Waters is a powerful senior who coordinates the French conversation class at the North Berkeley Senior Center (2-4 P.M. Mondays,) volunteers at the Berkeley Rep, and authors books with daughter Jennifer, aka Jennifer Blowdryer, e.g. The Revolution of 1964; Mother-Daughter Poems.
WISDOM by Lenore Waters, January 2011
Having lived eighty five years
Am I ready to sit atop
A high rocky mountain
Waiting for pilgrims to
Make the hard painful climb
To ask for answers,
Answers to questions
Much much older than I?
The Pilgrim might ask:
How do I find HAPPINESS?
Will I ever find another job?
Why do my children hate me?
Where did I go wrong?
Is Ms or Mister Right
Around the corner?
Where do I get on the road of Happiness?
And I, from my precarious perch
With eighty five years
Worth of supposed wisdom
You’re asking me?
You’re asking ME?
Retired social worker, union and YMCA member Irving Kestin shares with us The Staircase:
The house staircase led quietly to the upper storage area.
Everything stored over the past 60 plus years by succeeding
related generations of occupants
A littered, cluttered area. Walking there meant climbing in between,
around mounds of furniture, left overs, kitchen equipment.
At night, whispers wafted downward from the staircase.
Whispers from those past generations.
The cat’s soft meow, the dog Tim’s muffled cry of joy.
Grandmother Thelma’s English accented voice, reciting a poem,
The muffled bass roar of grandfather Ajax.
Easier to store than dispose and close the past.
2 P.M., 4th Monday at the North Berkeley Senior center: Poetry writing with Nancy Wilson
9 A.M. Thursdays at the North Berkeley Senior Center: Poetry Writing with Berkeley Adult School instructor Davis. Note: BAS tuition is $30.; ask about scholarships funded by the NBSC Advisory Council.
1-3 P.M. Fridays at the North Berkeley Senior Center: Senior Poets, Old & New with volunteer instructor Neveen.
7-9 P.M. Second Tuesdays at the Albany branch of the Alameda County Library: Poetry readings featuring local poets followed by open mic. Contact: Dan Hess(510) 526-3720 x17 firstname.lastname@example.org
10:30-11:45 A.M. March 24-April 28, 2011 at the Emeryville Senior Center: Poetry Workshop Instructed by Janell Moon, Emeryville Poet Laureate. Note: There is an annual Center membership fee; ask about scholarships.
Thursday, March 24, 2011: Celebrate the one year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
Helen Rippier Wheeler can be reached at email@example.com. Please, no email attachments or phone calls.