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Poetry
by Robert Demaree
Opening
the Cottage: June, 2009
I've saved the shortened oars
We bought for grandsons
Who kayak now,
The orange rowboat leaning,
Ceremonial, against its rock.
I push suitcases
Into the attic,
Past riding toys
Bound for other yard sales,
Other children.
Putting up the clothesline,
I see myself, in October,
On the same ladder,
Taking it down.
top
Detail
From a Study on Aging
The Parkers, eighty-five,
Gave up parallel parking
Years ago,
No longer back into spaces.
They leave themselves little notes,
Know the names
Of their neighbors' grandsons.
He hopes the phone is not for him,
But waits for it to ring.
Inside his walking shoes
He wears thin blue rayon socks;
No one cares.
Time running out,
Nothing but time.
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Postcard
Collection
A photo of a country tearoom,
Wenham, Mass.,
"Marjorie's luncheon, June 7, 1923,"
She wrote, dark hand slanted,
Firm with authority.
I type a label for the hard plastic sleeve:
"Bought August 24, 2003,
Lee, New Hampshire,
Fortieth wedding anniversary.
Drove along the Oyster River,
To a shore dinner at Dover Point,"
Lives now linked
For the consideration
Of the next collector.
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Haiku:
Real Estate
Strip mall, vacant space:
Real estate down on its luck:
Two store-front churches.
In time, each metal
Building by the side of road:
A mattress outlet.
Cracks, weeds in asphalt,
Supermarket abandoned:
Small shops with few cars.
My grandparents' block:
House gone, tall weeds, rusted fence:
Hopeful condos soon.
Abandoned mill
Abandoned flea market, too:
Textile town down south.
On a cul de sac
Garden homes jammed together,
With no place to park.
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Robert Demaree is the author
of three collections of poems, including "Fathers and Teachers",
published April 2007 by Beech River Books. The winner of the
2007 Conway, N.H., Library Poetry Award, he is a retired school
administrator with ties to North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New
Hampshire. He has had 375 poems published or accepted by 100
periodicals. For further information see http://www.demareepoetry.blogspot.com
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