Hope you have a great weekend!
Blog
Writer of the Month
Writer of the month is Karen O’Leary. She has been an addition to Shemom since 2014 and has become a dear friend. She is the editor of Whispers, an online zine that allows beginning and seasoned writers to share an equal space.
Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, bear creek haiku, Shemom, Creative Inspirations and NeverEnding Story. She edits an online journal called Whispers whispersinthewind333.blogspot.com. She enjoys sharing the gift of words.
fine lines . . .
ribbons of wisdom
etched on her face
*
autumn sunset
the lantern’s last
flicker
*
ballroom dance…
the belle tucks stars
into dreams
*
celebrating
60 years of marriage
chips & dip
*
the watch stops
out of aces
out of bluffs
*
black and white
not always easy…
words tumble
from an encyclopedia
of regret
*
dad’s death…
the river flows
with my tears
*
the silence
of a still lake
I still hear
dad’s gentle
whispers
Happy Mother’s Day
Friday Quote
Writer of the Month
Greetings,
I plan to feature a writer every month that has been a part of the Shemom journey. Lois Greene Stone has been contributing her work to Shemom since 2001. She has also been a very positive influence on me personally with her feedback and encouragement. Her continued support of Shemom has been greatly appreciated and it is always a pleasure to share her work with others.
Lois is a writer and poet whose work has been syndicated worldwide. Her poetry and personal essays have been included in hard & softcover book anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has been adjunct faculty as a teacher of English Composition at a private college in Rochester, New York. Collections of her personal items/ photos/ memorabilia are in major museums including twelve different divisions of The Smithsonian.
I hope you enjoy the following works by Lois, thanks for stopping by.
She
We baked cookies.
Nothing unusual
Except she rolled
The dough.
Her hair confined
By a rubber band
Then tied with a
Ribbon. Nothing
Unusual except
She now wore
Earrings. My
Daughter, quietly
She grew.
©1976 Harlequin Enterprises (Reprinted: Fall-Winter 2003-2004 Shemom)
my sister
I held the handles
of your two-wheeler,
running along the
driveway to get
rubber tires rolling.
I let go and you
continued to pedal
alone, for the first
time. When your lips
initially felt gloss
gliding with its pale
pink color, I was there.
We giggled as girlhood
gave way to teen cycles,
dating, graduation; now
I’ve helped slip a veil
over your bridal face.
Though you’re a wife,
I’ll forever be your
older sister to share
blessings and beginnings
Spring-Summer 2001 Shemom
Natural
My nails have no polish.
They’re clipped short.
My hands are not smooth,
And lotion can’t help.
Tiny clumps of dirt
Seem embedded, and
Indifferent to soaps.
Useful hands, planting,
weeding, seeding, pinching,
nurture my soul as well
as my garden.
©2005 The Jewish Press; (reprinted:2007 Shemom); (reprinted: May 2014 Hardcover Book “Garden Blessings”, Viva Editions/Cleis Press)
Breathless
papa
papa
come back…
you
didn’t finish
your life.
©1990 Green’s Edu. Pub. (Reprinted: Winter 2017 Shemom)
………..release….……
Wooden-handled shovel
was not evacuating stubborn
weeds. I automatically
bent with my knees and
scooped soil into metal,
then tossed contents into
the brown cavern containing
my mother’s coffin. But
I also felt the gift my
mother gave me, life, and
whispered “thanks” almost
as if she could still hear.
2003 Green’s Educational Publication (Reprinted: Spring 2012 Shemom)
children grown
no matter where I hide
it seeks me out…
no matter how swiftly I run
it catches up with me…
no matter where I go
it follows me:
like a shadow is my loneliness.
Fall/Winter 2006 Shemom
Hello!
Hello. If you have found your way here, you are reading the very first post of this blog. It is a bit daunting, but it has been a long held dream to reach a larger audience with the offerings of Shemom.
Shemom is a print zine that is published three times a year. It features a wide variety of writers, many who have been contributors for many years. All covers are done by my son Forest and they are amazing, if I do say so myself. The next issue of Shemom goes out in May.
I will feature poems and artists here at least weekly and hope to add other features to the blog as time goes on and I get my feet wet with the whole idea.
So, thanks for stopping by, hope to see you again.
Cheers, Peggy
Cover art from last issue.
Forest Dugan French