Blood and Birthstone

 

Photo © Jennifer Wagner

I loved red long before Sammy sang of it,

my hair turning back to it,

sign and signal, siren rang of it.

 

Old brick station, ladder truck and engine,

your beard, my lips, leather jacket tassel tips,

’65 Mustang, candy apple red.

 

Blushing secret, unwrapped,

sugared red to pink.  The sink

into red-petaled, satin, Valentine sheets.

 

Glass of cabernet, raspberry to plum,

Burt’s Bees Hibiscus Balm.

Autumn leaves, rubies.

 

Terra-cotta, sandstone,

sweet tomato bliss,

my broken favorite mug, blood,

 

and afterward, the kiss.

 

© 2024 Jennifer Wagner

 

Word Garden Word List

 

Life Lessons for a Poet

 

Read one good poem a day.

Look up.

For every negative thought, think three positives. Because this life hurts too much already.

Duct tape your ugly mouth.  You are amazing and stop saying otherwise.

When all else fails, pray.

Everything will fail.  Pray.

Think of the children.

Talk a walk in nature.  Breathe it in.  Don’t forget what you learned there.

Remember: someone needs you.

Remember: you need, too.

Write, damn it.  That’s how you know what you need to know.  It’s your gift.  To yourself.

 

© 2023 Jennifer Wagner

 

Don't be a Scut Farkus . . .

Have a Merry Christmas!

I triple-dog-dare ya.

Photo © 2014 Jennifer Wagner

Peace on earth?

Good will toward men?

Your two front teeth?

An Official Red Ryder, Carbine Action, Two-hundred Shot, Range Model Air Rifle?

Whatever it is, I hope you get it.

Photo © 2014 Jennifer Wagner

I took these photos this past summer in Hammond, Indiana where my husband's awesome Grandma and Aunt live (and where he spent many summers growing up). A Christmas Story was based on Jean Shepherd's book of short stories based on his experiences growing up in Hammond (fictionalized as “Hohman” in the film). Grandma and Grandpa were friends of the real-life “Flick,” who got his tongue stuck to the pole in Shepherd's story. Grandma says it really happened. Today is her 90^th birthday.

Enjoy the Christmas holiday, all . . . and be sure to drink your Ovaltine!