LOIS GREENE STONE - POEMS

Lois Greene Stone, writer and poet, has been syndicated worldwide. Poetry and personal essays have been included in hard & softcover book anthologies.  Collections of her personal items/ photos/ memorabilia are in major museums including twelve different divisions of The Smithsonian.  The Smithsonian selected her photo to represent all teens from a specific decade.​​

Preparing the Surface

The sable brush,
light oak handle
had different meanings.
My dad’s held shaving
cream swished in a mug
then applied to fresh
whiskers. The long
handle on mine had
oil paint clinging
waiting to be dabbed
on stretched canvas.
Turpentine cleared
paint color; running
water cleaned foam.
Silky fur formed
memories of
childhood
moments.


© 2015 The Write Place At the Write Time  
reprinted: summer 2016 Shemom
reprinted: Apr. 2018 Whispers    

cable stitch

Catching the tall cylinders of wood on the
back of the chair, a skein of thin wool was
held in place so I could wind it into a ball
suitable for knitting a sweater, or socks,
hat, or mittens. Why didn’t any stores
have knitting-ready spheres rather than
coils of yarn?  What if my chair’s back
didn’t have tall projections above the seat?
Round and round the fibers changed from
long strands to what resembled a child’s
plaything.  Ready.  I can begin.  Begin.
This long-sentenced piece is what
pleases a literary editor who sees words
in run-on, and it’s designed to extend
as a skein.  For me?  I usually write
with a period placed
after a short line
as if I were
typing
dot.com.      


June 2016  The Lake

..........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 2012/2018 Shemom